We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Articles

Building on 2006: Camp Snyder Alumni Association Kicks Off

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Camp William B. Snyder has been a fixture in Northern Virginia Scouting since its 2006 opening, hosting Cub World, summer camps, leadership trainings, weekend adventures, and service projects for thousands of youth and adult leaders. Now, the launch of the Camp Snyder Alumni Association offers a way for former staff, volunteers, and program participants to reconnect and preserve that camp legacy.

The association’s goal is simple: keep the spirit of Camp Snyder alive by connecting alumni and giving back to the camp through service. Whether you staffed one summer or ten, were a part of Woodbadge or NYLT (National Youth Leadership Training), led a station, or frequently volunteered, this is a chance to stay involved and help shape what comes next for the camp.

To mark the launch, the association is hosting its first gathering on Sunday, November 23, 2025, starting at 5:30 PM in the Camp Snyder Dining Hall. It’s a fun event filled with food, fellowship, games, and camp stories with fellow alumni from as far back as to when the camp first opened! Details here: https://tinyurl.com/cwbs-alumni-kickoff

Even if you can’t attend, but want to stay connected with the alumni circle, you’re encouraged to join the alumni email list to stay informed about future events: https://forms.gle/p9qgUs2Y8vJXRVzm7

This is a chance to reconnect, reminisce, and celebrate the spirit of camp!

Questions? Email cwbs.alumni@gmail.com!

Summer Camp Planning: Introduction to Lenhok’sin High Adventure at Goshen Scout Reservation

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Summer camp is often described as the pinnacle of the Scouting year. High adventure is one of the pinnacles of the Scouting experience. Tune in to learn about our local high adventure, the types of experiences, and how to plan for your unit’s trek. Lenhok’sin High Adventure is your local high adventure base at the Goshen Scout Reservation, offering weeklong trek programs. Units can choose the Trail Trek with backpacking and adventure activities or the River Trek with whitewater canoeing on the James River. Leaders from Troops, Crews, and Ships can experience an east coast adventure with their unit and even prepare for a future experience at one of Scouting America’s National High Adventure Bases, like Philmont or Northern Tier.

Watch the recording:

You can also download the slides from the webinar here: /wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Introduction-to-Lenhoksin-High-Adventure-Webinar_10-27-2025.pdf [PDF]

Looking for more resources, information, or registration links? Visit www.gotogoshen.org/lenhoksin

Summer Camp Planning: For Current Bear and Webelos Dens

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Summer camp is one of the highlights of the Scouting year. If you have a current Bear Den or current Webelos Den, then Camp Ross is the summer camp experience just for you! Camp Ross is a week-long camp just for Cub Scouts who are rising Webelos and rising Arrow of Light Scouts. With lots of fun activities – including swimming, boating, fishing, archery, BB shooting, hiking, crafting, and outdoor skills – it is the an amazing opportunity for your den to learn, grow, and get ready for an awesome upcoming year of adventure in their new rank as well as prepare them for the next step of the program – Scouts BSA.

Watch the recording:

You can also download the slides from the webinar here: Introduction to Camp Ross [PDF]

Looking for more resources? Get information, registration links, and the Summer Camp Planning Tool Kit at www.gotogoshen.org/ross

Summer Camp Planning: Introduction to Scouts BSA Summer Camp at Goshen Scout Reservation

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Summer camp is one of the highlights of the Scouting year. Goshen Scout Reservation (GSR) offers three resident camp opportunities for Scouts BSA Troops, and you’re invited to attend! Explore what GSR has to offer your Scouts, reflect why summer camp is a critical part of the Scouting experience, and learn how to register for 2026.

Miss the webinar? Watch the recording: https://youtu.be/j3gqi1l5kew

You can also download the slides from the webinar here: Introduction to Scouts BSA Summer Camp at Goshen Scout Reservation [PDF]

Looking for more resources, information, or registration links? Visit www.gotogoshen.org

Save the dates for upcoming webinars! All webinars are at 7pm Eastern Time.

For current Lions and Tigers (rising Tigers and Wolves)

Or others interested in Cub Scout Day Camp!

For current Bears/Webelos, Scouts BSA, Venturers, and Sea Scouts

For Scouts BSA, Venturers, and Sea Scouts

NCAC Takes on Baltimore in Orienteering

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As always, some great NCAC results at the (49th annual) Baltimore Scout Orienteering Day Oct. 25, 2025 at Patuxent River Park near Upper Marlboro. Half the troops were from NCAC, half from the Baltimore Area Council. Troop 439 from Kensington edged out Troop 111 from Arlington amongst the 42 troops attending.

Local Scouts Ask for Public to Support Doorstep Food Collection Drive

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Local Scouts Ask for Public to Support Doorstep Food Collection Drive

Annual drive steps up efforts to address unprecedented food insecurity

October 24, 2025 – Washington, DC For 39 years, Scouts across the Washington, DC metropolitan area have united to fight hunger through their annual “Scouting for Food” campaign. This fall, the Scouting America National Capital Area Council (NCAC) will once again mobilize thousands of youth and families to collect food donations for neighbors facing food insecurity.

In advance of the collection day, Scouts will distribute notes on doors to inform residents about the drive. On Saturday, November 8, 2025, Scouts will return to neighborhoods to gather non-perishable food items left out by community members. Residents who receive a notice on their door are encouraged to leave their donations in bags or boxes on their doorsteps for easy pickup.

This service project reflects the values of Scouting America, especially the commitment to “help other people at all times,” as stated in the Scout Oath and “Do a Good Turn Daily.” It’s a hands-on way for young people to live out the principles of service, kindness, and civic responsibility.

“In 2024, our Scouts collected more than 468,000 pounds of food to support families in need throughout our Council area,” said Mario A. Pérez, CEO and Scout Executive/CEO of NCAC. “We know that a significant number of residents in our region are facing food insecurity right now. Our Scouts, their families, and adult leaders are stepping up to make a meaningful impact. Scouting for Food is a powerful example of how we prepare youth for lives of purpose and service.”

Scouting for Food is one of the largest annual food drives in the region, engaging Scouts aged 5 to 20 across the District of Columbia; Maryland counties including Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s; and Virginia counties including Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Fauquier, Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George, Stafford, and Culpeper—as well as the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Fredericksburg.

The urgency of this effort is underscored by the Capital Area Food Bank’s Hunger Report 2025, which reveals that 36% of residents in the Greater Washington Region continue to face food insecurity. Even more concerning, the number of people experiencing very low food security—the most severe category—has grown by 75,000 in the past year alone. To learn more, read the full report at: Capital Area Food Bank Hunger Report 2025.

Held each fall before Thanksgiving, Scouting for Food helps stock the shelves of local food banks during the critical holiday season. The community’s support is essential.

Most-needed items include:

  • Canned proteins (tuna, chicken, salmon)
  • Peanut butter
  • Pasta, rice, and other grains
  • Whole grain cereals and oatmeal
  • Canned vegetables and fruits

Together, Scouts and their neighbors are making a difference—one doorstep and one donation at a time.

Scouting for Food is made possible in part by a grant from the Safeway Foundation.

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About Scouting America and the National Capital Area Council

Scouting America provides the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be “Prepared. For Life.®” Scouting America welcomes all of America’s youth into its programs. Our goal is to give them fantastic experiences in the outdoors, and elsewhere, where they can grow with us in a safe environment. More than 130 million Americans have been through our programs since our founding, and currently more than one million youth are served by 477,000 adult volunteers in local councils throughout the country. To learn more about Scouting America’s mission, or to sign your child up for Scouting, visit https://beascout.scouting.org/

Scouting America National Capital Area Council (NCAC) was organized in 1911 and today stands as one of the oldest and largest councils in America. Scouts from the NCAC do over 400,000 hours of community service each year. The Council territory includes the District of Columbia; Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties in Maryland; and in Virginia the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Fauquier, Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George, Stafford and Culpeper as well as the independent cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas, Manassas Park and Fredericksburg in Virginia. For more information, please visit www.ncacscouting.org/