T.M.R.'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY

More than 500 T.M.R. Alumni celebrated its 60th anniversary on July 25, 1987 at Camp Keowa. The daylong affair included opening remarks, a buffet lunch and a walk through the old camps.

 

In 1990, the T.M.R. Trail was designated a Nationally Approved Historic Trail by National Council, B.S.A. Scouts completing the Trail Award requirements received a pocket patch, backpatch, medal and award bars. The following year, T.M.R. offered an expanded program for Cubs and Webelos at Camps Kunatahand Keowa, consisting of four weeks of Cub Camp and seven weeks of Webelos camp. District and Borough provisional Packs were also available.

GROWTH OF T.M.R. SPECIALITY CAMPS

Starting in the 1990s, T.M.R. expanded the number and variety of specialty camps offered. This helped boost camp attendance and utilize the underused camp facilities that were available. In 1991, Scouts could attend Equestrian Camp at the Ponderosa Ranch, the Eagle Trail, Aquatics and Sports Camps at Camp Keowa, the Junior Leader Training Conference at Camp Aquehonga and the T.M.R. Historic Trail Expedition, based at Camp Kunatah. In 1992, T.M.R. began a High Adventure Trek program along the T.M.R. Trail. Each 3-7 day trek was custom-designed and had the option of including a canoe trip downthe Delaware River. Also in 1992, T.M.R. offered the North Wind Escape Specialty Camp at Camp Kunatah, with a focus on hiking, wilderness survival and Indian lore.

 

Camp Kernochan reopened again in 1993 with new basketball courts, updated facilities and program equipment. Camping was in tents or lean-tos with dining hall feeding. In subsequent years, primarily non-traditional scouts including the In-School Scouting program attended the camp.

 

From 1995-1998, there was substantial improvement of infrastructure at T.M.R. Financial support from G.N.Y.C. made it possible to improve and upgrade existing facilities as well as construct numerous new structures. In 1997, the Village at T.M.R. was established at the former Camp Lakeside site on Crystal Lake. It offered a variety of programs designed for first-year campers, including a Scout skills area, a fishing station and a barnyard animal petting zoo.

T.M.R.'S 70TH ANNIVERSARY

T.M.R. celebrated its 70th Anniversary on July 19, 1997 at Headquarters Camp. Alumni heard speeches, toured the camps and bid in a memorabilia auction. Also in 1997, the present version of the Ten Mile River Scout Museum opened as part of the Main Trading Post at Headquarters Camp. In 1999, the museum moved to its present home, and operated with a full-time staff for the first time.

 

In 1998, T.M.R. offered the High Adventure Specialty Camp and the Law Enforcement Explorer Camp, both at Camp Kunatah and two specialty camps for Explorers at Camp Keowa.

IMPACT OF COUNCIL CONSOLIDATIONS AND THE INTERNET

Starting in the 1990s two trends combined to help boost camp attendance at T.M.R. The first was the consolidation, mainly for financial reasons, of many small B.S.A. councils into far larger “super” councils, resulting in the closing of many summer camps. Troops that faithfully attended their council summer camps for years suddenly found them closed and had to decide where to go. Some went to T.M.R. instead of their “new” council summer camp. The second trend was widespread use of the Internet, which provided easy access to T.M.R. camp information on the tenmileriver.org web site.