Archives for March 2022

Camp Catoctin BSA – 2022

March 15, 2022 by Jeff Huggins

Camp Catoctin BSA is officially launching into the 2022 camping season. We know you will have an exciting time while completing requirements for your rank and merit badges as you continue on your trail to Eagle.

NEW! for Summer 2022

Climbing Merit Badge
Health Care Professionals Merit Badge
Movie Making Merit Badge
Public Health Merit Badge

The Camp Catoctin BSA staff have worked hard to bring you the high-quality program you expect. We will be operating out of beautiful Camp Round Meadow located in Catoctin Mountain Park, NPS.

Be sure to check out our 2022 Camp Catoctin BSA Camp Guide, and visit campcatoctinbsa.org for more information. Be sure to follow us on social media!

If you have any questions, our staff are ready to assist:

Campership Information: info@campcatoctinbsa.org
Program Information: program@campcatoctinbsa.org
Leadership Information: director@campcatoctinbsa.org

Goshen Scouts BSA Program Guide Posted

March 15, 2022 by Goshen Scout Reservation

Merit Badge & Activity Sign Ups for Camps Bowman, Marriott, and Olmsted are coming up on March 31st at 9am. Get details on Merit Badges and other activities in the 2022 Scouts BSA Program Guide. The Guide includes descriptions, recommendations for both new Scouts and older Scouts, any costs, and any prerequisites. Be sure to check out the updated prerequisites!

Get a copy of the Program & Prerequisites Guide along with your camp’s program schedule in your camp’s downloads section or at www.gotogoshen.org/forms

As of March 14, scouts attending Camps Bowman, Marriott, and Olmsted may sign up for activities as individuals. They are not required to have a buddy from their unit, although it may be recommended for some activities.

Getting ready to sign up for badges and activities? Be sure to check out our How to Guide blog post – updated for Summer 2022: www.gotogoshen.org/general/how-to-merit-badge-activity-sign-ups/

Attending Camp Ross? Sign ups will occur at camp. Trekking at Lenhok’sin High Adventure? Rather than activity sign ups, be sure to fill out your crew survey by May 7th, found here: www.gotogoshen.org/lenhoksin/#downloads

Checkmate.

March 13, 2022 by NCAC STEM

The Marriott Scout Service Center was proud to host the annual Akela Chess Classic this February, as Cubs, SBSA and STEM Scouts took on the fun and challenge of chess in great stride! At the SBSA event alone, over 11 Districts and 22 registered – a great representation of NCAC.

The youth demonstrated incredible sportsmanship, perseverance, and chess knowledge. For the SBSA youth working on the Chess Merit Badge, Mr. Roger Claff, Tournament Director even offered chess notation sheets. A number of SBSA youth took him up on it, and we surely may see some chess aficionados go on to earn the Designed to Crunch Nova.

The tournament has become a banner event for NCAC STEM, with its success owed to the dedication of Powhatan STEM Leader Mr. Roger Claff. For over 2 decades, Mr. Claff has perfected the tournament to a point where even his inspiring scoutmaster minute about winners with a journey is requested by many youth after the tournament! Last year the tournament was not held owing to covid, but scouts benefited from the return of this annual tradition of fun and challenge.

Special thanks to:

Roger Claff, Tournament Director, for conceptualizing the Chess Belt Loop decades ago, developing a tournament nearly 2 decades ago, and evangelizing it into a Council Classic.
Ellen Claff, for her steadfast support and stepping in as Tournament Director whenever needed for double proctoring!
Michael Hanson, who drove from Powhatan to NCAC to serve as the proctor of both events! He represented STEM Scouts with the double uniform of a Class A + lab coat.
Jim Boyce from Potomac and Bill Wacek from Powhatan, who also served as proctors throughout the SBSA tournament, to help ensure double proctoring of the event.
Susan Plano-Faber from the NCAC STEM Committee for educating waiting parents about the many STEM opportunities across NCAC!
Peter Snow of Snow’s Chess Academy, for loaning all of the chess sets/boards to make this tournament a reality for so many consecutive years.

Above all, congratulations go to all of the scouts who showed up and participated! Each one earned a Chess Patch, and tournament winners also received trophies.

In between tournament rounds, youth played friendly chess games, practicing, sharing tips, having fun, and making friends. Waiting parents also were able to explore the MSSC HQ and learn about STEM activities across NCAC. Parents flipped thru the DC STEM Trek Guide, learned about the Council PWD and STEM Scouts. For more information about STEM events, please visit our STEM Page and Facebook page.

Camp Marriott Program Update: Revised Schedule

March 13, 2022 by Goshen Scout Reservation

There are some last minute changes to the Camp Marriott Program Schedule. Be sure to get the latest version as you plan your daily schedule for your week at camp!

Learn more about Camp Marriott and get the latest schedules at www.gotogoshen.org/marriott

Below is a summary of the changes:

AQUATICS

Open Boating was added for Evening Program.

EAGLE’S EYRIE

Archaeology has moved back to its previous home, Ecology.
Salesmanship/Entrepreneurship combined Merit Badges will take the 4pm block slot.
Check out the new Goshen History time in the Evening. Listen to stories and learn about the history of Goshen and Camp Marriott!

ECOLOGY

Archaeology will be at 11am.
Geology, which was previously filling that spot, is going to be combined into Geology/Mining in Society at 4pm.

SCOUTCRAFT

Pioneering (10am) was shortened to 1 block (was previously 2 blocks).
Radio/Signs, Signals, & Codes was added at 11am.

Upcoming Webinar Series: Summer Camp 2022

March 11, 2022 by NCAC Camping Department

Join the staff of the different NCAC Summer Camps & Programs for information webinars as you prepare for Summer Camp 2022. These webinars are perfect for new leaders looking for an orientation to camp, units bringing their scouts to that camp for the first time, or for returning leaders that want the latest update. There will be representation from Goshen Scout Reservation, Camp Snyder, District Day & Twilight Camps, and Camp Catoctin BSA. Let’s get camping in Summer 2022!

Webinars will begin at 7pm EST.

March 14: High Adventure

Looking for adventure? Get the information for Summer 2022 on Goshen’s Lenhok’sin High Adventure or one of the High Adventure Committee’s trips.

March 21: Scouts BSA Camps

Get information about programs for both Troops and individuals at Goshen’s Camps Bowman, Marriott, and Olmsted; Goshen’s Provisional Camp program; Snyder’s Specialty Week; and Camp Catoctin BSA.

March 28: Cub Scout & Webelos Camps

Get all the details on day camps and overnight camps at Camp Snyder, Goshen’s Camp Ross, and District Day & Twilight Camps.

Beekeeping Eagle Project

March 10, 2022 by Gordon Henley

Fred Mulford from Troop 1094 Seneca took up beekeeping as a hobby 2 years ago, and joined the Montgomery County Beekeepers Association (MCBA). Last year, he was searching for Eagle project ideas, trying to find the perfect one, and brainstormed how he might combine his Eagle project with his existing interests/hobbies. Fred reached out to the president of MCBA, asking if any non-profits were looking for beekeeping equipment, and they connected him with ECO City Farms (www.ecoffshoots.org).

ECO City Farms is a nonprofit urban teaching and learning farm in Prince George’s County. They farm on several vacant lots, and run programs teaching people how to sustainably grow food, and how to generally eat healthier. Food grown on their farms gets sold (at a discount) into the local communities, who often have limited options for affordable fresh food. Having bees onsite at ECO City Farm locations will increase crop yield, provide another opportunity to teach people, and allow them to harvest honey in the future.

Fred lined up support and arranged to buy unassembled beehive components, then planned the construction efforts. He led a group of 8 scouts and adults, and at the end of the day his crew had completed 3 large beehives (4 boxes each).

Fred plans to keep his eyes open watching for “swarms” in his 2 home hives and elsewhere (when bees split their colonies and look for new homes), and hopes to provide bees to the farm as well. He has plans to deliver the hives to the farm and assist in setup before the spring season gets fully underway.

A unique and very interesting project from Seneca District!!!