September 20–22, 2024 (two nights)
Housatonic River Canoeing
Camp Strang, Housatonic Council
Outfiiter: Clarke Outdoors
Departing from Scarsdale at 5:30 PM, we arrived at Camp Strang around 7:30 PM. We appeared to be the only ones in the camp this weekend. Strang is a summer camp, so our site had platforms; most Scouts put their tents up on those. Site was stocked with split and stacked firewood, so our Scouts started a small campfire until lights-out at 10:00 PM.
Quick breakfast in the morning and depart at 8:30 AM for a 9:00 AM appointment at Clarke Outdoors (15-minute drive). This is the off-season for Clarke so we were by appointment and the building was otherwise uncharacteristically quiet. Settled paperwork and then it’s another 15-minute drive up-river to the takeout spot. Leave cars there and ride the Clarke van another 20 minutes up-river to the put-in point. Scouts enjoy the put-in as the canoes are lowered by rope down the steep embankment into the river.
Canoe trip is six miles. Being up river of a dam, this segment of the river is calm. Weather was ideal; sunny but not hot. We explored a tributary, had lunch in the canoes together as shoreline was in short supply, then completed the trip. Total time on water was about 2.5 hours.
Took out canoes and then spent time at the dam and waterfall (good photo ops) before heading back to camp for an afternoon of rest and rank requirements before starting dinner. One Scout had a lot of pending sign-offs and jumped two ranks back-to-back. Scouts cooked on propane stoves while adults had a delicious dutch oven casserole. KP was followed by a campfire featuring rose, bud, thorn before lights-out again at 10:00 PM.
Morning was quick pack-up and on the road by 8:00 AM for the 90-minute drive back to Scarsdale. Overall great trip, perfect early fall weather, beautiful scenery, and good company. Highly recommend.