Activities discussed at December 16 meeting

A number of activities were discussed at the December 16 meeting. The camp will be split up into four major activity areas: Scouting Past, Scouting Future, Field Sports, and Aquatics. A number of activities have been proposed, and we have narrowed down the list to a select few. We discussed each activity at length, and tried to consider Scouts of all ages and ability. Scouts will have the opportunity to sample a variety of activities throughout the day. If you're bored that Saturday, then you're doing something wrong!

Scouting Past

• Historic Scout Camp
• Archery Tournament
• Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Making
• Tomahawk Throwing
• Obsolete Merit Badge Midway
• Cargo Net Climbing Challenge
• Council History Midway

Scouting Future

• Segway™ Obstacle Course
• Electric Scooter Run
• Smart Car™ Demo
• Entergy™ Power Plant Demo
• "Ham Radio" Demo using the latest in digital technology
• Geocaching Activity
• Photo op with a DeLorean
• Decontamination Demonstration and Activity

Aquatics Area

• Flyfishing/Casting Activity
• Canoe/Kayak Races
• Rowboats
• Paddleboat Races
• R/C Boat Races
• Nautical Knot Activity
• Hudson River Keeper demonstration

Field Sports

• 30' Rock Climbing Wall
• Super Obstacle Course
• Dodgeball Tourney
• Flag Football Tourney
• Ultimate Frisbee Tourney
• Trebuchet/Catapult/Slingshot Challenge

Look in your closets! Do you have any old Scout uniforms? Do you have any old patches or plaques from past events? Have any artifacts from the councils and districts "pre-unification?" Have any old camping equipment packed away in the garage? We'd like to borrow them for display or use during the weekend. Please contact us.

Classic car enthusiasts! We're looking for a Ford Model T or A, a 1940's "Woody" station wagon, and a 1970s Ford Bronco or Jeep Wagoneer to borrow for a day to go along with our historic Scout encampments. Do you know someone with access to these vehicles? We would love to have them participate in our festivities. Please contact us.

Next Committee Meeting will be January 6. Also look for preliminary Registration informationat your January Roundtables. Happy New Year!

December 16 Meeting

Our next meeting will be on December 16 at the Scout Service Center in Hawthorne.

We will be discussing details of the program areas for "Scouting Past" and "Scouting Future." We will also be discussing other matters relating to activity areas for the Camporee.

A once in a lifetime event!

Join us on April 30-May 2, 2010 as Westchester-Putnam Council celebrates the centennial of Scouting in America! This special Boy Scout Camporee will be held at Blue Mountain Park in Peekskill and will honor the past 100 years of Scouting and attempt to take a look forward into the next 100 years. Troops from all over Westchester and Putnam counties will converge for a fun weekend of inter-district games and entertainment. More detailed information will be sent to you through your district Roundtables as it becomes available. Bookmark and check this site often as we post new information about this exciting spring event!

Metting Summary

WPC Centennial Camporee Meeting - 9/16

The Centennial Camporee Committee met on September 16 to discuss organization and set up of the event to be held at Blue Mountain Park on April 30-May 2, 2010. Ideas regarding food, encampments, and activities were discussed.

*** Please note that many of these items have not yet been finalized and are subject to change. The following is the result of our preliminary discussions so far. ***

To maximize the time we have in the field for activities, we are considering offering prepared meals for Saturday's lunch and dinner meals. We are considering hiring a food service to provide box lunches and some sort of buffet-style dinner for the evening. That way, we won't lose any time moving Scouts back and forth to their camp to prepare meals. Troops would be responsible for cooking their own breakfasts in camp, and to either cook or bring a bag dinner on Friday night.

Regarding encampments, the idea is to have troops from different districts camping alongside one another. There will be a total of 8 encampments, made up of troops from all over the Westchester-Putnam Council. They will be assigned at random once we have total from the registrations. Based on an estimated 1,600 in attendance, each encampment will consist of approximately 200 participants.

Troops will arrive Friday, April 30 to check in and be assigned to an encampment. After Friday night dinner, each encampment will have their own campfire, featuring skits and songs from each troop. The best skit or song from each encampment will go on to compete in the Council Campfire on Saturday night.

There will be four "Action Areas" at camp, each with a different central theme. These areas include "Scouting's Past," "Scouting's Future," "Aquatics," and "Rifle Range." Each Action Area will host two encampments at a time. Throughout the day, these two encampments will travel together and visit each of the four Action Areas. Scouting's Past will consist of activities related to the history of the Boy Scouts, while Scouting's Future will show us where we're going. The Aquatics area will consist of tradition Scout watersport activities, and the Rifle Range will host target shooting activities (for those Scouts under 12, archery and BB targets will be made available). A detailed list of activities will be posted in the near future.

While all of this is going on, there will also be a "Midway" to visit, consisting of various displays and demonstrations related to Scouting activities.

Join us as we celebrate the Boy Scouts of America's 100th Birthday! Saturday night will consist of a grand Council Campfire, featuring a song and skit competition, movies, fireworks, and more.

Sunday morning will feature traditional Closing Ceremonies. Troops will then be dismissed to break camp, check out, and head for home.

*** Please note that many of these items have not yet been finalized and are subject to change. The following is the result of our preliminary discussions so far. ***

As we continue to flesh out the details for this exciting weekend, we will post regular updates to this web site, as well as announcements at forthcoming district roundtables. We expect to start registration for the event in February 2010. Your feedback is appreciated, feel free to contact us!

Next meeting - September 16

The next meeting of the Centennial Camporee Committee will be on Wednesday, September 16 at at 7:30pm at the Scout Service Center in Hawthorne. We will continue to discuss the general outline of the event.

June Meeting moved to August 12

Due to scheduling conflicts, the June Centennial Camporee Meeting was moved to August 12, 7:30pm at the Scout Service Center in Hawthorne.

May 27 Planning Meeting

Even though we're a almost a year away, planning has begun in earnest to create an exciting event for our boys to mark the 100th anniversary of Scouting in the Westchester-Putnam Council! The date for this event will be April 30, May 1 and May 2. The event is to initiate the 100th Anniversary of Scouting for the Boy Scouts so we plan to have events that look 100 years into Scouting's past, and 100 years into Scouting's FUTURE. It will have activities beginning on Friday evening at 8:00 PM and running late into the night, resuming the next morning at 6:00AM and continuing throughout the day. It will be open to both Boy Scouts and Venture Crews with all activities targeted for the two age groups.

At out last meeting we reviewed ideas for the "Scouting Future" programs, including the idea of getting manufacturers to show off their "latest and greatest" products, and possibly demo concept products that are "just over the horizon." Most of the "Scouting Future" events will be demonstration based. "Scouting Past" will be comprised of hands-on activities, many themed from obsolete scouting merit badges and challenges from "the good old days." Here's a hint: Grab any Handbook from before 1979... Everything from Semaphore signals (get out your flags) to setting up a 1940s era campsite (no nylon pop-ups here!) to traditional cooking techniques (put away the propane). Do you have ideas we could incorporate? Please contact us.

We also reviewed potential special event patch designs, and narrowed down the choice to two options. Both ideas emphasized the importance of the 100th anniversary, and also pay tribute to the Councils that once made up the modern Westchester-Putnam (Siwanoy, Bronx Valley, Yonkers, Hendirck Hudson, Fennimore Cooper, Washington Irving and Hutchinson River). We hope to narrow down and finalize our choice this summer and begin using the design this fall for promotional purposes. Do you have old council materials you'd be willing to share with us? Patches, flags, newsletters, we want to see it all. Please get in touch with us if you have materials to share!

One of the ideas we have been kicking around is a parade of uniforms, past and present. Break out your campaign hats! We'd like to represent each major change in the Boy Scout uniform. Folks are encouraged to wear their "vintage" duds and join in the fun. We're also going to need help recreating early uniforms from the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s from modern materials. If you think this is something you can help us with, please contact us.

Our next meeting will be June 24.

—The Centennial Camporee Planning Committee

Centennial Camporee

Welcome to the Westchester-Putnam Council Centennial Camporee blogsite! Follow this blog throughout the year as we develop an exciting council-wide program that will certainly be an experience to remember.

The Council-Wide Centennial Camporee will be held at Blue Mountain Reservation in Peekskill, New York, April 30 through May 2, 2010.

How You Can Help

"Don't make any plans for April 30, 2010!"

Right now, we can use everyone's help to spread the word about the Council-Wide Centennial Camporee. Talk with other Scouters and let them know that something great is in the works! "Don't make any plans for April 30, 2010!" As we flesh out more of the program details, we'll be sure to post them here and let you know how you can help make this event a success! If you have specific questions, get in touch with your District Committee Representatives.

Look in your closets! Do you have any old Scout uniforms? Do you have any old patches or plaques from past events? Have any artifacts from the councils and districts "pre-unification?" Have any old camping equipment packed away in the garage? We'd like to borrow them for display or use during the weekend. Please contact us.

Classic car enthusiasts! We're looking for a Ford Model T or A, a 1940's "Woody" station wagon, and a 1970s Ford Bronco or Jeep Wagoneer to borrow for a day to go along with our historic Scout encampments. Do you know someone with access to these vehicles? We would love to have them participate in our festivities. We're even looking for a DeLorean (you know, the "Back to the Future" car). Please contact us.

Camporee Theme

Come join Boy Scouts from across the Westchester-Putnam
Council for a spectacular weekend celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Scouting in America. Our program includes
rock wall climbing, archery, canoeing, and field games.
You will also learn about the history of Scouting within our Council and across America. You will not want to miss this once in a lifetime event!

Patrols will camp jamboree-style in encampments with their Troop. Use of cooking stoves and maximum tent occupancy are recommended. Parking will be within a few hundred yards of the campsites (no trailers or vehicles will be allowed in campsites). For time management purposes, simple patrol meals
should be encouraged.

The Program Trail will consist of four Action Centers that the patrols rotate through every 90 minutes with 15 minutes allocated for travel time. As participants will be out of their campsites from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM, a bagged lunch will be provided at the Activity Centers at the appropriate time. Patrols will be required to bring trail snacks and water for the day.

Scouting Past

• Historic Scout Camp
• Archery Tournament
• Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Making
• Tomahawk Throwing
• Obsolete Merit Badge Midway
• Cargo Net Climbing Challenge
• Council History Midway

Scouting Future

• Segway™ Obstacle Course
• Electric Scooter Run
• Smart Car™ Demo
• Entergy™ Power Plant Demo
• "Ham Radio" Demo using the latest in digital technology
• Geocaching Activity
• Photo op with a DeLorean

Aquatics Area

• Flyfishing/Casting Activity
• Canoe/Kayak Races
• Rowboats
• Nautical Knot Activity

Field Sports

• 30' Rock Climbing Wall
• Super Obstacle Course
• Dodgeball Tourney
• Trebuchet/Slingshot Challenge

Registration

Registration for this event is now closed. Thank you to all who are attending this great event!

ADDRESS: Blue Mountain Park, 435 Welcher Avenue, Peekskill, NY 10566-5813

ENCAMPMENT MAPS CAN BE FOUND HERE.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS: FROM THE NORTH, take Route 6 West or Route 35 West to Route 9 South. Take Route 9 South to Welcher Avenue exit. Make left onto
Welcher Avenue and follow into park. FROM THE SOUTH, take Sprain Parkway North, follow to Taconic Parkway North. Continue to exit ramp for Route 9A North. Follow 9A to Route 9 at Croton, continue north to Welcher Avenue exit. Make a right onto Welcher Avenue and follow into park.

PARKING/DROP OFF: Follow the directions posted and offered by the security team. Late arrivals and early departures are extremely discouraged. Parking is at a premium, so your cooperation in reducing the number of vehicles on the property is appreciated. No trailers or vehicles will be allowed in campsites.

FIELD REGISTRATION: One adult from each Troop will complete the Field Registration, obtain final information packets and campsite assignment. You will also receive your official Camporee t-shirts, which will become part of your Class B uniform for Saturday.

Contact Us

Have questions related to the Council-Wide Centennial Camporee? Looking to get in touch with your District representatives on the Planning Committee? Have a general question about the format of the event? Contact points are listed below.

Camporee Program Chair
Richard Colety (Algonquin)

Muscoot District Representatives
Howie Gershman
Otto Vondrak

Manitoga District Representatives
Barbara Conciatori
Lauren Conciatori

Mohican District Representatives
Jay Singer
Justin Steinhard

Commitee Meetings

The Centennial Camporee Committee will continue to meet twice a month to discuss a range of topics related to our Spring Event. The following is a list of tentative meeting dates and topics, if you would like to have some input, or if you want to send us feedback, please Contact Us! Registration packets will be available at March Roundtables and on the WPC web site. We will be holding a special meeting for all Scoutmasters to provide the full details in preparation of the event.

• March 3, 2010: Briefing for Professional Staff
• March 14, 2010: Walkthrough at Blue Mountain Park - Sunday at 1:00pm
  
• March 17, 2010: Logistics and Layout Meeting
  
• March 24, 2010: Briefing for Scoutmasters - Location TBA
• March 31, 2010: Confirmation of Outside Vendors and Activities Staff
• April 7, 2010: Final Registration Numbers, Supplies Ordered
• April 14, 2010: TBA
• April 21, 2010: Briefing for Encampment Leaders
• April 28, 2010: Last Minute Preparations
• April 29, 2010: Justin Steinhard's Birthday
• April 30, 2010... SEE YOU AT BLUE MOUNTAIN!