See Valley Stream scouts turn the Village Green into a Christmas-crazed Camporee

The Boy Scouts of America Valley Stream troops gathered on the Village Green this weekend for their 42nd Annual Valley Stream Camporee, during which scouts camped overnight and engaged in community-building activities. Troops 99, 109, and 116 participated along with Packs 106, 367, and 372.

The weekend theme was “Christmas in June” and the scouts decorated their campsites with holiday flair. Each year, the troop or pack that shows the most spirit through decorating sites and tents, wearing uniforms, and participating in activities, including the Saturday night campfire, wins the Spirit Stick. The winning troop or pack holds the Spirit Stick for a year until the next Camporee. This year, it was awarded to Pack 367.

Chris Cavaliere, a 14-year-old member of Troop 109, won the Spirit Stick last year with his troop and said that the Camporee was an exciting opportunity to engage with other scouts.

“I’m looking forward to the cooking contest,” said Cavaliere. “And just hanging out with scouts, meeting new people, and doing our activities that we have planned.”

Patrick Burke, committee chair and scout leader for Troop 116 said that the support the village shows for the scouts, especially regarding the Camporee, is unmatched.

“There is no other municipality on Long Island that lends scouts their common area, so Valley Stream is unique on Long Island for doing that for us,” Burke said. “They ask us what we need, there’s no fees, they give us the Green. …We’re very thankful to Valley Stream that they support scouting and support the youth.”

Gerardo Cavaliere, scout leader of Troop 109, chaired the planning committee for the weekend and noted the importance of the Camporee in building community among the scouts.

“It brings the units together,” Cavaliere said. “Hopefully people come by and see the tents up and we’re always looking to get more people into scouting. It teaches great fundamentals to the kids; it teaches responsibility and life skills...Unfortunately, scouting attendance started getting low, it’s starting to pick up again and we’re just hoping it brings the community together.”