History 1970's

During the 1970's Camp Russell continued to build. Two more major buildings were constructed and the camp the way it appears today, began to take shape. Camp Russell also continued to achieve recognition for its conservation program.

In 1971 Camp Russell received the Gold Seal Award from the United States Department of Agriculture. This award was given for running the best conservation program in the country.

A new Health Lodge was constructed in 1972. The building was dedicated in memory of Bob Fager, a scoutmaster from Ilion. For many years Fager was a volunteer helper at Camp Russell and had recently died of cancer. The Health Lodge contained a three bed ward, an exam room and doctor's quarters.

Camp Russell Inc purchased more property in 1973. The purchase, known as the Putney property, was 79 acres of land that adjoined the conservation area. Shortly after the lad was acquired, the camp resold 15 acres of it.

The cost to attend Camp Russell in 1975 was $39 for those who registered early and $42 for those who did not. During 1975 work was well underway on a new headquarters building for camp. Begun in 1974 the log cabin headquarters building was completed in 1976, in time for the nation's bicentennial. This hand built structure was constructed through volunteer labor using logs and lumber from camp property. It contains a kitchen, an office and quarters for the camp director, as well as a meeting area with a fireplace. The headquarters was dedicated to John G. George, a New York State Trooper and an Assistant Scoutmaster from little Falls, who had died tragically in a winter time accident.

Frank DeVito, a Camp Russell staff member since 1927, marked his 50 years at camp by erecting a 60 foot totem pole in 1977. this totem pole, donated by the International Paper Company, was started in 1971 at the Woodsmen's Field Days at Boonville, New York. The totem pole, tallest east of the Mississippi, represented American legends, with Paul Bunyan and Smokey the Bear carved on it the totem pole was placed between two I Beams, for support, and for many years towered over the camp.

In the late 1970's the High Adventure program of Camp Russell began to evolve. Since the first years of camp, scouts had always made hiking and canoe trips into the Adirondacks. This new program offered something more. Camp Russell became a trail base from which scouts could be outfitted and guided throughout the Adirondack Park. A single troop left Camp Russell in 1976. From that point on the program grew. Today Camp Russell's guides take hundreds of scouts and leaders each summer on hiking and canoe treks across the lakes, rivers, trails and mountains of the Adirondacks.

The camp's conservation program was honored again when the New York state Conservation Alliance gave their annual award to Camp Russell in 1979. This organization consisted of all the Fish and Game Clubs in New York State and it rewarded Camp Russell for having the best program of outdoor education in the state.