MIDDLE GROVE — Camp Stomping Ground, a new summer camp located on the old Boyhaven property, will host a fall festival to officially commemorate its doors opening to the larger Saratoga community. The campground is located on Middle Grove Rd and Route 29, and they operate 8 weeks each summer with hundreds of campers and staff. The organization partnered with local businessman John Munter to acquire the property and renovate the existing infrastructure.
“For the past six years Stomping Ground had to rent a facility to run our summer program. Now we are thrilled to be in Saratoga Springs, settled into our permanent home. This area is a perfect fit with such a vibrant community and purpose,” said Executive Director and Co-Founder Laura Kriegel. “We want to invite our neighbors and local partners to see what camp is all about.”
Previous owner John Munter, Founder of Munter Construction, bought the property from the Boy Scouts of America after the town’s plan to buy the land fell through. Camp Stomping Ground acquired 70 of the 300 acres and transformed the antiquated buildings and grounds with new infrastructure, vibrant paint jobs, and extensive landscaping. The camp is now looking towards another season of programming, with registrations already booming for the summer of 2022.
“This past year had its challenges that we were able to surpass with great dedication from our year-round team,” said Kriegel. “To balance the maintenance of a new 70-acre property with a global pandemic, we have had to be more flexible and innovative than ever.”
But Camp Stomping Ground persisted, and the work shows. While losing opportunities to host work weekends and large crews due to COVID-19, their year-round team and small volunteer force were able to transform the grounds, unused since 2015, into a facility that will host over 750 campers over the course of a summer. The camp received significant support from several local Capital Region natives to make this possible including the Munter family, the Dake family, and (former Boyhaven Alumni) William Byrnes and his wife Lisa.
After wrapping up a successful first summer at the Saratoga Springs property, Kriegel and her team will host “Fall Fest,” an event that will welcome local families, neighbors, and partners to see the site and venture through the campgrounds. There will be pumpkin carving, hayrides, face painting, food, and live music happening from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30.
Admission to the event is free for all who wish to attend, but folks are reminded to bring money with them for food and beverage vendors.
“We are so grateful to the warm welcome and vast support we have received since opening in Saratoga Springs,” said Kriegel. “We want to invite everyone to visit camp for the day and have some fall fun with us.”
Kriegel and her team have also announced that 25% of camper slots are being reserved for local families and partnerships with discounts available as well. To find out more about Camp Stomping Ground and program offerings, visit www.campstompingground.org and follow along on their Facebook and Instagram pages.
