CAMP READ ASSOCIATION
Eager Beaver Weekend 2026
The Camp Read Association got together in June for our annual Eager Beaver Work Weekend. Fences and roofs were repaired, waterfronts set up, the new Terribile Pavilion was stained, the Horse Barn received brand new doors, and many tents were set up! Thanks to everyone involved, it was a successful step towards readying camp to host over a thousand scouts and scouters.
Tom Dietz, Tim Haag, and Frank Graessle spent the day constructing new doors for the Horse Barn over at STEM Ranch. The doors came out looking great! The only thing left was a quick paint job and they’d be ready to be installed. The bottoms of the old doors had been worn down over years and years of use.
Brand new barn door, ready to be painted!
Mike Tripodi and his crew started off at the Buckskin waterfront. With Read hosting National Camp School again this year, the waterfront would need to be fully set up for operation well before staff week started. Docks had to be installed, boats moved into the water, swimming areas established, and the pavilion set up for training and education. While Camp School primarily operates in Buckskin, the aquatics curriculum does cover small boat sailing. So, once they finished in Buckskin, it was time to move down to the Waubeeka waterfront and ready it for sailing. Thanks to Mike’s expertise and leadership, Saturday ended with both waterfronts ready for use by NCS!
Speaking of Waubeeka, in the spring a new pavilion was constructed in memory of long time Read scouter, Dave Terribile (please see our recap of the dedication ceremony). The Terribile Pavilion stands in the First Year Camper area, right on Waubeeka lake near the spillway. It will be the first program area that new scouts attend, welcoming them to all the wonder that Read has to offer. Though before serving as a place for new scouts to meet and learn the fundamental scouting skills that will serve them for life, one last touch was needed. A crew consisting of Tom Holl, Owen Landrey, Matt “Porch” Decker, Bailey Pitonza, and Keith Lauria spent the day staining the exterior of the pavilion.
A view of the finished Terribile Pavilion from the main camp road.
Owen, Tom, and Bailey (L to R) staining the main cabin.
Tom Liberati, Lou Alagno, and Reid Reynolds worked to replace rotted fence posts at the Buckskin Office and waterfront. Despite one particular post that proved difficult to remove, work went smoothly from all accounts. Even so, this stubborn post was no match for Tom!
Before...
After. Success!
Greg Pitonza led the effort to repair a portion of the Chapel roof with Jerry Wiggers, Dan Murray, Abe Marron, and Lindsey Dyndiuk, It was damaged from a fallen tree in the offseason, with holes through the tin roofing and into the pine ceiling inside, along with dented ridge cap and eave sections. The weather was on their side, with rain holding off until roof repairs were complete. Thank you to Greg and his crew!
The largest work crew as usual spent the day setting up canvas. Poles and outriggers had to be hauled from the lean-tos in each campsite to every tent platform. Only then, after that already massive effort, could tents begin to be set up. The crew immediately started erecting tents and through a fine illustration of the Association’s motto, “many hands make light work,” enough tents were set up to host all of camp school and more!
None of the above work could have been done without everyone being fed. And fed very well, I’ll add. A very special thanks goes to Rob Wall for leading menu planning, food preparation/cooking, and service. A brief, but tremendously heavy thunderstorm came through, taking out power to camp and the wider area just as people were gathering for dinner. Thankfully, Rob, Jonathan Hall (assistant chef and chief dishwasher), and company acted quickly! They moved their whole operation outside to the dining hall porch and finished up the remainder of cooking on the grill.
Rob and Jonathan finishing up dinner on the grill.
The largest work crew as usual spent the day setting up canvas. Poles and outriggers had to be hauled from the lean-tos in each campsite to every tent platform. Only then, after that already massive effort, could tents begin to be set up. The crew immediately started erecting tents and through a fine illustration of the Association’s moWithout Rob and the help of Jonathan, the good times that were had by all would not be possible. Thank you to Rob and all those that lent him a hand!
Thank you to everyone who made the trip out and gave up a weekend in service of Camp Read. Thank you to Ranger Kris O’Connor and Council Executive Rich Stockton for hosting us all! A tremendous amount of work was accomplished in only one day and it’s all thanks to everyone that participated.
Yours in Scouting,
Bailey Pitonza
VP of Activities
Camp Read Association
For generations, summer after summer, scouts have been making memories at Camp Read. In 2020, the pandemic may have forced regular activities to pause, but campers from years gone by are sharing their stories here in an effort to fill in the gap. Read on to get your fix of Camp Read hijinks until we can safely fill a parade ground once more!
Have a story of your own? Please submit to webmaster@campread.org!
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