• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
We Own Adventure

We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

  • Home
  • Sponsorship Opportunities
  • Sport Adventures
  • Submit Your News
  • National Capital Area Council BSA Main Site
You are here: Home / Scouting Programs / Ashburn Scout’s Eagle Project Is For the Birds

Ashburn Scout’s Eagle Project Is For the Birds

March 11, 2019 by Richard Pender

Mallard ducks and other waterfowl lay their nests on the ground near the edge of water, making them very vulnerable to predators like fox or raccoons. Some estimate nesting success as low as 10 percent for ground nests. Eagle Scout candidate Tapp Rhoads wanted to increase those odds, so he and his fellow Scouts from Ashburn’s Troop 997 spent a weekend building and installing mallard duck nesting tubes all around the Ashburn Farm area, helping protect eggs and ducklings until they’re able to fend for themselves. Nesting tubes of the design Tapp and his Troop have built are generally thought to increase nesting success by up to 80%. The tubes can be repaired and refurbished every year, making the project both near-term impactful and long-term sustainable.

With over 70% of Troop 997’s Scouts participating in the project and an ongoing outreach and education program, the Troop may also be eligible for the prestigious Hornaday Unit Award, one of the most coveted of environmental and conservation awards of the Boy Scouts of America.

From Tapp Rhoads:

My Name is Tapp Rhoads. I am a Stone Bridge High School sophomore and Eagle Scout candidate leading Scouts BSA Troop 997 in a conservation effort benefiting the Ashburn Virginia area. A crew of over 30 Troop 997 Scouts and I recently participated in a project to build and place mallard nesting tubes throughout the Ashburn Farm community.

The Hornaday medals are named to honor William T. Hornaday, noted conservationist who founded the National Zoo in Washington DC, and whose wildlife efforts are widely viewed to have helped saved the American Bison from extinction. Hornaday medals are given only to individuals who perform projects of significance in the areas of conservation and environmental awareness. The Hornaday Unit Award can only be earned by a Scouts BSA Troop when a high proportion of the Troop’s Scouts participate in an environmental project of substance that sustainably addresses an environmental or conservation issue, including educational elements for both the Scouts and the public at large.

After Troop youth leaders reviewed the legacy of William T. Hornaday and his awards at a recent Troop meeting, I outlined the project, including reviewing the conservation problems being addressed, the design and construction plans for the nesting tubes, and the planned installation locations. Mallard ducks and other waterfowl generally lay their eggs on the ground near water, making the eggs and later the hatchlings susceptible to predators. Nesting tubes provide a safe shelter to protect the young ducklings until they can fend for themselves.

I have worked closely with Chip Matthews of the Ashburn Farm HOA on the design of the mallard nesting tubes and mapping out the placement locations. While the initial project was completed in early March, I plan on leading annual maintenance and repair efforts, providing Troop 997 with conservation service opportunities for years to come.

Terry Kolb, Scouts BSA Troop 997’s Scout Master, and Paul Lynch, the Troop’s Senior Patrol Leader, are working with me to integrate the Hornaday Unit Award requirements with his Eagle project.

“We are excited about helping Tapp see his Eagle project to its conclusion, and about his willingness to combine his efforts with the attempt by our Troop to earn the Hornaday Unit Award,” said Scout Master Kolb.

“This has been a rare undertaking, and I’m proud of the massive support we’ve seen by Troop 997 Scouts,” added SPL Paul Lynch.

Scouts BSA Troop 997 is chartered by St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Ashburn, Virginia, and meets there on Thursday nights at 7 PM. For more information, please contact Scout Master Terry Kolb at tkolb118@gmail.com.

This story has been updated from its original post with the addition of Tap Rhoads’ personal account. 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

You Might Also Like...

Leesburg’s Scouts BSA Girl Troop 998 Grows in 2020 and Works to Cement Bonds Across Area Scouting
Webelos Conservation Project Was a Real Hoot!
NCAC Scouting at Home 2020 Award for Unit Scouters!
Ashburn Troop 997 Earns Hornaday Award

Filed Under: Scouting Programs Tagged With: Conservation, Eagle Scout, Hornaday, Scouts BSA

Primary Sidebar

NCAC Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Latest Issue

TSD Summer '18 is on Issuu

Archives

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • October 2018
  • July 2018
  • May 2018

Featured posts

National Women’s History Month: Elisabeth Warren The First Woman Goshen Scout Reservation Director

NCAC 2023 Summer Camp Webinar: High Adventure

Meet your 2023 Camp Snyder Directors!

NCAC STEM Program Participates in RSC Grand Reopening

Footer

Subscribe to our Scout/Family Newsletter

Subscribe to our Leader/Volunteer Newsletter

Follow Us!

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2023 · Genesis Elk on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in