We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Archives for March 2023

National Capital Area Council Welcomes New Deputy Scout Executive

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Photo of G. Lee Murdoch
G. Lee Murdoch

The National Capital Area Council, BSA (NCAC) is pleased to announce G. Lee Murdoch as Deputy Scout Executive effective May 1, 2023.

Since 2019, Murdoch has served as the Scout Executive/CEO of the Conquistador Council, BSA in Roswell, New Mexico. Previously, he served as Director of Support Services, Director of Camping, and Field Director at the Crossroads of America Council, BSA in Indianapolis, Indiana. Before moving to Indiana, he was both a Program and Field Director at Del-Mar-Va Council, BSA, headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware.

Murdoch grew up in Easton, Maryland where he was the second generation in his family to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. He began his Scouting career as a seasonal camp staff employee teaching fishing, canoeing, and small boat sailing. He is a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow and is Wood Badge trained. Murdoch has a Master of Science in Parks and Recreation Management from Indiana University and Bachelor of Science in Parks and Recreation Administration from Frostburg State University. He and his wife, Christina, have two young children.

As part of the selection process, Murdoch wrote, “We’re excited about the opportunity to relocate to the DC Metro Area as we feel it offers a great opportunity for our family to live, work and play in a community intimately connected with moving our country forward and near amazing natural resources.”

“After an extensive interview process, we are delighted to have Lee Murdoch join the leadership team at the National Capital Area Council,” said Mario A. Pérez, NCAC Scout Executive/CEO. Pérez continued by saying “Lee has both the depth and breadth of leadership necessary to help lead the largest BSA Council in the country, which serves nearly 34,000 Scouts and over 17,000 volunteers. We are thrilled that Lee is joining the team.”

 

Nygard Yeckley Skills Regatta 2023

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Registration for the Nygard Yeckly Skills Regatta on Saturday, April 29, 2023, is OPEN! Join the NCAC SeaScouts to test your seamanship. A hot lunch, patch and memories to last a lifetime. Overnight camping is also available. It’s open to all Scouts – those competing must be 14 plus. All those in attendance 18 and up must have a current BSA.

REGISTER: https://scoutingevent.com/082-seascoutregatta

Scouters will be able to practice:

  • First aid
  • Knot tying
  • Radio Communications
  • Small boat handling

Plus much, much more!

Make sure to review the boarding manual for information about gear, eligibility to compete, and sign-ups for each event. We hope to see you there!

18th Annual NCAC Scout Orienteering Meet

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REGISTER: https://scoutingevent.com/082-2023ScoutOrienteering

Join us for NCAC’s  18th Annual Scout Orienteering Meet on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Kings Landing Park. Test out your troop or crew member’s navigation skills at this exciting map and compass competition. Scouts and Crew members will compete in age groups and different course levels in the morning as individuals. The afternoon event is designed around competing as a unit (Troop or Crew) to gather the greatest score over the other scouting units. This event is open to all Scouts BSA Troops, Venturing Crews, and other appropriately aged Scouting groups; the minimum age for this event is 10 and a half years old.

The morning sessions will include an instruction Orienteering course for Scouts new to the sport, competitions in one of four levels of orienteering courses, and other skill-building competitive events. Each Scout pair will have an opportunity to choose two events in the morning. We strongly recommend instruction take place at a unit level prior to your arrival. The instructional Orienteering course is a “no compete, no awards” hands-on teaching course that your scouts can learn by using the Teaching EDGE method to learn the art of Orienteering. To ensure fairness, competition will also be broken into two age groups for most events in the morning, under 14 years of age and Scouts 14 years of age or older. Venturing Crews with members over 18 years old may be scored as a third grouping based on judging decisions on the day of the event. After a brief break at 1 pm, the afternoon event will be a 90-minute Orienteering score course. The afternoon event is a unit based competition with youth leadership taking charge of their units in planning and directing their teams. The event will be completed with awards from the morning events at 5:00 pm.

The cost is $10 per youth and includes an event patch for all youth participants. Adults may purchase patches at cost on the day of the event pending availability.

This event is run by volunteers from and supported by the NCAC and has the added experience of help from the Quantico Orienteering Club.

 

 

 

NCAC 2023 Summer Camp Webinar: Scouts BSA

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March 21, 2023: Scouts BSA Summer Camp

Missed the webinar? You can view a recording of it below.

In this webinar, learn about the different summer camp options available for both Troops and individuals (aka provisional Scouts) at the various camps around NCAC – from Thurmont, MD to Haymarket, VA to Goshen, VA – and find out everything you need to know as a leader or parent/guardian to prepare for a week-long camp!

Download the slides from the webinar here: Scouts BSA Camp Webinar slides [PDF]

Get more information on the various Scouts BSA Summer Camps:

If you missed the first webinar in the series on Cub Scout Summer Camp options, you can find that here: weownadventure.com/ncac-2023-summer-camp-webinar-cub-scouts/

The final webinar in the series will be on High Adventure on March 28 at 7pm EST. See our earlier post to register in advance: weownadventure.com/upcoming-webinar-series-summer-camp-2023/

Scout Reach Camp Days in the US Virgin Islands

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Scouts from Claude O’Markoe School in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) visited Camp Wall as part of NCAC’s Scout Reach program.

Although the school is for 1st – 5th graders, most of the Cub Scouts are in third and fourth grade.

During the camp days, the Scouts did some fun outdoor group games and kids learned “repeat after me” camps songs. When the United States and the Virgin Island flags were raised, the Scouts learned why. Scouts also learned how to tie a couple of useful knots that they now can use in their everyday lives. During camp, the Scouts talked about the importance of the Scout Oath and Law and how both can be applied to everyday life in the territory. Because Scouts are helpful, they also did a beach cleanup to give back to the environment. Both camp days were loud, wild, beneficial, and most of all, super fun for the kids too!

This Pack is made possible by generous donors who are dedicated to continuing our Scouting program in the USVI.

Pinewood Derby Excitement at Scouting Cares

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Through NCAC’s Scouting Cares program, we conducted Pinewood Derby races in early February with both the 1st and 3rd grades at Suitland Elementary School.

 

Scouts were given precut Pinewood Derby cars in the shape of wedges then Scouts spent two meetings completing their cars. Weights were offered and they could decide exactly how to modify the weight of their cars in order to increase their chances of winning. The students installed their wheels and then proceeded to paint and put stickers on their cars.

In addition to the fun of the Pinewood Derby competition, the first grade Scouts learned about speed and velocity with their first grade teacher.

The Pinewood Derby was enjoyed by all!