(ROCHESTER, NY) - Today, Senator Jeremy Cooney (D-Rochester), announced a $1,000,000 state grant he secured for Massawepie Scout Camp in the Adirondack State Park. Senator Cooney is a proud Eagle Scout and was recently honored as a 2026 Outstanding Eagle Scout awardee.

 

“Scouting took a young city kid to Massawpie and showed me the beauty and power of the great outdoors. Still today, each year more than a thousand campers from the Greater Rochester area call Massawepie Scout Camp home,” said Senator Jeremy Cooney. “As a former Massawepie camper and staffer, I know first hand how transformative this experience can be for young men and women — from growing leadership skills to forming lifelong friendships, campers return a more confident, more independent version of themselves. This is exactly what young people need. I’m proud to secure this funding so the next generation of Rochester scouts can enjoy the same opportunities.”

 

Jonathan Widmark, Scout Executive/CEO said, “The quality of a camp program depends in part on the systems working behind the scenes. Our current dining hall has reached the limits of the number of campers it can effectively serve, making these improvements both necessary and timely. Modernizing the dining operation will provide the capacity and flexibility we need, improve the daily rhythm of camp and allow us to keep the focus where it belongs — on delivering an outstanding experience for every Scout. We are grateful to Senator Cooney for recognizing that need and helping us take this important step forward.”

 

Brendon Crossing, President of the Seneca Waterways Council in Scouting America said, “Massawepie has remained strong because people at every level have chosen to invest in it — families, alumni, volunteers, community partners and public leaders. Senator Cooney’s support adds an important new chapter to that tradition, giving us the momentum to address major needs today and strengthen the camp for the young people who will depend on it tomorrow.”

 

Massawepie Scout Camp, owned by the Seneca Waterways Council (Greater Rochester) is a national Scouting destination in the Adirondack State Park that spans over 3,800 acres and is one of their largest wilderness properties in the Northeast. Each year, Massawepie hosts a summer camping program with over a thousand campers attending, 90% of whom come from across the Greater Rochester region. 

 

The camp offers the opportunity to build connections, learn new skills, and experience the Adirondack outdoors. Massawepie features a wide range of program areas, including an outdoor skills area, a handicraft lodge, an ecology and conservation lodge, and athletic fields. Campers can earn merit badges in each area, demonstrating mastery of specific skills. Funding will support improvements that enhance camp operations and ensure it can serve more young men and women for years to come. 

 

Today’s funding announcement comes at a monumental moment as the camp prepares to celebrate their 75th anniversary next year.