Early history (1910-1950)
On September 10, 1910, S. F. Lester of Troy, New York, became the very first person to hold the Scouting leadership position of Scoutmaster (approved by the BSA). He received his certification from the BSA headquarters in New York City. In 1910 he led a group of 30 scouts atRecent history (1950-present)
In the 1970s and again in the 1990s, upstate New York went through a huge consolidation of small, historic councils. In recent years, New York has also been home to smaller, independent scouting organizations.Scouting today
Boy Scouts
There are seventeen Boy Scouts of America (BSA) 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. Its Service Center is located in Falconer, New York, and is visible on Hough Hill from Route 86.=Organization
= The council is divided into two districts: * Western Gate District * Two Lakes District=Camps
= It has two camps: Camp Merz and Elk Lick Scout Reserve. Elk Lick is tucked into the heart of the Allegheny Mountains in Smethport, Pennsylvania, and operates exclusively as a Cub Scout summer camp. Camp Merz is located on Lake Chautauqua, just up the road from the Chautauqua Institution in western New York, and is a Scouts BSA summer camp. Camp Merz has a waterfront and many waterfront-related merit badges available for scouts. Both camps are opens to all scouts for year-round camping.=Order of the Arrow
= * Ho-Nan-Ne-Ho-Ont Lodge 165Baden-Powell Council
Baden-Powell Council was formed in 1998 by the merger of the former Baden-Powell Council (headquartered in Dryden, New York) and Susquenango Council (headquartered in Binghamton, New York). The council's new headquarters are in Binghamton. The council covers five counties in New York State—Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Tioga and Tompkins—as well as Susquehanna County in Pennsylvania.=Organization
= As of 2017, the Council has four districts: * Chenango District (Chenango County and part of Broome County) * Delahanna District (Susquehanna County in Pennsylvania) * Hiawatha District (Tioga County and part of Broome County) * Taughannock District (Cortland and Tompkins Counties)=Camps
= The Baden-Powell Council operates two Scout Camps: Camp Barton, founded in 1927, is a Scouts BSA 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 a winter lean-to site in one of the two gorges which surround the camp. The camp facilities include many water-based activities on the camp's quarter-mile of waterfront, including rowing, motorboating, sailing, waterskiing, jetskiing and swimming, as well as handicraft, nature, rifle and archery ranges, and scoutcraft areas. The Camp's buildings and cabins are available for off-season use by Scouting and other youth organizations. Tuscarora Scout Reservation is a Boy Scouts of America camp located on 1200 acres (4.5 km2) around Summit Lake in New York State's=Order of the Arrow
= The corresponding Order of the Arrow lodge is Otahnagon Lodge 172, a nationally recognized lodge.Connecticut Rivers Council
TheFive Rivers Council
Five Rivers Council serves Scouts in the Southern tier of New York and the Northern tier of Pennsylvania.=Organization
= The council is divided into three districts: * Endless Mountains District * Big Horn District * Silver Fawn District=Camps
= It operates two camps: Camp Brulé, in North East 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 in Upstate New York for Scouts BSA camps. In 2014 Camp Gorton celebrated its 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 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.Order of the Arrow
TKäen DōD Lodge 30 formed from three former lodges. Seneca Lodge 394, Wakanda Lodge 186, and Winingus Lodge 30. TKäen DōD celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2017Greater Hudson Valley Council
Greater Hudson Valley Council was formed in 2021 when the Hudson Valley Council merged with the Westchester-Putnam Council. This council serves scouts in southeastern New York.Greater New York Councils
The Greater New York Councils serves the Scouting families of the five boroughs of New York City.Greater Niagara Frontier Council
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 District * Red Jacket District * Onondaga District * Polaris District, serving Northern Erie and Western Niagara Counties.=Camps
= Camp Scouthaven is one of the 5 oldest Scout camps in the United States still in operation (1918 - over 100 years). It is the home of GNFC Camps Summer Programs for Cub Scouting and Scouts BSA. Situated on beautiful Crystal Lake in Freedom, NY it boasts one of the best Aquatics programs around. Scouthaven is open to year round program as well. Schoellkopf Scout Reservation was formed in 1938 and is located in Cowlesville, NY. It was built through donations by the Schoellkopf family. Schoellkopf features over 650 acres of prime Scouting property. It has rustic log cabins, beautiful campsites, and newer spacious lean-to's all for year round use. Camp Stonehaven operates in Sanborn, NY and has accommodations including campsites, lean-to's and newer cabins. It is an ideal camp for out of town units that would like to tour Niagara Falls. GNFC also operateLonghouse Council
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. The council is headquartered in Syracuse, NY. The council currently owns 2 camps, including Sabattis Scouting Reservation and Camp Woodland. The council covers six counties — Cayuga, Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, Onondaga, and St. Lawrence.=Organization
= The council is divided into seven districts: * 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 June 2020, the Onondaga and Oneida Districts merged to become the Crossroads District , Longhouse Council acquired a seventh district: Cayuga County. This was previously Cayuga County Council, which lost its charter.=Order of the Arrow
= Lowanne Nimat Lodge 219, formed January 1, 2010 from Kayanernh Kowa and Tahgajute lodges. The World Brotherhood Camporee is a weekend-long camping trip that 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.Hudson Valley Council
The Hudson Valley Council was headquartered in Newburgh, New York, and also served Scouts in Pennsylvania. The grave of Daniel Carter Beard lies within the Hudson Valley Council, where an annual service is held. In 2021, it merged with the Westchester-Putnam Council to become the Greater Hudson Valley Council.=Organization
= Its districts were: Rockland, Heritage, Delaware River, and Dutchess.=Camps
= The Hudson Valley Council operated 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 86Iroquois Trail Council
Iroquois Trail Council, with its headquarters in Oakfield, 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: * 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 (Scouts BSA) 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. 339Leatherstocking Council
''Leatherstocking Council'' serves a portion of central New York. The council provides Scouting to Herkimer, Oneida and Madison Counties as well as part of Hamilton, Otsego, Delaware and Lewis Counties.Rip Van Winkle Council
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 and Saugerties)=Camps
= The council's camp, located in East Jewett, New York, is Camp Tri-Mount.=Order of the Arrow
= * Half Moon LodgeSeneca Waterways Council
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 serves scouts in Suffolk County, on Long Island, New York. Baiting Hollow Scout Camp is the council camp.Theodore Roosevelt Council
Theodore Roosevelt Council supports Scouting in Nassau County, New York.Twin Rivers Council
Twin Rivers Council is based in Albany, New York. It serves a large geographic area that encompasses 13 counties of Northeastern New York. The original portion of Twin Rivers was formed in 1991 by a merger of the former Governor Clinton Council (Columbia, Rensselaer and Albany Counties), the Sir William Johnson Council (Hamilton, Fulton & Montgomery counties) and the Saratoga Council (Saratoga County). A year or so later the Schenectady County Council (Schenectady County) was added after working out issues between the entities. Then in 1999, the Mohican (Warren and Washington counties) consolidated into the council. On February 14, 2006 the Adirondack Council (Franklin, Clinton and Essex Counties) and the Twin Rivers Council merged to form the current boundaries of the Twin Rivers Council #364.=Organization
= The council has 5 Districts. *Fort Orange District (Albany County) *Adirondack District (Clinton, Franklin, and Northern Essex counties) *Mohawk District (Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Schenectady Counties and the Town of Clifton Park) *Yankee Doodle District (Columbia and Rensselaer Counties as well as the communities of Mechanicville and Stillwater)=Camps
=Rotary Scout Reservation RSR's totem is the Thunderbird. Rotary Scout Reservation is a camp of the
Camp Wakpominee 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, was located in Gloversville, New York. The 1500 acre camp began operation in 1949. As of 2013, the camp has been sold to a private investor.
Camp Boyhaven Camp Boyhaven was 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 on the trolley line that ran across the creek from the camp. Each summer, the camp ran 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. As of 2017, summer camp programs are no longer being held and the camp is in the process of being sold. The Camp was officially converted t
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 , 2 large ponds for boating and fishing, and over of State Wild Forests border the camp. Charles E. Bedford donated 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 US.
=Order of the Arrow
= The Order of the Arrow Lodge for Twin Rivers Council is Kittan Lodge 364.Westchester-Putnam Council
Westchester-Putnam Council serves Scouts in southeastern New York State. In 2021, it merged with the Hudson Valley Council to become the Greater Hudson Valley Council.Girl Scouts
New York state is served by eight 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.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''. TheGirl Scouts of Connecticut
Fishers Island inGirl Scout Council of Greater New York
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 Camp Henry Kaufmann in Holmes, NY.Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson
Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson serves over 34,000 girls. The council was formed through the merger of five counties: Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Westchester.=Camps
= * Camp Addisone Boyce is 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 in Otisville, New York. * Camp Ludington is in Holmes, New York and was opened in 1954. * Camp Wendy is (including a lake) inGirl Scouts of Nassau County
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 toGirl Scouts of Northeastern New York
Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York (GSNENY) was created in June 2007 from the union of four Girl Scout Councils: Hudson Valley, Mohawk Pathways, Adirondack and North Country. GSNENY serves the following counties: Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Greene, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Montgomery, Hamilton, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, and Washington Counties; along with, a portion of St. Lawrence County. With Service Centers in Albany, Queensbury, and Plattsburgh; GSNENY serves over 10,000 girls and has more than 4,500 adults and volunteers.=Camps
= Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York owns five camp properties in the Adirondack region, to include two overnight camps: * Hidden Lake Camp is in Adirondack Park, 3 miles from Lake George Village. * Lake Clear Camp is situated on on a peninsula, on Lake Clear, in Lake Clear, New York. * Camp Is-Sho-Da is in East Greenbush, New York. * Camp Meadowbrook is located in Queensbury, New York. * Camp Wood Haven is near Galway, New York. It features a large playing field, pond, beach, creek, hiking trails, cabins, platform tents, a nature center, and Troop House.Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways
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 Camp Kingsley near Rome, New York * Camp Amadaha (Located at Gulf Summit, N.Y. 1920-1925, relocated to Camp Arrowhead) * Amahami Outdoor Center is including a lake near=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 CountiesGirl Scouts of Suffolk County
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 in Bayport, New York * Camp Sobaco is in Yaphank, New YorkGirl Scouts of Western New York
Girl Scouts of Western New York was created on July 1, 2008, from legacy councils: Girl Scout Council of Buffalo & Erie County, Inc., Girl Scouts of Genesee Valley, Inc., Girl Scouts of Niagara County, Inc., Chautauqua Area Girl Scout Council, Inc., and Girl Scouts of Southwestern New York, Inc. The council serves some 15,000 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 . *Baden-Powell Service Association
New York is home to six chartered groups of the91st Sojourners
The 91st Sojourners group is based in greater Kingston, NY. The group was named after 19th-century abolitionist (and Ulster County native)5th Prospect Park
5th Prospect Park was the first BPSA group in New York City. It was founded in 2013 as the "5th Brooklyn Scouts" by Todd Schweikert, a former Eagle Scout who was looking for a more inclusive experience for his son. When new BPSA groups were spun off in 2016, the name was changed to " Prospect Park".67th Wallabout Bay
67th Wallabout Bay is one of two groups that spun off from 5th Prospect Park in 2016. It is based in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, and takes its name from the curved bay between the234th Stuy Rangers
234th Stuy Rangers is one of two groups that spun off from 5th Prospect Park in 2016. It serves the Bedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood.89th Flatbush
90th Flatbush was formed in 2017, representing the Flatbush neighborhood.1213th Lookout Hill
1213th Lookout Hill was formed in 2017. Based in the neighborhood of Windsor Terrace, on the south edge of Prospect Park, it was named after one of the highest points in the park.International Scouting units
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.West Point Camporee
Scouting museums
See also
*References
External links