We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Archives for April 2020

Skilled Leaders Wanted for National Jamboree

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The National Capital Area Council (NCAC) is now accepting adult unit leader applications for the 2021 National Scout Jamboree NCAC provisional Scout Troops and Venturing Crews. The 2021 Jamboree will be held July 21-30, 2021 at the Summit Bechtel Family Reserve in West Virginia. NCAC plans to send to the National Jamboree twelve Scout Troops, including at least one Girls Troop and two co-ed Venturing Crews.

The National Capital Area Council (NCAC) is now accepting adult unit leader applications for the 2021 National Scout Jamboree NCAC provisional Scout Troops and Venturing Crews. The 2021 Jamboree will be held July 21-30, 2021 at the Summit Bechtel Family Reserve in West Virginia. NCAC plans to send to the National Jamboree twelve Scout Troops, including at least one Girls Troop and two co-ed Venturing Crews.


To ensure a successful Jamboree, the council requires qualified and committed adult leadership. Each troop requires three adult leaders over the age of 21, a Scoutmaster and a First and Second Assistant, as well as one adult between the ages of 18-21 to serve as Third Assistant. Crews require both male and female adult leaders over the age of 21. Members from the NCAC Jamboree Committee will review all applications to assess leader qualifications and experience, followed by interviews of qualified applicants in spring of 2020.


Adult leader applicants should register as an adult leader on the national Jamboree website AND complete the Unit Leaders Experience Survey (links below). The NCAC Unit Leader Experience Survey must be submitted to the council office (National Capital Area Council, Attn: Eric Smith, Program Director, 9190 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814) not later than 01 August 2020. Selected applicants will be notified in late summer and for those who are not selected, you may at that time amend your registration for a staff position at the Jamboree.


Should you have any questions, please contact the Chair of the NCAC Jamboree Committee, Bob MacKichan at bobmackichan@gmail.com.
Jamboree Registration: https://jamboree.scouting.org/
Council Survey: https://public.3.basecamp.com/p/DuTwg6fn4FnLvoUcbrsSmGrG

Giving Tuesday Now

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Since the middle of March, National Capital Area Council has placed all fundraising efforts on hold. We understand that there is not a single person that has not been affected by this pandemic and that this year will be especially challenging for many of our families, volunteers and donors impacted by COVID- 19.

As you can imagine, funding the Scouting movement in this environment is incredibly difficult, with many families and businesses facing a good deal of uncertainty right now. That said, we also know that the mission and programs of the BSA must continue, our Scouts need and deserve it. In this time of uncertainty, there’s a fundamental truth that gives us hope – that together we can do extraordinary things. Over the past few weeks and months, the entire world has been coming together to stand up, help out, give back, and heal. Whether that’s through donations to community organizations, celebrating doctors and nurses at shift changes, or reaching out to a neighbor to help with groceries, generosity has been helping the entire world get through this global pandemic. Together. 

National Capital Area Council plans to reengage in fundraising efforts of our annual campaign by participating in #GivingTuesdayNow, a global day of giving and unity that will take place on May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. Currently, much is unknown about how dramatically we will be affected. However, we do know that impacts to NCAC will include:

  • Cancellation of programs or events
  •  Potential closure of summer camps and subsequent loss of camp revenue
  • Staff and volunteer absences
  • Technology and resource deficits challenging staff ability to work remotely
  • Disruption in donations from families that help to support Scouting
  • Future inability of families to afford Scouting programs and camps
  • Decline in number of families we will be able to serve

As part of #GivingTuesdayNow we ask you to help us stay on course. As a key supporter, please consider making your contribution as early as possible this year, complete payment on your pledge as soon as you can, and to be as generous as your means will allow.

Please visit www.NCACbsa.org/give to support us through Friends of Scouting during #GivingTuesdayNow, on May 5, 2020.

As we practice physical distancing, we can remain connected through acts of kindness and generosity. There is no reason that our physical separation means we can’t provide the financial, emotional and social supports that nurture our families and communities. We are committed to making the investments our Scouts and our camps need, but we can only do that with your help.

NCAC Earth Day Keynote Speaker

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“Eagles as the Messenger: How we use Sea Eagles to Monitor the Health of the Planet”

Join us at 7:00 PM on April 22, 2020 as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day with this presentation from Dr. William W. Bowerman! This presentation will be delivered live via ZOOM; please sign-up here (free event) to receive the link: https://scoutingevent.com/082-earthday.

Biography:
Dr. William W. Bowerman has been awarded the Hornaday Gold Award, one of the rarest awards in Scouting, and is awarded for distinguished and unusual service to natural resource conservation and environmental improvement over a sustained period (at least 20 years). Dr. Bowerman has over 35 years of work on conservation of bald eagles and other birds of prey on five continents. He served for 18 years on the International Joint Commission, Great Lakes Science Advisory Board, including 3 years as United States Co-Chair. Bowerman’s Scouting achievements include Eagle Scout, Vigil Honor, NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Award, and Silver Beaver Award. He has served as an adult leader in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, including service at the District and Council levels, currently NCAC’s Vice President of Outdoor Adventure. He is a National Fellow of The Explorers Club. Dr. William W. Bowerman, is a Professor and Department Chair of Environmental Science & Technology, University of Maryland.

To learn more about #NCACEarthWeek visit https://scoutingevent.com/082-earthday.

NCAC Celebrates Earth Week with Home Activities

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Take Action | Earth DayIt’s the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day! We are celebrating all week with special activities! NCAC’s Earth Week is brought to you by our Conservation Committee. We will have daily NCACBSA Facebook Live Brown Bag presentations on Boy Scouts of America Hornaday Awards, other Conservation awards, and will have some fun activities. On Earth Day, Scouts will choose a part of the Scout Law and do activities on that theme, sharing pictures and promises on Facebook and will have fun activities all day long.

Don’t miss the William Hornaday Gold Medal talk by NCAC’s very own recipient, Dr. Bill Bowerman! Sign up here to get the ZOOM link: https://www.scoutingevent.com/082-earthday.

Tuesday April 21
12:00 PM Brown Bag – Hornaday Awards – an overview for youth and adults, Will Rodger, NCAC Conservation Committee Chair

Wednesday, April 22 – EARTH DAY!
Watch the NCAC Facebook page for updates, challenges and fun ways to celebrate!
9:00 AM: Facebook Live: Plan Your Earth Day
12:00 PM: Brown Bag – Hornaday Unit Awards, Sarah Holtz & Carol Brown, NCAC Conservation Committee
5:00 PM: Facebook Live: Earth Day Recap
7:00 PM: William T. Hornaday Gold Medal Talk

Thursday, April 23
12:00 NOON Brown Bag – Messengers of Peace Awards, Abdul Rashid Abdulla

Friday, April 24
12:00 NOON Brown Bag – Earning the World Conservation Award, Conservation Good Turn and National Park Service Junior Ranger Award, Sara Holtz, NCAC Conservation Committee

To learn more tune into one or all of our Facebook lives this week at 12pm. Visit Earthday.org to learn more about Earth day activities and more.

Special thank yous to two NCAC STEM Committee members, to the Conservation Committee Chair, Will Rodger, and Conservation Committee Members Sara Holtz, Carol Brown & Abdul Rashid Abdulla for pulling this together!

Troop 996 Organizes ‘Remote’ Food Drive

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When we started social distancing and businesses closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, my family and I thought of something our Troop could do to help others. I started to research food pantries and our Scoutmaster suggested we contact the one supported by our chartering organization, Aldersgate United Methodist Church. So I called Rising Hope and asked if we could do a food drive, and they said yes.

So, we sent out an email about the food drive to the Troop then a few days later my brother, my Mom, and I went to Aldersgate parking lot to wait for Scout families to drive by and drop off food. Then the next day my Mom and I went to Rising Hope and delivered the food.

I felt good about organizing this because the food will be given to people that need it and we live out the Scout Law (Helpful, Kind) even when we can’t have regular Troop meetings. A Scout is HELPFUL and KIND.