The National Capital Area Council was happy to meet these awesome scout visitors all the way from Kowloon, Hong Kong!
These awesome scouts had a great time checking out our scout store and talking to our welcoming staff members!
Check out these cool flags! These scouts were in full uniform, and some were even a part of the NASA Space Camp!
NCAC wishes our special visitors from Hong Kong a safe visit here in the US!
National Capital Area Council, Boy Scouts of America welcomed nearly 50 recipients of the James E. West Fellowship Award on June 1, 2019, for their 2018 contribution at the annual re-dedication of The Alice S. Marriott Patio and The Robert and Dee Leggett Endowment Garden. The audience listened intently as Scouts exhibited their public speaking abilities earned through public speaking merit badges with finesse some adults would be envious of!
The keynote speaker was Eagle Scout, Lieutenant General L. Scott Rice, Lieutenant General Rice is a long time Scouter having served in his sons’ troop together with his wife Nancy. He spoke of the importance of Scouting and the continuity Scouting allowed his family as they traveled throughout his military career.
NCAC is proud to recognize those who contribute at the James E West level over three consecutive years, NCAC Fellows are setting an example of giving that goes above and beyond. NCAC Fellows receive a special council shoulder patch and a council necktie/scarf. The newest honorees are:
It was an exciting honor and privilege to welcome past Council president Hugh and his lovely wife Cindy to the Second Century Society. The Second Century Society recognizes outright gifts of $25,000 or more payable over five years, or deferred gifts of $100,000 or more, to a local council, BSA foundation, BSA high adventure base, or any BSA entity for operating, capital, or endowment needs.
This year we added an additional award to specifically recognize planned giving efforts in the National Capital Area Council. The first recipient of this award is our most senior and active Eagle Scout in National Capital Area Council John Mosby Russell, thank you John Mosby Russell from over 57,000 Scouts in the National Capital Area Council for choosing to leaving a legacy. You too can make a big impact with a future gift, watch for our next article, How to Make a Big Impact with a Future Gift.
All the camps of Goshen Scout Reservation gathered atop Camp Post hill to celebrate Independence Day two days early – on Tuesday, July 2nd. From Webelos to Scouts BSA to Venturers, everyone met to take part in the festivities. Even the Lenhok’sin High Adventure crews came off the trail for the event.
The evening started with a little rain, but it cleared up as the camps arrived, greeting them with a faint rainbow. Scouts and leaders played field games, enjoyed concessions, and just hung out and enjoyed the view of the lake. As the sun went down, fireworks went off over the lake to end the evening. Happy Independence Day from Goshen Scout Reservation!
My son had just completed two weeks at Lenhok’sin High Adventure with the GOAT crew. He had a little downtime before joining his Venture Crew at Camp Bowman. Here he was relaxing with a book and enjoying the view from Camp Post.
A Scout teaches a younger Scout about retiring a flag on Flag Day 2019. My son is AJ Schwarting, the Scout from Troop 317. The younger scout is Chase Radics of Pack 845. The adult is Terry Schneider, a leader in Troop 317.
Joseph Lepak, from Alexandria, VA, a member of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Catholic Community, Archdioceses for the Military Services, USA is one of seven recipients of a service scholarship awarded in 2019 by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS) through the Emmett J. Doerr Memorial Scout Scholarship Fund.
Joseph received a $2,000 scholarship. As a military kid, Joseph moved around a lot but the two things that were consistent in his life were Catholic chapels on military posts and Scouts, so they both became very important to him. He says, “as a result of my faith and upbringing, I also have an extreme desire to serve others…It is very important to me that my legacy and my accomplishments in work, affect others for the better. I want the people of this country-and the world-to be better off due to my actions.”
After his dad retired, Joseph was able to stay in Northern Virginia throughout his high school years. He has held numerous leadership positions in Scouting including Senior Patrol Leader, Order of the Arrow (OA) Vice Chief of Finances, Ordeal Master and Area Chief, leading almost 1,000 Scouts in five chapters (Order of the Arrow is Scouting’s National Honor Society). Joseph has also STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) activity leader, secretary, and president of his Venturing Crew.
Joseph is currently Junior Assistant Scout Master of Troop 129 in Alexandria, VA. His Eagle Scout Project involved designing and constructing a new tool shed and improving the gardens for a middle school. He has been a participant in the 2015 World Scout Jamboree and the Inter-American Scout Jamboree in Ecuador. With his Venturing Crew he attended the National Jamboree in West Virginia, Sea Base Bahamas, and Northern Tier High Adventure. Joseph received several awards including the Dr. Bernard Harris Bronze Supernova Award, designed to introduce and encourage further study of STEM.
Through his archdiocese, Joseph has earned all four of the religious awards and has served as an altar server, lector, teen leader for vacation Bible School, assisted with clothing and food drives and with the Adult Education Program.
Always wanting to serve, Joseph has worked with many community organizations, including Wreaths Across America, Alexandrians Living Ecumenically, helping to set up and distribute food to low-income families, Scouting for Food, Park Clean-Up, National Cherry Blossom Festival, Meals on Wheels and Metavivor, a cancer survivor fundraiser swim-a-thon.
Academically, Joseph was selected for admission to T.C. Williams STEM Academy and to participate in their Cyber Security Camp. He has received numerous academic awards and represented his school through his science research. He has been active in “The High School Project Plan”, which aims to resolve issues around growing student enrollment and space at his high school. He also recently joined Community for Renewable Energy (CURE). Their mission is to train school staff and inform students about creating eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable schools. Joseph has been accepted at George Mason University and is interested in studying political science.
To be eligible to apply for the Emmett J. Doerr Memorial Scout Scholarship, the Scout must be Catholic, earned the Ad Altare Dei and/ or Pope Pius XII Awards, and received the Eagle Scout, Summit, or Quartermaster Award. Visit the website for a complete list of award recipients, eligibility requirements and applications.
