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

HSRAA
A Proud Benefactor to HSR Since 2000.



The People of HSR

“Organizations exist to make people’s strengths effective and their weaknesses irrelevant. And this is the work of effective leaders.”
–Frances Hesselbein

This exhibit is devoted to looking deeper at the early individuals who contributed much to the Scouting program at HSR. 

Prior to the U.S. involvement in W.W. I, <strong>Edward Browning</strong> (1886 - 1927) served in the ambulance corps of the French Army and subsequently transferred to U.S. service when his country declared war.<p>

Here is an alphabetical look at some of the names and faces that have served HSR as volunteers, OA members, camp staff or council staff… or all of the above!

Conclave staffer <strong>Andy Smith</strong> shows a completed copy of the NE-4B Winds newsletter at the 1997 Section NE-4B Conclave at Camp Horseshoe.

See your troop or pack in all its glory at HSR! Here is a collection of images throughout the years that shows off the various units at HSR.

Chadds Ford Troop 31 in the 1980s.

It’s not ever day that you meet someone famous, but Horseshoe Scout Reservation has had their fair share over the years!

Council Board member and former Council President <strong>Robert Wolcott</strong> (left) and Supreme Court Justice <strong>Owen J. Roberts</strong> at Camp Horseshoe.

While obviously not “people”, these lovable animals helped liven HSR over the years either as work animals, pets, or creatures to be studied at the Nature Lodge.

The camp burro, Bottoms.

What would HSR be without “Cheerfulness”?  These characters – in costume, in pudding, in whatever – put on their best act to entertain us in the dining hall or at a campfire. 

Camp Horseshoe staffers dress up like pirates.

Sometimes a person makes such an impact, they get a patch designed of them! In the Scouting world, there may be no greater honor.

The inaugural patch for this series designed to encourage attendance at the Lodge meeting on Sunday of service weekends, this patch highlights Charles M. Heistand, a founder of Octoraro 22 and affectionately known as "Chief".

Sometimes HSR needs a little special effort beyond what the OA or other volunteers provide.  This exhibit chronicles the extraordinary effort by several groups to go above and beyond.

The Muddy River Gang is a group of adult volunteers who come down frequently to HSR to help with improvement projects.

This exhibit houses personal perspectives of our alumni who have enjoyed the magical place known as Horseshoe Scout Reservation.  Inspiration and humor await as the people that make HSR special recount stories from their time there.  

If you’d like to share a vignette from your time as HSR, email curator@hsraa.org.

A header image for the "Virtual Alumni Vignettes" exhibit.

Ernie Heegard was a monumental figure in HSR and Chester County Council history, serving 29 years as Camp Horseshoe Director, 28 years as Octoraro 22 Lodge Adviser, and Scoutmaster of Troop 78 for 40 years. His service to Scouting was more than 75 years. He was a friend, mentor, leader, teacher, and the embodiment of Scouting in Chester County Council.

This exhibit was first opened on June 25, 2024, which is the 36th anniversary of the first pageant held at Achgeketum Fire Circle – named in honor of Ernie Heegard – on June 25, 1988.

<strong>Ernie Heegard</strong> helping a camper with Indian Lore in the early 50s.

Follow us on social media

Last updated August 28, 2026

© Horseshoe Scout Reservation Alumni Association 2025

The People of HSR

“Organizations exist to make people’s strengths effective and their weaknesses irrelevant. And this is the work of effective leaders.”
–Frances Hesselbein

This exhibit is devoted to looking deeper at the early individuals who contributed much to the Scouting program at HSR. 

Prior to the U.S. involvement in W.W. I, <strong>Edward Browning</strong> (1886 - 1927) served in the ambulance corps of the French Army and subsequently transferred to U.S. service when his country declared war.<p>

Here is an alphabetical look at some of the names and faces that have served HSR as volunteers, OA members, camp staff or council staff… or all of the above!

Conclave staffer <strong>Andy Smith</strong> shows a completed copy of the NE-4B Winds newsletter at the 1997 Section NE-4B Conclave at Camp Horseshoe.

See your troop or pack in all its glory at HSR! Here is a collection of images throughout the years that shows off the various units at HSR.

Chadds Ford Troop 31 in the 1980s.

It’s not ever day that you meet someone famous, but Horseshoe Scout Reservation has had their fair share over the years!

Council Board member and former Council President <strong>Robert Wolcott</strong> (left) and Supreme Court Justice <strong>Owen J. Roberts</strong> at Camp Horseshoe.

While obviously not “people”, these lovable animals helped liven HSR over the years either as work animals, pets, or creatures to be studied at the Nature Lodge.

The camp burro, Bottoms.

What would HSR be without “Cheerfulness”?  These characters – in costume, in pudding, in whatever – put on their best act to entertain us in the dining hall or at a campfire. 

Camp Horseshoe staffers dress up like pirates.

Sometimes a person makes such an impact, they get a patch designed of them! In the Scouting world, there may be no greater honor.

The inaugural patch for this series designed to encourage attendance at the Lodge meeting on Sunday of service weekends, this patch highlights Charles M. Heistand, a founder of Octoraro 22 and affectionately known as "Chief".

Sometimes HSR needs a little special effort beyond what the OA or other volunteers provide.  This exhibit chronicles the extraordinary effort by several groups to go above and beyond.

The Muddy River Gang is a group of adult volunteers who come down frequently to HSR to help with improvement projects.

This exhibit houses personal perspectives of our alumni who have enjoyed the magical place known as Horseshoe Scout Reservation.  Inspiration and humor await as the people that make HSR special recount stories from their time there.  

If you’d like to share a vignette from your time as HSR, email curator@hsraa.org.

A header image for the "Virtual Alumni Vignettes" exhibit.

Ernie Heegard was a monumental figure in HSR and Chester County Council history, serving 29 years as Camp Horseshoe Director, 28 years as Octoraro 22 Lodge Adviser, and Scoutmaster of Troop 78 for 40 years. His service to Scouting was more than 75 years. He was a friend, mentor, leader, teacher, and the embodiment of Scouting in Chester County Council.

This exhibit was first opened on June 25, 2024, which is the 36th anniversary of the first pageant held at Achgeketum Fire Circle – named in honor of Ernie Heegard – on June 25, 1988.

<strong>Ernie Heegard</strong> helping a camper with Indian Lore in the early 50s.

Follow us on social media

Last updated August 28, 2026

© Horseshoe Scout Reservation Alumni Association 2025

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