Pok-O-MacCready Camps — Local services in Town of Willsboro

Left With Nerves, Came Home With Confidence—Pok-O-MacCready Truly Delivers! You won't be sorry.. this camp shines above the rest.

My daughter—now 13—was never the “outdoorsy” type. In fact, the idea of sleepaway camp made her more nervous than excited. She’s always been a bit of a homebody, tentative to try alot of new things, and truthfully, I was anxious too. But something incredible happened during her very first summer at Pok-O-MacCready.

She started out shy, hesitant, and worried she’d miss home too much. Within DAYS, she found her spark—thanks to the gentle encouragement from campers, truly extraordinary counselors and the magic of their campfires. I’ll never forget her stories of ad-libbed skits around the fire, hilarious impromptu songs, and that contagious, goofy camp laughter. She blossomed—made real friends, took on new challenges, and left more confident and joyful than I’d ever seen.

But what truly set Pok-O-Mac apart was the staff—the legendary director, Brian Degroat, deserves special mention. He went above and beyond to reassure me as a first-time “camp parent.” I had a million questions, and Brian’s warmth and professionalism put our whole family at ease. You can tell this is much more than a job for him; he genuinely cares and it shows in every little detail.

Now I’m all-in. Next summer, I’m hoping to send both my daughter AND her twin brother for an even longer session! I’ve already rallied two of her friends and even some neighbors—Pok-O-MacCready is my number one recommendation to any parent looking for an unforgettable and amazing summer experience. I promise that they will exceed expectations!!

As you’ll notice from my profile, I’m not someone who leaves reviews lightly. I only share feedback when there’s truly something exceptional worth shouting about. So, take it from a typically quiet parent—my words come with extra weight, and Pok-O-MacCready absolutely deserves the spotlight. If you’re searching for a camp where even the shyest kids can thrive, or simply want something extraordinary for your child,...

This place truly changed my life. I was always skeptical about sleep away camp when I was a kid but my mom worked really hard to help me get excited about it. When I got there it surpassed any expectation that either me, or my family had for a summer camp (I was there in 2004-2015). I ended up spending the next 6 summers at Poko, and was a counselor for 5 years. Over a decade of coming to this camp has made all the difference in my life. I cannot stress how much this place changed and formed my life, I would not be where I am today without it. It taught me about patience, respect, kindness, empathy, friendship, introspection, respect for the earth, self-reliance, and responsibility. I wouldn't be the person I am today without this place, and I know others feel the same.

There is so much science to back up the fact that buying people experiences will impact them in a positive way more than things ever could. So if you ever get the chance, gift a child (or maybe even a potential counselor!) the life changing joy that is a summer (or lifetime) at Pok-o-MacCready, I whole heartedly encourage you to do so.

Thank you poko for all that you've...

Our two sons were reluctant to attend camp at first, but after a week at Pokomac they began to fall in love with the place and the wonderful and supportive community of campers and staff. In just two weeks they changed from insecure and shy young boys (13 years old and 11 years old) into confident young men.

In addition, they both grew physically, as well, gaining an inch in height and an entire shoe size. We were shocked at the transformation, which was nothing short of a magical experience for them (and us). Upon coming home after two weeks, they missed camp so much that they asked to return for another two week session later in the summer (which they enjoyed just as much, if not more, than the first session). They cannot wait to return next summer.

Thank you to Brian, Jim, Jay, Sue and all the amazing staff and counselors at Pokomac for fostering such a positive, nurturing environment for our boys this summer. We have never seen them grow so much, emotionally and physically, in such a short...