Current Improvement Projects

Developing Camp Nooteeming to serve the Scouts of the Third Millenium is a huge undertaking and there is a lot to do to meet this task. Most of our improvement projects operate concurrently to one another and may span over several years as our resources and volunteers are few. Consider volunteering to speed along one of the projects below or spearhead another.

This page is updated irregularly so contact Michael Kelsey for precise and current details. Last updated December 2004.

Rifle Range
Ranger’s Cabin
Parking Plans
Electrical Upgrades
Roadways
Red Trail Maintenance
Latrine Project
Camping Facilities
Map Project
Spillway Bridge
Administrative Building Upgrade

Rifle Range

In 2002 and in 2003 the National Rifle Association granted Camp Nooteeming grants to construct a safety retaining wall around the rifle range, bleachers, gunroof roofing and pressurewashing of the range and adjacent buildings. The committee and volunteers accomplished each of these tasks but there is still a need for a back roof on the retainer wall and coil stack on the sidewall. Grant money has been set aside for these projects.

Ranger’s Cabin

The first building visitors come to at camp is the Ranger’s Cabin. To assure a favorable first impression the cabin has received a complete makeover in recent years. Begun in 2003 soil around the foundation has been excavated and old siding, roofing and rotted deck removed. New collar ties, sill plates, windows, doors, flooring, roofing, deck, siding, gable, paint and wallpaper were installed by Camp Nooteeming volunteers and local construction companies. The cabin is still in need of stainwork and trimwork.

Parking Plans

Underscored by the annual Cub Scout Haunted Harvest Fest that in 2004 attracted crowds in excess of 2,600 (so much that parking had to be done offsite and particpants bussed in) parking remains a problem at Camp Nooteeming. Plans are presently in the work to clear-cut 4-6 acres of relatively level ground behind Nooteeming Lake for an all-purpose field that can be used to accomodate large traffic needs. Plans are also in place to completely eliminate the present parking lot in the center of camp and replace it with a program area.

Electrical Upgrades

Overseen by a properties committee member, buildings at Camp Nooteeming have undergone recent electrical upgrades including major safety issues like furnace rewiring, basement lighting, and replacement of fixtures. Trimming back tree branches from powerlines, reposting danger signs and developing a comprehensive manual on the camp’s electrical needs and patterns is being employed.

Roadways

In 2003 the main roadway leading into camp was graded. rolled and blacktopped. Improvements to other camp roads included adding drainage ditches, culverts and gravel. Road improvements are still needed throughout camp especially the backroads leading to Cayuga, Seneca, the Buffalo Field and the Taconic, Hudson and Catskill lean-tos and will hopefully soon receive prompt attention.

Red Trail Maintenance

Winding around the camp’s perimeter the Red Trail crosses several stream crossings and muddy areas that until now have made for a perilous or wet crossing. Beginning in August 2004 the properties committee has begun building bridges along the nature trail. Wide enough to eventually accomodate mountain bikes the current plan calls for a total of 12 bridges with the construction rate depending upon the speed of donations. Trail re-routing, clearing of debris and signage are also current needs of this popular Camp Nooteeming program area.

Latrine Project

Upgrading latrines to provide for all-around enjoyable camping at Camp Nooteeming is a major priority of Camp Nooteeming. To this end a brand new waterfront latrine was installed in 2001 by the Order of the Arrow. Plans are presently being developed to build a series of low-maintenance, biologically composting latrines in camp. With the first slated to be built in 2005, latrine use at Camp Nooteeming will soon undergo rapid improvements.

Camping Facilities

Over the course of the last decade (1993-present) the Catskill Lean-to campsite has been completely rebuilt by the Order of the Arrow with the fifth lean-to presently under construction. The Taconic Lean-to campsite has been adopted by LaGrangeville’s Troop 82 with improvements including a fourth lean-to and a proposed cooking pavilion. Plans are also underway to build an entire campsite of enclosed patrol-size cabins complete with built-in bunkbeds.

Map Project

With the most recent Camp topographical map dating from the late 1950s, work has commended on updating the official Camp Nooteeming map. With a team of surveyors plotting the camp’s borders and landmarks begun in January 2005, the new map will permit future building projects, planning, serve orienteering and hiking program needs and eventually lead to a more aesthetically pleasing camp program map.

Spillway Bridge

As part of a project to clean-up the waterfront and entranceway of the camp the bridge over the dam spillway that begins the four-mile Red Trail is slated for replacement in 2005. The existing bridge (pictured) is showing signs of age prompting replacement. With 24-foot length steel already donated for decking and structure support the bridge is being planned as a safe and cultured addition to the camp that will serve as the primary entranceway to the camp once the multi-purpose parking field is cleared and established behind the lake.

Administrative Building Upgrade

One of the older buildings still standing at Camp Nooteeming the “AB” has begun renovation in small but calculated phases. In 2003 the interior was painted and the interior roofing removed in 2004. The cabin is scheduled to get a new roof in 2005 as well as other cosmetic improvements.