Our Story
Long before the first campers arrived in the summer of 1966, Fritz Stansell envisioned a sanctuary where artistic youth could flourish. With unwavering determination, he, along with his family and friends, transformed an abandoned camp into the vibrant Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. After securing financial backing and investing personal resources, including cashing in his teacher pension, Fritz opened the camp on July 4, 1966, welcoming 326 campers to a diverse array of programs in orchestra, band, jazz, choir, piano, art, and ballet. Over the years, Blue Lake has grown to serve nearly 300,000 participants, expanding its offerings to include the Suzuki Family Camp, Summer Camp for Adults, Blue Lake Public Radio, and the acclaimed International Exchange Program.