We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Articles

Celebrating 114 year for Scouts BSA

by

Today we are celebrating the enduring spirit of the Scouting movement for the past 114 years!

In honor of this special occasion, let’s take a stroll down memory lane and reflect on some NCAC history. This day is not only about celebrating Scouting’s illustrious past; it’s also about embracing its dynamic present and promising future. The center photo, captured in 1915 showcases six Eagle Scouts proudly displaying their Eagle Medals bestowed upon them by President Wilson.

Events like this served as the foundation for the incredible program we cherish and participate in today, over a century later. With 1,112 New Eagle Scouts and a reach extending 33,000 youth in 2023, our program continues to flourish and welcome all youth into its fold.
Happy Birthday to the BSA!

Coming in July 2024: JAMBOREE-ON-THE-WATER (JOTW)!

by

July 2024: JAMBOREE-ON-THE-WATER (JOTW)! Sea Scout Ship 1176 of Springfield, Virginia USA and its partners, along with the Sea Scout Committee of the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America (NCAC) will take the lead in organizing the inaugural Jamboree-on-the-Water in July of 2024. The idea behind having a Jamboree centered on water-based activities is that the JOTW will become the third leg of a “Triple Crown” of three different kinds of remote location Scout Jamboree adventures: (1) on land (Jamboree on the Trail), (2) in the air (Jamboree on the Air and Jamboree on the Internet) and (3) on the sea (Jamboree-on-the-water). The Jamboree-on-the-Water will be like the other two “join-in” Jamborees that allow Scouts anywhere to join in and participate by organizing local events on the same date in locations everywhere and unite in camaraderie by using modern communication technology to share their experience on the Internet and on Facebook. Together, these three events form a “trifecta” of different kinds of

Jamboree experiences that make up the “Triple Crown of Scouting.”

The Jamboree-on-the-Water will be like the other two “join-in” Jamborees that allow Scouts anywhere to join in and participate by organizing local events on the same date in locations everywhere and unite in camaraderie by using modern communication technology to share their experience on the Internet and on Facebook. Together, these three events form a “trifecta” of different kinds of Jamboree experiences that make up the “Triple Crown of Scouting.”

What is the Jamboree on the Water?

Jamboree-on-the-Water is an annual day for Scouts of the World Scout Movement to get together on the water, wherever they are in the world, at the same time. All Scouts, regardless of their age or program — Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venture Scouts, Rover Scouts, Guides, etc. — are invited to participate in whatever way they can, wherever they are. To participate, Scouts only need to plan and execute a water-related
event on the second weekend in July and send a short report and picture(s) for the web site and Facebook page. Sign up your unit and each participating individual online in advance to receive an official participation certificate.

When is the Jamboree on the Water?
The inaugural Jamboree-on-the-Water will be held on the second weekend of July in 2024, in remembrance of the first Sea Scout event ever back in July of 1909.

How do you participate?
Participation is easy and fun. Plan an activity involving the water on the second weekend of July. If it is not possible that weekend where you live, any activity in July could be acceptable. Register your activity and participants online to receive an official JOTW certificate after the event.

Participation patches can be purchased separately. Cub Scouts and younger Scouting sections could visit a local pond, lake, or beach as part of a weekend camp. A Scout Troop might check out a water activity of any kind, particularly involving ships, boats, canoes, kayaks or paddleboats, or take part in some educational presentation or activity done while working on water-centered Merit Badge requirements. A Venture or Rover Crew might make a Service Project out of restoring or maintaining portions of a dock or help with harbor cleanup. In their way, everyone will be on the water in solidarity with world-wide Sea Scouting, progressing together in the same direction: towards a better future through Scouting.

If you want to help in the organization, you can volunteer to be on the JOTW Event Advisory Committee (Scouts and adults) or be the representative for your council, state, or province, or serve as a national JOTW coordinator for your country.

Is there a badge or participation patch?
It would not be a true Scouting event without a badge or participation patch. Participants will be able to purchase a JOTW badge as recognition of having participated in this worldwide event. Scouts around the world are invited to suggest badge ideas. Event participants will be able to order badges online from the official JOTW website. All registered Scouts who take part will be sent a certificate by e-mail.

REGISTER your event for free certificate at:
https://www.scoutingevent.com/082-Jamboreeonthewater2024

Scouting CARES 2024 Belt Loop Ceremony

by

Scouting CARES (Character, Achievement, Respect, Education, and STEM) provides students with engaging programs with a focus on character development and leadership. NCAC’s CARES program partners with schools and communities that would benefit from a vibrant Scouting program. Serving almost 300 students across five different schools!

CARES students from St. Francis Xavier School received their Belts and Belt Loop Badges after completing the first 8 weeks of the 16-week curriculum. Notable belt loops earned included Howling at the Moon, Adventures in Coins, Tiger Bites, and Call of the Wild, among others. Howling at the Moon had students communicating in creative ways, while Tigers Bites taught them the joys of healthy eating and handwashing. Adventures in Coin introduced them to the fascinating world of currency, and Games Tigers Play emphasized the power of teamwork. Call of the Wild? It’s all about being prepared with a first aid kit and mastering knots!  Eager to continue their journey, the students expressed enthusiasm for acquiring more badges in the future.

Suitland Elementary School  3rd- 5th graders received their Belt Loops and Belt Loop Badges after completing half of their CARES curriculum. The 3rd graders earned a few badges including Howling at the Moon, Adventures in Coins, Tiger Bites, and Call of the Wild.

4th and 5th graders also held their Belt Loop Ceremony. The 4th graders are in their second year of Scouting CARES and received badges such as Running with the Pack, Council of Fire, Code of the Wolf, and Roaring with Laughter to name a few. These activities promoted the importance of physical activity, community service, and mathematics.

The 5th grade students in Scouting CARES are following a more STEM specific Scouting CARES Curriculum in their science class. These students earned  Belt Loops for Digging in the Past, Engineer, and Air of the Wolf. The STEM-specific curriculum dove into topics like fossils, matter, and aerodynamics. They explored STEM through hands-on experiences, building, and creating. Teachers were thrilled to see how Scouting CARES could make learning extra fun and relevant to their daily science lessons.

A significant highlight of the fall 2023 program was the field trip to the College Park Aviation Museum by Suitland Elementary School. These field trips expose students to new experiences as a substitute for traditional scouting activities. Exciting plans for 2024 include visits to the Air and Space Museum, The University of Maryland Greenhouse, and the Monuments in Washington D.C. Along with continuing to engage with possible new schools.  

Distinguished Conservation Service Award: NCAC Examples

by

As the Distinguished Conservation Service Award (DCSA) program gains traction in the National Capital Area Council (NCAC) and as youth become interested in pursuing Boy Scouts of America’s most prestigious conservation award, we thought the following examples from NCAC would help youth, their DCSA Advisors, their Conservation Advisors, and their unit leaders better understand the DCSA program and requirements.

DCSA project categories

  • Energy conservation
  • Soil and water conservation
  • Fish and wildlife management
  • Forestry and range management
  • Air and water pollution control
  • Resource recovery (recycling)
  • Hazardous material disposal and management
  • Invasive species control
  • Pollinator Habitat Conservation

To date, NCAC youth have not identified a conservation issue or need in all nine of these categories, so we do not have NCAC examples in every category. As the DCSA program becomes more popular in our council, we hope to have examples in all nine categories. Some blogs below refer to the Hornaday Award, which predates the current DCSA program.

Soil & Water Conservation
Scout Restores Ravine in Potomac Overlook Park 

Forestry and Range Management
DCSA Forest Restoration for Tomorrow

Fish & Wildlife Conservation
Distinguished Conservation Service Award Projects 

Resource Recovery (recycling)
Match Point for Sustainability 
Reel-In and Recycle!

Invasive Species Control
Hornaday Project Earns Eagle Scout the County’s Most Prestigious Environmental Award 
Hornaday/Eagle Project: Stopping the Invasive Plant Invasion 
Hornaday Badge Project “Evicting the Invaders”
Boo Berry Yay Fern: A project to save our native plants 

Pollinator Habitat Conservation
Life Scout Builds Half-Acre Monarch Pollinator Habitat in Poolesville, MD 
Poolesville Scout Awarded a National Conservation Medal 

Some helpful reminders:

  • Identify a DCSA Advisor
  • The young person must follow the scientific approach by beginning with the identification of a conservation issue or need in the local area. Do not start with a project idea, start with a problem or need.
  • The young person will compile or collect data and/or observations to better understand the conservation issue or need
  • The young person will research the issue to identify ‘alternatives’, one of which will become the project
  • Projects must be based on sound scientific principles and practices
  • Projects must contribute to sound conservation and environmental improvement
  • The young person will provide comprehensive observations showing the effect of the project on the identified conservation issue.
  • The young person will demonstrate clearly outstanding efforts in planning, leadership, execution of plans, and involvement of others beyond the BSA unit
  • The young person must provide opportunities to help others learn about natural resource conservation and environmental improvement
  • In most cases, implementation of a traditional service project will not meet the requirements for the DCSA program
  • The BSA training for a DCSA adviser is a great resource for interested youth, leaders and parents to get a better idea of the size, scope and time required for a single DCSA project

DCSA resources:
BSA Distinguished Conservation Service Award Program 
BSA Distinguished Conservation Service Award Project Workbook
Executive Summary Template
Complete list of award requirements