camps up

Scouting in New York

Scouting in New York has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live. In fact, the first National Boy Scouts of America Headquarters was in New York City, and the Girl Scouts of the USA National Headquarters is located at 420 5th Avenue, New York, New York.

Early history (1910-1950)

The 1924 National Order of the Arrow Lodge Meeting was held at Tuxedo Park, New York, and the 1929 National Lodge Meeting was held at Kanohwahke Lake, New York.

Most Girl Scout units were originally segregated by race according to state and local laws and customs. The first troop for American Indians was formed in New York State in 1921.

Recent history (1950-1990)

In the 1970s and again in the 1990s, upstate New York went through a huge consolidation of small, historic councils.

Scouting in New York today

There are twenty-two Boy Scouts of America local councils in New York.

Allegheny Highlands Council

The Allegheny Highlands Council serves Scouts in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany counties in New York and McKean and Potter counties in Pennsylvania. It has two camps: Camp Merz and Elk Lick Scout Reserve. The council is divided into 3 districts:

Seneca District
Two Lakes District
Whitetail District

Order of the Arrow – Ho-Nan-Ne-Ho-Ont Lodge 165

Baden-Powell Council

Baden-Powell Council was formed in 1998 by the merger of the former Baden-Powell Council (headquartered in Dryden, NY) and Susquenango Council (headquartered in Binghamton, NY). The council's new headquarters are in Binghamton, NY. The council covers five counties in New York State—Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Tioga and Tompkins—as well as Susquehanna County in Pennsylvania.

As of late-2006, the Council has five districts:

Chenango District (Chenango County and part of Broome County)
Delahanna District (Susquehanna County and part of Broome County)
Hiawatha District (Tioga County and part of Broome County)
Taughannock District (Cortland and Tompkins Counties)
Frontier District (Venturing units in Tioga County and part of Broome County).

The Baden-Powell Council operates two Scout Camps:

Camp Barton is a Boy Scouts of America camp located on on Frontenac Point on the west shore of Cayuga Lake in New York State's Finger Lakes. It is approximately nine miles north of Ithaca.

Camp Barton has nine summer camping sites with 2- and 4-man platform tents, as well as winter lean-tos in one of the two gorges which surround the camp. The camp facilities include many water-based activities on the camp's half-mile of waterfront, including rowing, motorboating, sailing, waterskiing and swimming, as well as handicrafts, nature, rifle and archery ranges, and scoutcraft areas. Camp Barton also has a special Intro to SCUBA course.

The camp's buildings and cabins are available for off-season use by Scouting and other youth organizations. For more information contact the Council Office.

Camp Tuscarora is a Boy Scouts of America camp located on 1100 acres (4.5 km²) around Summit Lake in New York State's Southern Tier.

The camp has twelve summer camping sites with 2-man platform tents. It also has four winter units with a center lodge equipped with wood stoves, refrigerators and electricity and four 8-man lean-tos. Camp Tuscarora also offers a renovated Nature lodge, dining hall, a nationally known Handicraft program, and a climbing wall.

Cayuga County Council

Finger Lakes Council

The Finger Lakes Council serves the Finger Lakes region of New York. The council Service Center is located in Geneva, NY. Its camp is Camp Babcock–Hovey, located in Ovid, NY. In 2007 the camp had a gravel Road put in from the entrance to the Dinning Hall and in 2008 constructed a new Science and Tech Building to be used to promote Science and Technology to 14-18 year olds. The council is divided into 2 districts as of July 1 2008:

Mohawk (Eastern Half)
Seneca (Western Half)

Five Rivers Council

Five Rivers Council serves Scouts in the Southern tier of New York and the Northern tier of Pennsylvania. The council is divided into four districts:

Andaste District
Indian Waters District
Williamson Road District
Thunderbird District

Order of the Arrow – TKäen DôD Lodge #30

It operates two camps: Camp Brulé, in central Pennsylvania, and Camp Gorton on Waneta Lake in New York.

Camp Brulé (pronounced "Brul-a"), named after Etienne Brule, is in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania. It was founded by the General Sullivan Council with headquarters in Athens and jurisdiction over Bradford, Tioga and Sullivan Counties.

The camp covers the forty two acres of Elk Lake and of forest land bordering it. Pancost Hall and Crandall Hall are memorials to Alfred H. Pancost, Chief Scout Executive and founder, and to Harry H. Crandall, first president of the Council.

On the parade ground a native boulder bears a bronze plaque in memory of Eagle Scout twin brothers from Troop 2, Towanda, Pennsylvania, Air Force Lieutenants John R. and William G. Winter. Born August 11, 1925, they were killed in action in World War II on August 11, 1945. The plaque was erected by employees of the Patterson Screen Company.

Greater New York Councils

The Greater New York Councils (GNYC) has a unique organization in that it is sub-divided into boroughs led by a borough executive.

Greater Niagara Frontier Council

Greater Niagara Frontier Council serves the territory of Erie and western Niagara Counties. The Boy Scout summer camp is Schoellkopf Scout Reservation. The Cub Scout camp is Camp Scouthaven. The council is organized into seven districts:

Cayuga District
Erie Shores District
Indian Trail District
Niagara Gateway District serves the Niagara County portion of the council
Niawanda District
Southern Hills District
Theodore Roosevelt District

Order of the Arrow – Ho-De-No-Sau-Nee Lodge

Hiawatha Seaway Council

The Hiawatha Seaway Council was formed in 1999 as a result of the merger of the Hiawatha Council and Seaway Valley Council. The council is headquartered in Syracuse, NY. The council currently owns 3 camps, including Sabattis Scouting Reservation, Camp Portaferry, and Camp Woodland. The council covers five counties in New York State — Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, Onondaga, and St. Lawrence.

The council is divided into six districts:

Interlakes District (Western Onondaga County)
Northern Lights District (St. Lawrence County)
Oneida District (Northern Onondaga County)
Onondaga District (Southern Onondaga County)
Ontario District (Oswego County)
Tri-Rivers District (Jefferson and Lewis Counties)

Order of the Arrow – Kayanernh-Kowa Lodge 219

The World Brotherhood Camporee is a weekend-long camping trip that Boy Scouts from Canada and the U.S. participate in. The camporee is an annual event and takes place either in the Hiawatha Seaway Council, New York or in the Loyalist Area of the Voyageur Council, Ontario, Canada.

The main events include Council Strip trading and a dance party.

Hudson Valley Council

The Hudson Valley Council is headquartered in Salisbury Mills, New York, and also serves Scouts in Pennsylvania. The grave of Daniel Carter Beard lies within the Hudson Valley Council, where an annual service is held.

Its districts are: Rockland, Heritage, Delaware River, and Dutchess.

Order of the Arrow Lodge – Nacha Nimat 86

Iroquois Trail Council

Iroquois Trail Council, with its headquarters in Batavia, NY, serves Scouts in western New York. It was created in 1994 from a merger of two councils: Genesee (Genesee, Livingston, and Wyoming Counties) and Lewiston Trails (eastern Niagara and Orleans Counties). It has two camps: Camp Dittmer and Camp Sam Wood. As of 2007, the council is divided into three districts:

Nundawaga District (Livingston and Wyoming Counties)
Seneca District (eastern Orleans and Genesee Counties)
Towpath District (western Orleans and eastern Niagara Counties)

Order of the Arrow – Ashokwahta Lodge

Otetiana Council

Otetiana Council serves the vicinity of Rochester, New York.

Otschodela Council

The Otschodela Council of the Boy Scouts of America provides among the highest quality scouting programs, training and events. Serving the needs of Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie Counties in upstate New York.

Otschodela Council was formed in 1924 as the Otsego-Schoharie Council; the third county added in 1926 and the name changed to Otschodela (OTsego-SCHOharie-DELAware). Otschodela Council, headquartered in Oneonta, NY, has retained its name and three-county borders ever since. It is divided into two districts:

Deerslayer District
Foothills District

Order of the Arrow – Onteroraus Lodge

Within its programs the council provides opportunities for scouts to participate in summer camp at Boy Scout Camp Henderson, camporees, day camps and more. It provides valuable leader training at all levels of scouting.

Henderson Scout Reservation

Henderson Scout Reservation is made up of over of woodlands and is home to a lake that are both managed and maintained for the best possible Scouting experience. It has twelve campsites located in close proximity to the program facilities. It runs six weeks of Boy Scout Summer Camp Programs and Webelos Summer Camps The camp also provides year-round camping at any of its lodging facilities, campsites or lean-tos.

Located 20 minutes away from the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and the Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta. The Otschodela Council with the National Baseball Hall of Fame has developed a Boy Scout national patch for the Baseball Hall of Fame Scavenger Hunt.

Revolutionary Trails Council

serves a portion of central New York.

Rip Van Winkle Council

Rip Van Winkle Council serves scouts in the Ulster and Greene counties of New York. The council's camp, located in the Catskills, is Camp Tri-Mount. The council is divided into two districts:

Algonquin District
Mohican District

Order of the Arrow – Half Moon Lodge

Suffolk County Council

Suffolk County Council serves scouts in Suffolk County, on Long Island, New York. Baiting Hollow Scout Camp is the council camp. It is located in Calverton, New York. The council has 4 districts:

Benjamin Tallmadge District
Matinecock District
Sagtikos District
Trailblazer District

Order of the Arrow – Shinnecock Lodge

Theodore Roosevelt Council

Theodore Roosevelt Council, originally called Nassau County Council, is one of the nation's oldest, having been home to its namesake, the former US President, who was a founding member of BSA.

The John M. Schiff Scout Reservation is named after John M. Schiff, the son of Mortimer L. Schiff; both of whom were World Scout Committee members and notable early Boy Scouts of America (BSA) leaders. The reservation is operated by Theodore Roosevelt Council, BSA and located near Wading River, New York.

The reservation comprises camp located in the Long Island Pine Barrens and surrounds the 30 acre "Deep Pond". It was originally named Camp Wauwepex in 1921 in Miller Place. In 1922, it was moved to its present location. At the time the camp comprised . Camp Wauwepex was renamed the John M. Schiff Scout Reservation when the Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation was closed in 1979.

The reservation ceased being used as a summer camp in 1976, but still gets lots of use for troop, family, district and council events.

Onteora Scout Reservation is located in Livingston Manor, New York. The camp consists of and adjoins the Catskill State Forest Preserve. It was opened in 1955 due to overcrowding in Camp Wauwepex. At its peak in the early seventies, it was the nation's third largest Boy Scout Camp in terms of attendance (after Philmont and Ten Mile (16 km) River,) accommodating 1200 Scouts at a time utilizing two dining halls and three water fronts. It was closed in 1991 and reopened in 1998 with a completely volunteer staff, and in 2003 opened for a full season with a paid staff. It is the only Boy Scout camp to have been closed, and then reopened.

The council has 4 districts:

Iroquois District
Pequott District
Rough Rider District
Shelter Rock District

Order of the Arrow – Buckskin Lodge

Twin Rivers Council

Twin Rivers Council is based in Albany, New York. It currently comprises seven districts:

Fort Orange District
Mahikan District
Schenectady District
Sir William Johnson District
Saratoga District
Wakpominee District
Adirondack District

The Order of the Arrow Lodge for Twin Rivers Council is Kittan Lodge

The council maintains five camps, three of which are used as summer residency camps.

Rotary Scout Reservation

Rotary Scout Reservation is a Boy Scout camp of the Twin Rivers Council, located in Poestenkill, New York. The original part of the camp was donated by the Troy Rotary Club in 1922. Summer camp program areas include the Trail to First Class Program, where young Scouts can work on requirements needed to earn Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class ranks. RSR offers 40 merit badges in 9 program areas. In addition to the merit badge option, RSR offers an open schedule which allows Scouts to plan their day with a variety of outdoor experiences. The camp also offers several additional program areas designed to appeal to older Scouts, which include COPE, Mountain Biking, Chillicothe, and Thunderbird Corps.

RSR's totem is the Thunderbird.

The Chillicothe program at RSR offers Scouts and Leaders a look at American Pioneer life in the 19th century. Scouts are encouraged to try their hand at activities such as candle making, flint and steel fire starting, blacksmithing, woodsman tools, tin-smithing and more. Chillicothe is a program unique to RSR, and it is an often underutilized program. It was designed to encourage the return of older Scouts who had earned most of the merit badges offered by the camp.

Other council camps are:

Camp Wakpominee, located in Fort Ann, NY.

Camp Wakpominee offers both Year Round Camping and an excellent Summer Camp. The camp is located on over in the Adirondacks in Upstate New York and boasts one lake and three ponds. The summer program, run by national camp school graduates and trained instructors, is designed to meet the needs of all Scouts, from Cubs to Eagles. The Summer camp offers two week long Cub Day Camp sessions as well as a six week long Boy Scout Resident camp. The Camp also offers Adirondack treks throughout the Summer Camp season.

Woodworth Lake Scout Reservation, located in Gloversville, NY. Situated in the Adirondacks, Woodworth Lake is an excellent starting point for a hike into the Adirondacks. There are no resident summer programs run out of this camp, however it is open for weekend camping trips as well as a summer Cub Scout day camp.

Camp Boyhaven, located in Middle Grove, NY. Each summer, it runs a resident Cub and Webelos Resident Camp for five weeks. It runs a total of seven sessions. Each summer it camps up to 1000 campers.

Camp Bedford, located near Meacham Lake State Campground on Route 30 between Gabriels and Malone NY, closed after sixty-two years of service due to financial reasons. Some say the financial situation stemmed from the 2005 merger of the Adirondack Council and the Twin Rivers council.

Westchester-Putnam Council

Westchester-Putnam Council serves Scouts in southeastern New York State.

Girl Scouting in New York

There are 21 Girl Scout council offices in New York.

Girl Scouts of The Adirondack Council Queensbury, New York

Girl Scout Council of Buffalo and Erie County, Inc Buffalo, New York

Girl Scout Council of Central New York Syracuse, New York

Girl Scouts of Dutchess County Poughkeepsie, New York

Girl Scouts - Foothills Council Utica, New York

Girl Scouts of Genesee Valley West Henrietta, New York

Girl Scout Council of Greater New York New York, New York

Girl Scouts, Hudson Valley Council Albany, New York

Girl Scouts-Indian Hills Council Binghamton, New York

Girl Scouts, Mohawk Pathways Council Schenectady, New York

Girl Scouts of Nassau County Garden City, New York

Girl Scouts of Niagara County Lockport, New York

Girl Scouts of The North Country Plattsburgh, New York

Rockland County Girl Scout Council New City, New York

Sarah Wells Girl Scout Council Middletown, New York

Girl Scouts-Seven Lakes Council Phelps, New York

Girl Scouts of Suffolk County Commack, New York

Girl Scouts of Southwestern New York Jamestown, New York

Thousand Islands Girl Scout Council, Inc Watertown, New York

Girl Scouts of Ulster County Kingston, New York

Girl Scouts of Westchester-Putnam Pleasantville, New York

Edith Macy Conference Center

Edith Macy Conference Center is a national conference and training facility of the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) It is located in Briarcliff Manor, New York. The site has had four names: Camp Edith Macy (C.E.M.) - University In The Woods, Edith Macy Training School, Edith Macy Girl Scout National Center and since 1982, Edith Macy Conference Center. However, it is often simply referred to as Macy. The John J. Creedon Education Center and Camp Andree Clark are part of the complex. Macy hosted the Girl Guides and Girl Scouts Fourth International Conference in 1926. Camp Andree Clark hosted the GSUSA's Silver Jubilee Camp in 1937.

Scouting museums in New York

Camp Boyhaven Scouting Museum, Middle Grove, New York
Ten Mile River Scout Museum, Narrowsburg, New York
[[William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt|William Hillcourt] Scout Museum and Carson Buck Memorial Library], Constantia, New York

International Scouting units in New York

In addition, there are Armenian Scouts and Estonian Scouts in Exile in New York City, and Külföldi Magyar Cserkészszövetség Hungarian Scouting maintains two troops in New York City and one in Buffalo. Also, there are large contingents of active Plast Ukrainian Scouts in New York City.