OWNERS & DIRECTORS
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William Bennett & Franklin Gray
1914 - 1917 William Bennett and Franklin Gray
1918 - 1921 F. Gray and Herman J. Norton Sr.
Early in the 20th-century, William Bennett was principal of West HS in Rochester (bottom, left), while Franklin J. Gray was the school's director of physical education and health (top, left). Frank Gray had joined the Keewaydin (Temagami) staff in the early 'teens and approached Bennett about starting their own camp. Both Bennett and Gray were owners and apparently Gray was director from the founding summer in 1914 through 1917, when Bennett withdrew. Gray remained as director and owner through 1918 when staffer and phys. ed. professional Herman J Norton of Rochester joined as partner, and assumed director duties. Gray remained with Camp assisting Norton until 1921, when he moved to his college town of Springfield, Massachusetts to become director of health and physical education, and he started a new camp in Rangeley, Maine. (below: The Grays with 1914 campers.)
Herman J 'Chief ' & Becky Norton
1918 - 1921 Franklin Gray and Herman J. Norton Sr.
1922 - 1961 Herman J. Norton Sr.
Herman J. 'Chief' Norton and Rebecca Conway 'Becky' Norton lived in Rochester, NY where Norton became director of physical education and health for Monroe County Schools. Overseeing programs at both the large city high schools, East and West, he was close colleagues with Gray and Bennett and was pulled into senior staff roles at Pathfinder early on. Following Bennett's step back from ownership, Gray went partners with Norton in 1918 and remained until 1921. From then until 1962 when he passed the torch to Bill Swift, Sr. - an astounding 43 seasons altogether - Chief Norton was co-owner then sole owner at the Pathfinder helm through pandemics, depressions, world war, and massive societal changes. So many of Pathfinder's core values and routines date to Norton's influence and vision. First among many of his mantras was, 'Camp is for the kids,' and he famously regaled staff meetings with others, like 'Organization, Deputization, Supervision, and Leadership,' 'Battling the Elephants,' and providing campers 'The Thrill of Achievement'. Chief Norton relied largely on gifted adult staff men, professionals in education, phys. ed, coaching, health and counseling. Among many were Ralph Tichenor, Norm Roggow, Lou Montgomery, Roger Hancher, E.K. Smith, Nick Zona and Tom Dodd. History records that his top camp directors during this long tenure were Ralph Tichenor and Nick Zona. (top, left: on the dock with Becky; bottom, left: with longtime director 'Tick' Tichenor; below: a moment's peace with Mrs. Norton in their original owners' cabin, now the PX).
William V. 'Bill' and Wendy Swift
1962 - 1965 Bill Swift and Frank Horton
1965 - 1975 Bill Swift and Roy S. Thrall
Bill Swift began his Pathfinder camper career in 1939, becoming a staff man and Headman before graduating Cornell University and beginning a career with Eastman Kodak Co. in his hometown of Rochester. His last staff season was 1953 but during the '50s he avidly continued tripping in the Park, often spending time around the Highland Inn where he became close with the Paget family and met Dave and Jonesy Wainman. Dave was a deputy chief ranger for Algonquin, and the two couples envisioned an outfitting operation to help Park visitors canoe trip without need of guides to carry heavy packs and canoes. Algonquin Outfitters was born just before Swift took over ownership of Camp Pathfinder from the Nortons in 1961-2. With Pathfinder years under his belt and clear ideas about a renewed focus on tripping, Swifty immediately set about furnishing camp with new canoes, trip gear, and high standards for Headmen. Trips headed farther afield, too. Frank Horton, about to be elected to Congress from western New York, was brought on board, partnering with Swift 1962 - '65, but soon stepped back. Senior staffer Roy Thrall then went partners with Swifty, 1965 - '75 as co-owner and camp director.
Ultimately, each man wished to own Pathfinder outright, and in 1975 Swifty after a bidding process sold his shares to Roy, moving on to focus full time on AO's growth. (top, left: Swifty, Wendy, Sue & Rich with young family, ca. 1995; left: young Bill Swift at a Dining Hall supper, ca. 1950; bottom, left: Bill Swift in staff team photo, 1945; top, right: classic photo, Horton, Swift, Norton make the 'deal', 1961; bottom, right: Swifty on an Algonquin trip campsite, quite possibly Lavielle Lake, ca. 1950s.
Roy S. Thrall
1965 - 1975 Roy Thrall & Bill Swift
1975 - 1982 Roy Thrall
Roy Thrall was director of music education for the Town of Greece public schools in Rochester, NY when he joined the Norton team at Pathfinder. During WWII years Thrall was not at camp, having enlisted to serve in the Army. He saw considerable action in the South Pacific under MacArthur. While in the service he became a winning boxer, before returning to education and Pathfinder summers.
Roy's ownership continued to pursue a top-notch tripping program at camp, and benefitted from continued service by the Roggow, Chestnut and Montgomery echelon. During Swifty's and Roy's tenures, Pathfinder also began to also see more senior roles involvement from college-aged staff. And notably, Roy hired Mary Chestnut as waterfront director, the first female staff member in a role at Pathfinder apart from a senior staff spouse, kitchen worker or nurse.
Walter M. 'Mac' Rand
1983 - 1989 Mac Rand and Amy Rand
1990 - 1999 Mac Rand and Ann Shirrell
Mac's father Stan Rand was a Buffalo boy who attended Pathfinder in the 1930s, followed in the '60s by sons Michael ('Digger') and Walter ('Mac') when the family lived in Connecticut. Mac had the longer staff career, rising to Headman and leading trips under DOTs like Bob Roggow, the Coakleys, and contemporary Mark Smith.
Mac's last staff year was 1977, after which he moved on first to the insurance business and later to teaching, but he was a frequent camp visitor. He agreed by a handshake deal with Roy at the Forest Five in 1982 to take over Pathfinder ownership. The first Rand seasons 1983 - 85 saw a sentimental return of numerous past staff and camper friends to launch his tenure. Among many during the 1980s, Glenn Arthurs was an all-around alumni booster, and Mike Sladden returned to join the trip staff and later volunteer. Notably, Mac's ownership years included the first James Bay AA trip in 1986, experimental outdoor education group visits by students from Elmwood Franklin School, where he taught science, the advent of 5-year Pathfinder Reunions with the 75th anniversary year, and greater opportunities for staff skills training.
At the 85th anniversary Camp Reunion dinner in August 1998, Mac shocked the alumni-packed Dining Hall with news that Camp would be for sale. In the room were a number of alums who jumped to support the next chapter for the Rands and Pathfinder, including Arthurs and Sladden.
Mac's kids Matt and Katie had long careers at camp, with Katie becoming a waterfront director and area supervisor, returning up to the present day as an alumna in residence.
Glenn W. Arthurs
2000 - 2023 Glenn Arthurs & Mike Sladden
Glenn was an age-7 'Mic-Mac' when he started his long Pathfinder tenure in 1960. Hailing from Buffalo and Youngstown, NY, Glenn had a long camper career, and returned after a hiatus as a Headman. Among his canoe trips were storied AA journeys in the Kipawa-Dumoine country, some of his campers going on to trip staff roles for years to come.
A full time investor and financial advisor based in Buffalo, Glenn supported camp recruitment and was a general Pathfinder booster. During his ownership years, he guided Camp's finances adn focused on key renovations and additions to the Island campus, which helped the Pathfinder operation flourish five months each year. A key partnership with Sladds was major investment in wood-canvas trip canoes, made and restored by Jack Hurley, and in creation of a shop and program right on the Island.
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Before and after he bought in with Sladds, Glenn's sons Wyatt and Ryan rose through the ranks to lead trips and join shoulder-season staff crews, while daughter Lindsay was a loyal Northway camper who worked on the early 2000s Pathfinder staff. Today, Glenn's grandsons are just beginning their Pathfinder journeys.
Michael Sladden
2000 - 2023 Mike Sladden & Glenn Arthurs
2000 - 2023 Mike Sladden, director
Starting Pathfinder as a third-generation camper from Rochester, Sladds entered as a 'Cree' in 1970, following his dad, grandfather, uncles and cousins to the Island. His Pathfinder career paused for college years and a stint of sailing, then he returned in 1984 to work for Mac. For 15 years he was an off-and-on staffer or alumni in residence, before joining Glenn to take over in Fall 1999. Attending under Roy and Swifty, then tripping and working for Mac, including time on spring and fall crews, certainly influenced his time as a director-owner.
Priorities during his time included a surge in high-quality staff training, certification and enrichment, upgrading the campus facility and canvas canoe fleet, opening up more James and Hudson Bay river routes to the AA classes, building camper/staff retention, and filling the spring and autumn calendar with outdoor ed., family, and alumni programming. Sladds' involvement with the Ontario Camps Association was impactful in growing Canadian camper enrollment, and guiding Pathfinder through the Covid pandemic. He was named a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Camp Directors in 2011, and an Honorary Life Member of the OCA in 2026.
Sladds' sons Quin and Jack literally grew up at Camp, becoming staff members and active alumni to the present day. In retirement, Sladds looks after the Pathfinder archive and helps with the biennial Spruce Root staff experience. He guides Park visitors and is a board member of the Friends of Algonquin Park, living in the Park on Whitefish Lake.
Will Hopkins & Diane Davis
2024 - Will Hopkins & Diane Davis
2024 - Will Hopkins, director
Barrett & Cindy Wadsworth
2024 - Barrett & Cindy Wadsworth, owners
Blurb about Wadsworths
Barrett Wadsworth & Cindy Wadsworth
2024 - Today, Camp Owners with Will Hopkins & Diane Davis
Blurb about Wadsworth's