We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Archives for February 2021

Update on Resuming In-Person Scouting Activities

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As the weather starts to warm, many units have been contacting us about when they should restart in-person activities. We are grateful to all the leaders, families, and Scouts who have helped their units follow COVID-19 protocols over the past year. The health and safety of our Scouts is our collective highest priority, and everyone’s continued adherence to safety protocols helps us to fulfill that promise.  While there has been very good news about vaccination progress in our communities, unfortunately, the current models suggest at least several more months of primarily digital program delivery.

Due to significant variance in the state and county phased reopening programs being implemented across our Council’s territory, it is difficult to provide an “all-inclusive” recommendation for all NCAC units. As such, we would like to reinforce the following guidance regarding resumption of in-person Scouting activities.

  • The Unit Key Three should determine what activities and in-person gatherings are permitted for the county in which the unit is chartered. 
  • The Key Three should then work with the adult committee to determine if the unit is prepared to begin in person meetings or activities. 
  • If consensus exists among the adult committee members, the Key Three should consult with the Chartered Partner to secure their support for the resumption of in person meetings or activities.
  • It is the responsibility of the unit’s Key Three and adult committee to understand and ensure all state/county restrictions and required Covid-19 safety precautions are taken.  Units traveling to other states/destinations for camp/activities are responsible for knowing and adhering to the restrictions and precautions of those areas.
  • Units following the restrictions and administering the precautions are covered by the BSA insurance program.
  • In addition to precautions required by states and counties we ask you to incorporate the processes included in BSA’s Restart Scouting Checklist and use the Pre-Event Medical Screening Checklist.

For more information about BSA’s response to COVID-19, please read the National Statement on COVID-19 and the COVID-19 FAQ.

We know everyone is excited to begin outdoor, in-person Scouting activities.  We ask that you “do your best” to follow the guidance provided here, and work with your adult committee and chartered organization, as well as your local protocols, to ensure a safe Scouting experience.

Improve your Skills as an Adult Leader!

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The only way to improve in any job is to continually learn and practice! As Scouting Leaders, we do not have to figure all of this ourselves, we do not live in a vacuum. There are many opportunities to learn from others and share our experiences. As leaders, we can learn from our peers by attending our District Roundtables and taking additional training so we are always learning and growing. The University of Scouting provides a one-day event where we can choose from a host of classes to improve our toolbox!

The University of Scouting has something for every Scout Leader, whether you are a few months into the role, or a seasoned veteran. This year we will conduct a virtual training event on Saturday, February 27, 2021. Here’s what your fellow NCAC Scouters have to say about last year’s UoS:

  • Someone quite wise once suggested, “Every Scout deserves a trained leader.” Attending the University of Scouting is an easy way to continue my training as a leader. And I believe our Founder Lord Baden-Powell said, “The Scoutmaster teaches boys to play the game by doing so himself.” Well, I may not be a Scoutmaster but I trying to teach Scoutmasters how to play the game of Scouting. Where better — during this COVID19 pandemic — than in the University of Scouting?  – John L.
  • I am coming up on 2 years in my current position, and I feel like I know a thimbleful of what I need to in order to be the best leader I can be for Scouts. UoS gives me someplace to learn and to strengthen those areas I feel weaker in. That includes learning from fellow Scouters and not just the Scouter leading the session. It’s a fantastic way to learn, network, and build relationships across the Council. I strongly encourage all the registered Scouters in my Troop to attend each year. Heck, I would encourage my older Scouts and youth leaders to attend as well if they could. – John S.
  • As a female, I didn’t participate in Boy Scouts of America as a child. I went to my first University of Scouting to help increase my own knowledge as a new leader. As my husband – an Eagle Scout, then Cubmaster, then Scoutmaster – and I got involved more deeply as Scouters, we valued “Every Scout deserves a Trained Leader” and continued to attend the University of Scouting. “Inspiration” and “plagiarism” are very close siblings and every year at UoS I am inspired by somebody or something to improve the program for our Cub Scout daughter or Scouts BSA son. As the years go on, I hope I can be an inspiration to others on their Scouting journey. – Jodi B.
  • I have been attending, as well as teaching Boy Behavior, at the NCAC University of Scouting for almost twenty years. I hold a PhD from both the College of Boy Scouting Science and the College of Cub Scouting Science. I attend every year because you can always learn new things, learn new ways to do things, learn what are the latest changes to Scouting, and enjoy the wonderful teachers and attendees that attend this outstanding NCAC event! It is also an opportunity to meet and talk with people on the midway from both Scouting and non-Scouting organizations. – William T.

Join these Scout Leaders and others at the University of Scouting!

Register today!

Goshen & Snyder Summer Camp COVID-19 Protocols

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We at the National Capital Area Council are committed to bringing back the joy of in-person summer camp for the summer of 2021. However, we must take additional measures to continue to minimize the risk of spread and infection. In anticipation of the summer, we have released COVID-19 protocols for both Goshen Scout Reservation and Camp William B. Snyder.

You can read and get copies of the protocols at their respective websites: www.gotogoshen.org/coronavirus and www.gotosnyder.org/coronavirus.

NCAC Announces 2021 Silver Beaver Class

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National Capital Area Council, Boy Scouts of America is proud to announce the 2021 Class of Silver Beavers. The Silver Beaver Award is a distinguished service award presented at the local level.

Recipients of this award are adult leaders who have made an impact on the lives of youth both in and out of Scouting. They have given hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication, and many years of service to our community. The members of this year’s class are:

Class Honoree: James Smith

Henry Brothers II
Carol Brown
Mary Carson
James Chaplin
Timothy Cline
Robert Davidson
Justin Day
Oliver Dove
Robert Faris
Michael Filipowicz
Jeffrey Geyer
Richard Harrington
Sara Holtz
Forrest Horton
Edward Hutchins
James Lehman Jr.
Lorraine Lince
Sasha Loftin
Ann MacPhail
Lawrence McNiece
Winifred Niemi
James Palmer
Rus Pittman
Karen Purinton
Patrick Ring
William Rodger
James Schleckser
Oscar Smith
David Weisz
Craig Weston

These community leaders will be recognized at the Council Court of Honor in May, 2021. More details will be coming soon!

Hornaday Gold Badge for John Wiltenmuth

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Please join the NCAC Conservation Committee in applauding conservationist and dedicated scouter John Wiltenmuth of Mattaponi District for receiving the prestigious BSA Hornaday Gold Badge. The Gold Badge is awarded by the local council to an adult Scouter or Venturing leader who has demonstrated leadership and a commitment to the education of youth on a council or district level for significant conservation efforts for a period of at least three years. Fewer than 40 Scouters nationwide received this highly coveted award in 2020. Read below the nomination letter that outlines John’s exceptional conservation leadership and dedication to youth education.

John Wiltenmuth has been a continuing supporter and promoter of environmental education and conservation within the Mattaponi District and BSA for over thirteen years. In addition to promoting conservation opportunities for district units at Roundtable since 2013 as well as with the several units he continues to serve in as a volunteer, he has also served as staff for two National events – a Squad Leader for ArrowCorps 5 in 2008 and on the Environmental and Conservation staff of the 2010 National Jamboree. He has promoted the OA’s High Adventure program with the local chapter and in three of the past four summers, two Scouts from Mattaponi have participated in portage trail construction at Quetico Provincial Park (Northern Tier) and one each doing mountain bike trail construction at New River Gorge (adjacent to Summit Bechtel) and beach cleanup at Fort Jefferson in the Keys with OA Ocean Adventure.

He has been an advisor/consultant in over 30 local Eagle projects, many of which supported local conservation efforts at national, state, and local parks. Eagle Scout trail construction projects have included a relocated trail section at Caledon State Park, “Salamander Loop” trail constructed in support of Spotsylvania Greenways Initiative at Massaponax, several projects removing invasive ivy at local National Park Service sites, new trails, and maintenance of existing trails at Fredericksburg Chapter of Izaak Walton, and Order of the Arrow trail work with Fredericksburg Trail Alliance in the Quarry Trail system. He has fostered the involvement each year of many local troops and packs participation in “Park Day” service projects with the Friends of the Wilderness Battlefield at local National Park Service sites. One particularly interesting Eagle project involved site preservation/interpretation of a Civil War field cemetery at the local Izaak Walton League.

The Mattaponi Order of the Arrow Chapter typically conducts spring and fall ordeals at the local Izaak Walton chapter where John has been instrumental in aligning the service work to meet the conservation needs there to include bat houses, solitary bee houses, bluebird houses, erosion control, and trail construction/improvement and maintenance.

As noted above, much of John’s efforts have aligned with environment/nature interpretation and instruction and trail construction/maintenance. He has developed a local network of organizations that support service and education for responsible outdoor recreation and protection and consistently provided opportunities for local Scouts to be involved with these groups. Among the groups he has worked with are Virginia Master Naturalists, National Park Service, Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation, Friends of The Wilderness Battlefield, Caledon and Widewater State Parks, Spotsylvania Greenways Initiative, Fredericksburg Trails Alliance, Izaak Walton League, Gari Melchers Home and Studio, Friends of the Rappahannock, Tri-County Soil and Water District, and Friends of Crows Nest. He is now working to bring these groups into closer communication and mutual support with the establishment of the Rappahannock Conservation Coalition.

John’s efforts have not been restricted to Scouting youth. As a volunteer interpreter he has had interactions with hundreds of youth and adults each year at the Motts Run Nature Center and as a guide for the monthly Woodland Walks at Gari Melchers Home and Studio in Stafford County. He has maintained his annual recertification credentials as a Virginia Master Naturalist and shares his knowledge on nature hikes with Scouts and other youth.

While not pertinent to Scouting youth, in his 25 years at the University of Mary Washington he led the design and construction of 10 LEED-certified projects, initiated environmental stewardship programs of student/staff behavior modification for water and power savings resulting in annual savings of over $250,000/yr., and stream restoration projects to improve water quality. With his leadership, the Fredericksburg Campus has been certified as a “Tree USA” campus and as an arboretum. He established the school’s Office of Sustainability and was an advocate for creating the President’s Council for Sustainability.