30 years of camping on the Village Green

More than 250 scouts and their parents spent the weekend camping out on the Village Green, an annual tradition in Valley Stream for three decades.

Prior to the opening ceremonies Saturday morning, a parade was held from the pool parking to the Village Green, to celebrate both the 100th anniversary of scouting and the 30th anniversary of the Valley Stream Camporee. About 10 local Cub Scout packs and Boy Scout troops were represented.

This year’s event was organized by Cub Scout Pack 368, based at Blessed Sacrament Church. The Camporee featured a midway Saturday afternoon, with representatives from the fire department, police, emergency services and a pet adoption agency, as well as a Nassau County helicopter and bounce castle.

Scouts also participated in the annual Super Patrol competition. It featured a series of challenges related to scouting such as setting up a tent, folding a flag and building something. There was also a cooking contest.

Saturday evening, Boy Scouts from Troop 369 built a bonfire, while other scouts performed skits at the band shell. Numerous awards were presented including to troop leaders Joan Bastone and Carlos Caban for their dedication to scouting.

Alessio Fratarcangeli, 7, not only participated in his first camp-out on the Village Green, but her received a major honor. His design was chosen for annual Camporee patch, which all scouts receive.

Alessio said he went through several designs before coming up with his final drawing. “He wrote a list of all the things that are fun about camping,” said his mother, Vita.

The Camporee was his first time sleeping outdoors and though there is a lot less room in a tent than in a bedroom, Alessio said he had a good time.

Peter Wilk, 13, of Boy Scout Troop 109, has camped out more than once and admits he never gets much sleep. “You just talk with your friends in the tent all night,” he said.

In addition to the Valley Stream units, Pack 372 from Franklin Square joined in the fun and sent the largest representation of any of the Cub Scout packs. The pack used to meet at Willow Road School, part of Valley Stream District 13, which is how it got involved in the Camporee, noted pack committee member Jeff Richter.

Richter said that the Camporee, though not held in the woods, still serves as a good introduction to camping for his Cub Scouts. The worst thing that can happen, he said, is a scout has a bad time and wants to go home — less than 10 minutes away.

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