EOCS SCOUTS HOLD ANNUAL CAMPOREE AT ST. TIKHON’S SEMINARY

EOCS SCOUTS HOLD ANNUAL CAMPOREE AT ST. TIKHON’S SEMINARY

The Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting [EOCS] a SCOBA agency, held it’s annual camporee as a historical hike, The Lackawanna Valley Heritage Trail Hike in lieu of the Scout traditional Scout patrol competition.  This was the third time in the past 12 years that the EOCS Northeast region held this popular camporee.  EOCS board member Larry Sherman and Ron Allegrucci, who were the creators of this national historical trail hike for the Boy Scouts of America, chaired this event.

Although the units arrived at various times on Friday evening, they were able, in spite the rain, to set up camp in the field at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Monastery & Seminary, South Canaan, PA, who were their hosts for the weekend. There were128 Scouts from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania participating in this fun filled weekend.

After breakfast in the seminary gym, the Scouts created a caravan of cars for the trip to Scranton for the opening ceremony at the Steamtown National Historic Site.  The Scouts were each presented a booklet and required to answer questions along the trail about each historic site in order to earn the Trail Medal and Badge.  The trail consisted of numerous historical sites and churches in the area such as, The Steamtown National Museum, Anthracite Museum, Scranton Iron Furnaces, Trolley Museum and the most popular, a one-hour tour in a coalmine 400 feet under ground.

At the conclusion of the hike, everyone returned to St. Tikhon’s. They were given the opportunity to visit the famous Icon Museum and the Seminary’s Historical Museum and bookstore, before dinner in the seminary’s gym.  After a short free time period, the Scouts participated in the traditional Scout Campfire that included songs and skits.

On Sunday morning, the group reassembled and attended religious services where a great number of Scouts received communion. At the end of services, the Very Rev. Stephen Kopestonsky treated everyone with a surprise by presenting two members with the prestigious adult Orthodox Scout Award, the Prophet Elias Award to Peter Hilaris of Troop 25 in Tenafly, NJ and John Cristakos of Troop 23 in Astoria, NY. At the conclusion of services brunch was served, and the Scouts made the long trip home.

The purpose of the EOCS is to promote and provide support, guidance and programs and consultation to Eastern Orthodox Parishes that sponsor Scouting.  EOCS is a SCOBA Agency, the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, which promotes cooperation and harmony among the numerous Orthodox jurisdictions in America.

The next EOCS event is the 49^th Annual EOCS Retreat on October 10 & 11, 2009 at Saint Basil Academy, Garrison, NY.  For information on the EOCS contact www.eocs.org or George N. Boulukos, 862 Guy Lombardo Ave. NY 11520 516868 4050

Take a look at this June 1914 New York Times Article.
nytimes1914

ANDREW SIMEON GOUNARDES and NICHOLAS APOSTOLAKOS received the highest honor for a Boy Scout of the Eastern Orthodox Faith, becoming Eagle Scouts. They were recently inducted into the Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Boy Scout Troop 715 of Holy Cross Church in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

Nicholas A. Stratis, son of Fr. Anthony Stratis, pastor of Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Orleans, recently was awarded the rank of Eagle Scouts. Nick,a member of Boy Scout Troop 176, in Kenner, La., earned the Alpha-Omega Eastern Orthodox Religious Award, as well as 27 merit badges (11 of which are Eagle badges). His Eagle Project was the parking lot re-striping for Holy Trinity Cathedral, which as particularly needed following the effects of Hurricane Katrina.
Nick’s brother, Stavros, A. Stratis, is currently a Star Scout.

The Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting [EOCS], a SCOBA Agency, announces the selection of the seventeenth annual Scout Scholarship, The 2009 winners are Taylor Demeter, of Falls Church, Virginia and the runner-up Andrew M. Wardner, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, who received $1,000 and $500 respectively

E.O.C.S. MEETING

Wednesday

June 10, 2009

at

St. Demetrios Cathedral

Astoria, New York

7:30 – 8:00    Coffee, tea and fellowship

8:00    Opening Prayer

Minutes from April 23, 2009 Meeting

Treasurer’s report

Correspondence

Chairman’s report

P.R.A.Y. report

Scholarship report

EOCS web page report

Religious Scout Awards Program

EOCS Heritage Trail report

EOCS 49th Annual Northeast Region Retreat

2009 – 2010 Calendar review

Election of Board members

St. Demetrios Scouting report

Old Business

New Business

As you may know, our parishes in the Seattle area jointly sponsor an Orthodox Boy Scout troop. The troop is completely pan-Orthodox, currently including boys who are Greek, OCA and Antiochian. Next summer the troop will be attending the Boy Scout’s national high adventure camp, Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. It is very difficult for a troop to be chosen to attend Philmont and they were very lucky to be selected. As it happens our Orthodox troop has some extra slots open for Orthodox boys or leaders who may be in other Scout troops and would like to join them. We would appreciate it if you could include this in your bulletin and mention it personally to any boys or adults in your parish who are active in Scouts.
The troop will be attending Philmont Scout Ranch July 6-18, 2009, leaving on Saturday, July 4th and returning to Seattle the evening of Sunday, July 19th. They will attend Liturgy on both Sundays while traveling, in Albuquerque. They are planning on having Father Dean Kouldukis, who will be going with them, perform liturgy on the trail on the Sunday they will be hiking.
As of now, there are 9 boys and 5 adults signed up. There is still room for 1-3 more adults and/or 7-9 more boys. To participate a boy must be 14 by January 1, 2009 or 13 and have completed the eighth grade. The cost for Philmont is $595. Travel and incidentals are extra. The troop is working on finding the best and cheapest travel rates they can.
Our church troop would gladly welcome Orthodox Scouts or adults to join them in this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. For more information or to sign up, contact John Prekeges at 425-829-7407, or johnppjr@gmail.com.
In Christ,
Father Michael Johnson

Father Michael Johnson, the EOCS Northwest Outreach Coordinator, reports that Orthodox Scouting is growing in the Seattle, Washington area with four new Scout units sponsored by Orthodox Churches. Two Cub Packs, one Boy Scout Troop and a Boy Scout Venture Crew. These units work together in reaching out to Orthodox Youth and offer various combined Scout activities along with project for their parishes.  Rev. Johnson states Scouting involvement is a natural way to improve the perception of the average person as to what the Orthodox Church is all about – especially since the people involved in Scouting tend to take religion seriously and tend to be influential in their own churches and communities.

The next meeting of the EOCS will be on April 23^rd at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Flushing, NY.  Note that this is a change of venue.  The calendar states April 22^nd but it was changed.

St. Nicholas is at 196-10 Northern Blvd. in Flushing, NY

Fellowship at 7:30, Meeting at 8:00 PM.

The main topic of discussion will be the EOCS Camporee in which we will be hiking the Lackawanna Valley Heritage Trail in Scranton, Pa.  Also, we’ll be camping at the St. Tikhon’s Seminary Grounds in South Canaan, PA.

On behalf of the 2009 Silver Beaver Selection Committee, please join me in Congratulating this year’s Silver Beaver Honorees:

Michael Bourdet, Daniel Olson, Amy Shapiro – Pathfinder District Sokratis Galitsis, Shawn Spencer – Founders District James Bleakney – Tomahawk District

The presentation of the Silver Beaver will take place on April 22, 2009 at Antuns in Queens Village. The flyer for the event is being finalized as I type this….just keep your eyes open for it and reply your attendance as soon as possible.

Yours truly in Scouting,
David Risueño
Chairman, Silver Beaver Selection Committee