Girl Scout Troop from Kimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church, Holmdel, New Jersey standing in front of the St Tikhon's Seminary Icon Museum during the recent Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting Annual Camporee and historical hike.

His Beatitude, Metropolitan HERMAN, Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church in America with a group of Eastern Orthodox Scouts at the recent EOCS Camporee at St Tikhon's Seminary.

South Canaan, PA - The Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting held its 35th Annual Camporee at a historical hike, The Lackawanna Valley Heritage Trail Hike, instead of the traditional Scouting activities and competitions held at Saint Basil Academy, Garrison, New York. In addition, Eastern Orthodox Girl Scout units were included.

There were 206 Orthodox Boy and Girl Scouts participating in this marvelous event from as far as Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and New England. Some units travel 6 hours to attend. The hike was 8 miles long and included descending into a coalmine, Scranton Iron Furnaces, Steamtown National Museum of Steam Trains, a ride on the old Scranton Trolley, the Anthracite Museum, and numerous historical churches and sites.

The Scouts were required to research and answer various questions along this historical hike and at the conclusion were awarded a trail patch and the commemorative hike medal.

All the Scouts camped out at St Tikhon's Orthodox Monastery and Seminary, South Canaan, Pennsylvania as guests of Archbishop HERMAN, Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church in America and tented in his back yard. His Beatitude, Metropolitan HERMAN, opened all the facilities to the Scouts, including the famous Icon Museum. Not only was the Metropolitan a wonderful host, he conducted a special Liturgy Sunday morning for the Scouts and spent a great deal of time mingling with them.

All units arrived at various hours during Friday evening and in spite of the heavy dense fog, they all found the monastery and were ready to roll by 6 AM Saturday Morning. Buses took all the Scouts to the National Steamtrain Museum for the opening ceremonies by EOCS Chairman, George N. Boulukos and an introduction by the museum ranger. At the conclusion of the hike, buses returned to the Scouts to St Tikhon's for a Lenten Dinner followed by a traditional campfire of Scout songs and skits. The camporee closed Sunday morning after the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy celebrated by Metropolitan HERMAN and over 200 Scouts received Holy Communion from His Beatitude.

EOCS board member Dr Larry Sherman chaired the event and recruited from local BSA Council the staff that coordinated and delivered a superb event during the weekend.

Besides the activities mentioned, the participants had the opportunity to tour the monastery ground, the Icon Museum and visit with members of the Monastic Community. The weekend was very rewarding and all units express an interest to return to St Tikhon's to see everything they were unable to include on this short, busy weekend. The EOCS sponsored a similar event 6 years go and plan to include the camporee on their agenda every 5 years.

For information on EOCS retreats and camporees, contact EOCS Chairman, George N. Boulukos, 862 Guy Lombardo Avenue, Freeport, New York 11520.
`