Special Dinners

“Once you get the dust of Horseshoe in your moccasins, you can never get it out.”

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Special Dinners

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< Special Ceremonies at HSR

“Life is a glorious banquet, a limitless and delicious buffet.”
–Maya Angelou

Exhibit Details

HSR has hosted a number of special dinners to celebrate staff or other occasions. While not “ceremonial” per se, they are as important a tradition as any other.

Displays in this Exhibit:

Tour Stop

Troop 24 Cookouts

Staff Banquets

OA Thank You Dinner

HSR Volunteer Dinner

Troop 24 Cookouts

Display Details

Troop 24 has stayed in Lenni-Lenape campsite for many years and hosts a Thursday night cookout to rival any feast anywhere. The staff is invited as a thank you for their dedication throughout the week.

Staff Banquets

Display Details

The staff banquet is used to honor the tireless commitments at the end of a long but fun summer. Here are some photos surrounding that event.

Pictures

Videos

Documents

Pictures

Videos

Setting Up
Staff members and volunteers set up for the annual Camp Horseshoe staff banquet.
2014 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Unveiling the 2025 Camp Horseshoe Staff Plaque
Wil Rollings, Handicraft Director, unveils the 2025 Camp Horseshoe Staff Plaque.
2025 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Staff Banquet Cheer
The staff does a little cheering during the 2025 Camp Horseshoe Staff Banquet.
2025 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Opening Remarks
Camp Director Ethan Bilson provides his opening remarks for the 2025 Camp Horseshoe Staff Awards.
2025 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

CIT of the Year Awards
Camp Commissioner Hannah Lamb announces the 2025 C.I.T. of the Year Awards.
2025 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Staff Member of the Year
Program Director Cole Driver awards the 2025 J.B. Rettew III Staff Member of the Year award to T.J. Belzer.
2025 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Staff Scholarships
Dr. Dave Mellinger awards the 2025 Staff Scholarships to Peter Gorman, James Swithers, Billy Blankmeyer, and Carissa Shue.
2025 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

IENA Scholarship
VP of Camping Pete Motel and Director of Camping Ryan Teat award the IENA Scholarship.
2025 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Achgeketum Award
Horseshoe Camp Director Ethan Bilson awards the 2025 Achgeketum Award to Jason Andrews, who was actually off working elsewhere in camp and could not receive the award.
2025 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Man of the Year Award
Assistant Camp Director Nate Motel awards the Camp Horseshoe Man of the Year Award to Gary Miller.
2025 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Heart of the Staff Award
Horseshoe Camp Director Ethan Bilson presents the 2025 Heart of the Staff Award to Peter Gorman, who did not make it on camera but reminded everyone “Don’t Wear Hats In the Dining Hall!”
2025 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

HSRAA Staff Member of the Year Award
Program Director Cole Driver thank the staff for working with him as he was awarded the 2025 HSRAA Staff Member of the Year for Camp Horseshoe.
2025 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Kitchen Restoration Remarks
At the 2025 Camp Horseshoe Staff Banquet, Ryan Teat provides thanks for all those who contributed to the Allen Memorial Dining Hall Kitchen restoration project.
2025 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Thanking the Senior Staff
Director of Camping Ryan Teat thanks the Senior Staff managers and the rangers for putting together a successful 2025 summer camp season.
2025 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Thanking IENA Students
Horseshoe Camp Director Ethan Bilson thanks the IENA work exchange students for their work during the 2025 summer camp season.
2025 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

Documents

1952 Staff Banquet Program

The 1952 Camp Horseshoe Staff Banquet Program.
1952 – Contributed by G. Ernest Heegard

1963 Staff Banquet Proclamation

This appears to be some sort of pep-talk phozz used before or during the Staff Banquet in 1963.
1963 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

1978 Staff Banquet Invite

The 1978 Staff Banquet Invitation.
1978 – Contributed by G. Ernest Heegard

2023 Staff Banquet Program

The 2023 Camp Horseshoe Staff Banquet Program.
2023 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

2025 Staff Banquet Program

The 2025 Camp Horseshoe Staff Banquet Program.
2025 – Contributed by Andrew Coe

OA Thank You Dinner

Display Details

The Order of the Arrow Thank You dinner is hosted by the Camp Chief or other OA dignitary to thank all the members of HSR staff who contributed to helping with the OA program during the summer.

HSR Volunteer Dinner

Display Details

Volunteers give tirelessly of their time and effort to make HSR a special place, and the staff often hosts a volunteer dinner in the middle of the summer camp season to recognize their important service.

Staffers and volunteers enjoy dinner at Camp Horseshoe, celebrating the great efforts of HSR volunteers.

Camp Director Mike Berkeihiser thanks the volunteers at the annual Volunteer Banquet for all their time and resources given to Camp Horseshoe and HSR over the years.

At the 2022 Horseshoe Scout Reservation volunteer dinner, Council President Pete Motel (left) and Camping Director Jake Segal (center) honor Al Forssmark for being the 2021 HSR Volunteer of the Year.

At the 2022 Horseshoe Scout Reservation Volunteer dinner, Keynote Speaker Collin Francis, a former aquatics director at Camp Horseshoe and current assistant athletic trainer for the Baltimore Ravens, recounts how is experiences at Horseshoe impacted his life and career paths.

At the 2022 HSR Volunteer Banquet held on March 21, 2023, Mike “Berk” Berkeihiser is awarded the Edgar Mackie II Volunteer of the Year.

At the 2022 HSR Volunteer Recognition Dinner held at PARC, Mike Larosa, a Camp Horseshoe COPE instructor and director, talks about his experiences on staff and how they shaped his recognition of opportunity. Ultimately, this skill set has led him to be a successful partner in New Trail Brewing Company from Williamsport, PA.

At the 2022 HSR Volunteer Banquet, a group of early 2000s staff get together to reminisce and thank Mike Larosa for his keynote address.

From left to right: Evan Ellwanger, Justin Tkaczuk, Matt Gutherman, Mike Larosa, Nick Hove, Mike Berkeihiser, Chris Palmer, Brian Iezzi, and Jake Segal.

Rick Crompton receives the 2022 Muddy River Gang Member of the Year Award at the 2022 HSR Volunteer Banquet held at PARC on March 21, 2023.

Kerri Lea McFadden and John McFadden receive the 2022 Campmasters of the Year Award at the 2022 HSR Volunteer Banquet held on March 21, 2023 at PARC.

HSR Volunteer Dinner emcee Evan Ellwanger also conducts the door prize giveaways for the audience.

At the HSR Volunteer Dinner, VP of Camping Pete Motel speaks about the makeup of the Camping Committee, including the 15 sub-committees that strive to make the summer and winter camping programs and the HSR facilities a top-tier experience in Scouting.

CCC Scout Executive Ben Wheeler speaks about the high level of volunteerism he has observed in Chester County County compared to some other councils he’s worked for.

At the HSR Volunteer Dinner on March 28, 2024, Keynote Speaker Noah Austin speaks about his tenure in Troop 16, his service in Octoraro Lodge 22, and his years on Camp Horseshoe staff having a huge impact on the trajectory of his life.

At the HSR Volunteer Dinner on March 28, 2024, Assistant Scout Executive Jake Segal speaks about the volunteerism and the impact it has on summer and winter camping at HSR.

Jake Segal presents Stuart Watson III the Edgar Mackie II Volunteer of the Year Award at the March 28th, 2024 HSR Volunteer Dinner at PARC.

Jackie Palmer presents Bruce Wilson with the MRG Member of the Year Award at the March 28th, 2024 HSR Volunteer Dinner at PARC.

Director of Camping Ryan Teat thanks the camping staff (Evan Ellwanger, Conner Martin, and Jessica Reagan) for putting together the HSR Volunteer Dinner.

Brian White presents Sherry Seace with the Campmaster of the Year Award at the March 28th, 2024 HSR Volunteer Dinner at PARC.

Jackie Palmer talks about the great efforts of the Muddy River Gang at the HSR Volunteer Dinner on March 28, 2024.

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Last updated December 23, 2025