The Boys Scouts of Greater New York Councils took over Sanita Hills Camp, a 1100-acre resort for employees of the New York City Department of Sanitation in May 1956. The camp was used by GNYC for many years including a stint as a separate summer camp during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. It was later sold in the mid – late 1980’s.
A number of patches, neckerchiefs and slides were issued for this camp. Douglas Chin provides a scan of one of the backpatches issued for the camp.
TODAY, I AM 64 YEARS OLD AND HAVE VIVID MEMORIES OF SANITA HILLS BOTH AS A VACATION RESORT FOR NYC DEPT OF SANITATION WORKERS AND ALSO AS A BOY SCOUT CAMP. IN THE EARLY 50’S MY FATHER WHO WAS A SANMAN WOULD MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR TWO WEEKS “IN THE COUNTRY”. WE WERE LIVING IN BROOKLYN AT THE TIME. THE SANITA HILLS “RESORT” HAD US LODGED IN OLD RAILROAD PULLMAN CARS. WE WOULD TRAVEL AROUND THE COMMUNITY BY SCHOOLBUS GOING TO THE LAKE, GENERAL STORE, RECREATION AREA, BAKERY AND OUTDOOR MOVIE. YOU WOULD NEED YOUR FLASHLIGHT AT NIGHT TO GET AROUND COMFORTABLY. OH WHAT AN EXPERIENCE. MEMORIES I WILL NEVER FORGET. BUT THEN CAME THE DISAPPOINTING NEWS. NEWS THAT WAS JUST AS BAD AS WHEN THE DODGERS LEFT BROOKLYN. THE DEPT OF SANITATION WAS TRANSFERRING OWNERSHIP OF SANITA HILLS TO THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA. WELL AS FATE WOULD HAVE IT, I BECAME A MEMBER EVENTUALLY BECOMING A PATROL LEADER AND FIRST CLASS SCOUT. IT STARTED WITH TROOP 492 AND THEN TROOP 666. MY SCOUTING EXPERIENCE BROUGHT ME BACK TO SANITA HILLS AGAIN. THIS TIME THE RAILROAD PULLMAN CARS WERE PRETTY MUCH GONE REPLACED BY WOODEN LODGES AND TENTS. THIS WAS STILL A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND I WISH THAT ALL YOUNG BOYS COULD EXPERIENCE IT. TWO TRIPS TO TEN MILE RIVER LATER ON AT DAVIS LAKE IN 1959 WAS ALSO A GREAT EXPERIENCE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
I also have fond memories of Sanita Hills. I’m 68 years old and my uncle was a sanitation man. My cousin and I often remember the good times we had on our two week vacation every year. The outdoor bingo, movies, square dancing and the many activities we enjoyed so much. The lakes were magnifcent. We did lots of fishing, rowing and swimming in the cribs.We would like to get directions of how to get there from brooklyn and what can we see when we get there.