Director Jud's Blog

We’re writing with heartfelt news regarding one of the most beloved traditions at Stone Mountain Adventures—our overnight camping trips to Raystown Lake for mountain biking and wakeboarding. These overnights are more than just trips—they're memory-making adventures that our campers look forward to year after year. Watching teens bond around campfires, ride world-class trails, and wakeboard into sunset is the kind of magic that defines summer at SMA.

Unfortunately, due to a federal Department of Defense (DOD) hiring freeze, we are currently unable to move forward with these overnight trips for the 2025 season. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages Raystown Lake, has been directly impacted by this freeze. They are unable to hire the seasonal rangers and support staff necessary to safely operate several campgrounds, including Seven Points, Susquehannock, and Nancy’s Camp all of which are central to our overnight adventures.

As a result, these campgrounds are now closed indefinitely. We want to be clear: this is not a decision made by our camp or the incredible local rangers we’ve worked with for years. This is the direct result of a top-down hiring freeze at the federal level. In this moment, we find ourselves—and our campers—the victims of a bureaucratic freeze that does not account for the real-world joy and impact these spaces provide.

We want to emphasize that Raystown Lake itself remains open. The lake’s day-use areas—including the lake and the world-renowned Allegrippis Trail System—are still accessible, and we will be taking full advantage of them! Campers will continue to ride Allegrippis daily and enjoy water-based activities like wakeboarding, stand-up paddleboarding, and SUP N Sail. These experiences continue to be core parts of our program and will be delivered with the energy and excellence you expect from SMA.

We share in your disappointment. Every one of us at SMA is heartbroken that our campers might miss out on these experiences this summer. To advocate for a solution, we’ve written weekly to elected officials—including senators, representatives, and the Army Corps of Engineers—urging them to grant an exemption for these ranger positions under the category of public safety. We’ve made it clear how vital these trips are to our program, our campers, and the greater community.

There is still hope. The hiring freeze is currently under review and may be lifted or adjusted by mid-July. We are staying in close contact with local officials and Corps leadership, and should a path forward open, we’re ready to mobilize immediately to bring these overnights back.

In the meantime, we’re working on alternative adventures that will capture the same spirit of exploration, challenge, and camaraderie. While they won’t be the same as our traditional Raystown camping overnights, we promise they will still deliver the SMA magic.

Thank you for your understanding, your trust, and your support. If you’d like to join us in advocating for the reopening of these campgrounds, we welcome your voices. Please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re in this together.

With hope and heart,
Jud Millar
Camp Director, Stone Mountain Adventures