by Jill VanDewoestine, June 2025
Over 110 volunteers from Corning Incorporated came to Camp Gorton on June 5, 2025, as a part of the annual United Way Day of Action event, sponsored by the United Way of the Southern Tier. This is the 5th year that Camp Gorton has hosted this event. Even though rain fell for most of the day, the volunteers made significant progress toward getting the property ready for the start of camp.
“This is an incredible event and has grown so much since 2021, when we had 40 volunteers painting the shower and toilet stalls,” said Kurt Groeger, Friends of Camp Gorton leader and member of the Great Falls Council Executive Board. “We maxed out last year at 140 volunteers and this year’s group is almost as big, even with the weather!”
“Without the help of the Corning Incorporated volunteers, our staff would not be able to open the camp and make sure it was ready for the Cub Scout and Scouts BSA campers coming in July,” said Groeger.
Matt Herold, Day of Action Volunteer and former camper
Volunteer Matt Herold said, “I used to come here every summer, and I’d have a grand old time. And one of the things I always wondered about was how they kept this place up and running and in such great shape. This is my 4th year in a row, I just like volunteering and helping out.”
Kate Cervoni, member of the United Way of the Southern Tier’s Board of Directors, said, “It’s been so great to see the project evolve from 30 volunteers in the first year to over 100 volunteers the past two years. It is a tremendous opportunity for folks at Corning Incorporated to network and team-build while serving a great cause! Camp Gorton is such a unique project because of its sheer size! It’s one of the only projects in the two-county coverage that can accommodate groups of such a large size. Many of our volunteers are repeat attendees and are bringing their colleagues to join them! It’s also so nice to see the number of volunteers that are involved in scouting in some way and show up on this day!”
Camp Gorton is still taking reservations for this year’s Cub Scout camp (July 8-12) and Scouts BSA camp for the third session (July 27-August 2). Camp Gorton is also available for facility rentals from September through early June for non-Scout groups. For more information, contact Karl Ziegenfus, Council Camping & Program Director.
Kate Cervoni, United Way Board Member and coordinator for Corning Incorporated Day of Action
Repairing picnic tables
Levelling tent platforms
