Camp Winnekeag sits on the eastern shore of Lake Winnekeag in Ashburnham, Massachusetts — about 90 miles west of Boston, off Route 2 in north-central Worcester County. The lake is a 335-acre glacial kettle pond with a sandy bottom, calm enough for beginners on the water and wide enough that the ski boat has room to run circuits without crowding the swimming area. The camp has operated on this same stretch of shoreline since 1950.
The waterfront drives most of the activity in summer. Campers and retreat guests can go out in canoes, kayaks, or paddle boats, and the camp runs waterskiing and banana boat tubing behind a ski boat when a camp-authorized driver is available. FunYaks — sit-on-top kayaks that are stable enough for first-timers — are popular with younger kids. The designated swimming area is supervised by a certified lifeguard when open.
On land, the camp runs an archery program on a dedicated range, a zip line through the tree canopy, and a climbing wall inside the main gymnasium. Mountain biking trails cut through the surrounding woods, which border the Ashburnham State Forest. The equestrian program keeps horses on the property year-round; sessions include basic handling, grooming, and riding — not just a guided trail walk. The ropes course has both low and high elements and is used regularly for group team-building.
Camp Winnekeag is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA). ACA accreditation requires an on-site peer review against more than 300 health, safety, and program standards — roughly 30% of camps in the U.S. carry it. The camp is operated by the Southern New England Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and the summer program includes daily worship and Bible-based activities alongside outdoor recreation. The camp serves vegetarian meals. Groups from Brazilian, Haitian, Hispanic, and public school communities have all used the facility over the years.
Summer sessions run through June and July for children and teens, organized by age group. From September through May, the camp takes group retreat bookings — church weekends, school trips, and team gatherings. Lodging options include cabin clusters (108-person total capacity), the Pathfinder Lodge (56 people), Headquarters (8 people), RV sites, and tent sites. The address is 257 Ashby Road, Ashburnham, MA; phone (978) 827-4455.
