DeGraff’s Eco-Camp Resort offers some of the best camping in Alberta available today. For over 35 years, we have provided superior service to our campers.
Our Values
Leadership:
At DeGraff’s Eco-Camp Resort, you receive the kind of quality and service you expect from a leader. Our resort is evolving as the needs of our customers change. Our staff is not only trained in the operation of a camp resort, they are also widely recognized leaders in outdoor, environmental and wilderness education. We love to teach outdoor activities, and have coached outdoor sports to the Olympic level. You can rest assured that you will not only enjoy your summers camping at DeGraff’s Eco-Camp Resort, you will also have the opportunity to learn some excellent outdoor activities. It’s all about having fun in the sun at DeGraff’s, and we will help you learn how to have even more fun!
Teamwork:
We make it our responsibility to know you and your family, we are committed to your enjoyment of the summer at DeGraff’s. We work closely with you to ensure that the experiences we provide are tailored to meet your unique needs. Let us know what you or your family would like to learn to better enjoy your summers, and we will do our best to provide an appropriate learning opportunity.
Customer Relations: At DeGraff’s Eco-Camp Resort, our highest priority is satisfied customers. Superior customer service is the hallmark of DeGraff’s Eco-Camp Resort. You are important to us and you can expect us to go the extra mile for your business. We welcome feedback from our campers, beefs or bouquets, so that we can better serve you.
Environmental Protection and Preservation: We love our beautiful spot at the lake, and we are happy to share it with our campers. We want everyone to enjoy themselves at our resort, but our first goal is to keep our property as natural as possible. For over 35 years we have been trying to minimize our footprint on the environment while we provide quality camping experiences to an ever-increasing number of campers. We face a major challenge as we prepare to expand our resort in the next few years, but you can rest assured that any development which occurs will be founded on solid environmental practices. We will also continue to ensure our shores are available for people, especially youth groups, to come and learn about environmental protection, while they learn to better enjoy activities in the outdoors. It’s all about having fun, but it is also all about keeping our “natural playground” in great shape for future campers to enjoy! We are just temporary users of this land and lake, the permanent residents are our furry and feathered friends, the fish in the lake, and our beautiful plants, trees and shrubs. Our goal is to keep it as natural as possible.
Camp Manager Biographies
Family tradition continues! Ingo Hentschel, son of longtime owner/operator Margrit DeGraff, has taken over the reins in Managing the DeGraff’s Eco-Camp Resort along with Connie Gottselig. Ingo was a large part of the success of DeGraff’s Resort over the past 35 years.
Ingo Hentschel was the Athletic Director and Recreation Coordinator at Lakeland College for the past 18 years, where he also taught adventure tourism courses, coached cross country ski and canoe racing teams, and guided mountain and river out trips for the outdoor recreation club. Prior to that he was an outdoor education instructor and outdoor activities coach at the University of Alberta and Camrose Lutheran College, and head coach of the Alberta Biathlon Team. Ingo was in charge of the U of A Explorations program for two years, where he lead advanced students on numerous extended self propelled wilderness expeditions of up to 28 days duration. He also worked as the graduate assistant to Mors Kochanski and Mark Lund for two years at the U of A spring and summer outdoor education camps, prior to teaching introductory and advanced courses himself. Ingo loves outdoor activities. He has a Masters Degree in Physical Education, and his main goal in life is to teach others all kinds of outdoor pursuits so they too can better enjoy our awesome natural settings.
Connie Gottselig {aka ‘SURF’) was the Long Lake JFW Camp Director, Wilderness Living Skills Instructor, Leadership Programmer and Outreach Coordinator for the past 12 years. She has had a tremendous impact as an outdoor leader and mentor, helping many youths become positive role models and environmental stewards. Connie is known far and wide for the incredible energy and enthusiasm she brings to all her programs. Her lifetime goal is to preserve our natural environment through personal practices and by instructing Adventure Tourism, Environmental Awareness and Outdoor Recreation Programs. She strives to maintain superior standards in safe and quality programming. Connie is a graduate of Fish and Wildlife, Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement, and Outdoor Leadership Diploma programs and is certified in more outdoor oriented courses/skills than you can shake a stick at.
Connie and Ingo are now managing DeGraff’s Eco-Camp Resort and have started up their own company;
‘Wild By Nature Adventures’.
Spring, summer, fall and late winter they teach and lead outdoor activities, wilderness travel and living skills and environmental education courses in Canada, midwinter they instruct surfing and guide surf safaris in Costa Rica. They are looking forward to sharing their wonderful camp resort and stellar programs with you.
Visit Connie and Ingo at www.WildByNatureAdventures.com
Working Together for a Healthy Planet
DeGraff’s Eco-Camp Resort and Wild By Nature Adventures are active members of the World Wildlife Fund, SPCA , the Medicine River Wildlife Refuge, and Costa Rican Marine Turtle, Shark and Wildlife Sanctuaries and Refuges.