The latest episode of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) podcast DEC Does What?! showcases how DEC manages its 55 campgrounds and 6,000 individual campsites.
DEC’s first campgrounds — Sacandaga (in Wells, NY) and Sharp Bridge (in North Hudson) — were established in 1920 in the Adirondacks, as was the newest campground, Frontier Town (also in North Hudson), opened in 2019.
In this episode, hosts Executive Deputy Commissioner Sean Mahar and Chief of Staff Erica Ringewald are joined by Campground Program Supervisor Jessica McBride and Conservation Operations Supervisor Andrea Dukett who explain how DEC’s Bureau of Recreation oversees the operations of 55 campgrounds and day use areas in the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve visited by an estimated 1.5 million people each year.
McBride and Dukett highlight DEC’s First Time Camper and Junior Naturalist programs, the history of many DEC campgrounds and day-use areas, and how New Yorkers can reserve their DEC campsite for 2026.
They also share their craziest campground stories, including a camp-wide dance party and an alleged Catskill kangaroo sighting.
This episode can be found here. All episodes of “DEC Does What?!” are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, and all major podcast platforms.
Read more about camping in New York State.
Photo: Sharp Bridge Campground on Route 9 in North Hudson, NY.
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