NARROWSBURG, N.Y. — Far from the noise of the city, Bishop Robert Brennan spent the day surrounded by scouts, sunshine, and the quiet beauty of nature.
At Ten Mile River Scout Camp in Narrowsburg, he joined the boys and girls of Scouting America on July 16 for a day that blended faith and fellowship. It’s an annual tradition that Bishop Brennan has participated in for the past four years.
The Tablet is going on a road trip! 🚗
We’re heading to Ten Mile River Scout Camp in Narrowsburg NY where @bishopofbklyn will be visiting for a day of fun and faith with the Scouts.
We’ll be tweeting highlights from the day right here, so follow along with us and be in on the… pic.twitter.com/VHB8RAu3EB
— The Tablet (@TabletNewspaper) July 16, 2025
“It was great being together with the scouts this year,” he said. “The thing about scouting and being in a camp experience is that they learn a lot of resilience. You have to handle the elements, the weather, and sometimes things don’t go the way you plan.
“There’s a certain awareness, a certain concern for one another.”
Scouting America troops from across the tri-state area, including ones from Brooklyn and Queens, made the trip to Scout Camp — an annual set of week-long retreats that offer programs including archery, field sports, and kayaking.
After a shared barbeque meal, a series of chants, and a conga line in the camp’s dining hall, Catholic scouts — along with others interested in celebrating Mass — made their way to the outdoor nature chapel to join Bishop Brennan in worship.
“It was my first time being here to see Bishop Brennan do Mass. It was beautiful, it was spiritual, it made me feel great,” said Milissa Harmon, a mother from Bensonhurst whose two sons are both scouts in Troop 99, based out of St. Athanasius Catholic Academy.
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“Scouting is about serving God and being good to other people, and having the Catholic scouting and Mass just reinforces that God is always with us and leads us,” she added.
In his homily, Bishop Brennan focused on being among the beauty of God’s creation, as well as learning much about themselves and God-given talents in the process of scouting, and how to put them to use.
After Mass, he encouraged scouts to carry that spirit of reflection with them, inviting them to consider whether God might be calling them to a vocation.
To thank him for his visit, the troops presented Bishop Brennan with a series of gifts, including a Ten Mile River Scout Camp Thermos, t-shirts, and a scout challenge coin.
“It’s amazing when [Bishop Brennan] says Masses … [he’s] unlike no other,” said Michael Rasmussen, a scout from Troop 99. “I thought it was very tranquil that they had it in this area, away from all the commotion. I liked the singing and the beautiful music that they had.”
Serena Hui, a scout from Troop 253 based in Flushing, said she “couldn’t believe” Bishop Brennan made the long trip to celebrate Mass with the scouts.
“It’s really nice of him,” she said. “It’s a new opportunity [to celebrate Mass], and you can learn a lot about other religions, even if you don’t participate in it.”
Reflecting on her experience as a female scout — after Scouting America recently changed their name from the Boy Scouts of America to be more inclusive — Serena noted the fun she’s had and the new merit badges she’s earned in the process.
A badge scouts will be able to try their hand at is the newly announced Pope Leo XIV patch, in which scouts will be required to learn more about the first American-born Pope, what the papacy means, and its history.
Harry D’Onofrio, chairman of the Catholic Committee on Scouting for the Diocese of Brooklyn, learned about the new patch during Scout Camp.
“I think it’s very exciting that the pope is interested in scouting, and this will enhance our work with the scouts,” he said. “I plan to send this information to our committee and have our scouts work on the badge.
“I think it’s wonderful.”
