Patriots' Path Council

Patriots' Path Council
Owner	Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters	Cedar Knolls, New Jersey
Country	United States
Founded	2000
President	Michael Poling
Scout Executive	Dennis J. Kohl
Website http://www.ppbsa.org

The Patriots' Path Council includes Morris, Sussex, Somerset, Union, and Middlesex counties in New Jersey. It was born in 2000 with the merger of the Morris-Sussex Area Council (1936–1999) and the Watchung Area Council (1926–1999).^[1]On February 6, 2014, Patriots Path Council absorbed several Scouting units from the dissolved Central New Jersey Council(1999-2014).^[2]

The grave of Green Bar Bill lies within the geographic scope of the Patriots Path Council. He is buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery (Row 8, Block I) in Mendham, New Jersey (near Schiff Scout Reservation). 40°46′32″N 74°36′09″W / 40.7755°N 74.6024°W / 40.7755; -74.6024

Organization

The council is divided into the following districts:

Camps

The council operates five camps:

• Camp Somers at the Mt.Allamuchy Scout Reservation in Stanhope, NJ (Boy Scouts). The Allamuchy reservation includes 977 acres of woodland.
• Sabattis Adventure Camp just outside of Long Lake, NY (Boy Scouts)
• Winnebago Scout Reservation in Rockaway Township, NJ (Boy Scouts and Webelos). Includes more than 450 acres of woodland and adjoins protected lands for additional hiking and camping.
• Camp Wheeler in the Mt. Allamuchy Scout Reservation in Stanhope, NJ (Cub Scout Day Camp and a resident camp for Webelos)
• Watchung Day Camp in Mountainside, NJ (Cub Scout Day Camp)

Sabattis Adventure Camp

Bear Pond, Long Lake, New York

Sabattis Adventure Camp is a Boy Scout adventure camp located in the Adirondack Park in New York State. The camp is owned and operated by the Patriots' Path Council. The camp, usually in operation from early July to early August, offers Boy Scouts the chance to spend a week at camp, where they participate in various camp activities and work on completing merit badges, or go on a trek, where they hike or canoe for most of the week.

Sabattis Adventure Camp offers week-long canoeing or backpacking treks. A minimum of seven participants can travel through 20 to 100 miles of wilderness, depending on the ability level of the participants. Sabattis treks obey the Outdoor Code and Leave No Trace philosophy allowing for an educational and fun experience for all the participates.

All the treks are approved by the New York State Health Department, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Boy Scouts of America. Sabattis Adventure Camp holds certificates from both the New York State Health Department and the Boy Scouts of America ensuring safe treks.

History

The land where the camp now stands was originally the estate of swimmer and Olympic Gold Medalist Charles Daniels. Most of the grounds occupied by the camp are the remains of a nine hole golf course Daniels built for his wife, the most visible portion of which is the parade grounds, next to the camp's trading post, which still looks like the green that it once was. He built the golf course to convince his wife to come up with him. The spot where the flag pole stands now is one of the original putting greens. The actual mansion that the Daniels lived in was located near what is now Family Camp, next to the lake. The house, called Tarnedge, was dismantled in the early 1970s and few visible reminders of it remain. The Doll House, which he had built for his daughter to play in, still stands, and is used to house staff. The path leading to the Mohawk camp site was the original main entrance to the estate, and the stone wall lining it is still there in fairly good condition, along with the main gates near the main road.^[5]

Facilities

• The Mexican House is the camp office and houses the offices of the Camp Director, Program Director and Business Manager.
• The Health Lodge houses the Health officer and staff members. The Health Lodge also has the office of the Health Officer. The Health Officer offers the First Aid MB and CPR training.
• The Barn (built ~ 1910) fromally housed the Staff Lounge, the Ranger Shed, Mountain Biking program, Adult/Staff Showers and a large room for program. The barn was re-painted in 2000. the barn is scheduled for demolition in spring 2015.
• The Trading Post houses staff members and contains the Camp Trading Post.
• The Doll House is located down the hill in front of the Trek Center. The Doll House currently houses staff members (short ones). Is complete with a living room, dining room, kitchen, bath and two bedrooms and a cellar with a furnace. It was used as a playhouse for Charles Daniels' children and was built on a three-fourths scale.
• The Trek Center is the base for the Adirondack Treks. Currently there 4 treks are offered per week. A unit is assigned a Voyageur guide to guide them through the Adirondacks. Both backpacking and canoeing treks are offered. All Trekking activities are directed by the Trek Director. The Trek Center was transferred in 2005 from the Family Camp Building.
• The Commissary The commissary is behind the former putting green and current parade field. It houses all the food needed for scouts to pick up at every meal. All meals are prepared by staff and readied daily. The building also houses the staff dining hall where Scoutmasters and Senior Patrol Leaders are invited mid week for a meal with the staff. Additionally this building serves as the staff dining hall.

Summer Camp

The residential camp program at Sabattis Adventure Camp offers Scouts a chance to have fun while working on merit badges, personal advancement and patrol or troop advancement.

The following Merit Badges are offered:

• ScoutCraft: Camping, Pioneering, Wilderness Survival, Orienteering, Emergency Preparedness, Cooking, Fire Safety, Geocaching, Home Repairs, Leatherworking, and Wood Carving
• Ecology: Environmental Science, Fish & Wildlife Management, Soil & Water Conservation, Reptile and Amphibian Study, Fishing, Forestry, Geology, Weather, Mammal Study and Astronomy.
• Aquatics: Swimming, Lifesaving, Canoeing, Rowing, Small Boat Sailing
• Shooting Sports: Rifle Shooting, Shotgun Shooting, Archery
• Climbing/C.O.P.E. Climbing

Other in-camp programs include: high ropes C.O.P.E. course, climbing tour, mountain biking, mountain boarding, sailing a 17 foot trimaran, two 29 ft war canoes, Charley's Mountain hike and overnight, field archery, muzzle loader shooting and many others!^[6]

All cooking at Sabattis is in the traditional patrol style over open fires or on camping stoves. Every patrol in camp sends two scouts to pick up their meal ingredients for each meal from the Commissary. At every meal patrol leaders and senior patrol leaders are put to the test... preparation and training goes into a successful days. Scouts are put to the test in meal setup, preparation, cooking and clean-up.^[7]

Winnebago Scout Reservation

History

Although the camp was founded in 1941, the history of the property dates back farther. The Lenni Lenape Indians fished and sailed their canoes in Durham Pond. Their village was near what is now known as the camp's dining hall. During the Revolutionary War iron mines were established. Norwegian immigrants came and built dairy farms in the 1800s. In 1916, a troop from Montclair camped by the pond. However, they had to leave after a week due to complications.

The land was purchased in 1940. By 1941, an actual camp was established. The admission fee was $7.50 per scout. Each campsite had an icebox, stove, and a latrine with water pumped from a well. Food was included in the price, but it had to be cooked by the campers. There were 5 campsites, each with room for 30 campers. Scouts slept on mattresses stuffed with straw inside tents.

Woapalanne Lodge

The Order of the Arrow is served by Woapalanne Lodge.

References

External links

• Official Site
• Friends of Sabattis Adventure Camp
• Boy Scouts of America. Winnebago Scout Reservation
• The Pocono Record.
• Boy Scouts of America.

Coordinates: 40°47′22″N 74°23′50″W / 40.7894°N 74.397263°W / 40.7894; -74.397263

See also

• Scouting in New Jersey
• Scouting in New York