Troop 1 Katonah, New York

"Scout Trek" Spring Camporee will be help at Alpine Scout Camp, from May 1 to May 3, 2009. Patrols will embark on a sci-fi adventure that incorporates aspects of science and technology along with traditional Scouting. Patrols are encouraged to play up the sci-fi themes as much as they would like- from Star Wars to Star Trek to everything in between. Full details available here: Scout Trek

On Thursday April 16, 2009, Troop 1 Katonah visited the Campfire Club of America at their private camp in Chappaqua, where we were taught about conservation and preservation of the world's wildlife. When we arrived, we were introduced to the two men in charge of the club. They told us a little bit about how the club was started back around the turn of the century. Among their famous charter members were Theodore Roosevelt, Ernest Thompson Seton (the first Chief Scout), William Hornaday . The Campfire Club treated us to an amazing dinner which consisted of homemade burgers, hot dogs, french fries, and some deserts. After dinner, we walked around the lodge and observed the different trophy animals that were displayed all over the club. One room was dedicated to North America which consisted of examples of many animals from across the continent. In the other room, there many examples of wildlife from Africa. It was pretty cool. Who would have known there was that many animals in Afric...

Dinner and Meeting at Campfire Club We will depart KES at 6:15pm, fall out in full uniform We will have our April 16 weekly Troop meeting at the Campfire Club in Chappaqua (directions to be provided). The meeting time will be 6:30 PM and they will serve us dinner as well as give us a grand tour of their 250 acre preserve and magnificent trophy room. There is much history at this club as it was founded in 1902 by Teddy Roosevelt and many other prominent conservationists like Dan Beard , Ernest Thompson Seton , and William Hornaday (namesake for Scouting's Hornaday Award ), all of whom were a major force in creating the Boy Scouts of America.

On Thursday, April 2, our Scoutmaster Hank Tschorn celebrated his birthday. We don't know which one, because the stone tablets his birth certificate was carved on have since turned to dust. Anyway, Hank's family thought it would be fun to surprise him with birthday cupcakes after our regular meeting. Hank's wife Mary and his daughter Jen carefully set up the surprise on the stage in the gymnasium, behind the drawn curtain. At the approporiate time, when Hank thought we were about to dismiss, the curtains draw open and... SURPRISE!! Meanwhile, preparations take place backstage... Mr. Suda prepares to man the curtains... Happy Birthday, Hank! "Were you guys up there the whole time?" Everybody enjoys a birthday cupcake... ... Otto enjoys his cupcake a little too much.

Great video showing life in Katonah in the 1930s. How many landmarks can you recognize in our village? Footage of our Katonah Troop 1 starts at 3:05 into the movie!! Here's some screen captures of our Troop in action... Katonah Troop 1, circa 1930! Check out those campaign hats ... Looks like we're gathered on the athletic fields behind the old High School (current location of the Fire Department). Who's this fellow? The Scoutmaster? The Senior Patrol Leader? Some things never change... Troop 1 practicing First Aid... Scouts from Troop 1 treat the victim for shock... Boy this kid looks like he's in rough shape! Troop 1 to the rescue!

On February 28, 2009, the troop traveled to Connecticut and Camp Mattatuck to spend a weekend learning about railroads. Photos of our day at the Railroad Museum of New England and the Naugatuck Railroad in Thomaston, Connecticut. Museum volunteers gave us a full tour of the railroad's facilities and also taught us about railroads and how they operate. Photos by Otto M. Vondrak When we arrived at Thomaston station, our train was already waiting for us. The troop was split into two activity groups. One group headed inside the depot while the other boarded the train. Troop 1 Katonah and museum volunteers pose for a portrait aboard a flatcar spotted at Thomaston station . Museum volunteer (and Eagle Scout) Brent Bette (in white hardhat) explains to our Scouts different parts of a diesel locomotive. Brent then let our Scouts have a chance to pound in some spikes, just like railroad workers did building the transcontinental railroad. Meanwhile, the other half of the troop was inside th...