For more than 80 years, that's what Camp Stella Maris has been all about. Year after year, children return to our beautiful 28-acre campsite, located just 30 miles south of Rochester, NY, for a positive, memorable, safe and fun experience. Rustic cabins and a picturesque waterfront await our campers. Enthusiastic counselors offer meaningful opportunities for kids to try new things. Lifelong friendships are often formed.

We strive to help children enhance self-esteem, develop problem-solving skills and build leadership traits. Our campers go back to their families a little more confident, better equipped to face the challenges that await them in school, in social circles and in the rest of today's complicated world.

Camp Stella Maris is more than a summer camp. Whether we're running resident camp, hosting a youth group retreat or directing an adventure-based learning program on the high-ropes course, CSM is a year-round resource for children and families. We're focused on positive youth development by providing a safe environment, positive role models and quality programming.

In 1926, Seminarians Gerald Lambert and Eugene Hudson hosted 15 young boys in a cottage at McPherson's Point as the Diocese of Rochester's first camp. "Stella Maris" - Latin for Star of the Sea - was chosen by Lambert and Hudson to honor Mary, mother of Jesus. A statue was dedicated to Mary on the lakeshore seven years later, with a request to Mary to protect the people of the Camp.

Max Russer, a prominent Rochester businessman whose two sons, Max, Jr. and John, attended that first summer, purchased the old Lake View House, in May of 1927, and agreed to let the seminarians use it each summer for Camp. In 1928, at the age of 45, Russer died tragically, less then a year after purchasing the site that is synonymous with the Camp.

After his death, Russer's wife Eleanor donated $10,000 to the Diocese so they could buy the property from her. Lambert became Camp chaplain and played a role at Camp for 49 years. Hudson was also a major contributor to the organization and administration of the camp. Even through the Depression years of the 1930s, Camp was a popular summer destination.

In the 1970s, Camp faced mounting challenges. Times were changing. Families were changing. Children had many more options with their leisure time. And Camp attendance suffered as a result. The Camp's facilities also started to show some wear.

Catholic Charities, which ran the Camp, knew that providing for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of children had an important place in society. Despite mounting challenges, it was decided that Camp should continue, but with a new direction. Reaching out to more and varied people and expanding year-round opportunities not only increased attendance, it recommitted Camp to its mission.