We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Articles

This Scout’s Concern for his Grandmother Saved her Life!

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The Medal of Merit may be awarded to a youth member or adult leader who has performed a rare or exceptional act of service that reflects an uncommon degree of concern for the well-being of others. At the National Capital Area Council Court of Honor held on June 2, 2024, Thomas (TJ) D. was awarded the Medal of Merit as the youth member.

For several days Thomas (TJ) had been going to his grandmother’s house to help her when she had been not feeling well. On the fourth day, TJ went over a bit later than normal and found her on the ground. TJ asked her how long she had been on the floor, and she told him that she had fallen around 7 or 8 a.m. It was after 5 p.m. TJ called parents to help. As his mother called 911, TJ and his father got his grandmother in a sitting position, but she continued to get worse. An ambulance took her to the hospital, where it was found she was extremely septic and had little kidney function due to a kidney stone blockage. A week to the day after her fall, she was home, but if TJ hadn’t helped her, she probably would not have survived.

This Scout’s Quick Thinking Saved a Man from a House Fire!

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The National Certificate of Merit may be awarded to a youth member or adult leader who has performed a significant act of service that is deserving of special national recognition.

Congratulations to Amy E. on earning the Certificate of Merit for saving a sleeping homeowner from a house fire!

Amy was walking her dog in May of 2023 when she heard a smoke detector going off.  She saw a steady stream of smoke coming out of two windows on the top level of a nearby house. While there was no car in the driveway and no lights in the house, when there was no sign of activity, she ran home to get help from an adult.  Amy’s mother called 911 and waited with Amy across the street from the house. She told the firefighters what she saw.  The firefighters entered the house and found the homeowner there.  He was asleep. There was a fire on the stovetop. The homeowner was taken to the hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.

These Two Scouts Expertly Applied First-Aid to Treat a Fellow Scout!

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On June 2, 2024, at the National Capital Area Council Court of Honor, Aditya K. and Sheil S. earned the Certificate of Merit for working together to care for an injured Scout.

At about 8:50 on April 23, 2023, Senior Patrol Leader Aditya K. was called and went to see what happened when he saw his fellow Scout Sreedhar lying face up in the grass, covered in blood. He called for Sheil S, who was sitting near the campfire, to grab his first-aid kit.

Sreedhar appeared to be going into shock, so Aditya told Sreedhar to take deep and big breaths to calm him down while Sheil put on gloves and began methodically cleaning Sreedhar’s head, wiping the blood off Sreedhar’s face, noticing he had a bloody nose.

They learned that Sreedhar had run, face-first, into a tree while trying to catch a football. They checked for additional injuries, including possible dental injuries, and evaluated Sreedhar for a concussion. After treating Shreedhar’s head, Aditya and Sheil had him stand and identified a large bruise on his leg, which was treated with an ice pack.

The National Certificate of Merit may be awarded to a youth member or adult leader who has performed a significant act of service that is deserving of special national recognition. Congratulations to Aditya and Sheil for being recognized for their helpfulness and first-aid skills during this incident!

2024 Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award goes to Jason!

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The Glen and Melinda Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year award is presented to recognize valuable service of an exceptional nature by a Scout to a religious institution, a school, a community, or another entity while doing their Eagle Scout service project.

Congratulations to Jason W. on earning this year’s Glen A. and Melinda W. Adams Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award at the 2024 NCAC Court of Honor!

Jason is a 16-year-old Eagle Scout with Troop 1094 in Darnestown, Maryland. He and his family travel around the United States. Their goal is to see all 50 states by the time he graduates high school. He plans to attend college to become a wildlife biologist.

Jason’s Eagle project was to build a ½ acre pollinator habitat in Poolesville. “When it came time to plan my Eagle project, I knew it was important to me to make an environmental impact.” The day of Jason’s project it poured buckets of rain, but 60 people arrived and planted 300 plants. His next goal is to earn the BSA Distinguished Conservation Service Award. Scan the QR Code to watch a video explanation!

This Young Scout Safely Saved his Grandmother from a House Fire!

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The Heroism Award may be awarded to a youth member or adult leader who has demonstrated heroism and skill in saving or attempting to save a life at more than minimal personal risk to self.

At the National Capital Area Council  Court of Honor held on Sunday, June 2, 2024, Xavier P. received a Heroism Award for taking quick action to protect his grandmother and her pets during a home fire.

On July 16, 2022, while spending the night at his grandmother’s house, the attic of the house caught fire at 4:35 a.m. while everyone was asleep.  Xavier was extremely brave and calm.  He not only woke up his grandmother, but he also helped rescue her pets and made sure everyone evacuated safely.  After Xavier and his grandmother got out of the house, they waited in the front with the other residents who all had evacuated safely.  Once the fire department arrived, Xavier’s grandmother drove him to his mother’s house, where they spent the rest of the night.  His mother later noted that Xavier was very kind and helpful while his grandmother recovered and secured new housing.

Thank you, Xavier for your quick action during an emergency and for exemplifying the Scout Law afterwards!

 

Crew 1345’s Inspiring Visit to the Pentagon: A Journey Through History, Career Opportunities, and Personal Connections

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Venturing Crew 1345 of Burke, VA, embarked on an extraordinary journey to one of the most iconic buildings in the United States – the Pentagon. This visit was not just a tour of the five-sided headquarters (which the Crew counted to actually be 72 sides!) but a cool experience where they learned about different careers and government efforts.

The Crew members were particularly interested in the building’s significance. During their visit to the interior 9/11 memorial, a Crew member noted, “It was interesting how it commemorated all the people who were lost during 9/11, and how all their stories were shared through books and signed pieces of paper.” Walking through the various corridors dedicated to each of the military branches and major historical events, the Crew delved deeper into U.S. history and gained insights into the history of the individual branches.

Thanks to the Crew’s adult leaders, who are active in the military, the Scouts were able to have a more personalized tour and had the chance to meet with individuals serving in various military positions. These interactions provided the Crew with a deeper understanding of the diverse roles within the military and the people who fulfill them. Among these roles were a Flight Nurse and a Strategist, which aligned with the career interests of some Crew members. The flight nurse shared insights into the challenges and rewards of providing medical care and transporting the injured in military aviation, discussing the required training, the critical decision-making involved, and the significant impact they have.

Beyond the specific roles, the visit to the Pentagon opened the Crew’s eyes to a multitude of career opportunities within the military. Each person they talked to emphasized the importance of leadership, teamwork, and dedication – qualities that are important to the Venturing program. When leaving the Pentagon, the Crew was especially surprised to see Venturing BSA trading coins in the Fort America shop (Pentagon gift shop)! The Crew’s visit to the Pentagon was definitely a highlight of the Crew’s year and one they will be talking about for a while.