Queens Botanical Garden Hosts Scouting Expo Honoring Local Troop's 100th Anniversary

World War I was brewing, Babe Ruth was pitching for the Boston Red Sox, and the Panama Canal was welcoming its first steamboats when George Winfield Schwagerl joined Troop 17 of the Boy Scouts of America in 1914. The 39-year-old letter carrier was the first scoutmaster of the newly founded Elmhurst branch, and he wrote on the application that working with boys was therapeutic because he had lost a son. Fast-forward to 2014 and there are roughly 1,000 Troop 17 alumni scattered throughout the United States, including Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. This Saturday, the Queens Botanical Garden will host a special scouting expo as part of Troop 17’s 100th anniversary celebration. Plans include demonstrations related to backpacking, camping, canoeing, compass skills, fishing, orienteering, rafting, rock climbing, and wilderness survival. Plus, there will be an extensive indoor display of Troop 17’s scouting artifacts, slides, and videos. And of course, all uniformed scouts who participate will receive an event patch regardless of their troop affiliation.

Details and photos after the jump.

Details: Troop 17 Scouting Expo, Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main Street, Flushing, August 9th, 1 pm to 4 pm, free with admission ($4 adults, $3 seniors, $2 children and students, free for members).

Top two photos: Boy Scouts of America; bottom two photos: Troop 17 Elmhurst