We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Articles

Scouters Take on Challenge of New BALOO Overnight Training Component

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Nineteen Cub Leaders from Aquia, Patriot, Old Dominion, Bull Run and Occoquan Districts attended the new BALOO course, led by Sharon Patrick of Aquia District, on 18 and 19 May at Curtis Park. The new BALOO course is a combination of the old BALOO and OLSWL course and requires an overnight experience. It prepares Cub Scout Leaders to be able to oversee their Pack Family camping experience and is required for Webelos Leaders to take their Dens camping. Although it rained on Friday night, Saturday turned out to be a beautiful day as the rain cleared out.

The next course being taught in Aquia District will be on the 14th and 15th of September. For more information, NCAC Scouters can contact Sharon Patrick at sharon4Scouts@cox.net.

Sully’s Cub Scout Twighlight Camp Another Success

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The Sully District held Twilight Camp for Cub Scouts during the last week of June at the Arlington-Fairfax Chapter of the Izaak Walton League in Centerville, VA. Scouts had the opportunity to participate in STEM activities, Archery, Crafts, Fishing, and BB guns. Thank you to all of the volunteers that helped to put it on, and we look forward to having everyone out again next year.

Troop 1959 from Fort Washington, MD A Bike Ride to Remember: A Scouts View

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by Kawbena McGaneyOsei,
Senior Patrol Leader

June 29th, 2018; The beginning of our terrifying yet thrilling adventure. Today is the day that Troop 1959 from Fort Washington, MD would embark on a 90-mile bike ride to Whiteford, MD. A trip that is only 5 miles from the border of Pennsylvania, a total of 10 hours, spread across 3 days. A year ago, Troop 1959 attended Goshen Summer Camp, where we came across another troop who had biked to California and back. Immediately my Scoutmaster envisioned the same for us. From the birth of the idea to days beforehand, Troop 1959 had been training. Once a month we would gear up and prep ourselves for a ride. We would practice 5 miles here, 10 miles there, eventually all leading up to our 50 mile finale. We also needed to make sure our diets were ready. We switched the chips and soda for fresh fruit and water.  All the prep would make it worth it in the end.

The first day, our ride was enjoyable! We were able to keep up a reasonable pace and distance. Day two was a different story, the heat and hills were almost unbearable. Our strength, and endurance was definitely tested. Day two was without a doubt the hardest leg of the trip. The final day wasn’t a breeze, but nothing compared to the dreaded day before. Luckily this day gave us downward hills and cooler temperatures. One of my favorite parts of this trip was the hotel nights, after a long day of biking. We were able to make a lot of memories and bond with one another. The trip allowed me to discover my strengths and weaknesses, it gave me a roadmap for how to do even better on our next adventure! I never thought I would do this in a million years. I’m sure a lot of us, didn’t think we would make it (especially on day two). But with every pedal we believed in ourselves! Plus, a great 80s playlist for motivation is a big help!

 

Piedmont Cub Scouts Summer Camp ‘A Blast!’

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Cub Scouts from the Piedmont District enjoyed a fast-moving week of rocket launches, games, shooting sports, new skills, hiking—and more—at the Inskeep Farm in the shadow of Cedar Mountain, south of Culpeper, Virginia. Piedmont District Cubs Camp Director Russ Wetzel called the event “great fun!”

Wetzel declared he had as much fun as the Scouts, adding, “It rained on Monday and was off and on sunny the rest of the week. But, nobody cared about the weather. We were having too much fun!”

The Scouts made boats and held a “Raingutter Regatta.” They decorated rockets for launch during the week. The group hiked to the Cedar Mountain Civil War Battlefield where they discussed the history of the Civil War. When the wind was up, they flew kites. Then, they launched more rockets; practiced archery skills, enjoyed target practice with BB rifles, played horseshoes, and more!

Asked on Friday by one leader what they wanted to do next, one Scout said, “Everything! Let’s do everything again.”

Special HOST Hike Brings Scouters Together To Learn About William T. Hornaday

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John Selstrom presenting Hornaday HOST Hike pin to Carol Brown and her husband.

A special 2018 William T. Hornaday – Colin Livingstone Hike was held on Saturday, May 26, 2018. The Hornaday Wildlife Conservation award honors the man who was the head taxidermist at the Smithsonian, helped establish the National Zoo, and was the first Director of what is now the Bronx Zoo. He is widely credited with saving the American bison from extinction.

This was the newest entry to the Council’s History & Archives Committee’s H.O.S.T program and was a one-time event. It followed much of the Livingstone Hike but added unique challenges and information about Hornaday, making it a very different hike for those who  had previously earned the Livingstone Hike medal.

Boy Scout Christian with members of his family.

There were historical displays about the Hornaday Award, plus information about Scouting’s environmental and conservation programs available at the ceremony before the hike. The ribbon cutting ceremony took place promptly at 9 AM with multiple departures leaving shortly after from the Omni Shoreham Hotel. The entire route was approximately 6.5 miles long, finished at the Smithsonian Castle, and took the most of the 430+ registered participants four to seven hours to finish.

Boy Scout Christian receiving a Hornaday badge for completing his Hornaday project

If you missed the Hornady Hike, consider signing up for one of the other three History Of Scouting Trail program hikes currently available.

 

 

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