History

 CHARLES BEDFORD.

At the height of his career, he served as the Executive VP of Standard Oil Company. On May 13, 1942, Mr Bedford donated the 3,650 acres of Partridge Park & Clear Pond Estate to the Adirondack Council / Boy Scouts of America, to establish the Camp Bedford Scout Reservation.

Camp Bedford was dedicated at 2:30 pm on July 4, 1943 as it welcomed the first Scout Resident Campers. In the 1950's, Camp Bedford was recognized as one of the finest, if not "the" finest, Scout Camps in the nation. In 1953, over 500 Boy Scouts from Clinton, Franklin, & Essex Counties participated in its 5 week Scouting Program that started on July 5th. The annual operating budget during those years was approximately $25,000 in 1958, a record 629 Scouts registered to attend Summer Resident Camp at Camp Bedford.

On November 2, 1967, Majorie Merriweather Post, heiress to General Foods and the world's wealthiest woman at the time, announced a $62,000 donation to fund the Central Dining Hall.

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Camp Bedford has served for decades as a significant destination for generations of Boy Scouts. As a result of the leadership and generous support from a multitude of contributors & volunteers over the years, Camp Bedford has made an important and sustained impact on the lives of many.