The North Country Camps - Lincoln for boys, Whippoorwill for girls - are approaching their ninety-first consecutive season under the continuous direction of the Gucker family.  Unique among children's summer camps in the United States, our program offers to the urban and suburban child real wilderness adventure blended with the development of many athletic, creative and social skills; strong community spirit that emphasizes working together and doing your share; the freedom and accompanying responsibility of learning to make your own choices; and the sheer joy of simple, down to earth, outdoor living and playful fun.



Our purpose is to offer our campers and their counselors an extended opportunity to live together simply in safe, healthy, cheerful, and yet challenging outdoor surroundings. We believe in introducing children to a camp community where they have a say in what takes place; where life is dynamic and purposeful, yet unhurried; where they can develop skills at their own pace; where they can find their own style and self-worth without excessive competitive tension; where adventure is real, yet carefully supervised; where learning is the result of participation. We are eager to sharpen children's awareness of the wilderness environment, to work with them in finding sensible ways to preserve it.

Camp Lincoln was established in 1920, and Camp Whippoorwill in 1931, by Colba F. "Chief" Gucker. His son, Peter L. Gucker and his daughter, Janet G. Farrington, directed Lincoln and Whippoorwill since the late 1950's, and now serve in consulting roles. Pete's daughter, Nancy Gucker Birdsall, directed Whippoorwill since 1984 and is now serving as overall Director of North Country Camps.

Lincoln and Whippoorwill are "brother/sister" camps, organized independently from one another, with separate dining, sleeping, and program facilities. Yet we are one organization, operating on the same schedule, and joining together for a variety of activities.