Troop 1 Celebrates 100th Anniversary!
Chappaqua’s Boy Scout Troop 1, first chartered in 1913, turns 100 years old this year. Chappaqua Troop 1 is among the oldest Boy Scout Troops in Westchester County, and has had many hundreds of local Chappaqua area boys among its ranks over its 100-year history.
The Troop celebrates its 100th Anniversary with a Centennial Campout and Eagle Scout Court of Honor at the Durland Scout Reservation (formerly known as Clear Lake) in Putnam County on June 15 and 16. The Campout and Court of Honor are open to all current and past members of Troop 1 and their families. The Campout will include a number of Scout activities and a memorabilia exhibit of Scouting mementos. Information on the Campout can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/chappaquatroop1/ or by sending an e-mail to chappaquatroop1bsa100@yahoo.com
Over its 100 year history, the Troop has been well-known for providing a rich program of outdoor activities. Almost every month during the year, the Troop goes camping — backpacking on the Appalachian Trail, canoeing on the Delaware River, summer camp in the Adirondacks and high adventure canoe trips to wilderness areas in Canada, Maine and the Adirondacks – and schedules fishing trips, sailing trips and other similar adventures.
The Troop is also well-known for providing service to the community. Over the Troop’s history, almost 100 scouts (98 to date) have reached the coveted rank of Eagle Scout. Every Eagle Scout candidate has planned, executed and completed a community service project as one requirement towards the Eagle badge. These projects have included such things as trail enhancements and improvements at Gedney and other Town parks as well as at each of the Chappaqua schools, cataloging grave sites at our cemeteries in Town, some of which date back to the 1700s, and projects to provide needed resources to area churches. Because the Troop is largely ‘boy-run’, it provides great experiences for Scouts to learn and develop leadership skills that serve them well as boys and as they grow to adulthood.
The Troop has been fortunate to have dedicated, long-term adult leadership. Dr. William Flank has been Troop 1 Scoutmaster since 1990, and Marc Toonkel has been the Troop’s Assistant Scoutmaster since 1995. In addition, many other Chappaqua parents dedicate considerable time and effort to the success of the Troop.
If you are interested in attending the Campout for any part of the weekend, please visit the Facebook site. If you know of past members of the Troop who are not living in the area, please pass on information about the Centennial. If you cannot attend and would like to make a donation, please send an e-mail to chappaquatroop1bsa100@yahoo.com.
