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/ “The Upside” Blog / Top 3 Free Educational Activities in Warren County!

Top 3 Free Educational Activities in Warren County!

Top 3 Free Educational Activities in Warren County

In honor of back-to-school season, we compiled our Top 3 free educational activities Warren County has to offer. This list has something fun for everyone, whether you’re a student or a lifelong seeker of knowledge. 

1. First Wilderness Heritage Corridor Letterboxing Trail Letterboxing items sit on a wooden tabletop. They include a round wood stamp, a notebook with a stamp in it, a dark gray briefcase, a letterboxing passport, and a black ink pad.

Before you head off on your adventure, you’ll need to pick up a free passport. The First Wilderness Letterboxing Trail Passport is a small booklet that contains a page for each of the letterbox locations with a spot to mark the stamp, the clue leading to each box in the form of a riddle, and a spot to write comments and rate the letterbox location. Letterboxing is permitted during daylight hours through Columbus Day. 

You can get a free passport at the following locations:

  • Bolton Chamber of Commerce
  • Chester Town Hall
  • Fort William Henry Hotel
  • Horicon Community Center
  • The Hub
  • Hudson River Trading Co.
  • Johnsburg Town Hall
  • Lake George Regional Chamber of Commerce
  • Lake George Visitor Center
  • Lake Luzerne Town Hall
  • North Warren Chamber
  • The Queensbury Hotel
  • Rockwell Harmon Cottage Tourism Center
  • Thurman Town Hall
  • Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce
  • Warren County Fish Hatchery
  • Warren County Tourism
  • Warrensburg Museum of Local History
  • Warrensburg Town Hall

You can also print and compile your own passport at home. Click here to download the file, along with instructions for putting the passport together.

Use the provided clues to help find the box. Once you find the box, use the stamp in the box to mark your passport (more details on the passport below). Leave a note, along with your own stamp if you have one, in the logbook in the box. Make sure to return all items to the box and hide it back carefully where you found it for the next adventurer. It’s a good idea to bring your own ink pad, just in case the one in the box is missing.

Several of the sites are ADA accessible. These sites are marked in the letterbox locations below as well as in the passport.

Note that several of the boxes require a short hike, and a couple of the hikes are in remote locations. If you are new to hiking, please read this Hiking 101 guide before heading out. Remember to leave no trace, stay on the trail and check thoroughly for ticks after leaving the area.

The First Wilderness is a lightly populated area, which is part of its appeal. Not all hamlets have gas stations and not all areas of the First Wilderness have cell service. Using this website and the links provided to familiarize yourself with the locations is recommended.

Collect 18 stamps to earn a First Wilderness embroidered patch.

Submit a completed passport and receive a patch using one of the following methods:

  • Visit Warren County Planning Department: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday | Driving Directions, 
  • Mail a completed passport to the Planning Department and it will be mailed back along with a patch. Be sure to include your mailing address. Mail to: Warren County Planning Department, 1340 state Route 9,  Lake George, NY 12845.
  • Take pictures of your passport pages and submit them online using this form.

If you collect all 28 letterbox stamps, you’ll earn an additional prize. Please note that two box locations are at special annual events and are available only on the day or days of the event, so some advance planning is required to complete the entire passport.

2. Tour Museums and Historical Sites Snow covers the roof and grounds of a quaint wihte schoolhouse with green trim.

There are a number of museums and historical sites that offer free admission. We have compiled a list of locations in Warren County that are free to explore. Please check individual websites for open dates and hours of operation. Not all locations are open year round and COVID precautions vary from site to site.

  • Horicon Historical Museum in Brant Lake. 

Adirondack pioneer home life is presented in this 19th-century nine-room restored farmhouse filled with local history. The collection includes antique clothing, furniture, china, quilts, photographs, horse-drawn farm equipment, tools and boats. The 1890s farmhouse offers history buffs much to explore.

  • Dean Homestead Museum in Stony Creek

Learn about the Dean family and Stony Creek at the Dean Homestead Museum. The Dean Homestead Museum celebrates the Dean family and local Stony Creek history. Guests to the museum will find artifacts and photos.

  • Town of Chester Museum of Local History

Learn about Chestertown at the Museum of Local History! The Town of Chester Museum of Local History celebrates the rich past of the Chester and Pottersville regions of the Lake George area. Guests to the museum will discover photographs, antiques and artifacts. The museum is operated by the Historical Society of the Town of Chester.

  • Hall of Heroes History Museum at The Patriot of Lake George

Remember the sacrifices of veterans at Hall of Heroes History Museum at The Patriot of Lake George.The Hall of Heroes History Museum is dedicated to the memory and sacrifices of our nation’s heroes, representing all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

  • Lake George Historical Association & Museum

Lake George Historical Association (LGHA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the history of the Lake George region. LGHA originated in 1895 and evolved into the New York State Historical Society. Exhibits include Women’s Suffrage, Georgia O’Keefe and Alfred Steiglitz, Willett Trail and more.

  • Pagenstecher Pulp Mill Museum

Pagenstecher Pulp Mill Museum celebrates the first pulp mill in the country to use all American equipment. The venue tells the story of Albrecht Pagenstecher and his two brothers, who came to Lake Luzerne from Germany to open a mill. The museum includes industrial machinery and photos.

  • Gailey Hill Schoolhouse Museum

The Gailey Hill Schoolhouse Museum is a former one-room schoolhouse from the early days of Lake Luzerne. Artifacts in the museum include antique desks, furniture, historic photos and the school bell. The schoolhouse served grades 1 through 6 from 1865 to 1937 and was never electrified. The building was restored and moved to its present site on Main Street.

  • Stony Creek District 4 Schoolhouse Museum

Stony Creek District 4 Schoolhouse Museum celebrates the history of school life and industry in a historic home in Stony Creek. This one-room, two-story schoolhouse has photos, maps and other artifacts celebrating the history of Stony Creek.

  • Hague Historical Museum

The Clifton F. West Memorial Room maintained by Hague Historical Society features the history of Hague, the once-booming town of Graphite, and its  mining operation. The gallery and museum feature local Adirondack artists in this A Path Through History attraction.

  • The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library

The Folklife Center at Crandall Public Library is an award-winning program presenting the cultural traditions of the upper Hudson Valley and southern Adirondacks through research and documentation, gallery, special collections, public programs and educational services.

  • Warren County History and Culture Mapper

Interested in seeing historical markers, national register sites and cemeteries in Warren County? The History and Culture Mapper is a comprehensive digital map of these locations complete with descriptions and directions.

To view the Mapper, click here.

3. Visit local arts centers A granite slab sits in the foreground of a sign for Tannery Pond Community Center.

Warren County boasts a vibrant art scene. Below is a list of some wonderful arts centers that are free to explore. 

North Creek

  • Tannery Pond Community Center

Tannery Pond is an arts and culture center dedicated to bringing theatrical performances and concerts to Lyle Dye Auditorium, hosting exhibitions in Widlund Gallery and enriching the lives of young people in the Lake George area with the Teens Only! program. to.

  • Town of Johnsburg Library, The Corner Gallery

Located in the Town Hall, this library offers exhibits by local and regional artists and students.

Glens Falls

  • Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Center

Experience the Glens Falls art scene at LARAC. The Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Center was founded in 1972 by a coalition of arts-minded residents. Its mission is to enrich the quality of life in Warren, Washington and northern Saratoga counties by supporting arts and culture.

  • North Country Arts

North Country Arts is a nonprofit cultural organization promoting arts in the Lake George area. Their galleries include many talented and well-known artists and artisans. NCA has two galleries, one at The Shirt Factory, which offers changing exhibits every four to six weeks and free admission. Hours are from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. The 2nd Floor Gallery at City Hall changes exhibits every six weeks and also offers free admission. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.

  • The Shirt Factory

The Shirt Factory has been evolving since its opening in 1999. In the beginning, it was home to a handful of artists and offices; today, nearly 100 individuals offer an eclectic mix of shops, services, classes and original artwork.

  • Saunders Gallery of Fine Art

Saunders Gallery of Fine Art is located in Glens Falls and specializes in fine custom picture framing. The gallery also shows original works in pastel by owner/artist Bev Saunders, one-of-a-kind contemporary pottery and Adirondack artisan gifts.

  • Mountain Gallery

Dedicated to education and appreciation of fine arts, Mountain Gallery offers exhibition space to local artists. In addition to art exhibits, Mountain Gallery hosts book readings by local authors, workshops and private events. 

Lake Luzerne

  • Adirondack Folk School

AFS promotes and teaches arts, crafts, trade skills and the cultural heritage of the Adirondacks. The beauty and natural abundance of this mountain range influenced the skilled artisans who created the pack basket, twig furniture, birch bark containers, and the Adirondack chair, guide boat and lean-to. These are the furnishings, boats and decor still found in cabins, lodges and homes throughout the region, comprising the unique “Adirondack style.”

Queensbury

  • SUNY Adirondack Visual Arts Gallery

The SUNY Adirondack Visual Arts Gallery, located in Dearlove Hall since 1984, features changing exhibitions, lectures, receptions, readings and concerts.

Warrensburg

  • Riverside Gallery

Riverside Gallery offers expert framing services, beautiful handcrafted jewelry, handbags, unique home accessories and art prints for every decor.

Lake George

  • Lake George Arts Project

Lake George Arts Project provides exposure and income opportunities to professional and emerging artists, and provides quality arts programming to residents and visitors of the Lake George region. Courthouse Gallery is located at the side entrance of the Old County Courthouse, at the corner of Canada and Lower Amherst streets.

These three free educational experiences are just a small portion of what Warren County has to offer. The region offers countless free activities, special events and festivals throughout the year. Visit our region and learn about this picturesque, historically rich area full of vibrant communities.