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Articles

Summer Camp Planning: How to Build Excitement and Engagement for Camp Ross

November 15, 2024 by Camping Department

In the second installment of the Summer Camp Planning for Bear and Webelos Den Leaders webinar series, we hear from two experienced Cubmasters, Clare and Spencer. They cover their favorite parts of Camp Ross and the benefits they have found for their Packs, advice for parent/guardians preparing their Scouts to attend for the first time, and tips and tricks for Den Leaders and Cubmasters to recruit both adults and Scouts for a fun week of camp.

Miss the webinar? Watch the recording:

Want to catch up? Check out our previous post with the first installment in the Summer Camp Planning for Bear and Webelos Den Leaders webinar series complete with the Tool Kit: weownadventure.com/summer-camp-planning-tool-kit/

You can also find more resources on the Camp Ross webpage at www.gotogoshen.org/ross and on the Goshen Scout Reservation About page at www.gotogoshen.org/about . The video resources mentioned in the webinar can be found both on the About page as well as on the Goshen Scout Reservation YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@gotogoshen

Save the dates for upcoming webinars! All are at 7pm Eastern Time.

For current Lions and Tigers (rising Tigers and Wolves)

  • November 18, 2024: Cub Scout Day Camp – A Summer Adventure for Rising Tigers and Wolves
    Register at https://ncacbsa-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Sn0Atja1RGeHYNCTvkWKgw

For current Bears and Webelos (rising Webelos and AOLs)

  • January 21, 2025: Funding Your Summer Adventure
  • February 24, 2025: Meet Your Camp Ross Team!
  • March 24, 2025: Program and Elective Adventure Offerings
  • April 22, 2025: Pre-Camp Planning
  • May 20, 2025: Your First Day – Arrival Overview

Filed Under: At Camp Tagged With: Cub Scouts, Goshen Scout Reservation, summer camp, Webelos

Scouts Demonstrate Fire Safety to the Community

November 1, 2024 by Susan Hanson

During the Fair Oaks Volunteer Fire Department Open House on Saturday October 12, 2024, Scouts from Troop 7 for girls and Troop 51 for boys spent the day informing the public about fire safety. In Scouting, our young people learn valuable and life-saving skills that remain with them for the rest of their lives. Along the way, they share their knowledge and skills and contribute to making our communities better places.

While serving as staff for the Open House, the Scouts BSA, which consists of middle and high school aged-youth, met the local community and provided information about smoke alarms, stop-drop-roll, creating a family meeting place, and general fire safety.

The Fair Oaks’ volunteers won Best Open House in Battalion 7 for their efforts!

One of the distinct benefits of Scouting to the community has always been the close connection between our Scouting units (called Packs, Troops, Crews, Ships, and Posts depending on the program) and the organizations and community groups that sponsor or “charter” them. Annual charter agreements with religious, community, and education organizations allow them to operate the Scouting program. These partners are provided with training, supportive materials, and direct professional service. We are grateful for the Fair Oaks Volunteer Fire Department and each of our charter partners whose objectives, mission, and methodologies match those of Scouting America. Together we are dedicated to a youth movement fostering character development, citizenship, and personal fitness for our young people.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Scouting Programs

Local Scouts Bring Community Together to Help End Hunger

October 24, 2024 by Cynthia Griffiths

Local Scouts Bring Community Together to Help End Hunger

Scouts Ask for Public to Support Virtual and Doorstep Food Collection Drive 

OCTOBER 24, 2024, WASHINGTON, DC— For 38 years, Scouts have collected food for families experiencing food insecurity in the greater Washington, DC region. As part of “Scouting For Food,” Scouting America National Capital Area Council (NCAC) is walking through the local community collecting directly from their neighbors in their annual effort to help alleviate hunger throughout the region.

After notifying neighbors with post notes, flyers, and virtual advertisements about the collection in their neighborhoods on November 2, 2024, Scouts will mobilize on November 9, 2024 to collect non-perishable food items. If a notification is received, residents are asked to participate by placing their donated food items on their doorstep in bags or boxes to aid in the collection process.

Scouting for Food is one of the largest annual food drives in the metropolitan area. Scouts of all ages, from 5 to 20 years old, will participate in Scouting for Food throughout the District of Columbia; the Maryland counties of Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s; and the Virginia counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Fauquier, Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George, Stafford, Culpeper, as well as the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas, Manassas Park and Fredericksburg.

If charitable neighbors do not receive a notice at their door, contributions can be made through the virtual Scouting for Food campaign. Partnering with You Give Goods, NCAC has created 19 virtual food drives that will benefit specific nonprofit food pantries throughout the region. The virtual food drives can be found at: https://yougivegoods.com/campaign/view/657

The yearly campaign meets the mission of the Boy Scouts of America, “…to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law” and specifically the part of the Scout Oath that states, “…to help other people at all times.”

“In 2023 Scouts collected over 537,000 pounds of food for families experiencing food insecurity across our council territory,” said Mario A. Pérez, CEO and Scout Executive of Scouting America National Capital Area Council. “We know that almost 1.5 million people in our region are struggling with hunger. Through Scouting for Food, our Scouts, their parents, and adult leaders endeavor to live up to the Scout Law and be helpful by serving their community. Scouting America aims to prepare young people for lives of impact and purpose. This service project demonstrates our commitment to this aim.”

According to the Capital Area Food Bank’s 2024 Annual Hunger Report, “37% of the Washington region – nearly 1.5 million people – didn’t always know where their next meal would come from at some point last year. That’s an increase of 5 percentage points from last year, when 32% of households in the region experienced food insecurity during 2023.”

Scouting for Food is held every fall prior to Thanksgiving. Local food banks rely on the efforts of the Scouts to stock their shelves for the upcoming holiday months when food demands are the highest. Scouts depend on the community to support the effort. Healthy, nonperishable items needed include canned protein (tuna, salmon, chicken); peanut butter; grains (pasta, whole grain pasta, brown & white rice); whole grain hot & cold cereals (multi-grain, low sugar cereals, oatmeal); canned vegetables; and canned fruits.

Scouting for Food is made possible in part by a grant from the Safeway Foundation.

# # #

About Scouting America

Scouting America provides the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be “Prepared. For Life.®” The Scouting organization is composed of more than 1 million youth members between the ages of 5 and 21 and more than 628,000 volunteers in local councils throughout the United States and its territories. Since its inception in 1910, more than 130 million young men and women have participated in the Scouting program. More than 35 million adult volunteers have helped carry out the organization’s mission. For more, please visit www.Scouting.org.

Scouting America National Capital Area Council (NCAC) was organized in 1911 and today stands as one of the oldest and largest councils in America. Scouts from the NCAC do over 370,000 hours of community service each year. NCAC prepares youth for life through outstanding programs that inspire, build character and instill the values that young people need to succeed today. That includes everything from camping and hiking, to community service and leadership development. Each Scout gains experiences that not only help them when they are young, but stay with them throughout their adult lives, helping them grow into adults that respect their family, community, religion, country and themselves which we refer to as the “Scouting Edge.” For more information, please visit www.NCACBSA.org.

Filed Under: Press Releases

Summer Camp Planning: Tool Kit

October 18, 2024 by Camping Department

Summer camp is one of the highlights of Scouting. If you have a current Bear Den or current Webelos Den, then Camp Ross is the summer camp experience just for you! Camp Ross is a week-long camp just for rising Webelos and rising Arrow of Light Scouts. With lots of fun activities – including swimming, boating, fishing, archery, BB shooting, hiking, crafting, and outdoor skills – it is the an amazing opportunity for your den to learn, grow, and get ready for an awesome upcoming year of adventure in their new rank as well as prepare them for the next step of the program – Scouts BSA.

Watch a webinar:

You can also download the info-packed slides from the webinar here: Camp Ross Summer Camp Planning Webinar slides [PDF]

Looking for more resources? The tools referenced in the webinar can be found below and are also on the Camp Ross webpage at www.gotogoshen.org/ross

Summer Camp Planning Tool Kit

Six Step Action Plan [PDF]

Camp Ross Sample Presentation [PPTX]

2025 Camp Ross Trifold [PDF]

How to Register [PDF]

Webelos/AOL Scout and Leader Equipment List [PDF]

Camp Ross Frequently Asked Questions [PDF]

Filed Under: At Camp Tagged With: Cub Scouts, Goshen Scout Reservation, summer camp, Webelos

Scouts & Scouters Remember Will Rodger with a Conservation Project

October 14, 2024 by Sara Holtz

NCAC Conservation Committee, under the leadership of Carol Brown & Sara Holtz, Camp William B. Snyder’s Camp Ranger James Donelson & Troop 131, collaborated to plan a conservation project in memory of Will Rodger, the first Chair of the NCAC Conservation Committee. Scout Sean & Scouter Kevin from Troop 11, Will’s wife Betsy Rodger, Carol & Sara said a few words to remember Will and his dedication to scouts, scouting & conservation.

Nearly 90 Scouts & Scouters from 8 NCAC Districts and from Virginia Headwaters Council spent 3 hours restoring habitat by removing invasive plants, rescuing trees from invasive vines & planting native trees. Participants earned the Messenger of Peace Award. The event launched the Camp Snyder Habitat Restoration program, which will strongly encourage units camping at Camp William B. Snyder to set aside time for an invasive plant removal & tree rescue session. Contact Camp Snyder Camp Ranger James Donelson to schedule a conservation project.

Will Rodger served as the founding Chair of the NCAC Conservation Committee, on the NCAC International Committee, and in many roles in Toop 131 in Alexandria, VA (Accotink Bay District). In his role as chair of the Conservation Committee, he energetically & passionately focused on training Scouters to support scouts in earning the prestigious Hornaday, now Distinguished Conservation Service Award (DCSA) award for their exceptional, impactful conservation projects. As a nod to his long membership in the NCAC International Committee, the project organizers designated the event as a Messenger of Peace Award project, an award coordinated by the International Committee, and all participants earned the ring-shaped Messenger of Peace Award patch. Invasive plants are plants that are not native to the place where they are growing; in the context of Camp Snyder, that means plants that did not originate in northern Virginia. Invasive plants spread rapidly or aggressively & cause ecological & or economic damage.

Thanks to Fairfax Master Naturalists and Virginia Native Plant Society members for leading teams of scouts & scouters during the work sessions. Thanks to generous donors who bought native trees & supplies for today’s project: John Selstrom, Dan Kurtenbach, Carol Brown & Sara Holtz. Thanks to the native plant nursery Earth Sangha for giving us a discount on purchasing native trees such as redbud, redcedar, white oak, maple, and hickory oak. Thanks to Carol, Chris & Alan Brown for marking invasive plants in advance of the event. Thanks to all the hardworking volunteers, many of whom did not know Will. Finally, a huge thanks to Carol Brown & Jim Donelson; this project would not be possible without them!

Carol Brown is a wildlife biologist, recipient of the Silver Beaver award, Leave No Trace Level 2 instructor, DCSA Advisor, and NCAC Outdoor Ethics & NCAC Conservation Committees member.
Sara Holtz is the chair of the NCAC Outdoor Ethics Committee.

Filed Under: At Camp

Congratulations to Sara Holtz, National Outdoor Ethics Distinguished Service Award Recipient

October 9, 2024 by Carol G Brown

Hearty Congratulations to Sara Holtz, one of Scouting America’s 2024 National Outdoor Ethics Distinguished Service Award recipients. The award recognizes Scouters who are exemplary leaders in Outdoor Ethics within their councils and on a national level.

Sara is the current chair of the Outdoor Ethics Committee and is the main reason why the National Capital Area Council is seen as a leader in Outdoor Ethics training, program development, and delivery. Her lead in developing a training program for Troop Outdoor Ethics Guides is one example within the council. She has spearheaded the development of the NCAC Cub Scout Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award and its requirements and led the contest to design a patch for the award. This award is unique to our council.

She is a Level 2/Master Educator for Leave No Trace. Her leadership has helped build a robust group of Outdoor Ethics Trainers, both adult, and Scouts, who deliver programs throughout the NCAC and even to other councils and the Philmont Ranger cadre.

Sara is a Distinguished Conservation Service Award Adviser and has worked to develop a growing program within the council. She is a source of expertise for other councils who are starting/reinvigorating programs in their councils. The last offering of online training for DCSA hosted participants (scouts, parents, and potential advisors) from the NCAC and eight other councils. She is also a member of the NCAC Conservation Committee.

We are fortunate to have Sara as a leader in the National Capital Area Council.

Filed Under: Leaders

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