Clear Lake Scout Reservation

The Agatha A. Durland Scout Reservation is a scout camp owned by the Westchester-Putnam Council in Putnam Valley, New York. It is 1,400 acres (5.7 km²) of mostly deciduous forest containing five lakes, bordered by Clarence Fahnestock State Park to the northeast. It has about forty campsites and nine cabins.
In the summer months, it is used as one of three Westchester-Putnam Council cub scout day camps.

History

In 1968, environmentalist and National Geographic Director of Exploration William O. Field sold his 1,400-acre (5.7 km²) property to the Boy Scouts of America. The camp was originally named Clear Lake Scout Reservation for one of the lakes on the property. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation offered to buy the land from Field to add on to the newly formed and neighboring Clarence Fahnestock State Park, but Field declined, claiming that the BSA would be better caretakers of the land, keeping it "forever wild". The estate was sold to the council in 1968.

In 1993, the council voted to save the then "Clear Lake" from being sold for $4.5 million to private developers who would build a golf course on the land. The council voted down the proposal.

In 2007, the council renamed Clear Lake to the Agatha A. Durland Scout Reservation. The reservation's namesake had donated oceanfront property in Rye, New York on Milton Point, to the council and a 20-year trust to the council. The trust was terminated and the money split throughout the council. In 2007, the waterfront property, Durland Scout Center, was sold to private developers. The name and trust were transferred to Clear Lake.

The reservation

The camp is accessible by car from Oscawana Lake Road. The reservation is located at 1 Clear Lake in Putnam Valley, New York, ZIP Code 10579. A road that is accessible by common vehicles that is approximately 1 mile long leads to a small dirt parking lot and the Sperling Pavilion, which is used for the summer camp that takes place during the summer. The camp office is located along the road.

The reservation encompasses 1,400 acres of deciduous forest and two large lakes, marshes and three smaller ponds.

Nine cabins, named Jones, Oak, White Pine, Nardone, Schutt, Maple, Birch, Hemlock and Cedar cabins, are located on the reservation. 40 campsites are available for short-term camping. Most are equipped with lean-tos and latrines.

The camp is maintained year-round by the ranger who lives on the property and the office is maintained year round by the campmaster who also lives on the property. The camp ranger as of 2011 is Keith Wiggers. The campmaster as of 2010 is David D'Lugin.

See also

• Westchester-Putnam Council