Goshen Boy Scout improves century-old Middletown camp for children

Evan Barnes turned a service requirement into a hands-on upgrade for one of Middletown’s oldest child-focused camps. The New Hampton resident and soon-to-be Eagle Scout with Troop 4063 in Goshen organized work at Braeside Camp that left the grounds with handmade benches, a new fire pit and a protective fence overlooking a steep cliff.

The changes matter because Braeside is not just any summer camp. The not-for-profit has served local children for well over 100 years, and it says its mission is to create a safe, fun and educational summer camp experience while building confidence and lifelong memories for children in Orange County. The new fence adds a layer of safety at a spot that could have posed a risk, while the benches and fire pit give campers a better place to gather, rest and spend time outdoors.

Barnes’ project also built on an existing scouting tradition at Braeside. Another Eagle Scout, Jon Valerio, previously completed a similar project elsewhere on the property, underscoring a continuing connection between local Scouts and the camp’s upkeep. This time, people both inside and outside the troop showed up to help with construction, making the effort a community project rather than a one-person effort.

Braeside’s history gives the work added weight. The camp says it began in 1896 as the New York Herald Tribune Fresh Air Fund Camp, when it served as a place for children to recover from tuberculosis in the great outdoors. It became incorporated in 1912 as the Middletown-Goshen Convalescent Children’s Home, and the current campgrounds were donated in 1928 by Mr. and Mrs. Corbett in memory of their son, who died of tuberculosis at a young age.

Today, Braeside says it serves underserved and disadvantaged children at no expense to their families. The camp also says it began working with the Orange County Summer Youth Employment Program in 2016 and has partnered with the Department of Social Services to serve children and families in foster care, at risk for placement or in financial distress.

Barnes said the camp still has room for more improvements and urged people to contribute and volunteer, a reminder that the work done on the cliffside area was only one part of a larger stewardship effort. Braeside’s donation page says it welcomes volunteers and donated goods, while its registration page says DSS vouchers are accepted and a $50 deposit is required to reserve a spot. The camp’s 2026 season is set to run from June 29 through Aug. 21.