New York’s environmental agency is continuing its no-cost First-Time Camper Program for 2025, giving New York residents who have never slept under canvas the chance to try camping without buying a stitch of gear. For private campground and glamping operators, the state’s lottery system underscores brisk demand for turnkey, beginner-friendly experiences that can translate into paid packages elsewhere.
Open only to New York residents, the program supplies fully outfitted sites at seven Adirondack and Catskill campgrounds on select weekends in July and August. Registration was handled by an online lottery June 23-July 3, and winners were drawn at random, the DEC release says.
Each campsite comes with a family tent, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, camp chairs, a camp stove, a lantern and a stack of firewood. A Camping Ambassador meets participants on arrival, helps pitch the tent and leads a “Camping 101” lesson, according to the state’s program page.
Beyond learning to set up camp, guests have the opportunity to learn from DEC experts how to fish, hike, bird watch, paddle, and more, the page notes.
Eligibility rules required that the lottery was open only to New York residents who have never camped before, anywhere, and there is no fee to enter the lottery.
Winners will head to Luzerne Campground July 11-13, Mongaup Pond July 18-20, Cranberry Lake July 25-27, Kenneth L. Wilson Aug. 1-3, North South Lake Aug. 8-10, Meacham Lake Aug. 15-17 and Northampton Beach Aug. 22-24, the state announcement details.
Operators hoping to capture similar beginners can package the basics—pre-pitched tents, sleeping bags, pads, chairs, a stove, lantern and firewood—to remove the gear barrier. Adding a brief orientation reduces late-night help calls; rebranding staff as “Camp Ambassadors” elevates service. Partnerships with outdoor-gear retailers can offset kit costs, while mid-week or shoulder-season scheduling raises occupancy without cutting peak rates. A “graduation” discount toward a future stay keeps newcomers in the pipeline.
The initiative is entering its seventh year in 2025, having first been offered in 2018.
DEC’s 11-day lottery also offers a marketing lesson. Private parks can mimic the agency’s countdown-style sign-up, automate winner and wait-list notifications, harvest opt-ins for future promotions, and encourage user-generated content to build buzz without adding complex tech.
During the weekend, Ambassadors weave in Leave No Trace principles, invasive-species awareness and wildlife safety talks, reinforcing the program’s sustainability ethos, the online guide says.
The first campers arrive at Luzerne on July 11, and operators across the region can expect a spike in novice inquiries for gear rentals and introductory site bundles.
By lowering cost and knowledge hurdles, DEC’s model turns curious residents into confident outdoor enthusiasts—and gives the private sector a template for converting first-timers into lifelong, loyal guests.