Liam Riley of Troop 255 in Chevy Chase, MD led the design, construction, and installation of new golf course signage for the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, DC.
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Exploring Advisor graduates from Citizens Police Academy!
Luz Diaz Villalobos has long been written about as an admirable youth in NCAC’s Exploring programs, and today, she continues to inspire with her accomplishments as a young adult.
Most recently, Diaz Villalobos graduated from the Prince George’s County Citizen’s Police Academy. This multi-month course educates civilians about the criminal justice system through interactive classes and facilitated discussion. Outside of this, Diaz Villalobos works as an Assistant Teacher at Estrellitas Montessori School DC, where the owner Marilyn Medrano says she is a special teacher. Diaz Villalobos also volunteers relentlessly as an Exploring Advisor for PGPD’s youth programs, and is always there for her younger siblings and community members. Amongst her many responsibilities, Diaz Villalobos kept the commitment to attend the regular CPA sessions, with determination to successfully complete the Academy.
On the final day, at a church in the county, Prince George’s County Chief of Police, Aziz Malik presented Diaz Villalobos with her award. Other dignitaries included Councilmember Jolene Ivey, whom Diaz Villalobos also thanks for her support. As soon as Diaz Villalobos’ name was announced, a crowd of over two dozen people erupted in cheers! Luz is accomplished, admirable and a truly beloved member of her community. In attendance were several officers from PGPD who have supported her to this day including Cpl. Black, Cpl. Lobin, Cpl. Ross, Sgt Jeffries, Captain Eboug, Captain Serpes and Lieutenant Dazzie. From Seat Pleasant, Officer Miller and Officer Bowers attended and from all across Prince George’s County came several younger Explorers to whom Diaz Villalobos now serves as a mentor. Though not pictured, a special mention also goes to Cpl. Hibbert who has always supported Diaz Villalobos too. Last but not least, a special shout out to Diaz Villalobos’ family for being present in this accomplishment!
Diaz Villalobos set precedent as the only Hispanic to graduate from the Prince George’s County Citizen Police Academy for Class 48! This is not the first time that Luz Diaz Villalobos set a record.
In her own words, we share her story of making history in Exploring.
“Upon my arrival to the United States, I set goals for myself and my future. I was determined to learn and flourish in school… While at William Wirt Middle School, I joined the soccer team starting one of my goals of being a scholar-athlete.
In 10th Grade, I learned about the Prince George’s County Police Explorers program, which focused on preparing student leaders for careers in Law Enforcement. While in 11th Grade, I joined the Explorers program in order to begin my goals of becoming a Police Cadet. Within one year of my time in the Explorers program, I have lead efforts to increase the program from 8 students to over 60 students! In addition, I have attended several conferences that have helped me develop my leadership skills as I set my focus on becoming a Police Officer. 
Throughout my tenure in the Prince George’s County Explorers program, I have moved up in rank from a basic explorer to Lieutenant. In 2019, through a strenuous process of assessments and interviews, I was promoted to Explorer Captain. I am now the first female and first Hispanic to lead the post!
As I continue to achieve one of my goals of becoming an American citizen, I know that is the first step in achieving my ultimate goal of becoming a Police Officer!”
To learn more about PGPD’s Law Enforcement Exploring Program, please visit: www.pgpdexplorers.com
Troop 128 Enjoys a Summer at Sail to the Florida Keys and U.S. Virgin Islands
Over the Summer Troop 128 participated in a journey to the Florida Keys and U.S. Virgin Islands
Florida Keys Sea Base Adventure:
The Sea Base Coral Reef adventure involves a week of living aboard a sailboat with time spent sailing, snorkeling, and fishing the beautiful waters of the
middle Florida Keys. After breakfast each morning we pulled anchor and sailed for the first snorkeling site of the day always dragging a line in anticipation of pulling in a big fish. After a snorkel, we would enjoy lunch and plot the course to the overnight anchorage. Upon arrival, there would be another opportunity to snorkel, followed by dinner and after cleaning up we would enjoy a swim. After the swimmers were out of the water, there would be time to fish, play games, read, or enjoy free time as the Scouts preferred. Most slept on the deck, under the stars and one night had a sighting of the Star Link satellite.
middle Florida Keys. After breakfast each morning we pulled anchor and sailed for the first snorkeling site of the day always dragging a line in anticipation of pulling in a big fish. After a snorkel, we would enjoy lunch and plot the course to the overnight anchorage. Upon arrival, there would be another opportunity to snorkel, followed by dinner and after cleaning up we would enjoy a swim. After the swimmers were out of the water, there would be time to fish, play games, read, or enjoy free time as the Scouts preferred. Most slept on the deck, under the stars and one night had a sighting of the Star Link satellite.
Midweek we were fortunate to dock for the night at a local resort. This provided an opportunity to swim in a pool, play beach games, have power for AC on the boat, and most importantly a shower. That night we had steaks to grill on the barbecue as well. We can attest to the fact that the meals were a step up from the usual Scout fare and there was a lot of food for meals and snacks.
The Sea Base adventure was a great way for the Scouts to try activities with which they were unfamiliar. There were plenty of opportunities for leadership as there were many duties to complete. Our least favorite duty was the 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. night watch taken in 2-hour shifts with Scouts and leaders all taking turns each night.
We were fortunate to have a great captain who shared his knowledge of sailing, navigation, fishing, and more. He took us to great spots that enabled us to snorkel with a nurse shark and many amazing fish, spot turtles, dolphins, and even a ray. We will never forget the sunsets and the incredible star gazing far from the city lights.
U.S. Virgin Islands Adventure
The Scouts snorkeled and saw turtles, rays, squid, and a barracuda. Captain Wes guided the Scouts and taught the crew about the use of a sextant for celestial navigation. They enjoyed amazing views, and time catching waves on the beach and hiked around the Island. Scouts even explored the history of the island, visiting an old sugar mill in St. John.
Here are some of the thoughts, reflections, and highlights shared by the Scouts:
“We were able to get the Captain’s Award, Snorkeling BSA, and the sailing req for the 50 Miler without much difficulty.”
“The biggest thing we learned was being able to navigate from point A to point B without any obvious solutions (ie. just motor straight upwind to the destination)”
“We got to polish a lot of skills we already had, like tying off and coiling rope, cooking, and swimming.”
“Our captain was very willing to improvise and have fun (like when we saw a regatta and joined in).”
Thank you to Troop 128 for sharing!
Take Me Out to the Ballgame – FredNats’ Scout Night
Our local Fredericksburg Nationals (FredNats) baseball team invited all Northern Virginia BSA Scouting units to a special “Scout Night” on July 15th at FredNats Park. All Scout leaders and Scouting Families were able to buy discounted tickets (some packages included food and a commemorative patch) to a great baseball game. Our Scouts responded with enthusiasm! Many thanks to Brian Lehman, FredNats Ticket Sales Account Executive and Wendy Latella, a local Scout Leader, for coordinating this event.
Over 500 tickets were sold to Troops and Packs from Fredericksburg, Locust Grove, Stafford, Springfield, Spotsylvania, Woodbridge, Alexandria, King George, Dalghren & Dumfries. Represented were: Cub Scout Packs 22, 26, 28, 38, 46, 57, 199, 320, 802, 907, 1373, 1777 & 2220 and Scouts BSA Troops 165, 197, 218, 317, 1777 & 1889.
For the pre-game Scout Parade, all attending Scouts and Scout leaders paraded from near the home outfield bullpen, around the warning track to behind home plate. Scouts also had the opportunity to campout in the outfield after the game and watch a post-game movie, but this was unfortunately moved to August 5th because a thunderstorm ended the evening early on July 15th.
Part of the pre-game Scouting highlights including first pitch honors for a local Aquia District
Scout leader. Richard “Dick” Haas, is affectionately known in the National Capital Area Council as “The Ancient One” (or “TAO” for short), and not just because this WWII Navy Veteran is 96, but because he’s been continuously Scouting for over 86 years! TAO actually shook the hand of Scouting’s Founder, Robert Baden-Powell, at the World’s Fair in Queens, NY in 1939. TAO earned lifesaving awards in 1964 for rescuing 2 fellow bus crash victims from drowning in the Harlem River – the only 3 survivors. A Scoutmaster in New York in the 1960s & 80s, TAO remains an active Scouter in Virginia today and is the proud patriarch of 4 generations of active Aquia District BSA Scouts & Scouters who joined him on the field – great grandsons Stellan & Ronin and their parents Ben & Heather from Pack 242 and his son, Mike, a retired Marine and Aquia Scouter, who got to throw out the first pitch in TAO’s honor. A great Scout Night indeed! Go FredNats!
To join BSA, please go to www.beascout.org to find a BSA Scout unit near you – Cub Scouting serves families with children in Kindergarten through 5th Grade; Scouts BSA serves families with children ages 11-18. There are BSA programs for families with older Youths, ages 14 – 20, including Venturing, Exploring or Sea Scouting.
The mission of the BSA is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Aquia District includes Stafford County and Marine Corps Base Quantico. For more information on Scouting in Stafford/Fredericksburg area, including how to donate, join or volunteer, contact Kristy Freeman, Aquia District Executive, at Kristy.Freeman@Scouting.org or (540)287-3866.
NCAC Life Scout Awarded Medal of Merit by the Boy Scouts of America
Life Scout TJ D., 14, has been awarded the Medal of Merit by the Boy Scouts of America for using the skills he has learned through scouting to save the life of his grandmother.
In April 2022, TJ found his grandmother passed out on the floor of her home in Franconia, Virginia. She was delirious and unable to get herself up off the floor of her living room. She didn’t remember falling. Eventually, she pieced everything together and realized that she had fallen from her couch and been stuck between a table and the sofa since the early morning. TJ found her about eight hours after she fell, weak and unable to move. Doctors later diagnosed a kidney stone that she didn’t know she had. She had become extremely septic from it being lodged. Her muscles had also started breaking down because of laying on the floor for so long. Doctors said that if TJ had not found her, started first aid and eventually alerted his parents, his grandmother might not have made it. She was in the hospital for about two weeks recovering from not only the sepsis, but also the kidney stone and muscle weakness.
TJ was awarded the Medal of Merit for his efforts in July and was presented with the medal, uniform knot and certificate during a Court of Honor at Troop 1107 on Aug. 28.
TJ is a very active Life Scout who has been working toward Eagle in Troop 1107 — chartered by St. John’s Lutheran Church in Franconia — since 2020, rarely missing a meeting, camp or service project. He joined scouting as a Tiger Cub with Pack 867 — also chartered by St. John’s — in 2015. He has attended SeaBase (2022) and National Jamboree (2023) and plans on going on a Northern Tier Trek (2024) as well as Summit Bechtel Reserve (2025) to get the High Adventure Triple Crown. He has also taken ILST and plans to participate in NYLT this January, since he has served his troop as Patrol Quartermaster, APL, PL, Chaplain’s Aide, Bugler, Instructor and ASPL. He is currently the Troop Guide and Assistant Patrol Leader.
He is a freshman at Hayfield Secondary School. When not participating in Scouts or in class, he played Little League Baseball with Central Springfield Little League and is a new member of Springfield’s Babe Ruth League. He is also a member of the Hayfield cross country team and is a novice black belt in taekwondo at Capital Martial Arts Academy.
Aquia Scouts BSA Troops 199’s Philmont Trek Adventure 2023
Troop 199B & 199G formed a crew that participated in a Philmont 7-day backpacking trek at the Philmont Scout Ranch. We had 5 adults (Glenna B, Lisa L, Skip S & Chris T), Trip Wiggins being the Lead Advisor, and the following 6 Scouts: Cameron B, Natalie G, Dots L, Alex S, Kaitlyn T and John W. John was the Crew Leader, Kaitlyn the Chaplain’s Aide and Dots the Wilderness Pledge Guia.
The crew headed to Philmont on ‘planes, trains, and automobiles’ arriving on July 13. We completed Check-In and immediately started with training and logistical support for our trek (tents, fly, bear bags, cooking pots, food, water purification tablets, etc.) guided by our Philmont Ranger, Yahir Olvera who accompanied us on our first two nights on the trail.
We hit the trail on July 14th and the training continued with map & compass/navigation, crew dynamics/positions, weather, backcountry cooking and cleanup, and bear bag use. Our daily camps, in order, were Heck Meadow (dry camp), Clark’s Ford (staff camp), Schaefer’s Pass (dry camp), Miner’s Park (staff camp), and Abreu (staff camp). We ended the trek at Rayado trailhead with a bus ride back to base camp. At Clark’s Fork and Abreu the crew enjoyed a staff Chuckwagon & Mexican dinner, respectively.
Notable aspects of the trek: Climbing the iconic Tooth of Time peak (9,000 feet MSL) and doing three hours of trail building work to assist future trekkers. More fun activities included horseback riding, climbing wall, getting hats branded with the Philmont brands, visiting a New Mexico homestead, the Kit Carson Museum, tomahawk throwing and at the end, visiting the National BSA Museum. Oh, and members of the crew spotted one black bear and 2 rattlesnakes to make the trek even more memorable!
The printed guidebook noted that our trek would cover some 37 miles – but, with side trips, actual miles logged was closer to 70! (Just ask our feet [NO blisters] and shoulders as we acclimated to the mountain desert climate.) The Base Camp elevation was 6,500 ft and we topped out at nearly 9,500 ft, with a 3,400 ft elevation gain on our 3rd day on the trail.
We noted lightning and thunder in the distance throughout the week, but our trek was rain free and the humidity in the 20-40% range – enviable to any Virginian.
At the end, we were all hot, dirty and tired – but a quick poll indicated that the Crew wanted to COME BACK TO Philmont! Yes, we all had FUN!
For any questions about Philmont – please contact Trip at tripwig@cox.net. He’s been there twice as Lead Advisor and has a dozen 50-Mile backpacking trips under his belt.
