Three Eagles, Thousands of Stories | |
Recently, I had the privilege of attending an Eagle Scout Court of Honor for three remarkable young men: Rocco, Rithvik, and Joshua. Each of them spoke about their Scouting journey—the challenges they faced, the lessons they learned, and the friendships that shaped them.
As you might imagine, Camp Horseshoe came up more than once. They described summer camp as a place where lifelong bonds were formed and experiences unfolded that simply don’t exist anywhere else. As someone who spent 18-summers at Camp Horseshoe, I can truly attest to the same experiences.
Scouting provides something rare: a safe space for youth to try, fail, and try again—learning resilience and leadership along the way. These were three stories. There are 2,000 more just like them in our council.
Scouting changes lives. And your support makes these stories possible. Thank you for helping us create opportunities that last a lifetime.
Sincerely,
Jake Segal
Scout Executive
Eagle Scout, 2009
|
|
$125,000 Gift from the Lasko Family Foundation continues legacy of direct impact.
The Chester County Council is honored to announce a $125,000 grant from the Lasko Family Foundation. This generous gift will support two critical initiatives:
- Facility improvements at the Horseshoe Scout Reservation
- Growing youth membership across our programs
Through this transformational investment, we can continue the work that impacts thousands of youth each year, providing life-changing experiences and leadership development opportunities.
We are deeply grateful to the Lasko Family Foundation for their commitment to Scouting and the future of our community’s youth.
| | | | |
Investment in Character:
Matje Eagle Resource Center
The Eagle Resource Center, located at Camp Horseshoe, is a pivotal stop on a youth’s Scouting journey. Thanks to the generosity of Robert and Pamela Matje, Scouts will soon have expanded resources as they gain critical skills and complete the final steps on the Trail to Eagle.
“We are excited for the continued growth of the Eagle Resource Center thanks to the generous support of the Matje Family, whose three generations have had a meaningful impact on Scouting in Chester County and at Camp Horseshoe. Their contribution will help staff the department, provide educational materials, expand badge offerings, and support one of the camp’s largest and most-visited program areas.”
— Ethan Bilson, Camp Horseshoe Director
This commitment ensures that both Scouts and staff have the tools they need to succeed—providing guidance, mentorship, and support for the next generation of leaders.
Because of donors like the Matjes, we continue to strengthen the foundation of Scouting and create opportunities that change lives.
| | |
Scouts in Action: Scouting for Food
A tradition dating back decades, Scouting For Food is the yearly food drive when Scouts canvas their local communities for non-perishable food donations. 10,000 door hangers were distributed across the county with over 50,000 pounds collected as of today! Thank you to our partner Aqua for supporting this community service activity.
| | |
Allan Myers, Inc. is Paving the Way
We are excited to share that Allan Myers, Inc. has generously donated paving services to Camp Horseshoe! This project will repair the steep hill on the entry road and extend paving down the slope and up to the next crest—helping to prevent washouts and improve access for all who visit.
Work is expected to be completed before year-end, ensuring a safer and smoother arrival experience for Scouts, families, and volunteers.
Thank you to Allan Myers, Inc. for their incredible support in making Camp Horseshoe even better for generations of Scouts to come!
| | Honoring Those Who Served: Veterans Recognition Breakfast | On November 11th we welcomed 130 guests to The Desmond Hotel in Malvern for our Veterans Recognition Breakfast. The guest speaker was Major General Wesley E. Craig (Ret) Commanding General 28th Infantry Division, Adjutant General of Pennsylvania who left Veterans and attendees uplifted and informed. Heartfelt gratitude to Malvern Troop 7 for not only presenting the colors, but distributing challenge coins to our Veterans, and providing an inspiring Eagle Speaker. It was a meaningful program filled with gratitude and reflection for those that served our country. | |  | Celebrating 2025: the Annual Gala on November 14th | |
Our recent Gala was an incredible evening filled with energy, generosity, and community spirit.
Thanks to the success of both the online and live auctions, we raised vital funds that go directly toward delivering the Scouting programs that make a difference in the lives of youth across our Council.
In addition, the event raised $15,000 for camperships, ensuring that every Scout has the opportunity to experience summer camp at Horseshoe Scout Reservation, regardless of financial circumstances.
| | | | | |
