Camp Gorton is located outside of Dundee New York on beautiful Waneta Lake. During the summer, Camp Gorton offers both Cub Scout Resident camp and Boy Scout Resident camp programs. Check out our calendar of events to see what week works best for your Pack or Troop and to Register. During the off season, Camp Gorton is open for weekend rentals. We have cabins as well as tent sites available for use by your Scouting or Non-Scouting Group. If you would like more information about building or campsite rentals please view our Facilities Guide and contact Operations Manage Bob Blatz by email or phone (716) 512-6215
From Bath, New York and West:
Take Rt. 17 (I-86) East. Exit at Exit 38. Follow the signs for Rt.54 North (through Bath, toward Hammondsport.) Continue on Rt.54 North through traffic light (past Hammondsport turn-off). Bear right onto Rt.87 and climb hill. Follow signs toward Watkins Glen. Following sign toward Watkins Glen, turn right onto Rt.96. Rt.96 becomes Rt.23 at county line. Follow Rt.23; steep down, then steep up, then steep down again. Waneta Lake will be on left. Approximately. 0.5mi. past boat launch, turn left onto Rt.25.(Waneta Lake Rd.)
Camp Gorton entrance is 1.5mi. on left.
From Corning Area:
Take Rt.17(I-86) West. Exit at exit 40 (Savona). Turn right at the top of the ramp and follow Rt. 226 North to Tyrone for 12.7 miles. You will turn left onto Rt.23 into Tyrone (Post Office is on your right once you are on Rt.23) Follow Rt. 23 through villages of Tyrone and Weston for 1.9 miles (once past Weston, speed limit increases to 55 MPH, but don’t speed up too much as a turn is coming up soon). Turn right onto Rt. 25 (Waneta Lake Rd.)
Camp Gorton entrance is 1.5mi. on left.
From Elmira Area:
Take Rt.14 North into Watkins Glen. In village of Watkins Glen, you pass Schuyler County buildings on your right, then Post Office on your right, then Learn Motors Dodge dealership on your right. Turn left onto Rt.409 at traffic light just past Learn Motors. Only on Rt.409 about 1 mi. Turn right onto Rt.28 and Rt.23 toward Tyrone. (The two routes run together for a few miles.) Bear left onto Rt.23, to Tyrone, when they separate. At intersection with Rt.226, at stop sign, jog right then jog left back onto Rt.23. Follow Rt. 23 through villages of Tyrone and Weston for 1.9 miles (once past Weston, speed limit increases to 55 MPH, but don’t speed up too much as a turn is coming up soon). Turn right onto Rt. 25 (Waneta Lake Rd.)
Camp Gorton entrance is 1.5mi.on left.
From N.Y.S. Thruway (I-90):
Exit 42 . Geneva. Take Rt.14 South through Geneva and continue on Rt.14 towards Watkins Glen. Turn right onto Rt.54 south near Dresden. (Dresden is about half way between Geneva and Watkins Glen). Follow Rt.54 through village of Penn Yan. (Rt.54 snakes through village, but is well marked. Don’t be confused by Rt.54A. Stay on Rt.54 South). Approximately. 14mi. south of Penn Yan, turn left onto Rt.230. Follow Rt.230 through village of Wayne.(approx.2mi.) Rt.230 leaves Wayne on a descending grade. Turn right onto Rt.25 (Waneta Lake Rd.) at bottom of grade.
Camp Gorton is 1.5mi. on right.
Day
08:00 AM
08:00 PM
Night
06:00 PM
11:00 AM
Conditions for Use of Council Camping Properties
The best rules are the Scout Oath and Law with good common sense. To avoid misunderstanding, the following conditions also prevail.
Thank you for choosing a Five Rivers Council camp for your unit’s event! We take great pride in our facilities and welcome you and your unit.
There is a main road that runs through camp. There are 2 tunnels that proved access back and forth through camp. Walking on or across the road will result in the immediate expulsion from camp property. No Exceptions!
All renters must check in with the Camp Ranger/Caretaker upon arrival in camp.
Facilities must be left in the same or better condition then found.
Each building has a Standard Occupancy Capacity, per Fire Code. Going above that may result in an additional rental for the added users. If any incident or injury occurs due to overcrowding the user accepts full responsibility and liability for and injury or damage.
Occupancy is based on single metal spring cots (bunked where noted) with mattresses. Any area with double bunked beds must be left as double bunked to comply with State Fire Code. If any incident or injury occurs due to separating the bunks, the user accepts full responsibility and liability for and injury or damage.
Scouting Units:
Training and certifications as outlined in the Guide to Safe Scouting are required and the responsibility of the Unit. Failure to have current valid certification may result in no BSA insurance coverage for any incident/injury.
Certifications may include, but not limited:
- Youth Protection - Every adult
- Hazardous Weather - minimum of 2
- BALOO - Cub Scouts
- Safe Swim Defense (activity specific)
- Safety Afloat (activity specific)
- Climb on Safely (activity specific)
RESERVATIONS: Order and registration numbers will be issued with the completion of a paper reservation. Reservations will be confirmed only when payment and the reservation form are received in the Council Service Center. All reservations are issued on a first come basis. In the event of an emergency, the council reserves the right to cancel reservations on 24 hours’ notice. All fees, paperwork, certifications are necessary to complete a reservation. Great Falls Council and our camps cannot be responsible for any lost or damaged unit or personal items.
ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE: The unit must check in and out of camp with the Campmaster, Care Taker or Camp Ranger. Check‑in time must be prior to 10:00pm on Friday, but no earlier than 5:00pm Check‑out time is no later than 11:00am Sunday for weekend camping trips. The group must remain in camp until properly checked out by the Campmaster, Care Taker or Camp Ranger. If your arrival will be after 9:00pm, call the Care Taker or Camp Ranger. For day and evening activities check out is no later than 10:00pm.
VEHICLES: All vehicles are to be parked in assigned areas only; no vehicles are permitted past the camp parking lot without permission from the Care Taker or Camp Ranger. Carts or a wheelbarrow to transport equipment are available at Camp Gorton. Roads must be kept open for travel at all times. Camp speed limit is 5 miles per hour.
OFF LIMITS: All buildings and related grounds are off limits unless authorized by your reservation.
FIRES: Request the Campmaster, Care Taker, or Camp Ranger's instruction on the number and location of fires. Fires must not be built up to dangerous or nuisance proportions and must be tended at all times. Low-pressure gasoline stoves and lanterns using kerosene or other fuels are dangerous and prohibited on all council camp properties. Liquefied petroleum (LP) propane or butane lanterns or stoves are permitted only under adult supervision and control as well as an operating fire extinguisher. The use of fuels for starting fires are prohibited. Please follow all posted rules for firewood usage.
NOTE: Units are asked to follow the ninth point of the Scout Law, A Scout is Thrifty, for use of firewood for buildings. All buildings have firewood stacked near them for all units throughout the year. We ask that this wood is only used for heating buildings and not for campfires.
CAMP ACTIVITY HOURS: Activities are between 7:00 AM and 10:00 PM. At all other times, please confine your group to the limits of your campsite/building and be considerate of others. Do not enter other campsites or buildings without permission from their unit leader.
CONSERVATION: Service projects are designed to improve the environment are encouraged. See the Campmaster, Care Taker, or Camp Ranger for a project. The Outdoor Code should be in action at all times. Do not remove bark or fell any trees. The use of any wood tools must be supervised by a unit leader. The Campmaster, Care Taker, or Camp Ranger may deny the use of any tool wherever their use is deemed unsafe. If any live trees are cut or damaged, the unit will responsible for its replacement at a cost of $50.00 to $500.00 per incident.
DISPOSAL: Leave No Trace principal of “what is carried in should always be carried out” is in effect. Please plan accordingly.
SANITATION: Your unit will be assigned a latrine and is responsible for its proper use. No other method of human waste disposal is permitted. Food preparation or dishwashing water is never permitted at or near latrine washing area. These activities should only be performed in your campsite. Drinking water must only be obtained from certified camp taps and never from springs and streams. Your dishwater can be dumped into the latrine commode.
ACCIDENTS: Report all accidents, fires, or property damage to the Campmaster, Care Taker, or Camp Ranger at once. Observe the location of first aid and fire equipment and be prepared to cooperate with the Campmaster, Care Taker, or Camp Ranger if requested. Use of physician or hospital is at the expense of the unit requesting such treatment. The unit or group must arrange transportation of injured person.
FIREARMS: The use of firearms, archery equipment, gas guns, and air guns are prohibited except with approval of the Council Camping Committee and Shooting Sports Committee.
PROHIBITED ON CAMP PROPERTY: Alcoholic beverages, illegal substances, CBD's, firearms, fireworks, chainsaws, dogs, cats, other pets, floating devices and activities not consistent with the Scout Oath and Law and Guide to Safe Scouting are not permitted. Service dogs are permitted with proper documentation.
FISHING: Where applicable, fishing is permitted except in swimming areas. Live minnows are not to be used for bait.
LEADERSHIP: All camping trips must be led by a minimum of two Scouting America registered adult leaders, both of whom must be at least 21 years of age. Both leaders must have certification in Youth Protection Training. Pack camping and Webelos Den overnighters must be under the leadership of BALOO trained adults in accordance with National Scouting America Standards. If the leadership that is on the permit has changes since it was submitted proof of training must be presented upon arrival at camp. Only parents/guardians of Cubs that are present may attend. Scouts BSA/Venturing require all adults present to be registered with Scouting America.
BICYCLES: Bicycles are allowed on designated trails throughout camp using the Guide for Safe Scouting.
SWIMMING: Swimming is prohibited, except with approval of the Council Camping Committee and Aquatics Committee.
SMOKING/TOBACCO: All Great Falls Council properties are smoke / tobacco free. No smoking is permitted on camp properties, including vape pens/devices.
REFUNDS: Facility reservation fees are final. Refunds may be granted only if a cancellation is brought to the Councils attention. Individuals/Groups that cancel their reservations 14 days or more prior to the arrival date will receive a refund of the total rental fee less a 15% administrative service charge. No refunds will be given for cancellations made less than 14 days prior to the arrival date.
INFRACTIONS: The council Executive Board has designated the Care Taker or Camp Ranger or designee as authority for dealing with any rule infractions. If immediate safety of others or violation of camp rules are put in jeopardy, the unit may be expelled at once. For serious or repeated infractions such as not checking out of camp, the council may deny the use of the camps to a unit. If common laws are broken, local police may be notified.
DAMAGES TO PROPERTY: Damages to the property will be the responsibility of the unit. This includes any damages that may be found after the unit leaves the property.
Must check in with Ranger upon arrival.
Must check out with Ranger prior to departure.
Facility reservation fees are final. Refunds may be granted only if a cancellation is brought to the Councils attention. Individuals/Groups that cancel their reservations 14 days or more prior to the arrival date will receive a refund of the total rental fee less a 15% administrative service charge. No refunds will be given for cancellations made less than 14 days prior to the arrival date.
"A Scout is Clean" All areas are expected to be left in a better condition than they were found.