48-723: Bear Mountain State Park is a 5,205-acre (21.06 km) state park located on the west bank of the Hudson River in Rockland and Orange counties, New York . The park offers biking, hiking, boating, picnicking, swimming, cross-country skiing , cross-country running, sledding and ice skating. It also includes several facilities such as the Perkins Memorial Tower, the Trailside Museum and Zoo,
96-526: A land lease from the U.S. government , while Mackinac National Park was handed down to become the first of the Michigan state parks . As with national parks, facilities at state parks are often leased to concessionaires to operate. Breaks Interstate Park is operated under an interstate compact by Virginia state parks , although it is also one of the Kentucky state parks , straddling both sides of
144-448: A center lodge equipped with wood stoves, refrigerators and electricity and four 8-man lean-tos. Tuscarora Scout Reservation also offers a renovated Nature lodge, dining hall, a nationally known Handicraft program, and a 40-foot (12 m), progressively more difficult climbing wall with free rappel. They also offer mountainboarding, paddleboard, shotgun and rifle range as well as multiple Wilderness Programs and Scoutcraft programs. The camp
192-589: A few exceptions such as Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California, and Wood-Tikchik State Park in Alaska, the largest state park in the United States . In addition to preserving natural landscapes and providing recreational opportunities, many state parks also serve as important educational resources . They often offer guided tours, interpretive programs, and exhibits that help visitors learn about
240-699: A restaurant) for lodging at some parks. These typically use "Resort" in the name, such as "_____ Resort State Park" in West Virginia state parks and "_____ State Resort Park" in neighboring Kentucky state parks , which has 17 such resort parks, the most of any state. Other states use the Resort name inconsistently (like DeGray Lake Resort State Park , the only one out of three resorts in Arkansas state parks ), or have only one such park ( South Carolina state parks ' Hickory Knob State Resort Park ), or do not use
288-547: A scout camp on the east side of Waneta Lake. Camp Gorton provides a program that is well-suited for younger scouts and is known for having an excellent waterfront and shooting sports programs. At the waterfront they offer facilities for fulfilling the Water Sports merit badge requirements as well as those for the Motorboating merit badge for no additional fee. Their Shooting Sports ranges have 16 slots for fulfilling
336-492: Is a Scouts BSA of America camp located on 130 acres (0.5 km ) on Frontenac Point on the west shore of Cayuga Lake in New York State's Finger Lakes . It is approximately nine miles north of Ithaca . Camp Barton has nine summer camping sites with 2- and 4-man platform tents, as well as a winter lean-to site in one of the two gorges which surround the camp. The camp facilities include many water-based activities on
384-666: Is adjacent to the north edge of the park, while Iona Island Bird Sanctuary is on the eastern edge in the Hudson River . The park is a separate entity from the adjacent Harriman State Park , which runs along the western edge of the park. It lies within the Northeastern coastal forests ecoregion . During the American Revolution , when the British viewed control of the Hudson River as essential to dominating
432-515: Is available year-round for camping, hiking as well as shotgun and rifle programs. Tuscarora Scout Reservation hosts over 500 Scouts and leaders each January and February for its Winter Camp programs. Tuscarora hosts the Council's annual National Youth Leadership Training Course every August. The corresponding Order of the Arrow lodge is Otahnagon Lodge 172. The Connecticut Rivers Council serves
480-680: Is currently located at 420 Fifth Avenue , New York City. On September 10, 1910, S. F. Lester of Troy, New York , became the first person to hold the Scouting leadership position of Scoutmaster (approved by the BSA). He received his certification from the BSA headquarters in New York City. In 1910 he led a group of 30 scouts at Camp Ilium , in Pownal, Vermont . Camp Ilium was the starting point of
528-812: Is located in Falconer, New York, and is visible on Hough Hill from Route 86. In 1917, the Dunkirk Council was formed, closing in 1918. In 1917, the Olean Council was formed, closing in 1918. In 1917, the Salamanca Council was formed, closing in 1919. In 1917, the Jamestown Council (#382) was formed, changing its name to the Chautauqua County Council (#382) in 1925. It changed its name again to
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#1732793362303576-743: The Bear Mountain Inn , a merry-go-round, a pool, and a skating rink. It also hosts the Bear Mountain Circle , where the historic Palisades Interstate Parkway and Bear Mountain Bridge meet. It is managed by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission , which is overseen by the State of New York . The park includes Bear Mountain as well as Dunderberg Mountain and West Mountain. Fort Montgomery
624-781: The Chautauqua Lake Area Council (#382) in 1932. In 1932, Chautauqua Lake Area Council (#382) was created, and in 1929 the Lake Shore Council (#407) was created. Both councils merged in 1941 to become the Chautauqua County Council (#382). In 1926, the Cattaraugus Council (#750) was formed, changing its name to the Seneca Council (#750) in 1929. In 1973, the Allegheny Highlands Council (#382)
672-813: The Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration . Scouting in New York Scouting in New York has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live. The first National Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Headquarters was in New York City , and the Girl Scouts of the USA National Headquarters
720-802: The Cortland Council was founded, closing in 1918. In 1921, the Norwich Council was formed, merging into the Binghamton Council (#368) in 1924. In 1918 the Binghamton Council (#368) was formed, changing its name to the Susquenango Council (#368) in 1920. In 1918 the Johnson City and Endicott Council (#383) was formed, changing its name to the Fairplay Council (#383) in 1932. In 1917
768-722: The Elmira Council (#375) was founded, changing its name to the Chemung County Council (#375) in 1926. In 1927 the council changed its name Elmira Area Council (#375), and again in 1947 to Sullivan Trail Council (#375). In 1922, the Steuben County Council (#402) was founded, changing its name to the Steuben Area Council (#402) in 1931. In 1991 Steuben Area Council (#402) and Sullivan Trail Council (#375) merged to become
816-855: The Five Rivers Council (#375). In 1992, General Sullivan Council (#779) merged into the Five Rivers Council. The council is divided into three districts: It operates two camps: Camp Brulé, in North East Pennsylvania, and Camp Gorton on Waneta Lake in New York. Camp Gorton, located on Waneta Lake in the middle of the Finger Lakes, provides over 350 acres of land in Upstate New York for Scouts BSA camps. In 2014 Camp Gorton celebrated its 92nd year of existence and 90th anniversary of being
864-786: The Ithaca Council (#381) was formed, changing its name to the Thompkins County Council (#381) in 1926. Thompkins County (#381) changed its name to the Louis Agassiz Fuertes Council (#381) in 1929. In 1925 the Fairplay Council (#383) was formed, merging into the Susquenango Council (#368) in 1932. In 1998, the Susquenango Council (#368) merged with the Baden-Powell Council (#381). The combined councils took
912-535: The Palisades Interstate Parkway in 1947). Bear Mountain-Harriman State Park became a reality the following year when the prison was demolished and a dock built for steamboat excursion traffic; the following year a new West Shore Railroad station was built near the dock. In 1912, a replica of Henry Hudson 's ship, the Half Moon was built and moored at the dock. Major William A. Welch
960-636: The 1920s and completed the acquisition with eminent domain in the 1960s. Originally completed in 1915, the Bear Mountain Inn is an early example of the rustic lodge style influenced by the Adirondack Great Camps and later used extensively in the National Park System . It closed in 2005 for extended renovations, reopening in 2011. The Perkins Memorial Drive is a scenic road to the summit of Bear Mountain. At
1008-458: The American territories, the area that was to become the park saw several significant military engagements. In 1777, British troops routed Patriots at Fort Montgomery . Anthony Wayne 's attack of the British fort at Stony Point moved colonial troops to the west of Bear Mountain. In 1908 the State of New York announced plans to relocate Sing Sing Prison to Bear Mountain. Work was begun in
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#17327933623031056-550: The Boy Scout Movement for Troy, and Pownal. Pownal is only 35 miles (56 km) away from Troy. Following the lead of the State of Michigan , the State of New York formed its own Forest Scouts . This group was formed in response to a number of late 19th century and early 20th century forest fires and were effectively "auxiliary fire wardens". The 1924 National Order of the Arrow Lodge Meeting
1104-854: The Rifle merit badge requirements and has plenty of cover for Scouts, Leaders, and Parents to come and observe. Camp Brulé (pronounced "Brul-a"), named after Étienne Brûlé , is in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania. It was founded by the General Sullivan Council with headquarters in Athens and jurisdiction over Bradford, Tioga and Sullivan Counties. The camp covers the forty-two acres of Elk Lake and 200 acres (0.8 km ) of forest land bordering it. Pancost Hall and Crandall Hall are memorials to Alfred H. Pancost, Chief Scout Executive and founder, and to Harry H. Crandall, first president of
1152-668: The United States. The ski jumps have not been used since 1990. There are over 50 official trails covering 235 miles (378 km), featuring a wide range of difficulties and elevation changes. The first section of the Appalachian Trail , taking hikers from Bear Mountain south to the Delaware Water Gap , opened on October 7, 1923 and served as a pattern for the other sections of the trail developed independently by local and regional organizations and later by
1200-897: The administration of the government of each U.S. state , some of the Mexican states , and in Brazil . The term is also used in the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales . The equivalent term used in Canada, Argentina, South Africa, and Belgium, is provincial park . Similar systems of local government maintained parks exist in other countries, but the terminology varies. State parks are thus similar to national parks , but under state rather than federal administration. Similarly, local government entities below state level may maintain parks, e.g., regional parks or county parks . In general, state parks are smaller than national parks, with
1248-820: The area near Highland Lake (renamed Hessian Lake) and in January 1909, the state purchased the 740-acre (3.0 km) Bear Mountain tract. Conservationists inspired by the work of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission lobbied successfully for the creation of the Highlands of the Hudson Forest Preserve, stopping the prison from being built. Mary Averell Harriman , whose husband, Union Pacific Railroad president E. H. Harriman died in September of that year, offered
1296-564: The camp's quarter-mile of waterfront, including rowing, motorboating, sailing, waterskiing, jetskiing and swimming, as well as handicraft, nature, rifle and archery ranges, and scoutcraft areas. The Camp's buildings and cabins are available for off-season use by Scouting and other youth organizations. Tuscarora Scout Reservation is a Boy Scouts of America camp located on 1200 acres (4.5 km ) around Summit Lake in New York State's Southern Tier . The camp has ten summer camping sites with 2-man platform tents. It has five winter units with
1344-705: The council. On the parade ground a native boulder bears a bronze plaque in memory of Eagle Scout twin brothers from Troop 2, Towanda, Pennsylvania, Army Air Corp Lieutenants John R. and William G. Winter. Born August 11, 1925, they were killed in action in World War II on August 11, 1945. The plaque was erected by employees of the Patterson Screen Company. TKäen DōD Lodge 30 formed from three former lodges. Seneca Lodge 394, Wakanda Lodge 186, and Winingus Lodge 30. TKäen DōD celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2017. The Greater Hudson Valley Council
1392-675: The country's state parks. The NASPD further counts over 43,000 miles (69,000 km) of trail, 217,367 campsites, and 8,277 cabins and lodges across U.S. state parks. The largest state park system in the United States is Alaska State Parks , with over 100 sites encompassing 3.3 million acres. Many states include designations beyond "state park" in their state parks systems. Other designations might be state recreation areas , state beaches, and state nature reserves . Some state park systems include long-distance trails and historic sites . To encourage tourism in rural areas, several states have simple lodges, inns, hotels, or motels (usually with
1440-478: The designation at all (such as the lodges of Georgia state parks ). The term "lodge" may also refer to a hiking lodge , essentially a large cabin for hikers rather than a large facility with private rooms and a restaurant. Other lodging may include yurts and tipis . Not all parks owned by a state are necessarily part of its state-park system, such as Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta. Some Texas state parks are
1488-641: The federal government. The Bear Mountain Zoo, through which the Appalachian Trail passes, is the lowest elevation on the 2,100-mile (3,400 km) trail. There are six miles (9.7 km) of the AT located in the park. In 2010, sections of the AT within the park were rebuilt by the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference , with stone steps to handle the 500,000 annual hikers. The Manhattan skyline can be seen from
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1536-465: The former site of Fort Clinton . Its name is a reference to the Appalachian Trail that runs through the complex. The zoo began as a bear den in 1926 and is currently the home of a wide variety of local injured or rehabilitating animals, including bears, otters, deer, bald eagles, and owls. The zoo's popular otter died in June 2013, aged 19 years. The Reptile and Amphibian House has many species of fish, turtles, snakes and frogs. The Nature Study Museum
1584-422: The local flora , fauna , geology , and cultural history of the area. These programs are designed not only to enhance the visitor experience but also to promote conservation awareness and encourage responsible enjoyment of natural resources. There are 6,792 state park units in the United States, according to the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD). There are some 813 million annual visits to
1632-402: The majority of the State of Connecticut in addition to Fisher's Island in New York. The corresponding Order of the Arrow Lodge is Tschitani Lodge #10. Five Rivers Council serves Scouts in the Southern tier of New York and the Northern tier of Pennsylvania. In 1917, the Hornell Council was founded, closing in 1918. In 1918, the Corning Council was founded, closing in 1919. In 1915,
1680-506: The name Baden-Powell and the number (#368). In 1929 the Louis Agassiz Fuertes Council (#381) was formed. In 1940 the Tioughnioga Council (#383) was formed. In 1975, the two council merged to become the Baden-Powell Council (#381). In 1998, the Baden-Powell Council (#381) and the Susquenango Council (#368) merged to become Baden-Powell Council (#368). As of 2017, the council has four districts: The Baden-Powell Council operates two Scout Camps: Camp Barton , founded in 1927,
1728-459: The park. These ships ride the Hudson River fifty miles from Manhattan in order to visit the park. State park State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational potential. There are state parks under
1776-648: The road from the Chautauqua Institution in western New York, and is a Scouts BSA summer camp. Camp Merz has a waterfront and many waterfront-related merit badges available for scouts. Both camps are opens to all scouts for year-round camping. The Baden-Powell Council was formed in 1998 by the merger of the former Baden-Powell Council (headquartered in Dryden, New York) and Susquenango Council (headquartered in Binghamton, New York). The council's new headquarters are in Binghamton. The council covers five counties in New York State—Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Tioga and Tompkins—as well as Susquehanna County in Pennsylvania. In 1917,
1824-439: The state another 10,000 acres (40 km) and one million dollars toward the creation of a state park. George W. Perkins, with whom she had been working, raised another $ 1.5 million from a dozen wealthy contributors including John D. Rockefeller and J. Pierpont Morgan . New York State appropriated a matching $ 2.5 million and the state of New Jersey appropriated $ 500,000 to build the Henry Hudson Drive, (which would be succeeded by
1872-419: The state line. Other multi-state parks are legally two separate parks with the same name and more informal cooperation between them. The title of oldest state park in the United States is claimed by Niagara Falls State Park in New York , established in 1885. Several public parks previously or currently maintained at the state level pre-date it. Indian Springs State Park has been operated continuously by
1920-454: The state of Georgia as a public park since 1825, although it did not gain the title "State Park" until 1931. In 1864 Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove were ceded by the federal government to California until Yosemite National Park was proclaimed in 1890. In 1878 Wisconsin set aside a vast swath of its northern forests as "The State Park" but, needing money, sold most of it to lumber companies within 20 years. Mackinac National Park
1968-406: The summit, the 40 feet (12 m) Perkins Memorial Tower provides a view of four states and the skyline of Manhattan , 40 miles (64 km) to the south. The road and tower were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1932 and 1934. It is named after George Wallbridge Perkins, the first president of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. The Trailside Museums and Zoo are located at
Bear Mountain State Park - Misplaced Pages Continue
2016-436: The top of Bear Mountain. Bear Mountain also regularly hosts cross country running events during the fall season. High school cross country teams compete on the 3.0-mile (4.8 km) course, which mostly consists of paved walkways. Bear Mountain is the location for the County's Championship race as well as the Rockland County Alumni Race, run every year since 1983. Several cruise lines operate cruises with views and trips to
2064-417: Was established in 1875 as the second U.S. national park before being converted to a state park in 1895. The first state park with the designation of "state park" was Itasca State Park in Minnesota , established in 1891. Many state park systems date to the 1930s, when around 800 state parks (and several national ones) across the country were developed with assistance from federal job-creation programs like
2112-684: Was estimated that more than a million people a year were coming to the park. In the 1930s the federal government under Franklin D. Roosevelt was developing plans to preserve the environment as part of the Depression -era public works programs; the Civil Works Administration and the Works Progress Administration spent five years on projects at the park. Pump houses , reservoirs , sewer systems, vacation lodges, bathrooms, homes for park staff, storage buildings and an administration building were all created through these programs. The park continued to grow after its creation. The Palisades Interstate Park Commission began purchasing nearby Doodletown in
2160-419: Was formed from a merger of the Seneca Council (#750), Chautauqua County Council (#382), and the Elk Lick Council (#499). The council is divided into two districts: It has two camps: Camp Merz and Elk Lick Scout Reserve. Elk Lick is tucked into the heart of the Allegheny Mountains in Smethport, Pennsylvania, and operates exclusively as a Cub Scout summer camp. Camp Merz is located on Lake Chautauqua, just up
2208-480: Was formed in 1921 for the Boy Scouts facility in the park from the original exhibits created by the American Museum of Natural History . The Geology Museum covers the Hudson Highlands and other local geology. The History Museum has exhibits about colonial and Native American culture. On February 11, 1962, 35,120 spectators turned out to watch the New York State Junior Ski Jumping Championship. More jump competitions were held at Bear Mountain than at any other ski jump in
2256-633: Was held at Kanohwanke Scout Camp near Tuxedo, New York and the 1929 National Lodge Meeting was held at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Boy Scouts of America National Headquarters were established in 1910 in New York City and opened in January 1911. In the 1970s and again in the 1990s, upstate New York went through a huge consolidation of small, historic councils. There are fourteen Boy Scouts of America (BSA) local councils in New York. The Allegheny Highlands Council serves Scouts in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany counties in New York and McKean and Potter counties in Pennsylvania. Its Service Center
2304-425: Was hired as Chief Engineer, whose work for the park would win him recognition as the father of the state park movement (and later, the national park movement). The park opened in June 1913. Steamboats alone brought more than 22,000 passengers to the park that year. Camping at Hessian Lake (and later at Lake Stahahe) was immensely popular; the average stay was eight days and was a favorite for Boy Scouts . By 1914 it
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