CAMP READ ASSOCIATION
Recap - Fall Weekend 2026
By Bailey Pitonza
Another Fall Weekend has come and gone. An event that started with a small group of friends reuniting to visit camp has expanded significantly over the years, allowing for more groups across multiple generations to do the same. This year about 35 members of the Association made the return trip home to Camp Read. It’s great to see traditions continue on and expand, giving many people an opportunity to reconnect with old friends at such a special place.
Many attendees gathered Friday night and went out for dinner to Eddie’s Restaurant in Ticonderoga. Very good food, excellent service, and lots of room.
Saturday started off with everyone gathered at Newton Hall. Tom Dietz welcomed the group and led us in Grace and a song near and dear to many, “We Welcome You to Old Camp Read.” From there, a delicious breakfast of french toast and bacon was provided, properly fueling us all for the day’s various activities. A special thanks goes out to Rob Wall and Bill Daley for leading the food effort and cooking all of our meals with the help of Jonathan Hall, Charlie Strohman, Ron Green, Bailey Pitonza, and others. As always, spirits were high and stomachs were full. Thank you to all involved!!
Next, people assembled their lunches and headed off for the day…
Our youngest group, composed of recent/current camp staff, spent the day together exploring the reservation. Only after, of course, a typical supply trip to the local shop, Crossroads, a camp staff favorite. Once back, it was time for a hike up Mt. Stevens!
L to R: Ryan Walsh, Tommy Keane, AJ Medina, Javier Liranzo, and Jim Morgan atop Mt. Stevens.
Greg Roman, Veronica North, and Bailey Pitonza had planned on a light day of casually strolling around Waubeeka and reminiscing at “the Point,” where Ann’s Lean-to sits on Waubeeka Lake. This was delayed a bit when Greg’s dog, Dutchess, managed to lock herself in the car. Thanks to the help of Greg Pitonza and a crowbar provided by Bill Daley, we managed to get the door unlocked just in time (Dutchess was getting hungry)! Once the mission was accomplished, most time was spent sitting around a fire reconnecting with close friends.
Greg Roman & Bailey Pitonza by the fire.
As the day came to an end, everyone reunited at the Dining Hall for a wonderful meal of ziti, appetizers, and ice cream. Continuing to adhere to the Association’s motto of “many hands make light work,” many assisted in a quick cleanup, while a few others helped prepare a lovely celebration of Jim Smith, who unfortunately passed away back in June. To read about the Celebration of Life in full, please see our separate recap.
.jpg)
Photo of Mt. Stevens, courtesy of Rob Wall.
Rogers Lake.
Read is a special place. The property is an absolute treasure, but it’s you all who help make it home. Thank you everyone for coming out and we hope to see you home again next year!
Until next time…
Yours in Scouting,
Bailey Pitonza
VP 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!
For all Association updates, click here to join our mailing list!