Scouting in New York

Headquarters

Horseheads, NY

Website
fiverivers.org

Five Rivers Council serves Scouts in the Southern tier of New York and the Northern tier of Pennsylvania.

Organization

The council is divided into four districts:^[15]

Andaste District
Indian Waters District
Williamson Road District
Thunderbird District

Camps

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

Camp Gorton

Camp Gorton located on Waneta Lake in the middle of the Finger Lakes provides over 350 acres of land with some of the best facilities in Upstate New York for Boy Scout camps. In 2014 Camp Gorton is celebrating the 92nd year of existence and 90th anniversary of being a scout camp on the east side of Waneta Lake.

Camp Gorton provides a program that is well-suited for younger scouts and is known for having an excellent waterfront and shooting sports programs. At the waterfront they offer facilities for fulfilling the Water Sports merit badge requirements as well as those for the Motorboating merit badge for no additional fee. Their Shooting Sports ranges have 16 slots for fulfilling the Rifle merit badge requirements and has plenty of cover for Scouts, Leaders, and Parents to come and observe.

Camp Brulé

Camp Brulé (pronounced "Brul-a"), named after Étienne Brûlé, 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 200 acres (0.8 km²) 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, Army Air Corp 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.^[16]

Greater New York Councils

Greater New York Councils (#640)

Owner

Location

350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 7820 New York, NY 10118

Country

United States

Council President

Ray Quartararo

Council Commissioner

Thomas S. Bain

Scout Executive

Ethan V. Draddy

Website
bsa-gnyc.org

The Greater New York Councils, Boy Scouts of America serves the Scouting families of the five boroughs of New York City.

Eagle Scout oath aboard destroyer USS Oscar Austin
1974 - Boy Scout leader recruiting Latino youth in Bedford-Stuyvesant district of Brooklyn

Greater Niagara Frontier Council

Greater Niagara Frontier Council (#380)

Owner

Headquarters

Buffalo, NY

Website
wnyscouting.org

Greater Niagara Frontier Council serves the territory of Erie and western Niagara Counties, with its headquarters in Buffalo.

Organization

The council is organized into four districts:

Tatonka^[17] District
Red Jacket District
Onondaga District
Polaris District, serving Northern Erie and Western Niagara Counties.

Camps

The Boy Scout summer camp is Schoellkopf Scout Reservation, formed in 1938, located in Cowlesville, NY, and donated by the Schoellkopf family. It normally runs 6 weeks of traditional summer camp sessions each year. The summer camp offers shooting sports, a COPE high ropes course program, an older boy Kodiak adventure/leadership program that includes things like SCUBA diving and horseback riding, and a variety of program areas focusing on summer camp merit badges.

The Cub Scout camp is Camp Scouthaven, located in Freedom, NY (just outside Arcade).

Longhouse Council

Longhouse Council (#373)

Owner

Headquarters

Syracuse, NY

Country

United States

Founded

2001

Website
cnyscouts.org

Longhouse Council was formed in 2010 as a merger of Hiawatha Seaway Council and Cayuga County Council. The Hiawatha Seaway Council was formed in 1999 as a result of the merger of the Hiawatha Council and Seaway Valley Council.^[18] The council is headquartered in Syracuse, NY. The council currently owns 2 camps, including Sabattis Scouting Reservation and Camp Woodland.^[19] The council covers six counties in New York State — Cayuga, Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, Onondaga, and St. Lawrence.^[20]

Organization

The council is divided into seven districts:^[20]

Cayuga County District (the former Cayuga County Council area)
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)

As of 30 June 2009^[update], Longhouse Council acquired a seventh district: Cayuga County.^[21] This was previously Cayuga County Council, which lost its charter.^[22]^[23]

Order of the Arrow

Lowanne Nimat Lodge 219, formed January 1, 2010 from Kayanernh Kowa and Tahgajute lodges.^[24]

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 Longhouse 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.^[25]

Hudson Valley Council

Hudson Valley Council (#374)

Owner

Headquarters

Newburgh, NY

Country

United States

Founded

2001

Website
hudsonvalleyscouting.org

The Hudson Valley Council is headquartered in Newburgh, 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.

Organization

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

Dutchess contingent at the 1977 national Scout jamboree, held at Moraine State Park, Pennsylvania

Camps

The Hudson Valley Council operates two year-round use properties - Camp Bullowa in Stony Point, NY and Camp Nooteeming in Salt Point, NY.

Order of the Arrow Lodge

Nacha Nimat 86^[26]

Iroquois Trail Council

Iroquois Trail Council (#376)

Owner

Headquarters

Batavia, NY

Country

United States

Founded

2001

Website
itcbsa.org

Iroquois Trail Council, with its headquarters in Batavia, New York, 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 Trail (eastern Niagara and Orleans Counties).

Troop 1 was first formed in 1912, first chartered in 1914. When it was disbanded in late 1994 troop 1 had 80+ years continuous charter with the BSA.

Organization

As of 2007, the council is divided into three districts:^[27]

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

When the two councils merged, it originally had four districts.

Niagara District (Niagara County)
Orleans District (Orleans County)
Genishaua District (Genesee and northern Wyoming County)
Letchworth District (northern Livingston and southern Wyoming County)

Camps

It has two camps: Camp Dittmer (Boy Scout) and Camp Sam Wood (Cub Scout). Sam Wood was the first Eagle Scout in Genesee County. Sam Wood was a member of Troop 1 St. James Church, Batavia.

Order of the Arrow

Ashokwahta Lodge No. 339

Otschodela Council

Otschodela Council #393

Owner

Headquarters

Oneonta, NY

Country

United States

Founded

2001

Website
otschodela.org

The Otschodela Council of the Boy Scouts of America serves 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.

Organization

It is divided into two districts:

Deerslayer District
Foothills District

Order of the Arrow

Onteroraus Lodge^[28]

Henderson Scout Reservation

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 is made up of over 600 acres (2 km²) of woodlands and is home to a 70-acre (0 km²) 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.^[29]

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.^[30]

Revolutionary Trails Council

Revolutionary Trails Council (#400)

Owner

Headquarters

Utica, NY

Country

United States

Founded

2001

Website
rtcbsa.org

Revolutionary Trails Council serves a portion of central New York. In 2001, the Land of the Oneidas Council and General Herkimer Council merged forming the current council. The council provides Scouting to Herkimer, Oneida and Madison Counties as well as part of Hamilton, Otsego and Lewis Counties.

Rip Van Winkle Council

Rip Van Winkle Council (#405)

Owner

Headquarters

Kingston, NY

Country

United States

Founded

2001

Website
rvwbsa.org

Rip Van Winkle Council serves the youth of Ulster and Greene counties of New York, and headquartered in Kingston. The Rip Van Winkle Council has the distinction of having 6 of the first 21 Eagle Scouts from the Class of 1912, the first class of Eagle Scouts.

Organization

The council is divided into two districts:

Algonquin District (Ulster County)
Mohican District (Greene County + Saugerties)

Camps

The council's camp, located in East Jewett, NY, is Camp Tri-Mount.^[31]

Order of the Arrow

Half Moon Lodge^[32]

Seneca Waterways Council

Seneca Waterways Council (#397)

Owner

Headquarters

Rochester, New York

Country

United States

Founded

2009

Website
senecawaterways.org

Seneca Waterways Council (SWC) serves youth in the Counties of Ontario, Wayne, Seneca, Yates, and Monroe and the city of Rochester, New York.

Suffolk County Council

Suffolk County Council (#404)

Owner

Headquarters

Medford, NY

Location

Suffolk County, NY

Country

United States

Founded

April 6, 1919

President

Mark Businski

Council Commissioner

Dot Young

Scout Executive

Dirk Smith

Website
sccbsa.org

Suffolk County Council serves scouts in Suffolk County, on Long Island, New York. Baiting Hollow Scout Camp is the council camp.

Theodore Roosevelt Council

Theodore Roosevelt Council (#386)

Colonel Theodore Roosevelt Has His Own Preparedness Parade at Oyster Bay

Owner

Headquarters

Massapequa, NY

Country

United States

Website
trcbsa.org

Theodore Roosevelt Council supports Scouting in Nassau County, New York.

Twin Rivers Council

Twin Rivers Council (#364)

Owner

Boy Scouts of America

Headquarters

Albany, New York

Country

United States

Website
http://trcscouting.org/

Twin Rivers Council is based in Albany, New York. It serves a large geographic area that encompasses 13 counties of Northeastern New York. On February 14, 2006 the Adirondack Council and the Twin Rivers Council merged to form the Twin Rivers Council #364. This merger was the result of recommendations made by both of the respective Council Executive Boards with National that neither council could continue to exist financially and both would need to merge to become a new solvent council. The new council has within its boundaries much of the Adirondack Park, one of the Northeast's wildest places and a haven for Scouting activities.

Organization

It currently encompasses seven districts:

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

Camps

Rotary Scout Reservation

Location

Poestenkill, NY

Founded

1922

Website
http://www.rsrbsa.org/

Rotary Scout Reservation is a 1,300-acre (5 km²) 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. Following the introduction of the Kayaking and Traffic Safety merit badges for the 2012 summer camp season, RSR offers 43 merit badges in 10 program areas. In addition to the merit badge options, 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, and Chillicothe.

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, blacksmithing 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.

In 2012, RSR introduced Venturing Week, a week of resident camp for youth in the Venturing Program. In addition to various open programming opportunities, offerings included a full-week half-day COPE course, American Red Cross Wilderness First Aid, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Hunter Education course, and more.

Camp Wakpominee

Location

Fort Ann, NY

Camp Wakpominee is a 1,200-acre camp located in Fort Ann, NY. It is completely within the boundaries of the Adirondack Park, providing a base for Council trekking programs. The camp contains Sly Pond, a 42-acre lake.

Woodworth Lake Scout Reservation

Woodworth Lake Scout Reservation, located in Gloversville, New York.The 1500 acre camp began operation in 1949. 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.

As of August 10, 2013, the camp will no longer be open to scouts as it is being sold to a private investor.^[33]

Camp Boyhaven

Location

Middle Grove, NY

Founded

1924

Camp Boyhaven is a 300 acre camp located in Middle Grove, New York. It was founded as a Boy Scout camp in 1924 with a purchase of approximately 20 acres from the Frink family for Schenectady Council. Over the years, the camp grew to encompass most of the old Frink family farm. With the merger of Schenectady Council with Twin Rivers Council in 1991, it was converted to a Cub Scout and Webelos long term camp.

The totem of the camp is the "Toonerville Trolley," based off the trolley line that ran across the creek from the camp.^[34]

Each summer, the camp runs Cub Scout and Webelos resident and day camps. The camp program and facilities are specially designed for Cub Scouts, Webelos scouts, and their families. Lean-to cabins and indoor plumbing make the transition to overnight camping easier for Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts. An archery range, BB gun range, vertical climbing wall, water slide, and movie night are all provided to appeal to younger Scouts who are spending their first nights away from home.

Camp Bedford

Camp Bedford, is located at 10424 State Rt. 30, Malone, NY (near the Meacham Lake NYS DEC Campground, north of Paul Smiths, and south of Malone, NY). The camp encompasses 150 acres (0.61 km²), 2 large ponds for boating and fishing, and over 3,500 acres (14 km²) of State Wild Forests border the camp. Charles E. Bedford donated 3,650 acres (14.8 km²) to the Adirondack Council in 1943 to establish the camp, making it at the time the largest donation of land to any council in the USA.

Order of the Arrow

The Order of the Arrow Lodge for Twin Rivers Council is Kittan Lodge 364.^[35]

Westchester-Putnam Council

Westchester-Putnam Council (#388)

Owner

Country

United States

Founded

1973

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

Girl Scouts

Girl Scouting in New York

Map of Girl Scout Councils in New York State

New York state is served by 12 (soon to be 8) Girl Scouts councils. In addition the Edith Macy Conference Center belonging to the national organization is in Briarcliff Manor and the national headquarters is in New York City.

National Headquarters

The national headquarters has been in various places in New York City since 1916 when it moved there from Washington, D.C.. It has been at 420 Fifth Avenue since 1992. Small groups can visit with prior reservations and visiting girls may be able to take part in a focus group meeting.^[36]

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. 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.

Girl Scouts of Connecticut

Fishers Island in Suffolk County, New York is served by the Girl Scouts of Connecticut due to the close ties between the island and Connecticut.

Girl Scout Council of Greater New York

Owner

Headquarters

New York, NY

Country

United States

Founded

2005

Website
girlscoutsnyc.org

Girl Scouts of Greater New York serves some 25,000 girls and has over 8,700 volunteers in New York City.

The council camp is 425-acre (1.72 km²) Camp Henry Kaufman in the Hudson Valley.

Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson

Owner

Headquarters

Pleasantville, New York

Country

United States

Founded

2005

Website
girlscoutshh.org

Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson serves over 34,000 girls in Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties.

Camps

Camp Addisone Boyce is 360 acres (1.5 km²) in Tomkins Cove next to Harriman State Park. It was founded in 1951 and named for Dr. Addisone Boyce who had been active in finding a suitable camp.
Camp Birch Ridge is 100 acres (0.40 km²) in Otisville, New York.
Camp Ludington is 150 acres (0.61 km²) in Holmes, New York and was opened in 1954.
Camp Wendy is 56 acres (230,000 m²) (including a 13-acre (53,000 m²) lake) in Wallkill, New York. It was given to the Girl Scouts of Ulster County in 1926 by the Borden family.
Rock Hill Camp is 200 acres (0.81 km²) in Mahopac, New York. It has been used by the Girl Scouts since 1922 (initially leased and then purchased in 1927).
Rocky Brook Camp is 3 acres (12,000 m²) in Eastchester, New York.

Girl Scouts of Nassau County

Owner

Headquarters

Garden City, New York

Country

United States

Founded

1917

Website
gsnc.org

Girl Scouting In Nassau County started in 1917.It is chartered by GSUSA to develop, maintain and administer Girl Scouting in Nassau County.

Camps

Camp Blue Bay in East Hampton, New York is the council camp. Camp Tekakwitha was sold in June 2007 to Southampton, NY which will retain it as open space.

Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York

Owner

Headquarters

Albany, New York

Country

United States

Founded

2007

Website
gsneny.org

Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York was created in June 2007 from the union of four Girl Scout Councils (Hudson Valley, Mohawk Pathways, Adirondack and North Country) and now serves Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Greene, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Montgomery, Hamilton, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren and Washington Counties and a portion of St. Lawrence County.

GSNENY serves over 14,500 girls and has over 6,500 adults and volunteers.

Camps

Camp Little Notch is 2,300 acres (9.3 km²) in Adirondack Park
Hidden Lake Camp is 400 acres (1.6 km²) in the southern portion of Adirondack Park
Lake Clear Camp is 91 acres (370,000 m²) on Lake Clear in Adirondack Park
Camp Is-Sho-Da is 100 acres (0.40 km²) in East Greenbush, New York.
Camp Meadowbrook
Camp Wood Haven

Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways

Owner

Headquarters

Garden City, New York

Country

United States

Founded

2009

Website
gsnypenn.org

NYPenn Pathways was formed in June 2009, from five legacy councils - Seven Lakes Council, Central New York Council, Foothills Council, Indian Hills Council and Thousand Islands Council. NYPenn Pathways serves girls in 24 New York State counties and 2 Pennsylvania counties with a total girl registration totaling about 27,000.

Organization

Camps

Camp Agaliha (Cherokee for 'sunshine') is a summer camp located on the Boy Scout Camp Kingsley near Rome, New York
Camp Amadaha (Located at Gulf Summit, N.Y. 1920-1925, relocated to Camp Arrowhead)
Amahami Outdoor Center is 450 acres (1.8 km²) including a 10-acre (40,000 m²) lake near Deposit, New York
Bayberry Program Center, near Geneva, New York
Camp Hoover is 90 acres (360,000 m²) (including an island) on Song Lake near Preble, New York
Camp Near Wilderness near West Monroe, New York is currently closed.
Camp Trefoil is 210 acres (0.85 km²) near Harrisville, New York. It was acquired in 1949
Comstock Program Center, on Cayuga Lake, New York
Misty Hollow Program Center, near Corning, New York
Sugar Creek Program Center, near Troy, Pennsylvania
Yaiewano Program Center, on Owasco Lake, New York

NYPenn Pathway's Original Five Councils

Central New York Council served Cortland, Onondaga, Oswego and portions of Madison County
Foothills Council served Herkimer and Oneida Counties, most of Madison County and parts of Otsego, Lewis, and Hamilton counties
Indian Hills Council served Broome, Chenango, Delaware, parts of Otsego County
Seven Lakes Council, the largest of the original five, served Allegany, Cayuga, Chemung, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Yates and Wayne Counties; and in Pennsylvania: Bradford and Tioga Counties
Thousand Islands Council served Lewis, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence Counties

Girl Scouts of Suffolk County

Owner

Headquarters

Commack, New York

Country

United States

Founded

1968

Website
gssc.us

Girl Scouts of Suffolk County serves more than 43,000 girls and has more than 9,000 adult volunteers. The first troop in the county was started in 1915.

Camps

Camp Edey is 95 acres (380,000 m²) in Bayport, New York
Camp Sobaco is 34 acres (140,000 m²) in Yaphank, New York

Girl Scouts of Western New York

Owner

Headquarters

Buffalo, New York

Country

United States

Founded

2008

Website
gswny.org

Girl Scouts of Western New York was created on July 1, 2008, from four legacy councils: Girl Scout Council of Buffalo & Erie County, Inc., Girl Scouts of Genesee Valley, Inc., Girl Scouts of Niagara County, Inc., and Girl Scouts of Southwestern New York, Inc. The council serves some 25,000 girls within Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Genesee, Livingston, Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, and Wyoming counties.

Camps

Camp Piperwood in Perinton, New York
Camp Windy Meadows in Lockport, New York is 39 acres (160,000 m²).
Camp Seven Hills in Holland, New York is 620 acres (2.5 km²) including two lakes.
Camp Timbercrest in Randolph, New York is 900 acres (3.6 km²) including a 31-acre (130,000 m²) lake.

Baden-Powell Service Association

New York is home to two chartered groups of the Baden-Powell Service Association. The BPSA is an inclusive, "back to basics" organization that welcomes boys and girls from 5 years of age through adulthood.

91st Sojourners

Location

Kingston, New York

Country

United States

Founded

2013

Website
https://sites.google.com/site/91stsojournersbpsa/

The 91st Sojourners group is based in greater Kingston, NY, with a mission to create a coed, inclusive and traditional scouting organization serving the Mid-Hudson Valley. The group was named after 19th-century abolitionist (and Ulster County native) Sojourner Truth.^[37]

5th Brooklyn

Location

Brooklyn, New York

Country

United States

Founded

2013

Website
http://www.5thbrooklynscouts.org/