New merged Scout council unveils shoulder patch featuring Letchworth, Niagara Falls

The Western New York Scout Council unveiled its new Council Shoulder Patch today, with the design prominently featuring Letchworth State Park from the Iroquois Trail Council and Niagara Falls from the Greater Niagara Frontier Council.

Those two councils joined in a merger that is effective today as the Western New York Scout Council.

The new council serves about 7,000 Scouts and adults in Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming counties.

The WNY Scout Council will operate two Scout service centers in Cheektowaga and Oakfield. The council will also operate two scout camps: Camp Scouthaven, in Freedom, and Camp Sam Wood in Portageville. (Camp Dittmer in Phelps is closing as part of the merger. That camp hasn’t been operational since the start of Covid in March 2020.)

Gary A. Decker, Scout Executive & CEO for the new council, sent a letter to the community today:

“I have always believed that Scouting is fun with a purpose. That means we have to get back to doing what we do best, delivering world class programming to the kids we serve. And we need your help doing that. This is YOUR COUNCIL!! It will be what you make of it. So, get involved and help us build the greatest Council in all of America.

 “My vision for the future of Scouting in WNY is one of a sustainable council that continually grows to meet the needs of our amazing young people, that provides life-changing program experiences, and that is a true difference maker in our community. I hope you will join me in making this a reality. I believe that the best days of Scouting in WNY are on the trail in front of us.”