A Winter Gathering for camp alumni, camp staff alumni and friends of Housatonic Council Boy Scouts of America will take place Feb. 7, 6 p.m. at Grassy Hill Lodge in Derby.
Charles “Chuck” Hemstreet, Sr, a long time Scout leader, will be recognized with the Outstanding Camp Staff Alumni Award for more than 50 years of service to Housatonic Council. Hemstreet joins previous award recipients Emil “Bill” Martin, Henry “Jay” Decho, Robert “Bob” Dion and the late Rudy Gajdosik Jr.
In 1960, Charles Hemstreet Sr, of Seymour, joined Derby Methodist Church sponsored Pack 3 Derby as a Cub Scout under the direction of Edmund Strang and Paul Kassheimer. Advancing then to Derby 2nd Congregational Church sponsored Troop 3, where he attained Eagle Scout Rank, and then becoming an adult leader within Troop 3 and Derby-Shelton Rotary Club sponsored Explorer Post 33.
He was among the founding members of the Order of the Arrow Paugassett Lodge 553 and has been a lifelong supporter of Edmund Strang Scout Reservation in Goshen. Hemstreet served on Summer Camp staff for many years and has volunteered an extraordinary number of hours providing electrical upgrades to the campgrounds and cooking for fundraising activities.
He has served Troop 3 as a chaperone on numerous camping trips to Canada, 1971 Europe Trip and 1991 Cape Cod trip. He has also hosted English and Irish Exchange Scouts and participated on the National Jamboree Committee for Housatonic Council.
In 2002, Hemstreet arranged for and transported $30,000 worth of previously owned cooking equipment to upgrade the Strang Scout Reservation Dining Hall. In 2004, he served Paugassett Lodge 553 as the Chairman for the Section Conclave, an annual gathering of 300 O/A Lodge members from throughout the region. He is an Vigil Member and Associate Advisor of Paugassett Lodge, a Troop 3 committee member and an Associate Advisor for Venture Crew 33.
Hemstreet has worked as an Electrician for Ansonia Copper & Brass and has been involved in numerous community organizations such as the Derby Lodge of Elks, Sons of Legionnaires and the Valley United Way Campaign. He has been married to Scouting volunteer Kathy Hemstreet for 41 years and they are parents of Troop 3 Eagle Scouts Chuck Hemstreet Jr and Jay Hemstreet, as well as daughters Mary Kate and Allison. They have 3 grandchildren.
The event includes hors d’oeuvres, soda, coffee, cash bar. $25 for registered members of the camp alumni association and 2013 camp staff, $30 all others. RSVP to Mr. Raymond Oppel, 203 – 929-6616 or email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Proceeds to benefit Housatonic Council’s Edmund D. Strang Scout Reservation.