A Family Adventure to Remember at Fort Ticonderoga

For a family adventure, that will leave you with lasting memories, you would be remiss if you didn’t pop over the hill to the magnificent Fort Ticonderoga. To get a taste, watch the video above

It’s living history, on the banks of Lake Champlain, which will inspire everyone in your party.The events that occurred at Fort Ti helped shaped our country as we know it. Many historians believe the configuration of the western hemisphere was determined at Fort Ti.

There are immersive experiences galore. One of the mission statements of Fort Ti is that history is best explored through a variety of angles – from documents to military weaponry military clothing and experiencing what life was like in then late 18 and early 1900s.

More from Fort Ti: "Utilizing Fort Ticonderoga’s historic trades program, the new Family Program gives children a hands-on, immersive opportunity to learn about the life of a soldier in New France. They will begin their adventure in the “Officer of the Day Room” where they can make a cocked hat and receive directions on how to proceed to the rest of the posts. Children and adults alike will be able to cut and sew a Canadian tuque and sash, construct a leather slit pouch, receive a ration of split peas, learn how soldiers cleaned and maintained their 18th-century weapons, and so much more! Rewards ranging from a cockade button for your hat to fatigue pay in Canadian Paper Script from New France will be given to participating families. The more tasks you complete, the more rewards you receive!

This program offers children a unique opportunity to work closely with our talented historic trades staff. Spending time with our artificers, working side by side with them, and learning how to work with the materials is an experience that will have a lasting impact on participating individuals. Families will have the opportunity to join together to see what it was like to be a soldier in New France, and take home tangible memories of the experience.

The Family Program and Family Guided Tours are just two ways for families to make the most out of a visit to Fort Ticonderoga. Take a family hike on the Carillon Battlefield Trail and try the Archaeology Quest Scavenger Hunt Game, rent canoes and make use of our Waterways Trail Guide, or pick up a Fort Ticonderoga Family Scavenger Hunt at Guest Services and work together to solve the mysteries behind the history of the Ticonderoga Peninsula. Your adventure awaits!"

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Big Winners in the 2015 Kids Fishing Derby

Pictured: The Winners of the Casting Competition, Madison Dakin and Justin Smith

By Joe Steiniger

Sixty eager anglers tried their luck in the 2015 Schroon Lake Kids Fishing Derby held Saturday, July 25th, at the Schroon Lake town dock, with over 85% of the participants traveling from outside the Schroon Lake area. This year’s contestants included vacationers from eight sates incuding Colorado, Michigan, South Carolina, Vermont, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Connecticut. 

Prizes were awarded in multiple categories:

Perch:

1.    Bella Crum

2.    Mathew Christina

3.    Ethan Farriss

Rock Bass:

1.    Zoe Drozdyk

2.    Jack Kazmer

3.    Anna Maisonville

Black Bass:

1.    Kyle Lupi

2.    Eddie Walsh

3.    Lindsey Smith

Crappie:

1.     Brooke Burton

2.    Kai Kazmer

Sunfish:

1.    Eddie Walsh

2.    Emma Gilchrist

3.    Gavin Turner

The largest fish was 2 1/2 pound northern pike caught by 4 year old George Caramico of Charleston South Carolina.

Keeping Schroon In Tip Top Shape: The Future is Our Children

From ESSLA’s Vince Blando:

"A significant element in ESSLA's mission statement is its educational outreach goal.  Our Lake Steward Program is designed to inform boaters on invasive aquatic plants and animals.  Boater safety class offerings are conducted each year.  Our yearly Floating Classroom is a hands on experience for children and parents regarding clean lake practices.  We even held a seminar for Michigan students to guide them on requirements for a healthy lake.  Now we are proud to announce the publication of our children's Activity Book.  Designed to inform an 8 year old to mid-teen group about do's and don'ts of lake management this 28 page publication mixes fun games with information on maintaining the health of a lake. 

You will not be surprised to find this free publication is entitled "Our Healthy Lake".  Authors Gretchen Marcell and Vince Blando encourage parents and their children to visit ESSLA's outdoor tents, at the various lake showings, and to pick up your free copy of the book and talk with our experts. Very soon you can also visit our website, www.essla.org, and click on the children's section to download the book.  If you have a special need regarding children's education, please contact one of our authors (494-2938 or 494-2216) and they will work with you.

We hope you will be challenged by the book's mazes, crosswords, Sudoku, connecting dots, unscrambling words and phrases, origami, finding hidden objects, etc. and reading the Rhyme on the inside of front and back covers.  We also hope you will share that challenge with your children and together, in the process, learn more about the importance of a healthy lake.

The 2015 Annual Schroon Lake Kids Fishing Derby

As the temperature ticks up, and the lines for Stewarts Ice cream get longer, you know Summer is in full tilt boogie mode.

And that means the annual Kids Fishing Derby is just around the corner. So mark your calendars, for this Saturday July 25th at the town docks.

The event runs from 9 am to 12 noon, rain or shine. It's hosted by the Fish and Game Club and organized by the incredibly dedicated team of Joe Steiniger and Mary McDonald.

From Joe: "We got worms! We got hot dogs! We got lots of prizes! Dozens of prizes in multiple categories, free hot dogs, ice cream (thank you Stewarts). Free registration!"

The event is for kids 12 and under. Good luck, have fun and go fish!