Troop 1 Katonah, New York

Well HELLO CAMPERS!! Yes, it is that time again. Time to start thinking about Boy Scout Summer Camp! Once again, Troop 1 Katonah will be enjoying an exciting week (Aug. 9-15) at Camp Buckskin , at the Curtis S. Read Scout reservation in the Adirondacks. Just a few reminders: -We will be leaving KES at 8:30 on Sunday, August 9 and returning approximately 2pm on Saturday, August 15. -We have 15 boys going and 6 fathers!. But if anyone knows of anyone else who would like to go, please let me know. There is still time to register. -PLEASE RE READ the SUMMER CAMP PARENT'S GUIDE !! VERY IMPORTANT. MUCH INFORMATION TO KNOW BEFORE DEPARTURE. - Medical forms are not a last-minute thing since they are so complicated this year - Doctors won't like them. When you have them, please keep them and give them to me when we leave. -Parents, please also sign the "out of camp" permission forms just in case we decide to do an out of camp activity. -Some activities we will do this ...

Chris Kristensen and his son recreate a classic pose while playing chess on Saturday night... Last weekend, Troop 1 Katonah went on their annual trip to Maine to go canoeing on the Saco river. We departed from Katonah Elementary School at 10:00am and arrived at Doc's cabin in Freyburg, Maine at around 5:00pm. Once there, the patrols moved into the second floor of the newly built barn where they lived for the weekend. Even though Doc passed away last year, he left his cabin to our Scouting family so that our troop could continue to enjoy it for years to come. Scoutmaster Hank Tschorn and his wife Mary have seen to that. The next morning we left the cabin with all of the canoes and headed to the launching point. Due to the non-stop downpours the water level was higher than normal, causing the authorities to close the upper part of the Saco River above Swans Falls. We could only be able to do part of the second half of the river, and therefore not camping out overnight. We launched o...

Our Troop celebrated 90 years of Scout service at our Spring Court of Honor on June 18. We had many, many awards to hand out that evening. There were 17 Tenderfoot, 1 Star, and 2 Life rank advancements handed out. We also handed out many merit badge awards, and one Scout described the Eagle project he is about to embark upon. There were a few "surprises" at the end, including an unexpected token of appreciation from the parents to the Scoutmasters, a special "honor" for Hank's 40 years of service to the Troop as Scoutmaster, and an early birthday celebration for Otto. Jen Tschorn provided these photos... News clippings, old photos, and other souvenirs of our ninety years of history were on display at our June Court of Honor. The yellow neckerchief is from a 1967 World Scout Conference in Kanderstag, Switzerland, where Doc Smith led 20 boys on a three-week tour of Europe. The merit badge sash is from Neal Pronay, and dates from the 1940s. Generations of Scou...

1910s American businessman W.D. Boyce brought the concept of Boy Scouting to our shores in 1910. Boyce was convinced that the ideals of Scouting would be a perfect fit for the youth of America. At that time, our village was still settling down into its new location. Only thirteen years prior, the village was picked up and moved to avoid being wiped off the map by the new Muscoot Reservoir . Life in “New Katonah” also included new technology, with electric and telephone service introduced around 1916. The last horse was sold at the local livery stable in 1917, and automobiles were becoming more common. As America was looking forward to the promise of the next decade, the world was becoming a very different place. America was recovering from its first global conflict, then known as the “War to End All Wars.” The Armistice treaty was signed in November 1918, officially ending the hostilities of World War I. The newly formed League of Nations was formed to promote peace and broker resol...

On June 18, Troop 1 made a special after-hours visit to Kelloggs & Lawrence hardware store to tour their new Outdoors Dept . The Scouts learned about all sorts of essential specialized equipment that could make their stay in the outdoors that much more comfortable. From clothing to packs to tools to tents, it was an enjoyable and informative evening.   Learning how proper fit is essential for a comfortable pack   Exploring the Outdoors Dept. for essential items, under the watchful eye of Scoutmaster Hank Tschorn   The patrol reports on their findings       Next, we went upstairs into the attic to try assembling various kinds of nylon tents    Assistant Scoutmasters Dennis Winthers and Chris Kristensen listen to the Scouts' presentations and questions   Katonah native and troop volunteer Alex Bacon with his father at Kelloggs & Lawrence

Thursday, June 18 - COURT OF HONOR, parents and friends attend as we look back on a year of activity and hand out rank advancement and other awards for a job well done. We'll also talk about Summer Camp and other activities. Fall out in full uniform, meet at Katonah Methodist Church (5 Bedford Road, Katonah) at 7:30pm.

Thanks to Neal Pornay, long-time Katonah resident and former member of Troop 1 for sharing these old photos with us. At one time, the troop spawned an Explorer Patrol, identified as Katonah Troop 2 . In these days, the troop met in Doc Adams' garage at the bottom of the hill at Edgemont and Greenville Roads. In this prewar photo (we assume 1940), the Scouts are clearly wearing a number "2" on their shoulders! From top rear left clockwise: Neal Pronay, Jeff Davis, Fred Ray, Ben Almond, Dave Brown (the great uncle of two of our current Scouts from the Brown family, Gunner and Jake), and Bobby Greene. Seen here in this 1943 photo are Scoutmaster Paul Jones, center. Over his shoulders is John Bernardo. Moving clockwise: Neal Pronay, Ben Almond, Len Wilson, Phil Raneri (with flags), Fred Ray, Jeff Davis, and Bud Noe. Here's another 1943 photo of the Explorer Patrol of Katonah Troop 2. Scoutmaster Paul Jones is seated at center. Moving clockwise: John Bernardo, Jeff D...