By Mary Ellen Day, Special Writer
Boy Scouts from Troop 193 spent a week at summer camp in the Adirondacks at Sabattis Adventure Camp from June 30 to July 7.
Eight Scouts and four leaders enjoyed the week of camping, cooking, swimming and other fun.
Scoutmaster Jim Kelly, along with leaders, Mike Trond, Mike Drobny and Jason Fiduk, drove six hours to the camp. The boys and leaders left Manville at 6 a.m. Saturday morning.
Scouts attending included Matt Drobny, Luke Drobny, Michael Zangara, Nick Lazos, Nicholas Barras, Keilor Chaves, Danny Shubiak and Matt Fiduk. The troop had a special camp shirt again for this year — a woodland digital camouflage with the 193 logo.
Sabattis Scout camp is located on the outskirts of Long Lake, New York, and is owned and operated by the Patriot’s Path Council BSA. Sabattis is one hour north of Albany, then 1½ hours back into the woods, according to Mr. Kelly.
The Scouts attended camp orientation, had a swim test and tour of the camp, met the medical staff and got to know their way around.
Monday, the activities began with the traditional Polar Bear swim first thing in the morning with some of the Scouts and leaders taking the plunge. Those who participated earned a patch for their bravery in their cool early morning water.
Scouts had to pick up the food for their meals and come back to the campsite and cook. They participated in daily sessions and received merit badges in camping, nature, weather environmental science, wilderness survival, archery, swimming, astronomy and Indian lore.
The first year, Scouts did the trail blazing program, which included skills to be a first-class Scout, the totem chip to work with knives and axes safely, buckskin games, which included throwing a hatchet and a big knife, archery and fire safety.
At the end of the week Friday, the camp-wide Olympic Games were held, and all the Scouts participated. Unfortunately, Troop 193 Scouts did not place in the final rankings.
They did win the tug o’ war, and Matt Drobny took fourth in the Ironman.
Mr. Drobny said the weather was great, and everyone had fun.
”The boys had a great time, and they did merit badges,” he said. “The nighttime temperatures were between 55 and 60 degrees, and the daytime was between 75 and 77 degrees.”
He added, “Camp was a good opportunity for the boys to do merit badges that they normally don’t have back at home. They get to meet boys their own age, maybe a little older or younger, from around the state or other states. It is a great opportunity for them to learn and make new friends, and they exchange email addresses and text addresses and everything else. Overall, it was a good opportunity for them to grow.”
His son, Luke Drobny, said he and his fellow Scouts all had a great time at camp.
”I believe all the Scouts we had up there had a lot of fun there,” Luke said. “The most fun activities we had were the pit, which is basically a mud course. Every single boy in our troop did it, and the fastest time was 1:46.”
Nick Lazos said, “I think summer was good. Everyone had a pretty good time, and it was fun, but the same. So I think next year we may see somewhere different and a new adventure to come.”
For more information about becoming a Boy Scout, email Mr. Kelly at [email protected].

