cncldetails.htm

Otschodela Council #293, Boy Scouts of America is comprised of three upstate New York Counties: OTSego, SCHOharie, and DELAware. The area is strictly rural and pastoral with a population of about 139,000; the largest municipality is Oneonta, pop. 14,000, located about 70 miles WSW of Albany. The predominant economic base is agriculture, particularly dairy production, followed by government, education, light industry, utilities, tourism (the National Baseball Hall of Fame is in Cooperstown, Otsego County), and services.

The Council serves approximately 2700 Tigers, Cubs, Webelos, Scouts, and Explorers with about 1100 adult Volunteer Leaders. Divided into two geographic Districts and a Council-wide Exploring Division, the Council is staffed by four Professionals, including the Council Executive. One of the smallest Councils in membership, Otschodela has avoided the national trend toward mergers into "mega-councils" by continuing its healthy financial structure and maintenance of its high membership levels at 22 percent of total available youth. The Scout Service Center (Office) is located on NYS Route 23 (PO Box 1356), Southside Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820 (607)432-6491.

Henderson Scout Reservation, formerly Crumhorn Mountain Scout Camp, consists of about 600 acres around Crumhorn Lake on top of Crumhorn Mountain within the Town of Milford, Otsego County - about 12 radio miles NE of Oneonta. It's 50 nationally-renowned Camp Staff members serve about 1000 boy-weeks during a six-week Camp Season, including Webelos Week. Several Staffmen have been repeatedly selected to instruct at various National Camp Schools. About half of the Boy Scout Camp attendance is by out-of-Council Troops who attend Henderson/Crumhorn for its unusually high quality Program. Almost all of its Program Area Directors and Senior Staff have been on Staff for between 15 and 40 years. Lean-tos, cabins, lodges, campsites, and a heated section of the Dining Hall are available to Scout Troops, other youth organizations, and individuals for a nominal fee during the off-season for Scouting purposes, outdoor recreation, and/or access to the nearby Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown (ten miles). The Camp celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 1998.

Otschodela Council is justifiably proud of its tradition of high quality service to youth. And, this Editor is proud of his 39 years of Scouting service, most in the Council, most recently as a District Training Chairman and Camp Staff member (16 years; the last few as Fishing and Radio Program Directors).