2025 Electric Wheelchair Program Offered Weekends and Holiday Mondays July 5 through Oct. 13 

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today released a Request for Public Comment on Accessibility Options at Great Camp Santanoni located in Newcomb, Essex County. In addition, DEC announced the continuation of its free electric wheelchair program. A review of the 2024 electric wheelchair program pilot season is included among the options released for public comment with the goal to build on the successful pilot and improve access to Great Camp Santanoni for persons with disabilities. 

“DEC is proud to continue our efforts to advance inclusivity by offering opportunities for members of the public with a disability to enjoy a visit to and around the Camp Santanoni Historic Area,” DEC Region 5 Regional Director Joe Zalewski said. “For 2025, this includes an expanded offering of dates to reserve an electric wheelchair to access this unique and special site. In addition, DEC encourages New Yorkers to comment on the accessibility options to help improve inclusive access to this historic site.” 

In partnership with Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH), the 2025 program is available by reservation to qualified members of the public at no charge from July 5 through Oct. 13, 2025, on weekends and holiday Mondays. This partnership allows DEC to double the number of weekends electric wheelchairs are available. 

“This partnership with DEC will achieve the shared goal of increased accessibility to Camp Santanoni,” AARCH Director Erin Tobin said. “We appreciate the ongoing partnership with DEC on public programming at the Great Camp and look forward to welcoming more people to the site this year.” 

“We are grateful for the ongoing efforts to make Great Camp Santanoni accessible to as many people with disabilities as possible.” Chair of the Accessibility Advisory Committee to the DEC and the Adirondack Park Agency Jason Thurston said. “We are looking forward to hearing input from the greater community on our continued efforts with DEC and the APA to improve accessibility to this historic property.” 

In 2024, DEC piloted the Camp Santanoni Electric Wheelchair Program for persons with disabilities to borrow one of two electric wheelchairs for use along the 10-mile round trip carriage road to the Great Camp. To learn more about this program and how to make a reservation, visit DEC’s Electric Wheelchair Program webpage or email Access@Santanoni.dec.ny.gov. 

The Camp Santanoni Historic Area includes one of the oldest Adirondack great camps and is a unique historic treasure managed by DEC in partnership with AARCH and the town of Newcomb. During the spring and summer months, Camp Santanoni is a popular destination and accessible by foot, mountain bike, or horse. Buildings are open to the public during July and August when historic interpretation, guides, and other services are provided by AARCH staff. In winter months, the site offers a moderate ski or snowshoe opportunity and traditionally opens its buildings for three winter weekends each year. These weekends allow users unique winter access to the buildings, warming huts, and guided tours. 

DEC invites the public to comment on continuing the electric wheelchair program and provide ideas for program improvement, including input on alternatives such as accessible golf cart offerings. Public comment details are listed on DEC’s Camp Santanoni Historic Area webpage. See the document ‘Great Camp Santanoni: Accessibility for People with Disabilities Request for Public Comment’ for the specific questions DEC is asking for feedback on. DEC will accept written or emailed comments until July 28. 

DEC also welcomes questions about this public comment process. Comments and questions should be submitted to Comments.SantanoniAccess2025@dec.ny.gov or by mail:  

NYSDEC, C/O Benjamin Thomas, Supervising Forester 

Re: Santanoni Access 

232 Golf Course Rd.