Troop 1 Pelham has brought its program year to a close, capping off its 110th continuous year of local scouting with a packed schedule of outdoor adventure, youth leadership transitions, and community service.
While Troop 1 itself was formally chartered in early 1916, it represents a continuous town-wide tradition that began on November 11, 1910, with the formation of the original Pelham Council. Over the past century, local scouting operated as a fluid network of neighborhood troops that emerged and consolidated across the Pelhams over time, eventually leaving Troop 1 as the single consolidated program. This deep history is extensively documented on the Historic Pelham Blog, where archival research highlights key milestones like the initial 1910 organizational meeting on Pelhamdale Avenue, the early leadership of Spanish-American War naval veteran Captain Daniel Delehanty, and the formation of the town’s very first seven-boy patrol in early 1911 at the former Highbrook Avenue School, which was located on the site where Colonial Elementary School stands today. This legacy includes a proud tradition of excellence, with 479 Eagle Scouts across Pelham’s combined scouting history since William Bunting earned the town’s first Eagle rank in January 1922.
The troop carried this momentum into a rigorous spring schedule. In April, older scouts once again tackled the strenuous Lightfighter division at the West Point Camporee, executing a challenging 4.5-mile hike up and over Bull Hill while carrying full packs and all their own supplies. In stark contrast to last year’s cold, wet, and snow-shortened event, participants this year were treated to sunny and beautiful weather on the trail. The momentum continued into May, with a handful of scouts attending the Greater Hudson Valley Council Grand American Camporee at Thomas Bull State Park, themed in honor of the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary. Local community support also included volunteering along the race route for Project Community’s annual Color Run, where scouts manned a chalk station along the course.
Throughout May, the troop maintained its solemn annual traditions of honoring fallen service members at regional cemeteries. On May 16, a contingent of five scouts and three adult leaders traveled to Woodlawn Cemetery to place American flags at the gravesites of military veterans, including the memorial of former New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia. Several scouts additionally supported a massive community effort to plant 27,000 flags at Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn, where Scout William Baldassano performed as the event’s bugler.
The local tributes culminated on Memorial Day with the town’s formal remembrance ceremony. While heavy rain unfortunately canceled the annual parade and prevented the troop from marching, the formal ceremony moved indoors to the Pelham Town House. A strong turnout of Troop 1 scouts along with several Pelham Girl Scouts stepped forward to help lead the gathered community in the Pledge of Allegiance during the ceremony, and scouts also helped set up and break down the venue for the event. During the proceedings, American Legion Post 50 Past Commander and former Pelham Mayor Joe Durnin specifically recognized the Pelham Scouts, praising them for their continuous, strong support of the community’s Memorial Day activities over the years.
The troop officially closed out its spring program with its annual year-end camping and shooting sports expedition, traveling to a new destination this year at Ten Mile River Scout Reservation. A contingent of 24 scouts took part in a packed itinerary featuring rifle and BB shooting, fishing, and an orienteering scavenger hunt across the property. The trip also tested the scouts’ outdoor cooking skills, with each youth patrol planning and executing ambitious menus that featured dishes like avocado toast, chopped cheese sandwiches, steak, mac and cheese, and breakfast sausages with scrambled eggs. Notably during the trip, several newly crossed-over scouts earned their initial scouting ranks and completed fire and wood-tool safety certifications to earn their Firem’n Chit and Totem Chip.
Earlier in the month, the troop executed its traditional seasonal transition of youth leadership. Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) Conor Waters wrapped up his term of service, officially passing leadership of the troop to newly elected SPL Quinn Regelman. In this top youth leadership role, Regelman has taken charge of running weekly meetings, mentoring patrol leaders, and directing the calendar for the troop’s active roster of scouts.
The troop recognized all of these seasonal achievements at its year-end Court of Honor. The ceremony celebrated spring advancements, with scouts receiving dozens of merit badges and several rank advancements.
With the school year coming to a close, scouts are moving directly into an exciting summer schedule. Scouts are currently preparing for a week of traditional summer camp upstate at Camp Read. Distinct Troop 1 crews are deploying on a series of national High Adventure expeditions, including wilderness treks at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, canoeing the waterways of the Northern Tier on the Canadian border, and taking on a whitewater rafting adventure at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia.
“We are incredibly proud to carry forward Troop 1’s 110 years of continuous scouting in Pelham,” said Troop 1 Scoutmaster Ted Hopper. “What has kept us here that long is that the fundamentals have not changed. Scouts are still learning to lead, to camp, to push themselves, to look out for one another, and to give back to their community, whether they are out on the trail or helping out at home. That consistency is what endures and what keeps this troop strong.”
Editor’s note: This press release was provided by Pelham Troop 1. The Pelham Examiner publishes press releases in the form received as a service to the community.
