Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the Adirondacks: Lessons from the Mountains
A classic summer camp tug-of-war competition.
Our family has owned a camp in the Adirondacks for 45 years, more than the entirety of my adult life. While I can’t deny that time spent at our vacation home strongly influenced who I am, I would be remiss if I didn’t also count my weeks at summer camp in the western Adirondacks as an emotional touchstone and formative experience that made me who I am today.
Little did I know that an Adirondack summer camp helped shape one of America’s best-known Supreme Court Justices who was a trailblazer for gender equality and reshaped American law, securing rights for women and marginalized groups, leaving an enduring legacy of justice, perseverance, and equality.
In honor of Women’s History Month, we salute women who were shaped, influenced and positively affected by their time in the Adirondacks.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Adirondack summers: A justice transformed by the wilderness.
The Adirondacks have long been a retreat for those seeking inspiration, resilience, and a connection to nature. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was among the many who spent formative summers in this vast wilderness.
Adirondack hiking trip.
Before she became a legal powerhouse and a champion of gender equality, young Ruth spent over fourteen summers as a camper in the Adirondacks.
In honor of Women’s History Month, we explore how her experiences in these mountains may have shaped the trailblazing jurist she would become.
A summer retreat for a brilliant young mind.
Growing up in Brooklyn, Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s (then Joan Ruth Bader) parents sent her to summer camp in the Adirondacks when she was just four years old — a tradition common for many city children seeking the joys of the great outdoors. The region's rugged beauty provided a stark contrast to the bustling streets of New York City.
RBG’s summers in the Adirondacks immersed her in activities emphasizing independence, problem-solving, and teamwork—qualities that would serve her well in her future legal career. She attended camp every summer until her 18th birthday.
Summer camp creates strong bonds.
Camp Che-Na-Wah, the all-girls camp she attended in Minerva, NY, was structured to encourage leadership, self-sufficiency, and intellectual curiosity.
The Adirondack camps of the mid-20th century often reinforced these values by engaging girls in traditionally male-dominated outdoor activities, such as hiking, canoeing, archery, and even debating.
Justice Ginsburg thrived in this environment, where she learned the value of perseverance and self-reliance, traits that would later define her career.
Learning resilience from the wilderness.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg's experiences in the Adirondack wilderness significantly shaped her resilience. The challenging landscapes, steep trails, unpredictable weather, and occasional blackfly swarms likely fostered a deep determination, preparing her for the obstacles she would face later in life.
Paddling in the Adirondacks.
Long before she argued landmark cases before the Supreme Court, she was learning to navigate the rocky paths of the Adirondack wilderness.
Justice Ginsburg’s experience in nature taught her the patience and endurance necessary to reach the summit, literally and figuratively. The solitude of the mountains may also have offered moments of quiet reflection, allowing her to contemplate the world beyond the immediate expectations placed upon young women of her era.
Was it in the Adirondacks, among towering pines and pristine lakes, that she envisioned a future where she could carve her path?
Sowing the seeds of equality.
The Adirondacks were also a place where traditional gender roles could be challenged. Many summer camps in the region during the 1940s and 1950s encouraged young women to develop confidence in their abilities, whether in athletics, academics, or leadership roles.
At camp, Ginsburg likely experienced an environment where she was encouraged to voice her opinions, engage in spirited discussions, and compete with her peers.
An Adirondack campfire.
This exposure to a setting where girls were empowered to be strong and outspoken likely reinforced her belief that gender should never be a barrier to achievement.
Years later, as a Supreme Court Justice, Ginsburg would recall moments when she faced discrimination simply because she was a woman.
She faced constant challenges, whether it was justifying her acceptance to Harvard Law School—where a spot could have gone to a man—or being denied job opportunities despite her impressive academic achievements.
Despite these obstacles, Ruth Bader Ginsburg tirelessly fought against systemic bias. Her summers spent in the Adirondacks, where the camp staff treated her as capable and independent, quietly reinforced her belief that equality was not just an aspiration, but a necessity.y.
Carrying the Adirondack spirit forward.
Throughout her legal career, Ginsburg embodied many principles she may have absorbed during her time in the Adirondacks. The same tenacity required to summit a mountain was evident in her persistent legal battles against gender discrimination.
Reaching the summit together.
RGB’s ability to remain composed under pressure—whether during oral arguments, dissents, or questions from the bench—was reminiscent of the patience learned while waiting for a perfect sunrise over an Adirondack lake.
Even later in life, Ginsburg enormously appreciated the outdoors and physical activity. She famously adhered to a rigorous fitness regimen, which included push-ups and planks well into her eighties. This dedication to strength and resilience echoed the lessons learned in the woods of the Adirondacks: that perseverance is key and that true strength comes from within.
A legacy that echoes in the mountains.
Today, as we reflect on Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s contributions to American law and society, it’s worth remembering that her formative years included time spent among the Adirondacks' forests, lakes, and trails. Her legacy echoes in the mountains, connecting us to a shared history and inspiring us to continue her work.
The young girl who once paddled a canoe through a mountain lake grew into a woman who navigated the highest echelons of justice with the same steady determination.
Who runs the world? Photo courtesy Camp Che-Na-Wah
For those of us who cherish the Adirondacks, her story reminds us that these mountains do more than provide breathtaking views—they shape character, inspire dreams, and instill values that can change the world.
In celebrating Women’s History Month, we honor Ruth Bader Ginsburg not only for her legal mind but also for the strength and resilience that were nurtured, in large part, by her time in the Adirondack wilderness.
So the next time you find yourself atop an Adirondack peak, looking out over the vast expanse of green and blue, take a moment to reflect on the young camper who once roamed these woods—who later became a legend, a champion of justice, and an enduring inspiration for generations to come.
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