It’s Taste Something Tuesday! We are doing another campfire cooked desert today – and this time we are using fruit! Baked Apples can be cooked in the embers of a campfire, or in the oven.
It’s Wander Around Wednesday!
We want you to know your neighborhood, and show your neighbors you care – Take a walk today, and pick up trash as you go. Remember to wear gloves, and don’t pick up anything sharp or dangerous.
Not sure if you want to use this – https://www.madlibs.com/printables/
Also, I removed the Cub Scout logo on this one as a brand is being shown
SATURDAY
It’s Safety Saturday! Planning ahead with your family can help ensure everyone is safe during any emergencies at your home. Discuss what to do in case of a fire or other issue at your house – How to get out of your house, where to meet, and whom to call to get help.
Participating in a Long Cruise is the goal of every Sea Scout ship; however, the planning process is both challenging and demanding. Especially for growing ships, the immense tasks that loom in front of Long Cruise planners can be daunting. All too familiar with these struggles – having experienced them firsthand – we asked ourselves how we could not only encourage, but also empower ships to pursue Long Cruise planning. A Long Cruise can be incredibly rewarding, not only for the scouts participating in the actual event, but also for the scouts involved in the arduous planning process.
We – the NCAC Sea Scout Quarterdeck – devoted many planning sessions to brainstorming ideas that would closely imitate the lessons and experiences gained from participating in a Long Cruise. Although it was unlikely that any ship would be able to participate in a real Long Cruise this summer, we continued to search for solutions. How could we incentivize Long Cruise planning, even in a time where communication was challenging? How could we make resources available to growing ships who have never had the opportunity to plan a Long Cruise before? How could we involve the entire community of Sea Scouts, not only in the National Capital Area Council, but also in the entire nation? The culmination of our efforts and extensive planning produced the Sea Scout Long Cruise Challenge 2020.
The competition officially launched on July 21st, and it will run until August 31st, giving ships a month’s time to commit to a plan, delegate assignments, and create a boarding manual and video for presentation. Creating meal plans, assigning roles, researching marinas and routes – Long Cruise planners will find that there is plenty that must be done in order to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Whether planning a budget or arranging for transportation, the logistics and planning that is required for a Long Cruise also requires effective teamwork, reliable leadership, and resourceful delegation. Throughout the duration of the event, the NCAC Sea Scout Quarterdeck will continue to offer tips and advice through flyers and social media posts to ensure that all components of the Long Cruise plan are receiving sufficient attention.
Components of a submission include a Boarding Manual and short promotional video presentation that will be graded by a panel of judges. Success can be obtained through careful attention to three factors: depth and detail of information, professionalism of the material, and strength of the speakers. As long as appropriate consideration is exhibited for each component of the criteria, Long Cruise planning submissions also have the potential to showcase a ship’s creativity and resourcefulness.
The winning submission will have the opportunity to participate in a one-week Long Cruise aboard the SSTV der PeLiKan, a 46-foot Morgan ketch situated on the Chesapeake Bay near Baltimore, Maryland. Friends of Sea Scouting of Maryland (FOSSOM) – a 501(c)3 non-profit who operates the boat for the benefit of the Sea Scout program – will provide a BSA-registered captain, and cover fuel, moorings, and docking fees to an amount not to exceed $300. More information regarding the grand prize can be found in our event’s boarding manual. Ships interested in registering or are interested in obtaining more information can have their skipper send an email to NCACSeaScouts@gmail.com.
Long Cruise planning is similar to the large-scale projects one might see at school or at work. They can be incredibly frustrating. They can be challenging. They can be confusing. But the frustration, the obstacles, and the confusion all contribute to creating impactful, purposeful experiences that truly shape youth leaders. Large-scale planning projects create opportunities for growth, both within the team and within individuals. They create environments that require communication and conflict resolution. And the result of such arduous labor can create an experience of a lifetime.
In Scouting, as in life, there are times you need to recruit a Team. Even when dealing with highly selective activities, team leaders can sometimes find it difficult to recruit, retain and motivate Scouts for the duration of a project. This Seminar will discuss some common pitfalls and solutions to help you assemble and train the best possible team.
Sign up and join the conversation this Tuesday, August 11 at 5pm. The event is FREE, but space is limited, so don’t wait!
The last in-person Court of Honor for Potomac District Troop 447 of Rockville United Methodist Church in Rockville, Maryland, was December 10, 2019. Early March 2020, everybody was excited for the next quarterly Court of Honor, since it would be “the big one”, combined with the Troop Family Banquet and a celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Troop. Everything was being put into place for the event of the year, and then Covid-19 happened, turning our lives upside down, cancelling school, work places and everything Scout related. No meetings, no camp-outs, no Sea Base, no Merit Badge Universities, no Summer Camps, No Court of Honors.
Troop 447 would not be so easily be discouraged. Through the possibility of Zoom virtual meetings, they did not miss ONE Troop meeting. The PLC quickly adapted to the quarantine situation and started to schedule weekly virtual Troop meetings using the Zoom platform. They looked for Merit Badges they could bring to the Scouts, with the help of Merit Badge Counselors associated with the Troop, using online materials, discussions and Kahoots. Remaining requirements needed to be completed by Scouts in their own time, but the PLC provided informative meetings and a sound basis for the Merit Badges. Interim SPL Isaac led the Troop on a virtual Camp-In of 3 days and 2 nights, keeping enthusiasm among younger Scouts from tanking. Online games, Scout skill instructions and stories from older Scouts about High Adventure camps were well received.
In June an online election was held to elect the new Senior Patrol Leader and for the new Patrol Leaders for the 4 Patrols in the Troop. With an attendance of over 60% that evening, it was the best attended meeting since the quarantine.
Newly elected SPL Jackson and his 3 ASPLs did not waste any time and started scheduling the next month of Troop activities, and in early July the PLC conducted the bi-annual Planning Meeting through Zoom, trying to have both virtual and in-person options available for the next 8 months of scheduled meetings; a Scout is prepared.
On July 11, several Scouts from Troop 447 participated in the International Scouts Trash the Trash event, collecting over 80 lbs of trash, earning them the Messenger of Peace Award.
On Saturday, August 1, the Troop would finally come together in person, at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, to practice for the annual Troop fundraiser, the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair parking. Even though the fair had been canceled for this summer, protocols and procedures still needed to be handed down from older Scouts to younger Scouts, preparing them for hopefully next year’s Fair.
The PLC insisted on the highest levels of safety; temperatures of everybody showing up were taken with a non-contact thermometer, face masks were mandatory, as was keeping a distance of at least 6’.
At the end of the meeting an abbreviated Court of Honor was scheduled, which revealed how active the Scouts of Troop 447 had been during the quarantine; 14 rank advancements, 2 of which were Eagle Boards of Review, 57 earned Merit Badges and 26 BSA Awards for Scouts and adults. A remarkable achievement and a testament to the resolve and determination of this Troop to continue Scouting even when at home. A huge help in this achievement has been the leadership, staff and volunteers of the National Capital Area Council and the Scouting at Home and Merit Badges @ Home programs.
The news you all have been waiting for is finally here, you can starting buying even more patches now on Mondays! Starting Monday 8/17, we will be adding Mondays from 10am to 6pm to the Scout Shop schedule. The new schedule will be Monday- Friday (10 am-6pm), Saturday (10am-2pm), and Sunday (Closed).
All visitors are still required to wear face coverings while they are in the MSSC. Bathrooms will not be available to the public, and there will continue to be no in-person meetings or gatherings. If you are not feeling well or have been in contact with someone who may be infected with COVID-19, please plan to visit us another time. We are committed to protecting the health of our staff and volunteers.
The National Capital Area Council (NCAC) is delighted to announce CSCI, a nationally recognized consulting, enterprise IT, and financial management firm, will sponsor a special edition council shoulder patch honoring retired Air Force Brigadier General Charles McGee. The patch will honor the Tuskegee Airman’s legacy and life spent embodying the ideals of the Scout Oath and Law.
General McGee recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award from NCAC in February. At the presentation he stated, “If more people lived their lives by the Scout Oath and Law, the world would be a lot better off.”
An active member of Boy Scouts in his youth, McGee has earned the Distinguished Eagle Scout award, and received the Silver Beaver award for his outstanding service and noteworthy accomplishments. He was also selected this year as a recipient of the Boy Scouts of America’s highest award for volunteers, the Silver Buffalo Award, for service to young people on a national level. The veteran continued to display his leadership capabilities throughout his 30-year military career, earning numerous decorations from the Bronze Star to the Hellenic Republic WWII Commemorative Medal. Most recently, McGee received the honorary promotion to Brigadier General in December 2019, which was announced in January during President Trump’s State of the Union address. The 100-year old Brigadier General McGee has had a year – from his appearance presiding over the coin toss at Superbowl LIV to being recognized at the State of the Union address to a book signing ceremony at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum celebrating Black History month, where he was featured as part of its African American Pioneers in Aviation and Space program.
“We are extremely proud to recognize retired Brigadier General Charles McGee for his tremendous accomplishments and contributions to Scouting said Scout Executive Craig Poland. “Brigadier General McGee not only meets the criteria for the special edition council shoulder patch – he more than surpasses it. The values embodied in Scouting are reflected in his daily life and work.”
Nearly 60,000 Scouts in NCAC will have the opportunity to wear the one-of-a-kind patch that honors the living legend and his history in Scouting. Council Shoulder Patches are part of every Scout’s uniform, reflecting the history and tradition of their home community. These patches frequently become collectables and are traded between Scouts at national events.
