When most people think of camping they imagine roughing it – sleeping on the ground and braving the lack of facilities. But a new trend has entered into the market and we’re excited – Glamping has arrived in the Finger Lakes Region.
Glamping Tent
Glamour and Camping?
Glamping is all about camping without having to rough it. “You sleep outside under the stars, but in a canvas safari tent that’s fully furnished and has all of the amenities and services of a regular hotel, including a bar, breakfast, and a concierge,” enthuses Emma Frisch, co-owner of Firelight Camps in Ithaca. “It’s like a hotel built out of tents!”
Emma, her husband Bobby Frisch, and their business partner, Kyle Reardon, opened Firelight Camps last summer. So far it’s been an ideal situation, allowing them to weave their love of camping and the outdoors into a hospitality-oriented business. “It’s a growing market,” Emma says, confessing that the first night she and Bobby spent in one of their luxury tents their thought upon waking was, “This might be the end of camping for us!” She adds, “It’s unexpected how well-rested and comfortable you are. People can even sleep in as opposed to when you are up at 6:00 am in a regular campground!”
One of Emma’s favorite parts of owning Firelight Camps is when she gets to walk her guests to their spacious tent, with a real floor, for the first time. They’re still envisioning a traditional campsite, she explains, so when they see the comfortable bed with high thread count sheets and fluffy pillows and the expansive deck with rocking chairs surrounded by a lush, green forest, they’re filled with awe. Several of the tents are dog-friendly and all the balconies are childproof. For your convenience, the glampground’s website features a suggested packing list so you won’t arrive missing any essential items. Though there is WiFi in the reception tent, the sleeping tents are “off the grid,” allowing families to unplug and truly escape the noise and constant demands of technology and social media. A frequent worry of wannabee campers, is the campground bathrooms. Banish the fear at Firelight Camps! The Spa Bathhouse is heated and features hot showers, flush toilets, and a sauna.
A Campground that Cares
Firelight Camps is no fly-by-night outfit. The three owners put a lot of thought into their mission statement and their business’s impact on their guests and the surrounding land. The campground has four main tenets they adhere to. To reinforce their commitment to environmental preservation all the paths are lit with a low, fairy-type lighting, the tents are spaced far enough apart that people can enjoy all the sounds of nature, and the bar closes early so guests can sleep peacefully. Additionally, the Frisch’s used “green” materials and good forest management practices to construct the tents. When selecting their location for the glampground, they approached the Wiggins family, who own La Tourelle Resort and Spa on Danby Road in Ithaca, not only because they’re amazing to work with, but because they’re good stewards of their land.
Connection is also important to the proprietors of Firelight Camps and they see their hospitality tent and fire pit as places for guests of all ages to meet new friends and spend time with old ones. A final goal is immersion in the Finger Lakes way of life. As Firelight Camps Director of Culinary, Emma (a past finalist on Food Network) is exceptionally qualified to provide this. Breakfast foods are fresh and often seasonal. “We use places like Wide Awake Bakery for breads, Red Jacket for jams, and Krums Corners Bakery for granola. We want to support local business whenever we can,” she emphasizes.
What to Do
Firelight Camps welcomes families with children of all ages to try this unforgettable outdoor experience. Emma observes that, for younger children, glamping is like sleeping in a “big fort in the woods”! Kids of all ages will love the morning and evening campfires (with homemade marshmallows and s’mores, naturally!) adjacent to the hospitality tent. Adults will appreciate the nightly Happy Hour, featuring wine, beer, and spirits from the Finger Lakes region. If you’re feeling energetic, a bocce court is popular for any age and the glampground has plenty of quieter spaces to read or play board games. Another fun family activity is the guided Wild Edibles Hike in scenic Buttermilk Falls State Park, led by local foraging expert, Sarah Kelsen. Additionally, it’s possible to hike from Firelight Camps down to Buttermilk where there’s a lifeguarded swimming hole at the foot of the waterfall. “Even the most blasé of teens will be intrigued by glamping,” Emma asserts. “It’s such a hot, trendy thing to do. They’ll be excited to be the first in their group to try it and then be able to tell everyone else what it was like. It’s luxury chic!”
Summer Camps for Kids and Adults
This summer, Firelight Camps will be partnering with several local groups to offer their guests an even more stimulating experience. For kids, there will be two different day camps, Primitive Pursuits and Seed the Table. Primitive Pursuits teaches young people useful wilderness skills, like fire-building and plant identification, showing them how to make the most of the forest in a lively interactive environment. Seed the Table is a Cornell Cooperative Extension Program where kids will have the opportunity to harvest vegetables from a garden, go to farmers’ markets, and eat at a swanky restaurant. At the end of the week they’ll showcase a dish they learned how to make at camp for their parents. Campers will be transported to and from the activities and lunch will be provided. Older teens will enjoy more independent activities like renting paddleboards, kayaks, or canoes or simply sunbathing on one of the areas nearby beaches.
While the kids are keeping busy, Firelight Camps will be offering culinary tours to adults, run by Experience the Finger Lakes. If you prefer to set your own pace, Emma recommends you check out the myriad of historical, cultural, and outdoor attractions in the Ithaca area.
Make this year “The Year of the Glamper”!
According to Emma, the glampground is a wonderful summer vacation destination for Rochester-area families. “Ithaca’s very different from Rochester and it’s the perfect distance away. It’s far enough from home to make it feel like a real vacation but it doesn’t take a lot of planning or time to get there. You can just jump in your car and drive!” She notes that there are a multitude of ways that families can try glamping, either during the summer months or for a fall weekend. Several families can glamp together, hanging out in a natural setting without all the stress that traditionally falls on the host family. The glampground is also an ideal place for reunions, where family members can reconnect in a peaceful setting. And, just for you busy moms, Firelight Camps offers a Girls Getaway for Four!
Regardless of how you decide to give glamping a try, Emma and her partners envision Firelight Camps as a “base camp” where their guests can relax, rejuvenate, and recharge after a busy day exploring what the Finger Lakes region has to offer. “It’s an experience you’ll always remember,” Emma promises. “This region is ripe for both the culinary movement and outdoor appreciation.”
Plan a visit:
Firelight Camps, 1150 Danby Road, Ithaca
(406) 823-0142 | In**@************ps.com | www.firelightcamps.com
Sue Henninger is a contributing writer to Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent Magazine. For more stories by Sue, check out her author’s page
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