Need a covid-safe service project? Join the SHIVER IN VIRGINIA challenge!
SHIVER IN VIRGINIA presents a safe, statewide, month-long beautification effort to remove trash from the state of Virginia! In order to participate, all you need is a pair of gloves and a trash bag.
As you know, there’s no shortage of litter and it takes all of us doing our part every day of the year. Get Caught in a Beautiful Act/SHIVER IN VIRGINIA is an opportunity for us to recognize individuals and groups who are giving back to their community through cleanup, recycling, and beautification projects. During the month of March, get out and Do Beautiful Acts such as:
Here’s a brief list of ways to keep Virginia beautiful in your own neighborhood and beyond!
-Grab a Bag, Take a Walk, Pick up Litter! It could be the easiest “do anywhere” beautiful act there is!
-Take recycling to the curb or recycling center
-Plan your garden
-Work in your garden or yard
-Contribute time to a community garden
-Install a rain barrel
-Set up composting, turn your compost
-Pull invasive plants
-Clear a trail
-Plant a native Virginia plant or tree (zone appropriate, of course!)
-Cleanup graffiti
-Clean bird feeders and birdbaths
-Upcycle or artcycle an item otherwise bound for the landfill
-Take household and electronics to donation centers
-Take the Keep Virginia Beautiful Pledge https://keepvirginiabeautiful.org/engage/take-the-pledge/
-Adopt-a-Highway
Please remember to
-Snap a pic or quick video
-Post it and tag #ncacbsa #LeaveNoTrace #ShiverinVirginia #LitterFreeVA #dobeautifulthings
Take it further: for a small but very impactful donation of $20.21, you will receive a FREE Virginia State Parks one day parking pass. That same donation also gives you optional access to the Keep Virginia Beautiful Mission Challenge website where we can all witness our state getting cleaner and greener – day by day AND each beautiful act you report enters you into drawings for really cool prizes (see below).
The Mission Challenge website will spotlight beautiful places in Virginia throughout the month, and you’re encouraged to share your pictures, contributions, and successes with everyone on the mission with us. As we reach milestones together on our path around the Commonwealth, there will be amazing prizes!
Even if you cannot make a donation to gain access to our Mission Challenge activity, we still hope you will let us know what you are up to throughout March by reporting on our new and improved GET CAUGHT IN A BEAUTIFUL ACT link! https://keepvirginiabeautiful.org/engage/get-caught-in-a-beautiful-act-clean-up-report/
The “Sawdust Saturday” volunteer Scouts, Scouters, and parents have been busy at Camp Snyder. The entrance sign at the front gate has been freshened up with new stain and re-painted lettering. All of the emergency exit signs in the dining hall have been replaced, and wiring added for new signs in the maintenance shop. Between bad puns and war stories, the intrepid crew rebuilt a wooden fence at the maintenance yard, and had a lot of fun converting a stall in the barn into a lockable storage area for landscaping tools.
Phil is excited to begin his 19th summer working on staff at Goshen Scout Reservation. It will also be his 6th year as the Director of Operations. Beforehand, he worked 10 summers at Camp Bowman, with the last three as the Camp Director. He has served in various positions including Ecology Instructor, First Year Camper Director, and Camp Commissioner. He currently serves as NCAC’s Director of Camping with oversight over Goshen, Camp Snyder, Camp Airy, and Camp Wall.
This will be Carl’s 19th summer as a Goshen staff member, and 14th summer at Camp Bowman. Carl has experience in many different areas of camp, including: Camp Director at Bowman and Lenhok’sin, a myriad of program staff positions and even as an NCAC District Executive. When not at Goshen, Carl lives in Australia, working as a high school teacher/administrator/outdoor educator, and runs a successful watersports business at the beach. Carl is excited to return to Bowman as Camp Director for another summer, and hopes to help maintain the many traditions which have made Camp Bowman such a powerful and positive influence on so many young people.
Chris is going on his eleventh year working at Goshen. He started coming as a scout to Camp Bowman in 2008. He worked on staff at Bowman in Scoutcraft, Aquatics, and Facilities. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2015. Chris is very excited to be continuing the tremendous program that Camp Marriott offers. In the months outside of summer camp, works full time and lives in Maryland.
This summer will be Tom’s 9th year on the Goshen staff and his first at Camp Olmsted! Tom previously worked at Camp Bowman as the Program Director. He also worked in several areas including Nature and Scoutcraft. He has also served on the National Camping School Ecology staff. Outside of Scouting, Tom is a recent graduate of Lycoming College and an avid birder. He resides in Montgomery County, MD and works as a cabinetmaker. Working with scouts is a deeply gratifying experience for Tom and he looks forward to positively impacting the lives of young people this summer through the methods of Scouting.
This will be Michael’s 5th summer at Goshen Scout Reservation and he is excited to be PMI’s Camp Director this summer. He loves Goshen Scout Reservation and values the everlasting experience it provides to scouts. When Michael is not at Goshen he is enrolled in the Masters of Teaching program at VCU. Michael attended PMI as a scout and is very excited to continue the legacy that made him fall in love with Scouting.
Richard attended Ross as a scout, and joined the Camp Ross Staff as early as he could. Since Richard’s first Summer in 2011 he has worked in various positions at camp, learning what it means to be part of the Ross Staff. This will be Richard’s eleventh Summer working at Ross and second Summer as Camp Director. When Richard is not at camp he attends Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia and is studying for a Bachelors in Mathematics with a Minor in Environmental Science. Richard is excited for the new challenges the position will bring, and is looking forward to working with Scouts to have a great Summer and introduction to Scouting!
This summer will be Elisabeth’s fifth summer on Lenhok’sin staff, and first year as Camp Director. She previously worked as Program Director, Homecamping Coordinator, and at the Archery and Caving outposts. She started her Goshen journey as a Venturer in 2014, and earned her Ranger Rank in 2016. When she’s not hiking the Lenhok’sin trails, Elisabeth is pursuing a B.S. in Environmental Science and a B.A. in Theatre at Dickinson College, and hopes to make her career in forestry and conservation. Elisabeth is looking forward to an adventurous summer and is excited to watch Scouts grow in confidence on the trail.
