Zane Javeri of Troop 345 in the George Mason District is an avid tennis player. He shared “I have been playing tennis since I was 6 years old and I am on the James Madison High School varsity tennis team. I joined Cub Scouts in first grade and am now working on my Eagle Scout Project and Distinguished Conservation Service Award (DCSA) project. My Eagle Scout Project recycling used tennis balls is creating waves in the community.”He partnered with Fairfax Racquet Club, neighborhood tennis clubs, schools, and parks to collect used tennis balls and transport them to a recycling center.
Zane spotted a chance to reuse old tennis balls in addition to reducing waste. Zane explained, “My project is a huge success, with over 10,000 tennis balls collected and recycled. The used tennis balls are sent to Recycle Balls in Vermont and used for a variety of purposes, such as playground surfaces, sports surfaces, and pet toys. Recycle Balls is a non-profit organization in Vermont that specializes in recycling tennis balls. They have recycled over 10 million balls since 2016. Each tennis ball takes 400 years to decompose and millions of tennis balls are disposed of in landfills each year”. This Eagle Scout project not only reduced waste but also made a positive impact on the environment by keeping used tennis balls out of landfills. Zane educated over 300 individuals about recycling tennis balls.
The Scout BSAs of America’s Distinguished Conservation Service Award program honors scouts who carry out significant conservation projects. The Distinguished Conservation Service Award project requirements are more rigorous than a Scout BSA Eagle Award project. To earn the award, Scouts must complete two Eagle Scout environmentally related projects. It requires the Scout to conduct in depth research of a conservation issue; determine a solution; write a report; plan, execute and lead a project; educate the community outreach; write final project reports; present their projects and findings before a conservation committee; and earn 7 conservation type merit badges.
This Eagle Scout Project, which is centered on recycling tennis balls is a prime example of the positive environmental impact that can be made through the Distinguished Conservation Service Award program. It demonstrates the leadership skills and environmental stewardship that are at the core of the program’s mission. Zane hopes that his Eagle Scout Project makes a lasting impact on the community and serves as a model for others to follow.
In a remarkable display of compassion and initiative, Joe Markland, a dedicated member of Troop 503, in the National Capital Area Council, based out of El Salvador, undertook an extraordinary Eagle Scout project that has touched the lives of countless families in his community. With a heartwarming mission to provide comfort during times of unimaginable loss, Joe built and donated ten meticulously crafted coffins for infants to local hospitals. This act of kindness is not only a testament to Joe’s character but also a significant step towards alleviating the hardships faced by impoverished families in El Salvador.
Joe’s Eagle Scout project, centered around building handmade coffins for infants and donating them to local hospitals, is a testament to his unwavering commitment to serving others. By addressing a pressing issue within his community, Joe has brought peace, comfort, and renewed hope to countless families in El Salvador. His actions exemplify the transformative power of empathy and serve as an inspiration to all, reminding us that through compassion and determination, we can make a tangible difference in the lives of others.
March 5th was a cold and windy day, but the Scouts’ rocket was ready to launch. After four weekends of meticulously gluing together fins, tubes, and nose cones, their custom built spacemodel was loaded with parachutes and a motor for its delicate mission. The rocket was specially designed to carry one Grade A hen’s egg to 850 feet and gently return to the ground in 45 seconds without breaking the egg, as part of the Scouts’ entry in the The American Rocketry Challenge (TARC) contest.
Some Scouts worked on the engine mount and payload section, while others designed and cut out the fins. They used a software program for altitude predictions to help the Scouts match the best motor for the mission. “I liked working out the calculations and figuring out which size motors would get us the most height.” said Chase R. who ran several altitude predictions.
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, VA, and Marine Corps Base Quantico. For more information on Scouting in the Stafford/Fredericksburg area, including how to donate, join or volunteer, contact Kristy Freeman, Aquia District Executive, at Kristy.Freeman@Scouting.org or call (540)287-3866
As the Scouts gathered at the entrance to the Administration Building, they were greeted by a very important person in local government. Dr. Pamela Yeung, Chairman of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors, happened to be walking by and took the time to share wisdom and insights with the Scouts about the importance of community and her own support of their willingness to engage in Scouting and took photos with the Scouts.
From there, the Scouts visited the General District Court, Judge Angela O’Connor, presiding. In Judge O’Connor’s courtroom, the Scouts observed misdemeanor traffic cases. Judge O’Connor talked with the Scouts from the bench, answering a myriad of questions about criminal law and procedure. The Scouts learned about the differences between misdemeanor and felony cases, a jury versus a bench trial, and how the courtroom operates.
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.
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.
Summer Camps 
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.