We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Articles

Innovation Academy: building 3D printers in 3 hours

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At Building Momentum, skillsets are taught in record time. As we write this, eight scouts are half-way through an 18-hour Innovation Academy Exploring Program designed to teach youth ages 15-22 skills in fabrication. This six session program focuses on: welding, 3d printing, robotics and coding.

When I walked into session three of the program, I wasn’t sure what to expect. If you’ve 3d printed before, you know that the printing itself is the driest and can go on for hours. At Building Momentum, the youth were not twiddling their thumbs though! They got into another experience while they waited: assembling 3d printers from new-in-box conditions. This offered an excellent understanding the components and mechanics of the printer.

As I looked around the room, I saw some scouts tending to their 3d prints, others assembling brand new 3d printers, and some designing in TinkerCAD. All with confidence that truly impressed me; and that is what Building Momentum truly does. They find people who are willing to work with their hands, and empower them to do so.

It’s worth noting this was only their first session focused on 3d printing. In their next meeting, these youth will dive deeper into designs using Fusion 360. The final two sessions will take on coding and robotics.

In the first two sessions, scouts had already welded. Some kids welded together metal frogs, some wrote their name in metal. Not just to earn a merit badge, but to really develop confidence, comfort and skills holding a welder.

If you’re interested in these opportunities, Innovation Academy will repeat the program in fall: Oct 2, 16, Nov 6, 20, Dec 4 & Dec 18, 2023. Take a look at the NCAC STEM page where all our events are listed!

And if your scout just can’t wait until then, we have an event for you.

Summer Camps

Innovation Academy designed 2 summer weeks specifically for scouts. In these camps, students may earn 4 awards: Model Design and Building, Electronics, Welding merit badges and The Next Big Thing Nova Award, all in 1 week! Students will get hands-on experience working with:

  • CAD
  • 3D printing
  • Laser cutting
  • Soldering
  • Welding

Students will get the real-world experience of time management while completing several hands-on projects throughout the week. This is a fast-paced camp best for students who are eager to learn and put in the hard work.

Rising grades 7-12 |  June 26 – 30 OR August 7 – 11, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The fee is $500, and Military and Family Discounts 10% Off. Link to register: https://buildmo.com/youth-program-offerings

CVOA Officer Applications

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Calling all Venturers! Applications for leadership in the CVOA are now open. A list of all the positions, position descriptions, and leadership applications is available at this link. Whether you want to run the program or just want to get your feet wet in council leadership, we have a position for you! Applications are due by the end of the day on April 30th!

Potomac District Welcomes Eight New Eagle Scouts

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NCAC’s Potomac District held its monthly Eagle Board of Review this week, welcoming eight new Eagle Scouts!

Congratulations to all the new 🦅 Eagles Scouts and their proud parents, with special thanks to the Scouters, the EBOR Chairs and those who assisted these 8 Scouts on their journey to the 🦅 Eagles rank!

Last but not least Potomac District cannot put this monthly event without the leadership and time devoted by Larry McNiece, Potomac District Eagle Chair!

。。。

http://usscouts.org/eagle/eaglecongrats.asp
https://oa-bsa.org/…/eagle-scout-congratulatory-letter

https://oa-bsa.org/resources/ucl-support/summit-award-congratulatory-letter

The Association of Top Achiever Scouts (ATAS) is a worldwide Scouting fellowship group, of Scouts and Scouters who have achieved the highest rank as a youth in their Scout associations such as King’s Scout, Queen’s Scout, President’s Scout, Fuji Scout, Tiger Scout, Eagle Scout, Summit, Quartermaster.
https://www.atasapr.org

 

 

Get Ready for Camp! Scout Shop Event 5/6

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Visit the National Capital Scout Shop in the Marriott Scout Service Center in Bethesda, MD or the Northern Virginia Scout Shop in Springfield, VA for special events on Saturday, May 6, 2023!

NCAC Camp Staff will be at both locations to answer questions and talk about camp – what to expect, what to bring, etc. – so Scouts and leaders can learn everything they need to know about their upcoming camp adventure. If a Scout is thinking about camp, this is the perfect opportunity to learn all about this summer’s possibilities!

At the same time, Scout Shop staff will be available to provide backpack fittings, camping gear demonstrations, and campsite set-up with a shop section for 10 Basic Essentials for Hiking/Camping, displays of class B activity t-shirts/camp hats, and lots more. Scouts can also pick up their “Get Ready for Camp” packing checklists.

The Scout Shops have more camping gear than ever! Our Shops carry hundreds of camp items including tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, hammocks, sleep hammock gear, waterproof rain apparel, first aid kits, lanterns/flashlights, hiking socks, dry sacks, mess kits, backpacking cook kits & gear, camping/backyard fun recreation games & activities, and Dutch oven and cooking accessories.

On top of all this, the Scout Shops are having a special sale from 4/27 – 5/6/23. Basically the more you purchase, the more you save.
Imagine 25% savings on several Osprey brand backpacks! That’s huge!

Scout Shop Hours and Locations

 

Pack 1100 “Join Forces” with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden & Military Families

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Pack 1100 recently earned their Art Explosion pins in an extraordinary way. The Military Program at the Lorton Workhouse asked them to participate in a project for First Lady Dr. Jill Biden‘s Joining Forces program. First Lady Biden is both a military mother and grandmother, she has witnessed first hand the great amounts of sacrifice these families make. She shared a poem written by a fourth grader whose parents are stationed overseas. The student explained her military suitcase is filled with both happiness and sadness having to relocate constantly.

Being that April is the National Month of the Military Child, Scouts were provided copies of the student’s poems. They decorated suitcases and wrote reflections representing what the poem meant to them. The suitcases will be on display in the East wing of the White House.

 

Outdoor Ethics Spring 2023

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Meet & greet and information session for Outdoor Ethics Guides
Tuesday 4/25/23 at 7pm on zoom. Join the zoom meeting to meet current & aspiring Outdoor Ethics Guides (youth) & NCAC Outdoor Ethics Committee members and build on your knowledge & confidence in leading outdoor ethics in your unit. For YOUTH. Register for the OE Guide meet & greet.

Leave No Trace Master Educator course
May 14-19, 2023 at The Summit in West Virginia (not in NCAC but close). A major goal for this course is to graduate effective & active Leave No Trace Master Educators who will return to their home council & conduct the key Leave No Trace Trainer courses needed to support their unit, district & council outdoor programs. More info about the Master Educator course.  Register for the course.

Outdoor Ethics Orientation courses -in-person in Brandywine, MD
The goal of this 90-minute course is to introduce the concept of Outdoor Ethics in a fun & engaging way to a group with little experience in outdoor ethics. It should help youth & adults at all program levels understand the general principles behind Scouting’s outdoor ethics program.
Saturday 6/10/23 at 12:30-2
Saturday 9/9/23 at 12:30-2
Sunday 12/3/23 at 12:30-2

Outdoor Ethics Guide courses- in-person in Brandywine, MD
This 2 hour course taught by NCAC helps orient Outdoor Ethics Guides to this position of leadership in their unit by reviewing the responsibilities of the Outdoor Ethics Guide position, providing ideas on how to carry out this role, practicing some activities & games, & sharing resources.
Saturday 6/10/23 at 2:30-4:30
Saturday 9/9/23 at 2:30-4:30
Sunday 12/3/23 at 2:30-4:30

Leave No Trace Trainer courses in 2023
9/25/23 at 7pm online & 9/30/23 at 9am in-person in Germantown, MD
(watch for the link to register on the NCAC calendar)

10/16/23 at 7pm online & 10/21/23 at 9am in-person at Camp Snyder
Register for the October 2023 LNT Trainer course

If these courses do not work for your scouts/scouters or if you would like a member of our Outdoor Ethics Committee to lead an outdoor ethics-themed pack or troop meeting, please email your request.

Upcoming events

  • Next Roundtable: April 12 – Tell me about Project Learning Tree!
    PLT works with Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to provide scouting leaders with ideas and outdoor, hands-on activities to help support Cub Scouts adventures & Scouts BSA merit badges. PLT provides fun & inspiring activities that can help scouts advance! Marnie Lammle, PLT’s South Dakota Advocate, will introduce us to this nationwide program & its instructional materials
  • Register for the 2022-3 year of BSA Outdoor Ethics Roundtables
    Complete this form once for the whole year. Spell out your council name.

Updates from BSA

  • Save the Date: National Outdoor Conference Sep 27-Oct 1, 2023 at Philmont

Best practices, games & activities:

  • Outdoor Code hand gestures: watch this 13 second Outdoor Code video to learn hand gestures to help you remember the Outdoor Code. Thanks to Paul Schimke for this video!
  • Ways to Make Your Trash Cleanup More Sustainable: Any time you pick up trash, you are creating a positive impact, but by incorporating these tips, that impact can be even greater. No matter how you give back, your outdoor areas appreciate you. Read this Leave No Trash blog for tips to make your trash cleanup project more Earth-friendly!
  • Take the LeaveNoTrash pledge, then take ACTION: Every year the world generates 2.1 million tons of waste. This April, join Leave No Trace for its international #LeaveNoTrash movement. Together we have the power to make to a difference, remove trash from the outdoors and keep it healthy, protected & thriving. Take the pledge.
  • Are you straining your dishwater? Animals are attracted to all the food scraps that we leave behind. Straining your dishwater allows you to capture food particles that you can then put in the trash or compost. That way you won’t be leaving behind tasty tidbits for the squirrels, bears & other animals and you won’t be littering. Buy strainers & practice straining dishwater at your next troop meeting. Read the blog about gray water disposal or watch the video
  • Four Ds for your campfire: For best results while creating your Leave No Trace campfire, gather wood using the Four D’s.
    Dead: Wood that has been dead long enough to be dry.
    Down: Physically separated and down from living trees.
    Dinky: Smaller in girth, than one’s wrist or forearm. Easy to break and to burn completely through.
    Distant: Wood should be collected 200 feet from camp to avoid firewood mining and the effects of site creep.