On Friday, March 17th, Scouts from Troop 46 (Shiloh Baptist Church), Troop 1889, and Pack 578 participated in a dynamic visit to the Stafford County Courthouse led by Dr. Norman Carter, Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 46 and 1889. The group arrived at 8 a.m. sharp, and was met by Captain Carey, Officer in Charge of the Stafford County Courthouse and Sarah Buskirk, Law Clerk and co-organizer of the visit. The Scouts assembled in uniform and ready to learn. But, this was more than just an ordinary visit.
As the Scouts gathered at the entrance to the Administration Building, they were greeted by a very important person in local government. Dr. Pamela Yeung, Chairman of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors, happened to be walking by and took the time to share wisdom and insights with the Scouts about the importance of community and her own support of their willingness to engage in Scouting and took photos with the Scouts.
Circuit Court Judge J. Bruce Strickland was the first to welcome the Scouts into his courtroom. Judge Strickland graciously took the time to personally explain the Court’s operations and activities. He encouraged the Scouts to stay in school, study hard, and strive to be their best. The Judge also discussed the importance of stewardship; pushing the Scouts to take initiative and be a driving force for good in their communities.
From there, the Scouts visited the General District Court, Judge Angela O’Connor, presiding. In Judge O’Connor’s courtroom, the Scouts observed misdemeanor traffic cases. Judge O’Connor talked with the Scouts from the bench, answering a myriad of questions about criminal law and procedure. The Scouts learned about the differences between misdemeanor and felony cases, a jury versus a bench trial, and how the courtroom operates.
To close the visit, the Scouts went to an unused courtroom to speak with Captain Carey and meet First Sergeant Chinault, a former Scout himself. At this final presentation, the Scouts learned about community policing, law enforcement procedures, and were encouraged to ask questions and get to know the officers.
Ready to begin your family’s Scouting adventure? To join BSA, go to www.beascout.org to find a BSA Scout unit near you – Cub Scouting serves families with children in Kindergarten through 5th Grade; Scouts BSA serves families with children ages 11-18. There are BSA programs for families with older Youths, ages 14 – 20, including Venturing, Exploring, or Sea Scouting.
The mission of the BSA is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Aquia District includes Stafford County, VA, and Marine Corps Base Quantico. For more information on Scouting in the Stafford/Fredericksburg area, including how to donate, join or volunteer, contact Kristy Freeman, Aquia District Executive, at Kristy.Freeman@Scouting.org or call (540)287-3866.
