Saturday, February 27, 2010

Unadilla Camporee Helps Prove Outing Is Two-thirds of Scouting--1960

Gateway and Flagraising at Troop 1 Unadilla's campsite

Approximately 2,000 area residents witnessed a panoramic display of Scouting recently when more than 2,200 Otschodela Council Scouts, Cubs and Explorers converged on the Unadilla Rod & Gun Club grounds for a two-day Golden Anniversary Camporee, May 21-22, 1960.

In spite of a heavy downpour, which washed out campfire ceremonies and a climactic pageant depicting 50 years of Scouting, color and camaraderie filled the Camporee area to overflowing. Thousands of boys demonstrated scouting skills, staged unit displays, and engaged in competitive contests.

One point of the Scout Law--A Scout is Religious [editor: Reverent] --was vividly demonstrated on Sunday morning by the Scouts marching en masse, a sea of khaki and blue, to their respective services, Catholic and Protestant. Services for boys of the Jewish faith were conducted on Friday evening.

One of the distinguished visitor was Congressman Samuel Stratton.


Senator Stratton makes a political statement by crossing a
"Monkey Walk" bridge.

Many Scintilla employees participated in the Camporee as leaders. Hundreds of the boys taking part were sons of Scintilla employees.

Staged in Unadilla as a highlight of the 50th anniversary of Boy Scouting in America, the Camporee--in a sense--was a homecoming celebration for the Boy Scout movement. The Unadilla troop, which is chartered as Troop No. 1, is one of the first Boy Scout troops in
America.

Signal Tower built by Explorer Post #80, Sidney, NY

--The Scintillator, June 1960, Scintilla Division of the Bendix Corporation, Sidney, NY.

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