CAMP READ ASSOCIATION
Camp Read Songbook Presentation - July 2025
Recap by Tom Dietz
Photos by 2025 Camp Photographer Abel Lockhart
On July 2nd, four Camp Read Association members traveled to Camp Read to present the first edition of a new Camp Read Songbook. They included Tom Dietz, Simon Riker, Peter Scott Oberdorf and Bill Langham (L to R, above). Simon served as our Song Program Leader and did a fantastic job compiling not only the words but music, chords, and historical context (composer, lyricist, tune) for 15 Camp Read songs. In addition to the four members mentioned above, thanks go out to Rich Lutomski, Dick Trier, and Bob Gwinn who also contributed to the Songbook.
Tom started the presentation off by introducing himself to the Camp Read Staff of 2025 as a fellow Staff member from the mid-sixties, and as a Past President of the Camp Read Association (CRA) serving from 1989 to ‘94. He also introduced the CRA, and explained why we were there.
For those who may not know, the Camp Read Association is a formal organization of Friends of the Curtis S. Read Scout Reservation formed in 1989. The Association has a tri-fold brochure which provides info on our mission, purpose, membership, organization and basically what we do for Camp.
As an example, we funded and installed the fishing docks in Waubeeka and Buckskin, and had volunteers from the Association conduct the weekly fishing program.
Those volunteers reported back that the friendship, teamwork and comradery continues on as it was when they worked here on Staff. Camp Read traditions live on, and those volunteers are back again this year and include Tom Liberati, Reid Reynolds, Bill Daley and Jon Hall.
We were at camp today to give the Staff and Camp a Songbook of a few traditional and some new Camp Read songs. This is the first of hopefully many editions. The purpose of the book is to retain and bring forward some of the traditional Camp Read songs, and, to provide a vehicle to add more current songs and thus help the Songbook grow for use by the 2025 and future Staffs.
Bailey Pitonza, Tom Holl, & Keith Lauria installing roof flashing.
The first song we sang was appropriately: We Welcome You To Old Camp Read which has been around since the 1950’s.
The Staff was asked: “How many know this song”?
Not too many replied!
But after a once-thru by the “Song Program Quartet”, the 2025 Staff did a good job on the second pass.
Simon Riker, Song Program Leader, introduced himself as an Eagle Scout and Camper at Read from 2001 to 2006 with Troop 2 Rye. He was a music major and is a working musician in NYC which made him a perfect fit for the Songbook Program. He worked with CRA members and another Eagle Scout who works on Broadway shows to put together this first version of the Songbook. Simon and his father, Bill Langham, joined the Association after the 100th anniversary reunion in 2019 and have been active contributors ever since.
Simon introduced the Song Program and emphasized that the book was for all songs sung at camp and new songs will be needed for the book to stay alive into the future. He is also an outstanding writer so please read his Editor’s Notes inside the front cover of the Songbook. It explains why this book was created, and what it is meant to be.
The Songbook resides on the Music Page, campread.org/music, created by Simon. He has also done an outstanding job as our Web-Master.
Peter Scott Oberdorf was up next to sing.
It has been one of Peter's life-long dreams to publish a book of the Camp Read songs, so he was very supportive of the Song Program and an active participant in the singing and development of the book. Peter has been at Camp Read at Brant Lake every year since 1951. Seventy Four Years and counting. He provided much input on songs from the 1950’s thru the 2000’s.
Peter, whom has performed in many a church choir, camp dedication, meal time program and campfire, led two traditional Camp Read songs:
Hear, Hear Us Cheering, and Forever and Ever.
It was nice to hear the Staff sing much louder to Hear, Hear Us Cheering showing that they knew the song. They did a good job of “rocking” Newton Hall!
Bill Langham, CRA VP Membership stepped forward to talk about the Association. He was a camper at Read from 1957-1959 and spoke about the Association website where you could find stories going way back about the history and origin of the camp. Although he had never been on Staff, the Curtis S. Read Scout Reservation (CSR) is his “Happy Place” and he has many fond memories of camp. It is impressive that a father and son hold CSR as a special place and by participating in the Camp Read Association enables them to maintain a connection to this cherished Camp.
Bill reminded us that all interested in the care and wellbeing of Camp Read are welcome to join the Association, and that all Camp Read Staff are automatically members, free of charge. However, to receive notices of events and activities, contact information must be provided. 19 signed up to be on the contact list that day, including 2 who used the QR code.
Other benefits to the current Staff include:
Annual Staff Awards: Funded by the Association, these awards are presented to Current Staff Members from each camp annually who has been exemplary in the performance of his or her duties during that summer. An “Overall Staff Member of the Year” is also selected to receive this highest honor.
And:
Staff Appreciation Dinner: held annually around the holidays is hosted by the Association for the past year’s camp staff.
In closing:
The 2025 Staff from each camp were challenged to contribute at least one song to the next edition of the Camp Read Songbook. Their entries are due at the end of the 2025 summer camp season.
The Song Program Quartet then led Happy Trails To You which is traditionally sung at the end of each five year reunion at camp since they began in 1979. The 2025 Staff joined in on the second pass and helped fill the room with melodious singing and even some harmony!
Thanks to Rich Stockton, Sandy Owens and Kris O’Connor for allowing us to be a part of Staff Week. Best of luck to the 2025 Staff for a great summer camp season and thanks for your active participation in the Song Program!
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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