The Greenwich Council, Boy Scouts of America purchased the camp property from the Greenwich Water Company on August 28, 1958. The company has planned to construct a dam to develop a reservoir until the State of Connecticut built the Merritt Parkway through the property.
The land was on the market for years as a potential subdivision without an acceptable offer.
The company management favored open space usage of the property and eventually reduced the selling price to an amount the Council could afford.
A campaign to raise the needed funds was undertaken. While we had active community participation, a mortgage was still required to meet the purchase price.
Willard R. Devaul, a well known Civil Engineer and past Council President, devised a plan that solved two problems. The Council offered local contractors the opportunity to bid on a cubic yard price for the top soil and gravel they could excavate and sell from a designated four to five acre site. This provided the funds to pay off the mortgage while the excavated area collected water from the middle branch of the Byram River, creating the camp lake.
Now that we had a site for a camp, the Council elected to name it after the well known author, naturalist, and Cos Cob resident, Ernest Thompson Seton. Mr. Seton was a founder in 1910 of the Boy Scouts of America. He was elected the first president of the Greenwich Council in 1912.
The Reservation dedication ceremony took place October 2, 1960 with the participation of Seton's daughter, the distinguished author, Anya Seton Chase participating.
The Ernest Thompson Seton Scout Reservation has been developed to preserve much of its 249 acres in its nature state. We hope you will enjoy your visit.
Your help to the extent possible in "leave no trace" camping will maintain this treasure for you and future generations.
 History of Seton
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