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Astronaut Charlie Duke to talk to Scouts in STEM Speaker Series
STEM Speaker Series is an online event for youth to hear from and engage with STEM professionals. Created by the NCAC STEM Committee, this Series has been running since May 2020 on Thursday evenings, and has since welcomed dozens of STEM experts to share career talks.
We hosted a medical physicist, statistician, USCG pilot, nuclear scientist, veterinarian, pathologist… and now we are excited to welcome an astronaut on March 18th!
Join us LIVE for STEM Speaker Series with Astronaut Charlie Duke. Astronaut Duke will present in this virtual event, then take questions from the virtual audience. Watch the live event here on Facebook! https://fb.me/e/20FDBvfJv
Do you want to ask Astronaut Duke a question?
Complete this form, and our moderators will select two questions to ask the Astronaut!
Upcoming Date: Goshen Deposit Phase Ending
On March 1, 2021, starting at 9am, the Deposit Phase ends at all Goshen Scout Reservation camps. Units may begin to add their youth and adult campers. Sign ups for the Provisional Camp program, for individual campers, available to Scouts BSA and Venturing youth at Camp Marriott, also begin at this time.
Remember, only register campers when you are ready to pay for them.
If your unit has not yet made a registration for summer camp this year, there’s still time! Units can still make new registrations on or after March 1, but the sooner you sign up, the more likely you are to get your first choice of camp or week. You can keep track of which weeks have space available and which weeks are filling up on Goshen’s registration page here: www.gotogoshen.org/registration.
If your unit has made a registration, now is a good time to start collecting information and fees from prospective campers. You can find a list of the information you need for your campers in Summer 2021 on Goshen’s blog post here: www.gotogoshen.org/registration/registration-tips-how-to-add-more-campers/.
If your scouts have received a campership or a popcorn scholarship, make sure you have the vouchers for those as well. If you have campers that need financial assistance, we have extended the campership deadline to March 1, 2021. Campers’ parents and guardians can apply for camperships here: www.gotogoshen.org/camperships.
Other important deadlines to keep in mind:
- March 18 – Merit Badge Sign Ups open for campers attending Camps Bowman, Marriott, and Olmsted.
- May 8 – For high adventure campers at Lenhok’sin, be sure to make your outpost requests on your Crew Survey by this date.
- April 16 – The Early Bird Deadline. Youth and adult campers that are registered by this date pay the Early Bird Fee (save $40!) and get a free Goshen hat.
Update on Resuming In-Person Scouting Activities
As the weather starts to warm, many units have been contacting us about when they should restart in-person activities. We are grateful to all the leaders, families, and Scouts who have helped their units follow COVID-19 protocols over the past year. The health and safety of our Scouts is our collective highest priority, and everyone’s continued adherence to safety protocols helps us to fulfill that promise. While there has been very good news about vaccination progress in our communities, unfortunately, the current models suggest at least several more months of primarily digital program delivery.
Due to significant variance in the state and county phased reopening programs being implemented across our Council’s territory, it is difficult to provide an “all-inclusive” recommendation for all NCAC units. As such, we would like to reinforce the following guidance regarding resumption of in-person Scouting activities.
- The Unit Key Three should determine what activities and in-person gatherings are permitted for the county in which the unit is chartered.
- The Key Three should then work with the adult committee to determine if the unit is prepared to begin in person meetings or activities.
- If consensus exists among the adult committee members, the Key Three should consult with the Chartered Partner to secure their support for the resumption of in person meetings or activities.
- It is the responsibility of the unit’s Key Three and adult committee to understand and ensure all state/county restrictions and required Covid-19 safety precautions are taken. Units traveling to other states/destinations for camp/activities are responsible for knowing and adhering to the restrictions and precautions of those areas.
- Units following the restrictions and administering the precautions are covered by the BSA insurance program.
- In addition to precautions required by states and counties we ask you to incorporate the processes included in BSA’s Restart Scouting Checklist and use the Pre-Event Medical Screening Checklist.
For more information about BSA’s response to COVID-19, please read the National Statement on COVID-19 and the COVID-19 FAQ.
We know everyone is excited to begin outdoor, in-person Scouting activities. We ask that you “do your best” to follow the guidance provided here, and work with your adult committee and chartered organization, as well as your local protocols, to ensure a safe Scouting experience.
Improve your Skills as an Adult Leader!
The only way to improve in any job is to continually learn and practice! As Scouting Leaders, we do not have to figure all of this ourselves, we do not live in a vacuum. There are many opportunities to learn from others and share our experiences. As leaders, we can learn from our peers by attending our District Roundtables and taking additional training so we are always learning and growing. The University of Scouting provides a one-day event where we can choose from a host of classes to improve our toolbox!
The University of Scouting has something for every Scout Leader, whether you are a few months into the role, or a seasoned veteran. This year we will conduct a virtual training event on Saturday, February 27, 2021. Here’s what your fellow NCAC Scouters have to say about last year’s UoS:
- Someone quite wise once suggested, “Every Scout deserves a trained leader.” Attending the University of Scouting is an easy way to continue my training as a leader. And I believe our Founder Lord Baden-Powell said, “The Scoutmaster teaches boys to play the game by doing so himself.” Well, I may not be a Scoutmaster but I trying to teach Scoutmasters how to play the game of Scouting. Where better — during this COVID19 pandemic — than in the University of Scouting? – John L.
- I am coming up on 2 years in my current position, and I feel like I know a thimbleful of what I need to in order to be the best leader I can be for Scouts. UoS gives me someplace to learn and to strengthen those areas I feel weaker in. That includes learning from fellow Scouters and not just the Scouter leading the session. It’s a fantastic way to learn, network, and build relationships across the Council. I strongly encourage all the registered Scouters in my Troop to attend each year. Heck, I would encourage my older Scouts and youth leaders to attend as well if they could. – John S.
- As a female, I didn’t participate in Boy Scouts of America as a child. I went to my first University of Scouting to help increase my own knowledge as a new leader. As my husband – an Eagle Scout, then Cubmaster, then Scoutmaster – and I got involved more deeply as Scouters, we valued “Every Scout deserves a Trained Leader” and continued to attend the University of Scouting. “Inspiration” and “plagiarism” are very close siblings and every year at UoS I am inspired by somebody or something to improve the program for our Cub Scout daughter or Scouts BSA son. As the years go on, I hope I can be an inspiration to others on their Scouting journey. – Jodi B.
- I have been attending, as well as teaching Boy Behavior, at the NCAC University of Scouting for almost twenty years. I hold a PhD from both the College of Boy Scouting Science and the College of Cub Scouting Science. I attend every year because you can always learn new things, learn new ways to do things, learn what are the latest changes to Scouting, and enjoy the wonderful teachers and attendees that attend this outstanding NCAC event! It is also an opportunity to meet and talk with people on the midway from both Scouting and non-Scouting organizations. – William T.
Join these Scout Leaders and others at the University of Scouting!
Goshen & Snyder Summer Camp COVID-19 Protocols
We at the National Capital Area Council are committed to bringing back the joy of in-person summer camp for the summer of 2021. However, we must take additional measures to continue to minimize the risk of spread and infection. In anticipation of the summer, we have released COVID-19 protocols for both Goshen Scout Reservation and Camp William B. Snyder.
You can read and get copies of the protocols at their respective websites: www.gotogoshen.org/coronavirus and www.gotosnyder.org/coronavirus.