We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Articles

NCAC Response to COVID-19

by

UPDATE 5/14/2020: NCAC summer camp programs have been cancelled for 2020. Alternative summer programs will be announced soon.

UPDATE 4/30/2020: “Scouting at Home” has been extended until further notice. Please see this post for details.

UPDATE 4/2/2020: The Marriott Scout Service Center will be closed until further notice. Please contact your District Executive or staff adviser for assistance.

As always, your safety and the safety of all our members, volunteers, and employees is our top priority. We know there are questions and concerns about how COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus, could affect local Scouting programs in National Capital Area Council. Please know that we are monitoring developments regarding COVID-19 both locally and through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The following information regarding local events and prevention measures is based on the latest available guidance. As this is an evolving situation, this information is subject to change. We will continue to update you on relevant developments, and we appreciate your understanding of any necessary adjustments in the interest of health and safety.

Status of Council Events

After much discussion by NCAC’s Executive Board, it has been decided that all in-person Council and District events, activities, and meetings will be postponed or cancelled. This decision has been made out of an abundance of caution and concern for the health of our Scouts, Scouters, and their families.  [Note: this paragraph has been edited. Please see this post for details.]

Further, NCAC strongly suggests that individual Scout units follow this policy. The final decision on continued unit activities will be the responsibility of the unit committee in consultation with their chartered organization and, in some cases, their meeting facilities until such time as new guidance is issued by the CDC. 

We strongly encourage that districts, units, and council committees consider using technology to continue with as many of their normally scheduled meetings and events as possible. Free or low-cost options include Free Conference Call, Skype, and Google Hangouts.

Summer Programs

Currently, all summer programming – day camps, summer camps, etc. – will continue as planned. We will be extending the Goshen early bird registration deadline to April 30 in order to give units more flexibility in planning. The Reduced Price Early Bird Deadline for all NCAC Day Camps and Twilight Camps has been extended through Thursday, April 30.  The Priority Deadline for all NCAC Day Camp and Twilight Camp camperships has also been extended through Wednesday, April 15. 

Council Facilities

The National Capital Scout Shop, and North Virginia Scout Shop will closed indefinitely. Please feel free to find all your Scouting needs on scoutstuff.org!

Our council camping facilities will be closed through April 30. If you have an existing reservation, we will give your unit credit for a future date.

Event Refunds

When possible, we are encouraging events to reschedule for a later date. If you are registered for an event that gets postponed, your registration will be transferred to the new date. If you are unable to attend the rescheduled event, you may request a refund according to our standard policy.

For events that are cancelled outright, we are in the process of reviewing our council refund policy. Given the number of events, and that many events have already incurred substantial costs for supplies and reservation fees, it may be difficult to issue full refunds. Our team is working to determine what is possible.

If you are able to do so, please consider not requesting a refund and allowing your registration fee to support Scouting. This will help us offset the costs and lost income from cancelled events.

BSA Polices to Prevent the Spread of Illness

The Boy Scouts of America continues to have policies and procedures in place that help protect participants from contracting an illness at large Scouting events. These include the Annual Health and Medical Record and the Pre-Event Medical Screening Checklist.

Everyday Preventive Measures

Even with those important policies in place, it is critical that we all take these everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases:

  • Stay home when you feel sick.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and wash your hands before and after doing so. 
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve/elbow, not your hands.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. 
  • Do not share personal items such as cups, water bottles, eating utensils, etc.
  • Avoid shaking hands. A Scout salute or wave will suffice.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

If you have a fever, cough, or other symptoms associated with COVID-19, or if you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, you should isolate and not attend any Scouting events. People who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider immediately.

Should you have any questions or concerns about a specific upcoming event or activity, please reach out to your district executive. We will do everything we can to answer your question using the information available to us. 

Guidance on Advancement During COVID-19

by

This guidance provides districts and units within the National Capital Area Council guidance and answers too many of the questions being asked during the COVID-19 crisis.  This guidance has been revised following Virginia, Maryland, and District of Columbia “stay at home” orders, BSA and NCAC guidance, and many of your questions.  This information will be posted on the NCAC website under Advancement and distributed widely to districts and unit leaders.  If you have a question or need clarification, your district leaders should be your primary source for answers.

Scout / Adult Meetings (see Guidelines for Virtual Meetings – https://weownadventure.com/ncac-guidance-on-virtual-meetings-with-youth/)

  • Merit Badges, Unit Leader Conferences, Boards of Review for Tenderfoot through Life
    • Even though groups <10 can meet, all in-person meetings for rank advancement, merit badges, unit leader conferences, or boards of review are non-essential per Executive Orders from Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia
    • Before scheduling something, review latest government and chartered organization requirements for your location which are subject to change as this situation evolves.
    • Any meetings in support of these activities must be conducted via video-conferencing, telephone, or other electronic means
    • Ensure youth protection policies and guidance are observed at all times
    • Of the carriers we surveyed, currently only Zoom complies with our age requirements; check with your carriers for compliance before choosing
      • Zoom – https://zoom.us/ allows for users under 13, is in use for K-12 programs and is broadly approved for use in schools.
        • The free Zoom account is limited to 40-minutes
        • A unit can create one plan with a single host for its activities, provided that only one meeting at a time is scheduled
      • Be mindful of sharing usernames and passwords for the account and consider using a new email account tied to the troop committee or leader that is not used for other accounts
    • Meeting Guidelines and Rules
      • Meeting Password – Require meeting password so the meeting is secure.
      • Audio – Use of computer audio is best, so you can clearly understand who is speaking and listening as they are required to login.
      • Meeting Options – Disable the Join Before Host feature so early callers cannot access before required adult supervision is present
      • The moderator can control muting for all participants; the moderator can designate a co-host to provide administrative support
      • Enable waiting room – To keep early arrivals in a queue.  You can then add everyone when the adult supervision requirement is met
    • Additional ZOOM Settings – adjust the settings here – https://zoom.us/profile/setting
      • Host video — ENABLE
      • Participants video — DISABLE
      • Join before host — DISABLE
      • Embed password in meeting link for one-click join — ENABLE
      • Require password for participants joining by phone — ENABLE
      • Mute participants upon entry — ENABLE
      • Chat — ENABLE
      • Prevent participants from saving chat — DISABLE
      • Private chat — DISABLE
      • Autosaving chats — ENABLE
      • Automatically save all in-meeting chats so that hosts do not need to manually save the text of File transfer — ENABLE
      • Allow host to put attendee on hold — ENABLE
      • Allow hosts to temporarily remove an attendee from the meeting. — ENABLE
      • Screen sharing — ENABLE
      • Remote control — DISABLE
      • Breakout room – ENABLE if enough adults present for patrol or den meetings (or set up separate online meetings for this)
      • Far end camera control — DISABLE
      • Identify guest participants in the meeting/webinar
      • Waiting room — ENABLE
      • Show a “Join from your browser” link — ENABLE
      • Mask phone number in the participant list — ENABLE
    • Guidelines for other platforms
      • Check the terms and conditions for the online service to make sure that the service allows for users under the age of 13

Rank Advancement

  • No changes, no exceptions to requirements unless approved by NCAC ARC through Guide to Advancement processes
  • Unit leaders, without altering rank requirements, should be creative when looking for ways to verify a Scout has completed a “Show” or “Demonstrate” requirement
    • Youth may take a picture of their completed activity/requirement or video and share the work with unit leaders
  • To comply with youth protection policies, all communications from youth should be sent to at least two adults
  • Parents or guardians may send advancement work on behalf of their child
  • The definition of a Patrol has not changed and consists of a group of Scouts led by a Patrol Leader that is part of a Scouts BSA Troop
  • Likewise, the definition of camping nights has not changed; camping nights need to be in patrols.  Virtual camping (e.g., in your tent alone in your house or backyard, connected by Zoom to your unit) does not qualify as camping nights – even though it may be fun!

Merit Badge Group Instruction Guidelines

  • Approvals – refer to the NCAC Policy on Merit Badge Group Instruction summarized here
    • A troop or crew can use group instruction of merit badges within their unit without seeking approval from the council or district
    • If a unit decides to offer a merit badge opportunity to Scouts outside their unit (does not apply to a pair of Family Scouting troops), an individual counselor can solicit Scouts, or the district may sponsor the event; in either case, the counselor must get district advancement committee approval to conduct the event
    • The district advancement committee needs the opportunity to ensure compliance with the GTA guidance on group instruction, including a review of the material for the course
  • Blue Cards
    • An e-mail from the unit leader will suffice as the first signature for the Scout on a blue card – it is simply an acknowledgement  that the unit leader has discussed the merit badge with the Scout and he has recommended at least one counselor
    • For NCAC sponsored merit badge classes, a blue card will be generated and sent to the Scout once the Scout has completed the requirements
    • For unit merit badges, blue cards can be exchanged once unit meetings restart
  • Group Size
    • Each counselor is responsible for determining the best class size for their badge
      • Set the size to ensure each Scout receives high-quality, personal instruction and benefits from the counselor’s unique knowledge
      • Don’t focus on the number of Scouts who can take a class or complete a badge
    • Regardless of group size, each Scout must still “actually and personally” fulfill each requirement
    • For larger groups, multiple qualified instructors may be necessary to assist the primary merit badge counselor in order to ensure Scouts receive individual attention
      • Additional instructors should be knowledgeable about the merit badge subject, but they do not necessarily need to be registered as merit badge counselors
  • Completing Requirements
    • Make certain each Scout personally completes each requirement; some ideas to accomplish this are:
      • Create a Gmail address for Scouts to send written work
      • Use Zoom (see below) to view each Scout completing a task
      • Use Zoom (see below) with conversation muting to listen to each Scout provide the answer to a requirement
    • Group instruction does not mean group testing
    • Each Scout must complete each requirement as written, without exception
  • Worksheets
    • Counselors can use worksheets to assign work on some types of requirements to Scouts
    • Scout may also use worksheets to refresh their memory during testing on requirements
    • Completing an entire worksheet does not constitute completing a merit badge

Merit Badges On-Line (see Guidelines for Virtual Meetings – https://weownadventure.com/ncac-guidance-on-virtual-meetings-with-youth/)

  • Cyber Chip – not required to participate in an on-line merit badge course, just a good idea
    • Youth should earn or renew their Cyber Chip prior to participating or it can be a requirement during the first meeting.
    • Instruct Scouts to use public communication methods or to include a parent/guardian for all communication with adults.

Lone Scouts

  • Requests to re-designate Scouts as Lone Scouts will not be approved for the purposes of effecting advancement requirements during COVID-19

Registration Beyond the Age of Eligibility

  • No change to the process

Active Participation

  • Time missed due to canceled unit meetings still counts
  • Be sure Scout is registered and in good standing
  • The Covid-19 virus is considered a “noteworthy circumstance” – GTA Topic 4.2.3.1.

Positions of Responsibility

  • Units may need to waive normal responsibilities or rethink the expectations.  Units must credit the Scout with time served.  Lack of unit activity because of COVID-19 cannot be held against the Scout.
  • Youth must not be held to unestablished expectations or expectations impossible to fulfill
  • See GTA Topic 4.2.3.4, “Positions of Responsibility,” with its six subtopics.

Eagle Projects

  • The planning and development of an Eagle Scout Service Project can continue consist with the previously mentioned Executive Orders.  Proposals may be approved using electronic means.
  • The conduct of an Eagle Scout Service Project must be put on hold until constraints directed by the Executive Orders are removed.

Eagle Scout Rank Application Verification

  • NCAC is still verifying Eagle Scout Rank Applications prior to the Eagle Scout Board of Review
  • Please be patient as council resources are limited

Eagle Scout Boards of Review

  • An in-person Eagle Scout board of review provides the Scout with an opportunity to learn, grow and celebrate achievements.  It provides the youth with an experience superior to a videoconference Board of Review.  Council can approve extensions to conduct Eagle/Summit/Quartermaster boards of review up to six months after the youth’s 18th /21st birthday.
  • If an Eagle Scout board of review must be convened using videoconferencing, make a request to the NCAC ARC (alandeter@verizon.net), and indicate the following:
    • Scout’s Name, BSA ID, Date of Birth
    • Troop, District
    • Reason for Request including the urgency that argues against holding an in-person Board of Review when conditions allow in-person meetings
  • The recommended platform for conducting the Eagle Scout Board of Review is Zoom
    • Use the settings under Merit Badges On-line
    • Do NOT record the board of review
  • A videoconference board of review needs to comply with the Guide to Advancement (see 8.0.1.6) which basically says:
    • The NCAC is the authority for granting permission to hold a videoconference board of review for the Eagle Scout rank
    • All equipment should be tested ahead of time to provide the best audiovisual experience possible
    • All members of the board of review must be visible to the Scout, and any observers with the Scout must be visible to the members of the board of review
    • No one within hearing range on either side shall be off camera
    • Observers should be minimized
    • For Scouts under the age of 18, a parent or guardian of the Scout, or two registered adult leaders as required by the Guide to Safe Scouting (www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss01) who are familiar with these requirements for videoconference boards of review, must be directly present with the Scout at the beginning of the conference
      • The Scouters may be from the nearest council, district, or unit
      • Their role is to verify that the Scout is in a safe environment and that the board of review appears to be in compliance with the requirements
      • Once all the members of the board of review are present on their end of the call and introductions are completed, and the review is about to begin, anyone present with the Scout must leave the room or move out of hearing distance unless they have specifically been approved to remain as observers.
    • Once the review process has been concluded, if the Scout is under age 18, the Scout’s parent or guardian, or two registered adult leaders must rejoin the Scout; their purpose is to:
      • Be available to answer any questions that may arise
      • Join in the celebration of the Scout’s accomplishment, or
      • Be party to any instructions or arrangements regarding the appeals process or the reconvening of an incomplete review

Board of Review Extensions – Eagle Scout / Summit / Quartermaster

  • NCAC will grant extensions to conduct Eagle/Summit/Quartermaster boards of review up to six months after the youth’s 18th/21st birthday (see GTA Topic 8.0.3.1 (Eagle Scout Board of Review Beyond the 18th Birthday))
  • Please ensure the following is done prior to making the request:
    • The Eagle Scout Service Project Report is complete and signed
    • The Statement of Ambitions and Life Purpose and List of Leadership Positions, Honors, and Awards are done
    • The ESRA is done, signed, and verified through NCAC
    • The information for the reference letters has been provided to the unit and the unit has made the requests
  • To receive permission to hold an Eagle Scout Board of Review between 3 months and 6 months following the Scout’s 18th birthday, the Scout, parent, unit, or district should send a request to the NCAC ARC (alandeter@verizon.net), and indicate the following:
    • Scout’s Name, BSA ID, Date of Birth
    • Troop, District
    • Reason for Request

Eagle Scout Packages

  • Electronic or digital signatures are acceptable for Eagle/Summit/Quartermaster packets/applications through September 30, 2020
  • After a successful Eagle Scout Board of Review, the unit or family should hold onto completed packages until travel restrictions are relaxed and they can be dropped off at NCAC for processing

Request for Extension of Time to Earn Eagle Scout / Quartermaster / Summit Rank

  • COVID-19 Exclusive
    • NCAC Approval by ARC Chair or Program Director
      • Effective now through September 30, 2020
      • Complete and submit the Request for Extension per the instructions on the form
    • Duration
      • For Eagle, the extension will be for 3 months from the Scout’s 18th birthday
      • For Summit/Quartermaster, the extension will be for 3 months from the youth’s 21st birthday
    • Limitations
      • COVID-19 disruptions are the only circumstances that delayed work on advancement requirements, such as the service project or merit badges
      • Extensions shall only be granted to youth in Scouts BSA who have already achieved Life rank
      • Upon receipt, the council will review the request and approve, if appropriate
        • A written response stating the outcome of the extension request will go to the youth and unit leader identified on the request
        • If approved, the notification must be attached to the youth’s Eagle/Summit/Quartermaster rank application
      • Upon turning 18, the Scout must submit a completed adult application and successfully complete YPT; their participant code will now be UP for SBSA or VP for Venturing and Sea Scouting
      • Extension requests for more than 3 months beyond the youth’s 18th/21st birthday must be sent to the National Service Center following the process outlined in the GTA
    • Request for Extension Content
      • Scout’s Registered Name, E-Mail, Contact Number, BSA ID, DoB
      • Troop, District
      • Life Scout Board of Review Date
      • Description of Eagle Project
      • Reason for Delay
      • Adult’s Name, E-Mail, Contact Number
  • Non-COVID-19 Related or Mixed Explanation
    • Only for the Eagle Scout rank (see GTA Topic 9.0.4.0) or for Venturing Summit or Sea Scout Quartermaster (see GTA Topic 4.3.3.0)
    • The five tests still apply under 9.0.4.0.
    • Contact NCAC ARC Appeals and Extensions Coordinator (Brad Scales, msva_tenor@yahoo.com), reference the Eagle Scout Procedures Guide, or NCAC website under Eagle Scout Information for additional details
    • If youth have already received an extension they can request additional time due to COVID-19 through the NCAC ARC

Early Bird Extension for Summer Camp!

by

Plans are still on for summer camp, because we’re all going to need some extra time outside this summer! Planning that far out is difficult right now for many families so to give you more time to decide National Capital Area Council is extending the Early Bird signup period for all of our camps through April 30, 2020!

Check out our 2020 Summer Camp Guide for info about all our programs, then find your favorite below and reserve your tent!

Day Camp

NCAC offers about 20 local day camps every summer so that every Scout has one nearby. Each camp’s program is a little different, but each offers some combination of the all-time favorite Scout camp activities; things like BB guns, archery, sling shots, arts and crafts, nature, field sports, fishing, and aquatics.

This year’s Day Camp theme is On The Farm, so get ready for a barn-raising, sheep-herding, egg-hatching good time! To find a camp near you and sign up, go to gotodaycamp.org!

Go To Day Camp

Camp William B. Snyder

The closest Scout Camp to Washington, D.C., Camp Snyder will have a variety of programs for Packs to enjoy this summer, including day camp, weekend Cub Scout camps, STEM programs, and full-week programs for Cub Scouts and Webelos!

This year’s camp will be truly out of this world a Cub Scouts go on an astronaut adventure! Learn more and sign up at gotosnyder.org

Go To Camp Snyder

Goshen Scout Reservation

Goshen offers programs for Scouts BSA, Webelos, and Venturers on the shores of beautiful Lake Merriweather. With three Scout camps, two Webelos camps, and the Lenhok’sin High Adventure Base, there is an adventure waiting for you this summer that will thrill and challenge you.

To keep in line with the extension of the early bird dates, merit badge registration has also been delayed until May 1, 2020. We hope that will give your Scouts more time to make their plans for the summer. To learn more, get important updates, and register for Goshen, please click gotogoshen.org.

Go To Goshen

Refund Policy

One question many leaders have is what will happen if the COVID-19 pandemic requires us to cancel summer camp. Please assure your families that if camp is cancelled by NCAC they will receive a 100% refund. We hope this will give your families the chance to make their plans without worrying about the financial risks.

Further updates about our plans for summer 2020 will be coming as the situation develops. Until then, stay home, wash your hands, and keep on #ScoutingAtHome!

NCAC Guidance on Virtual Meetings with Youth

by

In certain circumstances, because of distance or sheltering-at-home, virtual meetings including youth membership is necessary. This can be for a Board of Review (covered by GTA 8.0.1.6), merit badges, or working on STEM or Hornaday awards with counselors and mentors. The National Capital Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, set this guidance for council, districts and units so that we can provide a way for Scouts and Scouters to interact adhering to our Youth Protection guidelines.

Approvals

  • Merit Badge:  refer to the NCAC Policy on Merit Badge Group Instruction summarized below.
    • A troop or crew can use group instruction of merit badges within their unit without seeking approval from the council or district.
    • If a unit decides to offer a merit badge opportunity to Scouts outside their unit, an individual counselor solicits scouts, or the district sponsors such an event, they must get district advancement committee approval to conduct the event. This affords the district advancement committee the opportunity to ensure compliance with the GTA guidance on group instruction.
  • Preapprovals are only necessary for Merit Badges. STEM Nova or Hornaday awards, for example, do not require a preapproval, but still require an approved STEM Nova counselor, Supernova mentor or Hornaday adviser.
  • Outside organizations to the BSA must always receive council approval

Guidelines

  1. Check the terms and conditions for the online service to make sure that the service allows for users under the age of 13.
  2. Online meetings require the presence of adults to be in compliance with BSA Policy.  Be sure to review the Guide to Safe Scouting for adult Supervision requirements — https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/gss01/.
  3. Youth should earn or renew their Cyber chip prior to participating or it can be a requirement during the first meeting.
  4. Instruct Scouts to use public communication methods or to include a parent/guardian for all communication with adults.

Methods that work

Of the carriers we surveyed, currently only Zoom complies with our age requirements. Check with your carriers for compliance before choosing.

Zoom https://zoom.us/ allows for users under 13, is in use for K-12 programs and is broadly approved for use in schools. The free Zoom account is limited to 40-minutes. A unit can create one plan with a single host for its activities, provided that only one meeting at a time is scheduled.  Be mindful of sharing usernames and passwords for the account and consider using a new email account tied to the troop committee or leader that is not used for other accounts. The next section has some example settings for Zoom.

One good practice is to set up a new GMAIL account for the service and then sharing the login information to schedule and host meetings with the appropriate adults.

Zoom example settings

Recommended Meeting Options

  • Meeting Password – Require meeting password so the meeting is secure.
  • Audio – Use of computer audio is best, so you have a clear record of who is speaking and listening as they are required to login.
  • Meeting Options
    • Disable join before host – DISABLE so early callers cannot access before required adult supervision is present
    • Mute participants upon entry – to keep the noise down, unmute speakers as it is their turn to talk per the agenda
    • Enable waiting room – To keep early arrivals in a queue.  You can then add everyone when the adult supervision requirement is met

Additional Settings

For further compliance please adjust these settings here – https://zoom.us/profile/setting

  • Host video — ENABLE
  • Participants video — DISABLE
  • Join before host — DISABLE
  • Embed password in meeting link for one-click join — ENABLE
  • Require password for participants joining by phone — ENABLE
  • Mute participants upon entry — ENABLE
  • Chat — ENABLE
  • Prevent participants from saving chat — DISABLE
  • Private chat — DISABLE
  • Autosaving chats — ENABLE
  • Automatically save all in-meeting chats so that hosts do not need to manually save the text of File transfer — ENABLE
  • Allow host to put attendee on hold — ENABLE
  • Allow hosts to temporarily remove an attendee from the meeting. — ENABLE
  • Screen sharing — ENABLE
  • Remote control — DISABLE
  • Breakout room – ENABLE if Enough adults present for patrol or den meetings (or set up separate online meetings for this)
  • Far end camera control — DISABLE
  • Identify guest participants in the meeting/webinar
  • Waiting room — ENABLE
  • Show a “Join from your browser” link — ENABLE
  • Mask phone number in the participant list — ENABLE

Online Help

See https://bit.ly/2Ud61Nl  for more information from Zoom.

Useful video quick tutorials are provided here — https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/206618765-Zoom-Video-Tutorials

Full support is here — https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us

To learn more please visit https://zoom.us/ and if you have any questions please contact your District Executive.

The NCAC Marketing & Communications Committee also put together this training:

Troop 976 Take Virtual Meetings in Stride

by

Following the words of the Boy Scout motto to “Be Prepared”, Troop 976 of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Vienna, Va did just that and more this week. In this time of uncertainty and social-distancing due to the coronavirus, the leadership and scouts of Troop 976 rallied to continue with their regularly scheduled Wednesday evening Troop meetings. Instead of holding a meeting as they usually do in the Counsel Room at OLGC they took it online!

On Wednesday March 11th 27 Scouts of Troop 976 utilized online video teleconferencing via Zoom to participate in their meeting. This inaugural approach went extremely well keeping the Troop not only on schedule but connected with one another. Scoutmaster Abe Bacarra set up the teleconference and laid out ground rules with the Scouts at the start to help the boys understand Zoom’s features and to also help in keeping the meeting under control. For example, virtual handraising was one of the many areas instituted with the boys to insure a forum where each boy could follow the discussion and also participate.

As moderator, Mr. Bacarra had planned initially for a 10 -15 minute virtual Troop meeting to see if the approach was even viable but their meeting lasted for 45 minutes and could have gone longer. The Scouts were not only engaged but excited to be continuing in some format with their normal routines. The Scouts followed a pre-set agenda that was listed on screen. An unexpected side benefit emerged in that there was even more participation than usual from the younger scouts as the format seemed to help with any hesitation to participate.

“The Scouts took the virtual meeting in stride,” Scoutmaster Abe Bacarra said. “I think this is indicative of their generation where they have been exposed to computing/mobile devices from an early age. The virtual meeting is in line with current distance learning efforts. The boys are so adept with this technology that they may be helping their parents setup Webex and Zoom sessions for their office meetings.”

Due to the great success of the meeting last Wednesday the Troop plans to continue using the online format for their weekly Troop meetings as long as social distancing is necessary. In fact, Troop elections for Scout leadership positions are scheduled for next week and will continue now online. The Scouts are not the only ones going online. On the same night the Troop’s adult comprised Committee meeting led by Committee Chair Pete Thiringer took place via teleconference as well. Even more, there are plans already in process to hold virtual scout Boards of Review (needed for rank advancement) next week. Troop 976 is not only remaining “Prepared” but keeping their close connections during these unprecedented times.

Pack 1859’s Journey to Earn the NCAC Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award

by

Cubs in Pack 1859 from Sully District are earning the NCAC Outdoor Ethics Awareness award for Cubs. Before the recommendations to suspend all in-person Scouting events, they dedicated their last pack meeting to Outdoor Ethics and Leave No Trace!

Pack 1859 holding Leave No Trace reference cards.

The NCAC Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award has 4 requirements.
1. Cubs and Scouters recited the Outdoor Code together as a pack. The Outdoor Code captures the essence of the Scouting Outdoor Ethic and establishes our aspirations and commitment.

2. They viewed the Leave No Trace video, produced by the National Park Service and the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. This video introduces the 7 principles of Leave No Trace.

3. Cubs and Scouters learned some of the principles by playing interactive games with a person who has taken the Outdoor Ethics Orientation, the Leave No Trace Trainer course, or the Leave No Trace Master Educator course. They played the trash timeline, the durable surface game, a wildlife habitat matching game, the animal vault game, and the thumb trick.

Cub Scouts determining whether surfaces are durable for hiking.
Learning the Thumb Trick to respect wildlife by keeping a safe distance.

4. At home with an adult they will take the Leave No Trace online awareness course. This online course can be tricky, even for adults, so do your best.

The NCAC Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award for Cub Scouts .

To learn more about LNT check out their online awareness course!