In Scouting, as in life, there are times you need to recruit a Team. Even when dealing with highly selective activities, team leaders can sometimes find it difficult to recruit, retain and motivate Scouts for the duration of a project. This Seminar will discuss some common pitfalls and solutions to help you assemble and train the best possible team.
Sign up and join the conversation this Tuesday, August 11 at 5pm. The event is FREE, but space is limited, so don’t wait!
The last in-person Court of Honor for Potomac District Troop 447 of Rockville United Methodist Church in Rockville, Maryland, was December 10, 2019. Early March 2020, everybody was excited for the next quarterly Court of Honor, since it would be “the big one”, combined with the Troop Family Banquet and a celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Troop. Everything was being put into place for the event of the year, and then Covid-19 happened, turning our lives upside down, cancelling school, work places and everything Scout related. No meetings, no camp-outs, no Sea Base, no Merit Badge Universities, no Summer Camps, No Court of Honors.
Troop 447 would not be so easily be discouraged. Through the possibility of Zoom virtual meetings, they did not miss ONE Troop meeting. The PLC quickly adapted to the quarantine situation and started to schedule weekly virtual Troop meetings using the Zoom platform. They looked for Merit Badges they could bring to the Scouts, with the help of Merit Badge Counselors associated with the Troop, using online materials, discussions and Kahoots. Remaining requirements needed to be completed by Scouts in their own time, but the PLC provided informative meetings and a sound basis for the Merit Badges. Interim SPL Isaac led the Troop on a virtual Camp-In of 3 days and 2 nights, keeping enthusiasm among younger Scouts from tanking. Online games, Scout skill instructions and stories from older Scouts about High Adventure camps were well received.
In June an online election was held to elect the new Senior Patrol Leader and for the new Patrol Leaders for the 4 Patrols in the Troop. With an attendance of over 60% that evening, it was the best attended meeting since the quarantine.
Newly elected SPL Jackson and his 3 ASPLs did not waste any time and started scheduling the next month of Troop activities, and in early July the PLC conducted the bi-annual Planning Meeting through Zoom, trying to have both virtual and in-person options available for the next 8 months of scheduled meetings; a Scout is prepared.
On July 11, several Scouts from Troop 447 participated in the International Scouts Trash the Trash event, collecting over 80 lbs of trash, earning them the Messenger of Peace Award.
On Saturday, August 1, the Troop would finally come together in person, at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, to practice for the annual Troop fundraiser, the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair parking. Even though the fair had been canceled for this summer, protocols and procedures still needed to be handed down from older Scouts to younger Scouts, preparing them for hopefully next year’s Fair.
The PLC insisted on the highest levels of safety; temperatures of everybody showing up were taken with a non-contact thermometer, face masks were mandatory, as was keeping a distance of at least 6’.
At the end of the meeting an abbreviated Court of Honor was scheduled, which revealed how active the Scouts of Troop 447 had been during the quarantine; 14 rank advancements, 2 of which were Eagle Boards of Review, 57 earned Merit Badges and 26 BSA Awards for Scouts and adults. A remarkable achievement and a testament to the resolve and determination of this Troop to continue Scouting even when at home. A huge help in this achievement has been the leadership, staff and volunteers of the National Capital Area Council and the Scouting at Home and Merit Badges @ Home programs.
The news you all have been waiting for is finally here, you can starting buying even more patches now on Mondays! Starting Monday 8/17, we will be adding Mondays from 10am to 6pm to the Scout Shop schedule. The new schedule will be Monday- Friday (10 am-6pm), Saturday (10am-2pm), and Sunday (Closed).
All visitors are still required to wear face coverings while they are in the MSSC. Bathrooms will not be available to the public, and there will continue to be no in-person meetings or gatherings. If you are not feeling well or have been in contact with someone who may be infected with COVID-19, please plan to visit us another time. We are committed to protecting the health of our staff and volunteers.
See you soon!
The National Capital Area Council (NCAC) is delighted to announce CSCI, a nationally recognized consulting, enterprise IT, and financial management firm, will sponsor a special edition council shoulder patch honoring retired Air Force Brigadier General Charles McGee. The patch will honor the Tuskegee Airman’s legacy and life spent embodying the ideals of the Scout Oath and Law.
General McGee recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award from NCAC in February. At the presentation he stated, “If more people lived their lives by the Scout Oath and Law, the world would be a lot better off.”
An active member of Boy Scouts in his youth, McGee has earned the Distinguished Eagle Scout award, and received the Silver Beaver award for his outstanding service and noteworthy accomplishments. He was also selected this year as a recipient of the Boy Scouts of America’s highest award for volunteers, the Silver Buffalo Award, for service to young people on a national level. The veteran continued to display his leadership capabilities throughout his 30-year military career, earning numerous decorations from the Bronze Star to the Hellenic Republic WWII Commemorative Medal. Most recently, McGee received the honorary promotion to Brigadier General in December 2019, which was announced in January during President Trump’s State of the Union address. The 100-year old Brigadier General McGee has had a year – from his appearance presiding over the coin toss at Superbowl LIV to being recognized at the State of the Union address to a book signing ceremony at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum celebrating Black History month, where he was featured as part of its African American Pioneers in Aviation and Space program.
“We are extremely proud to recognize retired Brigadier General Charles McGee for his tremendous accomplishments and contributions to Scouting said Scout Executive Craig Poland. “Brigadier General McGee not only meets the criteria for the special edition council shoulder patch – he more than surpasses it. The values embodied in Scouting are reflected in his daily life and work.”
Nearly 60,000 Scouts in NCAC will have the opportunity to wear the one-of-a-kind patch that honors the living legend and his history in Scouting. Council Shoulder Patches are part of every Scout’s uniform, reflecting the history and tradition of their home community. These patches frequently become collectables and are traded between Scouts at national events.
Do a shadow drawing – Use some Scouting related items, toys, or other household objects. You can even make this a Nova experiment by talking with a counselor!
Even more fun? Invite a pack-mate or a friend who isn’t a Scout yet to do a drawing as well and have a Zoom Art Show. Please post photos of your shadow drawings for us to see here!
You can find an example experiment here: https://www.rookieparenting.com/shadow-drawing/
Learn the American Sign Language signs for at least 4 points of the Scout Law. This video shows the whole Scout Law at speed and then slower to help follow along https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6Tr8g0Nrq4
Wolves get credit for Cubs Who Care Requirement #6 by completing this activity!
Webelos/AOL Challenge: Use this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tdt_4f1Tcs0to learn the Scout Oath to complete Aware and Care Requirement #4e
Go through family photos of the summer so far. Pick out your favorite and share with your family why it’s your favorite. If you get really creative, you can make a frame for the photo or even start a scrapbook based on your summer adventures!
If it’s a scouting adventure, be sure to post it here! – https://www.facebook.com/groups/ncac.cubscouts/
It’s Safety Saturday!
Pick a requirement from the Emergency Preparedness Award with your Family and work on it today.
Requirements are here for each rank: https://www.scouting.org/awards/awards-central/emergency-preparedness/
