We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Archives for November 2020

Eagle Project Helps Local Plant Nursery

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For my Eagle project, I built a work table and three planting beds for a local nursery called Earth Sangha. The Wild Plant Nursery is a resource for ecological restoration in the greater Washington, DC area. I chose this project because taking care of the environment is important to me. I had volunteered here before and wanted to help them out.

For the first part of my project, I built a work table. I got help from Michael’s Woodshop and Mr. Dave Schneeman to finalize blueprints. Scouts from Troops 1533G & 1533B came out to Camp Snyder and Michael’s Woodshop to help build it. The Wood Shop has a lot of tools, and Mr. Schneeman’s guidance was very helpful. The building because we had plenty of volunteers (18) and my blueprints worked great.

On our second weekend, we went to Earth Sangha. First, we cleared out the old work table and installed the new one. We removed the old planting beds and installed new ones. There were many volunteers (29), so our seven-hour workday became a five hour day, and we were able to install an extra planting bed.

My project taught me a lot about leadership. I used some of the skills I learned as my troop’s instructor and Troop Guide. I also had to learn how to recruit people and how to keep everyone busy. Now that my project is done, I am glad it went so well… it was also a lot of fun.

 

Big and Little Schloss Mountains

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Troop 58 went “Big” and actually “Little” by taking on a 3 day 2 night 18-mile backpacking trip in the George Washington National Forest and summiting Big and Little Schloss Mountains. The adventure started with a 2-mile night trek by headlight to a beautiful high meadow campsite just short of Little Schloss Mt.

The scouts were up early to watch the amazing fall sunrise over the Shenandoah Valley from the summit. The next day they backpacked to a beautiful campsite along Little Passage Creek with a big campfire, fun and much earned rest.

On the final morning, they summited Big Schloss and enjoyed lunch with 360-degree views on Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. For most of the scouts, this was their first time backpacking but surely not their last! Additionally, The trip also served as a training opportunity for a crew of scouts preparing for Philmont planned for next summer. The scouts provided a lot of great feedback via roses, buds and thorns and the troop is already thinking about backpacking adventures in 2021!

Aquia Troop 317 Scouts Work to Conserve a Part of the Appalachian Trail with the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC)

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Aristotle said that “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” How often do we validate this observation in our everyday Scouting activities? This summer, Troop 317 from Stafford, Virginia partnered with the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) while working on the National Outdoor Achievement Award – Conservation. It was an ideal collaboration, like peanut butter and chocolate. As the Founder of Scouting, Lord Baden-Powell liked to say: “Cooperation is the only way if we mean to win success.”

According to their website, “The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) is a 100% Volunteer-Supported 501c3 non-profit formed in 1927 for the purpose of building and maintaining the Appalachian Trail (AT), a 2190-mile footpath from Maine to Georgia, the longest hiking-only trail in the world. We were the 1st club of the now 31 clubs who preserve the AT & its side-trails from Maine to Georgia. We are the Trail Guardians for over 1000 miles of trails in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia & Virginia, including 240 miles of AT. Our territory begins in Central Pennsylvania at Pine Grove Furnace, continues thru Maryland & West Virginia to Harpers Ferry and extends into the mid-point of Virginia, including the Shenandoah National Park. In addition, we maintain other regional trails, for a total of over 1,000 miles of trails, thousands of acres of land and more than 80 shelters and cabins.”

The Scouts were excited to work alongside PATC volunteers and the National Park Service. Additionally, the Scouts wanted to, “Demonstrate the safe use of five of the following conservation tools: pick or pickax; shovel or spade; ax; bow saw; crosscut saw; pry bar; sledgehammer; loppers or shears; fire rake or McLeod; and/or Pulaski. Discuss the ethical use of the tools you chose.” Their secondary goal was to begin accumulating some of the required 25 hours of conservation service. As Baden-Powell said: “Service is not for spare time only. Service should be an attitude of life which will find outlets for its practical expression at all times.”

Upon arrival at Dundo Group Campground in Shenandoah National Park, they were met by National Park Service Ranger Rebecca Unruh and Intern Mary Kay(“MK”) Thornburg, who gave a presentation on the Park and its origins, the Appalachian Trail, trail maintenance safety procedures, COVID-19 precautions and concluded with a demonstration of various trail maintenance hand tools and their uses.

On Saturday morning, they were met by Dave Bowen, AT District Manager for the South Shenandoah National Park District along with Park Service Interns MK Thornburg and Allyson Butler. There was an ideal 2 mile stretch of the AT for them to work on. The section had been without a maintainer this year and was in dire need of weeding, vegetation clipping (especially mountain laurel), water bar cleaning and refurbishing and also had a number of hazardous “blow-downs” (trees that had fallen across the trail).

Safety first! Once equipped with masks, tools, hardhats, safety glasses and leather gloves from the Park staff, the Scouts and their leaders started out. As Aquia Scouter Dick Haas (aka: The Ancient One) likes to say: “KISMIF!” which means “Keep It Safe, Make it Fun!” This is the key to successful Scout programs.

The work was divided into weeding teams, clipping teams, and water bar teams. Halfway through the work, the teams switched tools so they could experience using at least 5 different hand tools. The water bar team spent time cleaning existing water bars and digging out new water bars in a stretch of the trail that had water running down it the previous Monday, while the Park Service staff and Scout leaders directed the weeding and clipping teams.

When the teams met up, they all headed back down to Ivy Creek to attack the four blowdowns just beyond the Creek. These required tools carried by the Troop leaders; large carona saws, rockbars, and wedges. The blowdowns were dangerous, resulting from rotted trees that had fallen over the trail from uphill, and one was dug into the trail. With some judicious sawing, the Troop leaders were able to clear two of the blowdowns while the Scouts watched, then worked on the third blowdown so that each of the Scouts could take a turn at sawing with the Carona saw. With that completed, all adjourned to the Creek for lunch. Only one Scout fell into the Creek!

After lunch, the Troop decided to push on in an attempt to get two days’ worth of work done in one. With one group pushing the 1.5 miles beyond the Creek to the Ivy Creek Overlook parking area while doing a lot of uphill weeding and clipping, a second group headed back to the starting point, completing any missed clipping and weeding on the way back. A third group stayed to finish work on the 4th blowdown. The groups linked up shortly thereafter and everyone returned to the Ivy Creek Overlook parking area for a debrief, group pictures, and awards. All in all, over 85 hours of work was performed in about five hours, the Scouts all got to experience the use of multiple tools, some of which they had never seen before, and a 2-mile section of the AT is now in pristine shape.

All agreed it was hard work, but time very well spent! The Scouts remarked that they appreciated the thanks received from several hikers they encountered during the day. One of those hikers was so inspired by the work, he has not only become a PATC member, he took on the responsibility of becoming the Trail Overseer for that section of the AT. So, beyond getting the two miles of trail back into great shape, there is now a designated caretaker to ensure it doesn’t become overgrown and neglected in the future. One couple even stopped the Troop in the parking lot to express their appreciation for the trail maintenance work we were doing. Those interactions with adults and others who see value in what they are doing give the Scouts so much pride and satisfaction knowing their good turns are valued by others.

NCAC to Participate in the Virtual Peace Light Ceremony

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A Peace Light Ceremony has been hosted by the National Capital Area Council (NCAC) International Committee since 2017. It has been held at the Marriott Scout Service Center on the second Saturday of December since 2018. Each year the scout lead ceremony has grown in participation.

Plans for a December 12, 2020 ceremony have been cancelled however due to the COVID-19 concern.

A virtual Peace Light Ceremony will take place on Sunday December 6, 2020 at 9 pm EST. It will be hosted by Peace Light North America. The website is https://www.peacelightnorthamerica.org/virtual.php. The website provides a variety of information including additional history, online registration, resources and FAQs.

The direct link to view the live broadcast will be on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr5Yjb1tCT0.

Though our local formal gathering will not take place, light or flame transfer stations have been set-up to provide access to those who may still wish to receive the Peace Light this year. The preliminary list of persons who are available to share the light are the following:
Elizabeth Esper – elizabethesper@yahoo.com
Jeff Lepak – star.surfer8@gmail.com
Jay Eidson – ir.ncac.je@gmail.com
Anthony Malone – travitaly4@gmail.com

In 2021, the ceremony is expected to return to the scout center.

Peace Light Overview and History

The Peace Light, symbolic of the Light of Christ especially evident at Christmas, is meant to promote peace, harmony and unity among all people of the world regardless of race, ethnicity or creed. Many churches, Scouting, and associated community organizations use the Peace Light in Advent worship services, parish tree lighting events, and other special ceremonies. Some groups even maintain the Peace Light year-round using the flame to ignite their Sanctuary Lights, Baptismal Candles, and Votive Lamps.

The Peace Light from Bethlehem campaign was originally organized in 1986 by the Austrian Broadcasting Company as part of a large charitable relief mission Light into Darkness, for children in need in Austria and abroad. Since 1986, and especially after the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe in 1989, there has been a growing cooperation between Scouts in many countries allowing the light to travel throughout 30 European nations.

Each year in late November, a child from Austria lights a lantern from the continuously burning candle in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the site of Jesus birth. The light, known as the Peace Light, stored in special explosion-proof lanterns, is then flown with a safety adviser back to Vienna, Austria, where it is shared with delegations from across Europe who distribute it with a message of Peace to their own countries for use at ecumenical services. Scouting organizations then take the light to houses of worship, hospitals, homeless shelters, nursing homes, and places of public, cultural and political importance – to anyone who appreciates the significance of the “gift”.

In early December, Austrian Airlines representatives transport the Peace Light from Austria to New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. A distribution ceremony of about 150 adults and children gather at the airport’s Our Lady of the Skies Chapel to welcome the light of peace and kindle their own flames.

The light’s pilgrimage across the U.S. begins from New York City via volunteers, many of whom are Scouts and Scouters associated with the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA, transferring and sharing it in their communities. Many other dedicated volunteers meet, share, and move the Light across North America, person-to-person, coast-to-coast. The Peace Light is a sign of hope. It has expanded from a small flame to a sea of lights in a few years and shines with its message to millions of people worldwide.

For several decades, the Scouts around the world have actively promoted global peace and harmony through sharing the Peace Light.

The Peace Light is often used as a Messengers of Peace project. Administered by the World Scout Bureau, Messengers of Peace is a worldwide program aiming to inspire millions of Scouts to work toward peace. In order to earn the Messengers of Peace uniform ring to be worn around the world crest, Scouts must be actively involved in planning Peace Light activities and in sharing the flame in ways that are appropriate to the Scouts age and abilities. Cubs might welcome guests to a candlelight ceremony, hand out programs and candles, and/or be part of a procession bringing the Peace Light into the gathering. Older Scouts could help in planning and implementing the program, speak or lead a song during the ceremony, or perhaps create a display about the history of the Peace Light.

If you have additional questions, would like to be added to the email list or other related interests, please contact Anthony Malone at travitaly4@gmail.com. If you would like to join the NCAC International Committee, please contact Jay Eidson at ir.ncac.je@gmail.com.

Bridging the Trail

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Robert C. of Troop 1916 in McLean, VA, has always enjoyed his time at Potomac Outlook Park. As a kid, he visited the park frequently with his family and as a Scout, he completed many service projects there with his Troop, so the park holds a lot of meaning for him. When Robert heard that the park was looking to replace a decaying old bridge, Robert knew what he had to do. For his Eagle Scout Project, he decided that he would replace the bridge.

First, he met with the park staff to figure out what they needed and execute the plan. The bridge was on one of the park’s more popular hiking trails and was decaying to the point it was too narrow to walk on. Robert found that most of his project revolved around planning the project, creating a timeline, and a brand new design. But once Robert finalized his plans, he and his volunteers got to work on replacing the old bridge with a new one.

By the end of this project, Robert was glad to have seen the bridge completed and to have seen his volunteers so eager to work on it. He felt that he even grew a lot as a leader. Robert said, “Personally, I strengthened my leadership skills by guiding my Troop. I also learned the positive impact that my Troop and I can have on our community. But most of all, I saw first-hand that if you put in a lot of serious work in the planning stages, making sure to think of every possible hurdle and how to fix anything that could come up, then the execution stage will work much better.”

Front Row Seats

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Aden V. of Troop 956 in Sterling, VA, loves to play volleyball. He is on the volleyball team at his school, Dominion High School. They often practice and play games at Potomac Baptist Church. Their games frequently bring in big crowds, but the facility lacked places to sit while watching the games. So Aden knew he had to do something to make these games more comfortable for the crowd. He decided to make two eight-foot-long benches to add to the court for his Eagle Scout Project.

Aden began his project by creating and planning out the instructions for how to make the benches. While a bench may look easy to make, Aden had the extra challenge of making them long enough and sturdy enough to fit five to six people. So he spent a lot of time researching bench construction. When assembling the benches with his volunteers, Aden found that the most challenging part was the backrest. The wood wasn’t perfectly straight, and he had to be much more careful when fastening the pieces together so they came out correctly. He also had to sand and round the bench to reduce the chance of splinters.

After completing this project, Aden said, “I learned that even though the preparation for the benches was a very long process, all the planning was all worth it when the workday went off without a problem and was completed in one day. BE PREPARED.”