Jeff MurrayElmira Star-Gazette
George Bacalles, of Corning, grew up in scouting.
Bacalles was a Cub Scout and Boy Scout, and his father, former state Assemblyman James Bacalles, served for several years as president of the Five Rivers Council, Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America.)
Now Bacalles is himself a member of the Five Rivers Council executive board, and among his fondest memories are the times he spent involved in the multitude of character-building activities at Camp Gorton, the 340-acre council-operated facility on Waneta Lake in Schuyler County.
"I use many of those skills in my everyday life," Bacalles said. "It also benefits adult leaders as well. It provides hands-on experience. It prepares young people to be career-minded adults."
Camp Gorton is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Five Rivers Council is planning a big celebration at the camp Saturday, July 13, and everyone is invited.
A century of service to youth in the Finger Lakes region
The Five Rivers Council serves Scouts and their families in eastern Allegany, Chemung, southern Livingston, Schuyler, Steuben, and western Tioga counties in New York, as well as Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, and Tioga counties in Pennsylvania.
A centerpiece attraction of the council is Camp Gorton.
The camp got its start in 1922 on the property of Dr. William Gorton on the west side of Waneta Lake, before Gorton and several other local leaders came together in 1924 to purchase the property across the lake where camp sitstoday.
The camp, best known for its summertime activities, is open year-round, and some weekends in the fall and winter months are often busier than the summer season, Bacalles said.
The facility typically serves between 800 and 900 Scouts during the summer season each year, he said. That's down from about 1,500 in the past, and reflects a general decline in Scout numbers as other rival activities increase in popularity, Bacalles said.
While the camp is run by the Five Rivers Council, between 30-45% of all Scouts who use it come from outside the council territory, including from Rochester, Buffalo, Westchester County, and even as far away as Virginia Beach, according to Bacalles.
Hands-on activities include boating, fishing, shooting sports, soccer, scavenger hunts and Frisbee competitions, along with numerous opportunities to earn merit badges.
"People who come to the camp are overwhelmed by the possibilities," said council executive board member Kurt Groeger. "The amount of energy at the camp is phenomenal."
Camp Gorton teaches skills that 'stick with Scouts for life'
Nicholas Sweet is the program director at Camp Gorton, and he's also a graduate.
Sweet spent 10 summers at the camp growing up, starting as a Webelo Scout, then graduating to Boy Scout and eventually as a member of the staff.
He describes his long history with the camp as amazing.
"Camp may offer merit badges on the surface, but it truly offers experiences, friendships, and skills that will stick with Scouts for life," Sweet said.
"We offer a large variety of merit badges, focusing in on creating fun classes that focus in the activities that these badges enable Scouts to do," he said. "Requirements are completed as written, but we go above and beyond. The entire staff is excited to teach and mentor Scouts in their journeys."
Camp Gorton is the last resident Scout camp in the Finger Lakes Region, according to Groeger.
Friendships forged during the Camp Gorton experience are the best, said Groeger, who added he's met some of his closest friends while learning about teamwork and problem solving there.
"The friendships are so much stronger," he said. "You really pull together and take it to a different level."
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Celebrate the Camp Gorton centennial with the Scouts
The official 100th anniversary celebration of Camp Gorton is open to the public and will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, with on-site registration starting at 10.
The day will include opportunities to tour the camp and watch several activities, a softball game, skits and songs, and a main program with guest speaker Ted White, former Camp Gorton waterfront director and now division director of cell biology and biophysics at the University of Missouri.
The adult registration fee is $50, for youth 11 to 18 admission is $15, and children 10 and under attend free. The registration fee covers lunch, a souvenir patch, all programs and activities for the day and a donation to support summer camp activities and ongoing facility maintenance and improvements.
For more information about Camp Gorton and the centennial celebration, go to fiveriversbsa.org/camping/camp-gorton-dundee-ny/camp-gorton-celebration.
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