We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

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Ashburn Troop 997 Brings Scouts Back Together to Feed the Hungry

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Troop 997 has been busy in recent months, running virtual Troop meetings, new Scout training programs and numerous virtual merit badges. But they wanted to do more for the community and those in need, and if possible, do it together.

Scoutmaster Terry Kolb’s first Troop challenge was to get each Scout to take their family out to nearby walking trails and parks to clean up litter and debris. Twenty-one Scouts answered the call!

Scoutmaster Kolb thought big for his second challenge – he asked the Troop to distribute flyers in their neighborhoods asking for food donations to replenish the shelves of the Dulles South Food Pantry. Twenty-three Scouts and seventeen parents/siblings collected food, sorted it (in a social distanced manner) and filled the Troop trailer with food for the Pantry, collecting nearly 1400 pounds of donated food, and accruing 100 service hours for Scouts and adults in the process.

Post-job pizza allowed Scouts to reconnect after a Spring of video-only interaction, and now that new rules are allowing for Troop activities (following prescribed guidelines) to recommence, the Scouts are looking forward to resuming Troop meetings, weekend activities and more service opportunities.

STEM@Home Speaker Series: Join the Conversations!

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Every Thursday at 7PM, you can join our STEM@Home Speaker Series!

We host conversations to learn about exciting STEM careers! So far we’ve featured a medical physicist, airline pilot, virtual reality, chess strategy, and an engineer…. if you missed them, you can head over to www.facebook.com/NCACSTEM where the talks are archived!

The next two presenters are a physicist and a veterinarian. Read more about them, see how these conversations tie into your awards, leap into STEM career exploration, and secure your spot here: https://scoutingevent.com/082-STEMSpeakers Be sure to register early to join the ZOOM conversation with the speakers!

June 18: Science Night: A Conversation with Dr. Nick Maliszewskyj

“What are neutrons and how are they useful? Neutrons are a particle with no electrical charge and which stabilize atomic nuclei. They are liberated as a byproduct of fission in nuclear reactors and radioactive decay and can be used as a probe to determine the composition and structure of materials. Because they have a magnetic moment they can also tell us about the magnetic structure of different kinds of materials. In a neutron scattering facility, scientists use neutrons to determine the structure and dynamic properties of all kinds of materials, from superconductors to superglue.”

Dr. Nick Maliszewskyj earned a Ph. D. in Condensed Matter Physics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1994. He currently works as the team leader for data acquisition at the NIST Center for Neutron Research, an international facility for materials research. He has served as an instrument scientist and lead controls engineer for more than fifteen neutron scattering instrumentation projects over his twenty five years at the facility.

June 25: Science Night: A Conversation with Dr. Carmela Stamper

Pets, livestock (like dairy cows and honeybees), and zoo animals need doctors, just like people do. But, did you know that veterinarians do more than give shots and do surgery? Veterinarians have many important roles in our everyday lives that you may not be aware of. Why on earth would you want to be a veterinarian? How do you become a veterinarian? What are some of the invisible roles veterinarians play in your life? What’s life like as a veterinarian in practice? What’s it like working as a veterinarian in the government? Do veterinarians get to play with puppies and kittens all day long? Who is James Herriot and why is he so important to many veterinarians? Are pheasants native to the U.S.? How fast does a ferret’s heart beat? Does heartworm disease only affects dogs? Which carries more of a horse’s body weight—its front legs or its back legs? Is xylitol is safe for dogs? (And what is it?) Get the answers to these and other burning questions during Dr. Stamper’s talk.

Dr. Carmela Stamper earned her D.V.M. degree from The Ohio State University in 1995. She worked in a companion animal (pet) hospital before starting a career with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. Her first role at FDA was as an animal drug reviewer, where she evaluated data for new animal drugs. She now works on the Center’s Education and Outreach Team, where she writes articles for the Center’s website, responds to phone calls and emails from the public, and helps teach the public about FDA’s role in their lives. Dr. Stamper is an assistant scoutmaster with Troop 1397 in Damascus, MD. Her two-legged family includes her son, who is an Eagle Scout, and her husband, who is also an assistant scoutmaster in Troop 1397. Dr. Stamper’s four-legged family includes Daisy, her tennis-ball-crazy Flat-coated Retriever, and Bowie, her pudgy guinea pig.

Scouting with Dad – Jonathan Cartner!

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Happy Father’s Day to David Cartner!  Scouting has always been important to the Cartners and one of the main activities that we consistently did together for almost 30 years now.

When my father retired from the Army we settled back in his home state of Missouri from Belize where I was quickly able to get involved in normal 8 year old stuff like little league and Scouting.  Dad was always a visible presence with me when I started in Cub Scouts from Den/Pack meetings and helping me with my pinewood derby cars.  This led to me crossing over into Troop 41 in Sikeston, MO where I became an Eagle Scout in 1997 most due to his consistence pushing to finish merit badges, serve in leadership roles, and attending camping events.  Receiving my Eagle Scout rank at a young age allowed me to really get involved with the Order of Arrow where my father followed right behind me.  Dad was able to watch me be elected by my peers to Lodge Chief of Anpetu-We Lodge #100 where I received my Vigil Honor.  The very next year my father was also called out to receive the Vigil.  This was one of my most proudest moment with him as I was able to give back to him as his guide for all that he had done for during my time with the Lodge.  In 2003 I was elected Section Chief with the Order of the Arrow which kickstarted my time on NOAC staffs.  In typical David Cartner status he was able to join me a couple NOACs later and the two of us have served on 5 NOAC staffs together over the years.

 

All this support and dedication from my father absolutely lead me to a career with the Boy Scouts of America.  This career has brought me through 4 councils across three states helping support programs that give any kid willing and wanting the same experiences that I have had.

 

Thank you David Cartner for all you have done for me over the last 36 years! Love you.

 

Microscope + Camping = FUN !!!

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Hey Scouts! Have you ever wondered what nature looks like under a microscope? What tiny creatures are in a drop of water? What a blade of grass or a leaf looks like when you get REALLY close to it? What the wings of a fly look like up close?

This summer you can explore nature with a folding microscope. When you Family Camp at either Goshen Scout Reservation or Camp Snyder, you will receive a free, 140 power magnification microscope so you can see nature in miniature.

Cubs, Webelos, Scouts BSA, Venturers and even Sea Scouts can sign up for Family Camping at Goshen Scout Reservation or Camp Snyder!

We look forward to seeing you at camp with your microscope!

Photo by: Magical Child Hood

Troop 1345 Continues Tradition of “Flags Along the Parkway”

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Scout BSA Troop 1345, sponsored by the Burke Centre Conservancy of Burke, VA, continues a twenty-year tradition of raising American flags along the Burke Centre Parkway in honor of Flag Day.

For nearly 40 years, Burke Centre Conservancy, a community of 5,800 homes in Fairfax County, has sponsored Scouts BSA Troop 1345 for boys; starting in 2019 they added Scouts BSA Troop 1345G for female members.  For more than 20 years the Troop has helped the community show its pride by setting up 30 American flags in the median along Burke Centre Parkway between Burke Lake Road and Oak Leather Drive on every Flag Day and other federal holidays.

Without any fanfare or attention, the Scouts quietly set up the flags early in the morning for the community to enjoy through the day. As the day winds down, the Scouts return to quietly pack the flags away for future display. Through rain, snow, and even social distancing, the Scouts have added a little bit of patriotism to this part of Fairfax County throughout the years.

Troop 1345 will continue the tradition this Flag Day because it is a way for them to demonstrate good citizenship in their community. As Troop 1345G Scoutmaster Kate Mattice says, “It just brightens the community – and perhaps provides some normalcy – during these times.”

With social distance guidelines still intact, outdoor events such as “Flags Along the Parkway” create opportunities for Scouts to stay active in the community while abiding by local safety rules.

Scoutmasters and Scouts from Troop 1345 on  Sunday, June 14, 2020, in the median along Burke Centre Parkway between Burke Lake Road and Oak Leather Drive Burke Centre Parkway between 8:30am and 9:00am participated in raising the flags. Scouts and Scoutmasters will return around 5:00pm to remove the flags for future display. Please join Troop 1345 and the city of Burke in their efforts to honor Flag Day by raising your American Flag today.