Camp Iroquois began in 1933 as an all boys camp in rural and sparsely populated Manlius, NY. The camp had a modest enrollment, few buildings, yet featured many of the same activities that continue today (swimming, hiking, archery, nature study, arts and crafts, horseback riding.) The camp consisted of three units (Bucks, Warriors, and Sachems) grouped by age. The Bucks were the youngest, with the Sachems living up to their name as the oldest bunch and the Warriors were in the middle.
By the second half of the century, the camp rapidly grew in enrollment and programs. In the early 1970's, the camp became co-ed and the three featured units became the Tonawehs, Oyanehs, and Sachems. The camp saw the construction of four pavilions, a donated caboose (1968) an administrative building (1981), and an inground swimming pool (1988), an adventure course (1991), and a climbing wall (2000) among its many new additions. At the turn of the century, we witnessed the beginning of the Braves and Teen programs (to bring the unit total to five) and the introduction of new programs such as the YArts camp and the Teen Adventure Program.
Along the way, Camp Iroquois has built on a strong foundation
of tradition that gives a unique camp experience to every camper that passes
through our gates. Anyone who has ever owned a bear claw from a Camp Iroquois
overnight, is able to share tales of the Frog Man or counts the days
until our next annual Gold Rush or Carnival Night, can attest to this. As we
look to the future, we strive to continue adding new and exciting facilities
and programs for our campers to enjoy.