We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

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NCAC Outdoor Ethics Guide Summit

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Nearly 70 scouts and scouters from 14 NCAC districts plus Cradle of Liberty, Hawk Mountain & Shenandoah Councils attended our inaugural NCAC Outdoor Ethics Guide Summit. The event featured a course for (Outdoor Ethics Guides)(), a presentation about BSA outdoor ethics courses and awards by Paul Schimke, and a keynote presentation about outdoor ethics in urban parks by National Park Service Park Ranger Josh Lamothe.

The Outdoor Ethics Guide course focused on teaching current and aspiring Outdoor Ethics Guides how to operationalize this position of responsibility to have the greatest positive impact in their unit. Outdoor Ethics Guides learned best practices, how to incorporate outdoor ethics lessons into their unit’s activities, outdoor ethics awards, and where to find resources. In addition, participants met other Outdoor Ethics Guides and adult advisors, shared experiences, discussed ways to overcome challenges, and created a network of Outdoor Ethics Guides across NCAC.

During the Summit, scouts taught outdoor ethics games and activities that participants can bring back to their units:
• Outdoor Code hand motions
• 7 Principles hand motions
• Trash Timeline
• Camp Oh No
• Ethics Game

Paul Schimke gave an overview of outdoor ethics awards and courses:
• Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award
• Outdoor Ethics Action Award
• NCAC Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award for Cubs
• Outdoor Ethics Orientation course
• Leave No Trace Skills course
• Leave No Trace Level 1 course
• Leave No Trace Level 2 course

Josh Lamothe presented about outdoor ethics in urban parks with a focus on the National Mall and Memorial Parks. Josh reviewed ways that each of the 7 principles of Leave No Trace, which were originally developed for use in wilderness situations, are very relevant to our outings and activities in urban settings.

Thanks to all the scouts and scouters who made this Outdoor Ethics Guide Summit a huge success by teaching lessons and giving presentations! Thanks also to the participants who are bringing these lessons back to their units in their roles as Outdoor Ethics Guides!

NCAC 2024 Summer Camp Webinar: Scouts BSA

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March 20, 2024: Scouts BSA Summer Camp

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

In this webinar, we go over the different summer camp options available for both Troops and individuals (provisional Scouts) at the various camps around NCAC – from Thurmont, MD to Haymarket VA to Goshen VA – and help unit leaders and parent/guardians prepare for the Scouts’ week at 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-2024-summer-camp-webinar-cub-scouts/

The final webinar in the series will be on High Adventure on March 27 at 7pm ET. See our earlier post to register in advance: weownadventure.com/upcoming-webinar-series-summer-camp-2024/

Give Feedback at the Outdoor Programs 2025 Town Hall

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The Council hears from our Scouting Community that our outdoor programs and facilities are not designed and consistently maintained in the way Scouts and families prefer to experience the outdoors now and for the future. We want to gather input and feedback from our membership so we can adjust our outdoor programs and facilities to meet our Scouting Community’s expectations.

What We Hope to Achieve

In the next 18 months, we hope to define a compelling, dynamic and sustainable NCAC Outdoor Program and associated facilities that:

  • Delivers the Scouting mission in a forward-thinking manner through at least 2050;
  • Understands and expresses our Scouting Communities’ evolving expectations in a transparent way;
  • Attracts and retains Scouts and families of all abilities and means with age-appropriate experiences; and
  • Is a model that other councils emulate.

We want your input!

Outdoor Programs 2025 Kick Off

When: April 16, 2024 at 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Topic: Outdoor Program 2025 Town Hall

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://ncacbsa-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qNMw8PvDSrK1LcRJW4qxxg

For complete information on the Outdoor Programs 2025 Initiative of the 2023-2025 Strategic Plan go to: https://www.ncacbsa.org/outdoor-programs-2025/

 

NCAC 2024 Summer Camp Webinar: Cub Scouts

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March 13, 2024: Cub Scout Summer Camp

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

In this webinar, we go over the NCAC summer camp options for Cub Scouts who will be rising Tigers through rising Webelos and rising Arrow of Light scouts this coming summer.

You can also download the slides from the webinar here: Cub Scout Camp Webinar slides [PDF]

Get more information on the various Cub Scout camps at their respective websites:

Upcoming webinars in the series include Scouts BSA Camps on March 20 and High Adventure on March 27. All webinars begin at 7pm EDT. See our earlier post to register in advance: weownadventure.com/upcoming-webinar-series-summer-camp-2024/

All This Before Most of Them Turned 10!

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At Pack 1100’s Arrow of Light Crossover Ceremony on March 2, 2024 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Springfield, Virginia, the positive impact of this one den made over the last six years was documented. These 11 Scouts positively influnced the community in so many ways through the Scouting program. Just look at this list!

They have:

  • cleaned up parks and waterways,
  • supported our local schools when there was no one to maintain the grounds,
  • cleaned our local trails,
  • made cards for wounded warriors,
  • collected toys for newly admitted families at Walter Reed,
  • provided Christmas greetings to a Virgina Veterans home, and
  • celebrated the “Month of the Military Child” in the White House with First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden.

They earned:

  • top scores for teamwork at Camp Ross,
  • recognition for their commitment to their religious organizations, and
  • the National Park Award by participating in volunteer and educational activities.

They have overcome challenges with diversity, learned how to work as a team and how to accept the loses with the wins.

They supported Wreaths Across America, recruited new friends who have become Scouts, earned the top NOVA awards in Cub Scouting, collected and delivered over 200 pounds of supplies for the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, and presented the BSA Report to the Nation.

Through the years they have collected over 5,000 pounds of food to support our local food bank and
community and conducted over 150 hours of community service.

They have spent 112 nights camping, hiked over 332 miles (that’s like hiking from Springfield to Cleveland), and Scouted for 12,816 day or 35 years.

One of them even participated in a push up challenge with Congressman Dan Crenshaw on the steps of the US Capitol.

“As we celebrate these 11 Scouts today,” explained their Den Leader, Marjorie McDonald, at the ceremony,“we know these Scouts are our future and knowing what we know about them, I can tell you our future is bright! It has been an honor for Christina and I to lead these Scouts, but perhaps they were leading us and we didn’t
even know it….. Watch out world here they come!”