Director Jud's Blog

Ruben Matell

This session at SMA was probably the best two weeks of my life. Last year, I was so shy and insecure when I came here. This year however, I felt instantly at home when I stepped out of the car. SMA helped me to completely come out of my shell and be who I really am. I am so happy that I was able to be myself, be happy and be confident for the most part. I hope I am able to take it home with me.

As far as activities go, I had so much fun on the wakeboard and I was far better at it than I expected. I also really enjoyed the Yough; it was such a crazy experience with the water that high. I also really enjoyed getting to know everyone here. I made such close friends. It always astounds me that in two weeks I am closer to the people here than I am to people I’ve known my whole life. I love this place with all my heart 

Aiden McAleer

My time at Stone Mountain was amazing, I will 100% be coming back for next year. I found my better self. I have went outside of my comfort zone so many times, I have taken care of a bunny during my time here, I don’t know if I’m taking him home with me but it was fun! I stood up on a wakeboard for the first time and it was the best thing ever! I have met many people at this camp that I will never forget.  Im not very good at writing but this is the best I could do to explain my time here! If  you could draw a line for how good it was, the longer the better

Meghan Lewis

I could not have asked for a better last session. I got to meet many new great people and spend time with old friends. There was not a single time this session where I was unhappy. All of the amazing activities and people made this a session I will never forget. I am going to bring home with me all of the memories I have made and the happiness of myself and others around me!

Georgia Millman-Perlah

This was my second summer at SMA and I had the most amazing 2 weeks of my life. I had so many firsts this session- my first time waterskiing and my first time climbing barefoot. This session at SMA has most definitely changed me as a person. I have learned to accept myself and anyone else. I have more close friendships than I can count and I’ve become SO close with all of the counsellors and next year is not going to be the same without a lot of them.

I made so many amazing memories. I went on the canoeing overnight and saw my first shooting star. At the Yough I stood under a waterfall and I saw a red sun. My cabin and I have had so many deep conversations that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. My favourite memories this summer were the small candle light meeting and the yough. My group at the candle light was so deep and intense and that’s a conversation I will remember forever. SMA is my home and I’ll always have a safe place here. Life at home is going to be so difficult without this routine. I’m going to miss it so much, I’m already counting don the days to next year.

Jamie Masterson

In these 2 weeks I have found out many things. I found out that ‘I like pina coldas and getting caught in the rain. That I’m not much into yoga and love the taste of champagne.’ I also love that song! It’s the last day of camp right now. Yesterday I went mountain biking and I think that I just really got the hang of it. I also went waterskiing yesterday and I really got the hang of that too. This time white water rafting was a lot better and the water was 4ft high so the counclers didn’t guide the rafts the pros did so we didn’t have to stop before each rapid. I tried hot sauce and I think it will help withal my Dads food.

Oscar Grosjean

This session I made some friends. That was cool, I liked wakemasters and wakeboard overnight. I made really good friends with Noe and Ryan. This was my first year at SMA but it will not be my last year. I had a pretty good experience, I learnt to talk better in English which will help me a lot in the future at school and if I travel. The councelors were super great and they are always here. The place was beautiful and it was great to sleep in little cabins with people we don’t know before. We were like a family and I loved it.

Scout Kranick

This was my first year at SMA. I had spent 3 summer at an all girls camp in Maine. My first year there I didn’t make many friends. I saw all the other girls laughing and hanging out with their friends. Therefore, I kept going back because I wanted what the other girls were having and getting out of camp. However, I never did find it. By the end of my third year, I decided I was done trying to find something I was never gonna get at my old camp. So I searched on the internet for a new camp. I found Stone Mountain Adventures. I was really excited when my parents said I could go. A few months later, (aka 2 weeks ago) my dad was driving me to camp and all of a sudden I got sad and began to cry because I was scared this camp would be like my old camp where everyone was a brat and had all their cliques. But I got here and Swags came and told me that everything was gonna be ok and it wasn’t gonna be like my other camp. Then I started making friends with everyone in my cabin. Everyone was so kind and opened up to me. Soon, I had many friends from all different cabins and we had fun, laughed together and cared about each other. Here at SMA, I finally found what I was looking for at camp: fun, memories, and friends that will last a lifetime. Next year, I wanna come back…maybe even for two sessions. So thanks SMA for giving me a second home and being the camp I always hoped to find.

Jordyn Bitton

This session was very strange. One second I was unpacking, the next I was going down the Yough. Personally, I could have been more mature this session, therefore moving into Mattawanna. There are obviously things to improve on but I have 6 more weeks to do so. I spent most of this session worried about a lot of things which I know I need to stop but I made new friends and I can’t wait for more of my friends to arrive in session 2!

During Stone Mountain AdventuresSummer 2017, we saved the best for last! From awesome evening activities to wakeboarding to white water rafting to super-fun camping overnights session 4 was truly incredible.  During the session campers and staff alike took photos and we have gathered them here in a video slideshow.

Stone Mountain Adventures Session 3, 2017 was one of the best sessions ever at SMA!  Our group just seemed to gel from day one.  We had an awesome mix of returning and new campers.  I think everyone agrees that the dance party in the parking lot of the McDonalds on the drive home from White Water Rafting was one of the highlights of the session if not the summer.  During SMA Session 3 campers and staff took photos, we have gathered those photos into a video slideshow:

 Stone Mountain Adventures Session 2, 2017 was an epic overnight summer camp experience for all involved.  From awesome camping overnights to wakeboarding to white water rafting to super-fun evening activities session 2 was awesome.  During the session campers and staff alike took photos and we have gathered them here in a video slideshow.

Here is the SMA 2, 2017 Video Slideshow:

Stone Mountain Adventures Session 1, 2017 was an incredible experience for all involved.  Now that summer has ended we have had time to recover and reflect on what an amazing experience this 2 week session was for all involved!  We have also gathered all the best photos from Session 1 and put them in a slideshow... Enjoy!

2018 Dates at Stone Mountain Adventures

SMA Dream Day Camp Was Awesome!

Here is the Dream Day Camp Slideshow!

Stone Mountain Adventures is excited to announce that we are offering an Explorers Teen Day Camp this August!

We are thrilled to offer a new Explorers Teen Day Camp this August for 12 to 16 year olds.  Each week campers will experience adventure activities, water sports, traditional sports, and creative arts.  Explorers will have the opportunity to challenge themselves on activities while making new friends. Transportation will be provided from State College. 

Activities in the SMA Explorers Teen Day Camp May include:

• Team building activities and events
• Disc Golf
• Arts and Crafts
• Horseback Riding!
• Rock Climbing
• Traditional Sports
• Sailing
• Stand Up Paddle Boarding
• Hiking
• Mountain Biking
• Swimming
• Day trips to Greenwood Furnace and/or Whipples Dam State Parks

SMA Explorers Teen Day Camp: Ages 12 to 16

Dates: 

• Monday 8/7 to Friday 8/11
• Monday 8/14 to Friday 8/18

Times: 9am to 5.30pm 

Cost: $475

Contact Camp Director Jud Millar to learn more:

Jud@sma-summers.com 814-667-3874

Click Here to Register

Here are our 2017 SMA

Session 2 Campers!

All of us at Stone Mountain Adventures are so excited the Session 2 is finally here!

All of us at Stone Mountain Adventures Summer Camp for Teens are Super excited about the 2017 SMA Staff Team... 

Chase Cloward

Age: 26

Chase has made a very long journey from Southern California to be with us for his 4^th Summer at Stone Mountain. Well liked for his down-to-Earth personality and admired for out-of-this-world climbing skills, he sets a great example for us all. This year not only will Chase be giving the local camp-gibbons a run for their money on the rocks, but he is taking a spin on the bike trails and creating a splash on the wake-boat.

SMA Session 1 All Camp Day Blog Post

The start of the SMA summer 2017 went off like all sessions do- an evening meeting in the barn, complete with a mix of both excitement and nerves. During our first full day of camp, we started off with our masters programs going out and since then they have been super busy each day-the Horsemasters in the barn each morning- working on position, rising and sitting trots, and going on trail rides through the woods. While, the bike masters are killing it on the Allegrippis- biking miles and miles of the winding, wooded, hardest single-track on the East Coast and learning bike maintenance as they go.

On the first day we also have belay school and swim check for all our campers, just to get everyone heading to kick SMA into high gear. Since then, we’ve had SMA biking, wakeboarding, tennis better than Wimbledon, freezing headlong sprints into Greenwood Furnace, games of ultimate, successful fishing trips (catching fish, sticks, and the occasional super secretive boots), soccer better than the pros, volleyball and ‘nuke ‘em’ tournaments, campers climbing conquering rocks, Power Hour games of basketball, knock-out, pool, touch rugby, keep-away, cuddle-puddles, ukulele jams, and many a relaxing afternoon doing SUP and sail on the shores of Raystown Lake.

Stone Mountain Explorers Dream Day Camp

We welcome you to join us this August at the Stone Mountain Explorers Dream Day Camp!  This program is designed to introduce younger campers to everything that is Stone Mountain Adventures. Campers will explore the wonders of the natural world around our camp and be exposed to many of the summer camp activities that we offer for older campers. A daily lunch will be provided while campers will need to bring a daypack, a full water bottle, sunscreen, and their sense of adventure!! Dream Day Camp activities may include:

• Team building activities and events
• Disc Golf
• Arts and Crafts
• Horseback Riding!
• Rock Climbing
• Traditional Sports
• Stream Exploration
• Hiking
• Scavenger Hunts
• Biking
• Swimming
• Shelter Building
• Day trips to Greenwood Furnace and/or Whipples Dam State Parks
• An overnight at camp on Wednesday, August 16 complete with a campfire, s'mores, skits and sleeping in a cabin
• Parents are invited to join us for an ice cream social on the closing day of camp - Thursday, August 17 from 2 to 4pm

Dream Day Camp Ages: 8-12

Dates: Sunday, August 13 to Thursday, August 17 (5 Days)

Times: 9am to 4pm with an Overnight on Wednesday, August 16

Cost: $290

I was 14 when I first set foot on Stone Mountain Adventures.

I was gangly, in the midst of a growth spurt that never quite happened, and terrified. The summer before, I had a not-great camp experience and I thought that SMA Teen Summer Camp would be more of the same. Worst yet- I also thought I wouldn’t be strong enough or good enough to do any of the activities. I did not want to have my folks leave me for four weeks. I wanted to go home. Immediately. Safe to say- my parents left me. My fears were proven wrong. And I had the best summer of my life. I got the best nickname. I made some amazing friends. I learned how to rock climb, I failed at wake-boarding, and I went white water rafting and swam my first rapid. I continued to go to SMA until I was 17 before finally having to come to the realization that I had to wait to become a counselor.

After almost 2 years of waiting the Raystown Mountain Bike Skills Park will be Open for Dirt Fest 2017 + will feature a New Dirt Fest Expo Area!

This years edition of Dirt Rag Dirt Fest PA will take place Thu. May 18, 2017 12:00 pm - Sun. May 21, 2017 5:00 pm at the Allegrippis Trails of fantastic Raystown Lake.  This will be the first year that the Raystown Mountain Bike Skills Park will be open for Dirt Fest.  The folks at Dirt Rag expect this new feature to be very popular at Dirt Fest 2017.  It is also conveniently located adjacent to the Raystown Lake Visitors Center and closer to many of the outer campgrounds.  There also happens to be a big open field adjacent to the Raystown Mountain Bike Skills Park and this is where the New Expo will be located for Dirt Rag Dirt Fest.  

What: New Skills Park Expo Area

Where: Located adjacent to the Raystown Mountain Bike Skills Park and next to the Raystown Lake Visitor Center

When: Thu. May 18, 2017 12:00 pm - Sun. May 21, 2017 5:00 pm