The waterfront at Camp Jeanne d’Arc is located in the narrows sections of Chateaugay Lake, close to the entrance of Upper Chateaugay Lake. Camp’s waterfront site typically features calm waters and light winds, ideal for beginner paddlers and sailors. Campers with more advanced boating skills can journey to Upper Lake for increased difficulty (and fun!). Here at Upper Lake, you will also find waterskiing and tubing. All of our waterfront scenes are set behind the backdrop of beautiful Lyon Mountain. Campers at Camp Jeanne d’Arc enjoy waterfront skills and beautiful scenery. Is there anything better?
Canoe
Canoeing is one of Camp Jeanne d’Arc’s longest standing and most popular activities. Beginner paddlers gather on the beach with instructors to learn strokes and familiarize themselves with the parts of the canoe. Staying close to the docks, they will zip up their lifejackets, gather their paddle, board the canoes and practice what they’ve learned. Some campers fall in love with canoeing and pursue junior and senior canoe clubs. Our older canoers are eligible to participate in evening canoe trips and enjoy the lakeside sunset! You will probably hear them singing, “Our paddles, keen and bright; Flashing like silver; Swift as the wild goose flight, Dip, dip, and swing.”
Sail
Sailing at Camp Jeanne d’Arc is where little kids can do big kid things! Operating a sail boat is no small task – you need to understand winds, manipulate ropes and sails, and navigate tacks and turns. Younger sailors can practice raising sails, tying knots, and learning the parts of the sailboat. When they are ready, campers hop on the sailboats and see where the wind takes them! Entrance into junior and senior sailing clubs require studying and practice but the rewards are worth it! Wind in your hair, gliding across the beautiful lake, it feeds the soul!
Stand-Up Paddleboard
Stand-up paddleboard (SUP) is where the fun is had on the waterfront at Camp! Truth be told, there are less technical skills involved in SUP than in canoeing and sailing. But that’s kind of the point, right?! SUP is accessible to all levels of skill. And it is super fun! Campers interested in a workout can paddle back and forth across the narrows. Campers looking for fun, well, let’s just say balancing and falling is part of the deal!
Swim
Nothing quite beats a dip in the cool lake on a hot summer afternoon. Campers at Camp Jeanne d’Arc are required to participate in swimming. And while we might get complaints on a cool morning, most of the time swimmers are eager to get wet! Swim lessons are available for our newest swimmers in waist-deep water. And our most advanced swimmers can join “swim for fit.” Swimming on the waterfront at Camp is not only how campers build skills, but it’s where memories are made!
Fun in the Sun
‘Fun in the Sun’ is probably our campers’ favorite waterfront activity. Because, as the name suggests, it’s all about fun! Campers can play on the lily pad float, build sandcastles, jump off the docks, lay out in the sun… you name it! A few times a summer, we put the skill-building to the side and do what campers know best – have fun!
Waterskiing and Tubing
Camp Jeanne d’Arc offers a few “extras” including waterskiing and tubing. Experienced boat drivers bring campers to Upper Lake and provide instruction for waterskiing and tubing. Campers have a ton of fun learning to ski across the wake, lift up their ski in “skiers salute” and even advance to skiing on one ski. Tubers join their buddies and as they bounce over the wake squeal in delight!
Waterfront Safety First!
While there is lots of fun to be had on Chateaugay Lake, safety is paramount when enjoying the waterfront. Camp Jeanne d’Arc follows industry best practices and strict standards in regards to waterfront safety.
- Counselors and staff receive extensive waterfront safety training, including lifeguard certification and first aid to those staffed at the waterfront.
- Campers receive training as well. Before participating in waterfront activities, campers are trained on the waterfront buddy system, the rules regarding access to the waterfront, life jacket requirements, and general water safety rules.
- A member of the senior staff serves as the lifeguard-certified Waterfront Director and manages the waterfront when in use. The Waterfront Director is supported by swim instructors and activity leaders.
- Swim assessments are conducted to determine swimming levels of campers.
See you on the Docks!
Whether you are gliding across the glassy surface in a canoe, mastering the wind on a sailboat, or simply splashing around during Fun in the Sun, the waterfront at Camp Jeanne d’Arc offers something for everyone. And yes, if you try a Stand-Up Paddleboard, you’ll probably fall in, but don’t worry—it’s part of the fun (and a great way to cool off)! It is more than just learning skills; it is about building confidence, enjoying the natural beauty of Chateaugay Lake, and making memories that last a lifetime. We can’t wait to see you on the docks!
