We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Cynthia Griffiths

Scouting Growth Necessitates Expanding Local Presence

by

NCAC Markets Two Properties for Sale

WASHINGTON, DC (MAY 8, 2024) – Responding to the changing population trends throughout the Washington, D.C. region and acting on the goal of further expanding Scouting opportunities for our regions youth, National Capital Area Council, BSA (NCAC) has set a course to carefully direct resources and efforts to best serve its mission and the community.

Scouting in the Washington, D.C. region is experiencing continued growth from Frederick, Maryland to Fredericksburg, Virginia.  Recognizing the need to be more accessible to its expanding membership, NCAC has commenced a realignment of its real estate that will result in multiple administrative office/Scout Store locations in the Region.

This realignment is as follows:

The lease at the Scout Store in Springfield, Virginia has been extended. This is one of the most successful Scout Stores in the entire nation and it will continue to serve our mission and membership.

The 21.5-acre parcel located on Route 66 in Haymarket, Virginia will be marketed for sale.  This parcel has no utility for NCAC’s mission nor programs, and has zero connection to Camp William B. Snyder, geographic or otherwise. JLL has been retained to market this site for sale.

The location of the Marriott Scout Service Center (MSSC) (9190 Rockville Pike, Bethesda Maryland) is no longer optimal to serving the changing needs of our membership and volunteers. One or more new locations will serve the needs of the Council, while being more convenient for our membership. CPG Realty, LLC has been retained to market this property for sale.

Both MSSC and Haymarket are experiencing historically high values, the sale of each will contribute to the funding for NCAC to locate facilities such as administrative offices, training spaces, and retail stores based on the geographic distribution of NCAC stakeholders throughout the Washington DC Beltway and beyond, now and in the future.

These decisions have been made with the singular purpose of better serving and supporting current and future Scouts, their families, and dedicated volunteers by expanding NCAC’s footprint throughout the region.

From the Spring of 1911 when Boy Scout units were first formed at the YMCA Building on G Street, NW in Washington, D.C. through the next nine locations in the District of Columbia before moving to Bethesda, Maryland in 1974, the NCAC has progressively moved Scouting programs and youth access forward by relocating their administrative and retail commercial spaces.

“We are excited to embark on this next chapter of NCAC’s history,” stated Council Chief Executive Officer, Mario Pérez. “The population centers have expanded outward during the last 50 years and our families and leaders want convenient locations that meet their needs.”

# # #

 About BSA and the National Capital Area Council

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) 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 477,000 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 BSA’s youth programs. More than 35 million adult volunteers have helped carry out the BSA’s mission. The BSA announced that it will rebrand to Scouting America, reflecting the organization’s ongoing commitment to welcome every youth and family in America to experience the benefits of Scouting. The change will go into effect on February 8, 2025, the organization’s 115th anniversary. For more information, please visit www.Scouting.org.

National Capital Area Council (NCAC) was organized in 1911 and today stands as one of the oldest and the largest councils in America. Scouts from NCAC perform in excess of 400,000 hours of community service each year. The Council territory includes the District of Columbia; Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties in Maryland; and in Virginia the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Fauquier, Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George, Stafford, and Culpeper as well as the independent cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas, Manassas Park and Fredericksburg in Virginia; the U.S. Virgin Islands; and US Scouting families living abroad in North, Central, and South America. For more information, please visit www.NCACBSA.org.

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA IS CHANGING ITS NAME TO SCOUTING AMERICA

by

The new name reflects the continuing efforts to welcome everyone to experience the benefits of Scouting.

WASHINGTON, DC (May 7, 2024) – The Boy Scouts of America today announced that it will be changing its name to Scouting America. This change reflects the organization’s ongoing commitment to welcoming every youth in America to experience the benefits of Scouting. The name change will go into effect on February 8, 2025, the organization’s 115th birthday.

This announcement also comes as the organization celebrates the fifth anniversary of welcoming girls into Cub Scouting and Scouts BSA programs. Boy Scouts of America currently serves 176,234 girls and young women across all programs, including more than 6,000 who have earned Eagle Scout status.

“Our commitment is to all youth in our community,” stated Scout Executive/CEO Mario A. Pérez. “In the National Capital Area Council we know that one of our greatest assets is the rich diversity that characterizes our community. Inclusivity broadens our perspectives, makes us stronger, and better equips our youth to navigate the challenges in life. The use of Scouting America will help us connect with more youth from all backgrounds as we continue our work 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.”

Scouting America builds on the organization’s 114 years of helping America’s youth. Its ongoing goal is to provide young people with a safe environment where they can learn meaningful life skills and have fun, educational experiences, fostering their growth and future outcomes as leaders, and be prepared for life. At the same time, values instilled by the Scout Oath and Law help prepare young people for lives of purpose and impact.

More than 130 million Americans have been through Scouting programs since its founding in 1910, and currently, more than 1 million youth, including both men and women, are served by 477,000 dedicated adult volunteers in local councils throughout the country. To date, more than 2.75 million youth have earned Scouting’s highest rank of Eagle Scout.

Last year, National Capital Area Council, BSA (NCAC) delivered the promise of Scouting to over 33,000 youth including 4,315 girls and young women across all programs. NCAC’s programs train the next generation of leaders; give back to the community through service; and teach young people to “Be Prepared” for life, adventure, and education.

In addition to supporting the nation’s youth, Scouting America will continue to be an important asset to strengthen our communities, having provided more than 7 million hours of volunteer services for community improvement and other projects across the country.

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.®”

Scouting America welcomes all of America’s youth into its programs. Our goal is to give them fantastic experiences in the outdoors, and elsewhere, where they can grow with us in a safe environment. More than 130 million Americans have been through our programs since our founding, and currently more than 1 million youth are served by 477,000 dedicated adult volunteers in local councils throughout the country.

To learn more about Scouting America’s mission, visit Scouting.org.

About National Capital Area Council (NCAC)

NCAC was organized in 1911 and today stands as one of the oldest and the largest councils in America. Scouts from NCAC perform in excess of 400,000 hours of community service each year under the guidance of over 14,000 adult leaders. The Council territory includes the District of Columbia; Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties in Maryland; and in Virginia the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Fauquier, Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George, Stafford, and Culpeper as well as the independent cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas, Manassas Park and Fredericksburg in Virginia; the U.S. Virgin Islands; and US Scouting families living abroad in North, Central, and South America. For more information, please visit www.NCACBSA.org.

Give Feedback at the Outdoor Programs 2025 Town Hall

by

The Council hears from our Scouting Community that our outdoor programs and facilities are not designed and consistently maintained in the way Scouts and families prefer to experience the outdoors now and for the future. We want to gather input and feedback from our membership so we can adjust our outdoor programs and facilities to meet our Scouting Community’s expectations.

What We Hope to Achieve

In the next 18 months, we hope to define a compelling, dynamic and sustainable NCAC Outdoor Program and associated facilities that:

  • Delivers the Scouting mission in a forward-thinking manner through at least 2050;
  • Understands and expresses our Scouting Communities’ evolving expectations in a transparent way;
  • Attracts and retains Scouts and families of all abilities and means with age-appropriate experiences; and
  • Is a model that other councils emulate.

We want your input!

Outdoor Programs 2025 Kick Off

When: April 16, 2024 at 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Topic: Outdoor Program 2025 Town Hall

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://ncacbsa-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qNMw8PvDSrK1LcRJW4qxxg

For complete information on the Outdoor Programs 2025 Initiative of the 2023-2025 Strategic Plan go to: https://www.ncacbsa.org/outdoor-programs-2025/

 

All This Before Most of Them Turned 10!

by

At Pack 1100’s Arrow of Light Crossover Ceremony on March 2, 2024 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Springfield, Virginia, the positive impact of this one den made over the last six years was documented. These 11 Scouts positively influnced the community in so many ways through the Scouting program. Just look at this list!

They have:

  • cleaned up parks and waterways,
  • supported our local schools when there was no one to maintain the grounds,
  • cleaned our local trails,
  • made cards for wounded warriors,
  • collected toys for newly admitted families at Walter Reed,
  • provided Christmas greetings to a Virgina Veterans home, and
  • celebrated the “Month of the Military Child” in the White House with First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden.

They earned:

  • top scores for teamwork at Camp Ross,
  • recognition for their commitment to their religious organizations, and
  • the National Park Award by participating in volunteer and educational activities.

They have overcome challenges with diversity, learned how to work as a team and how to accept the loses with the wins.

They supported Wreaths Across America, recruited new friends who have become Scouts, earned the top NOVA awards in Cub Scouting, collected and delivered over 200 pounds of supplies for the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, and presented the BSA Report to the Nation.

Through the years they have collected over 5,000 pounds of food to support our local food bank and
community and conducted over 150 hours of community service.

They have spent 112 nights camping, hiked over 332 miles (that’s like hiking from Springfield to Cleveland), and Scouted for 12,816 day or 35 years.

One of them even participated in a push up challenge with Congressman Dan Crenshaw on the steps of the US Capitol.

“As we celebrate these 11 Scouts today,” explained their Den Leader, Marjorie McDonald, at the ceremony,“we know these Scouts are our future and knowing what we know about them, I can tell you our future is bright! It has been an honor for Christina and I to lead these Scouts, but perhaps they were leading us and we didn’t
even know it….. Watch out world here they come!”

Gazette Leader Highlights Troop 505

by

On  November 21, 2023 the Gazette Leader published a story “Church in Arlington View works to make Thanksgiving inclusive,” about Mount Olive Baptist Church in Arlington View. The article explains how the Church charters Troop 505 which did the “heavy lifting” by shuttlig the Thanksgiving dinners to be distributed to different places on the grounds.

Read the article at this link:  www.gazetteleader.com/arlington/news/church-in-arlington-view-works-to-make-thanksgiving-inclusive-7857460

Scout Takes Center Stage at NCAC Tech Event

by

At some NCAC special fundraising events, a Scout is asked to speak about their Scouting experience. This year at the Technology Good Scout Award Luncheon to honor Bruce Caswell, President & CEO of Maximus, as the 2023 Good Scout on November 8, 2023, Linda, a STEM/Scout BSA, was asked tell everyone how Scouting has influenced her life.

Attendees at the luncheon were very impressed to learn that Linda is a published author of her own children’s book, Linda and the Mysterious Footprints, and founder/CEO of the nonprofit Linda’s Lab. Five years ago, when Cub Scouts first opened their programing to girls, she was one of the first to join and as she commented, “I became part of a historical change for the better, and I am really proud of that.”

Linda explained to the industry leaders that “STEM and Scouting have always gone together. As Scouts we learn orienteering, how to build a fire and a shelter, and how to render medical aid. We become confident scientists and mathematicians without even realizing it. And with the development of STEM Scouts and the NOVA awards program, Scouts can gain an even deeper understanding of the world around us and the science beneath the surface. To earn my Wolf rank, I learned about weather, disaster preparedness, fire safety, and how to identify and respect wildlife. For my Bear rank, I learned to use a thermometer, barometer, and magnifying glass, and the value of community service. I earned the NOVA Swing award by learning how engineering and simple machines affect my life every day. And as a Webelo, I earned the Arrow of Light award by exploring geology and the importance of native plants to our environment.”

“After bridging into Scouts BSA as a founding member of Troop 964G in 2022, I earned my Scout, Tenderfoot, Second class, and First class ranks. I learned first aid, the value of situational awareness and physical strength, and to respect both the beauty and danger present in nature. I learned about the stars and the vastness of the universe. I learned to navigate with a map and compass. I learned to plan ahead, pack and carry my own gear, and to provide myself and others with food and shelter. I gained confidence and strength as a swimmer and learned about water safety and water rescue. As senior patrol leader, I learned to lead others with thoughtfulness and respect. As a Scout I have learned to question, to be brave, to speak with confidence, to work as part of team, to communicate effectively with others, and to value family, community, humanity, and the earth that supports us all.”

“I believe Scouting makes a difference. I believe it teaches us to be bigger than ourselves. I know what it has done for me. When I was five years old, I joined Cub Scouts. I also built a laboratory in my bedroom, and started my nonprofit, Linda’s Lab. The skills I learned as a Scout gave me the confidence to do big things.”

“I skipped three grades in school, started high school and college classes at age seven, and attended UVA a full-time last summer at age 10. I published a children’s book about the scientific method, carbon footprints, and environmental stewardship. I expanded my nonprofit to include science education programs in public schools and libraries. I became a science communicator, sharing my love of science with the world through social media. I was participating in scouting events when I first looked at stars through a telescope, and when i left the earth for the first time, in an open cockpit biplane. These experiences led me to astrophysics.”

She recounted a story, “In May I was on vacation with my family, swimming in a hotel pool. As I played in the pool, I saw something beneath the water.  I swam into the deep end and saw a little girl, motionless at the bottom of the pool. Without Scouts, I would not have been in the deep end. I would not have had the situational awareness to spot a person in trouble or found the strength to yell for help and be heard above the noise all around me. My mother heard me first. She pulled the little girl from the pool and began first aid. My father joined her, and I took over care of my little brother, who could not swim yet. Together, we saved a life. Scouting saved a life. So yes, Scouting makes a difference. Today’s scouts are tomorrow’s scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and leaders. And I will be one of them.”

“I could not be more excited to hear from this extrodinarily talented young Scout,” said Scout Executive/CEO Mario A. Pérez who then explained that her nonprofit  aims to use mealworm protein to solve world hunger and has a larva library that loans mealworm life cycle experiment kits to public schools so students can learn and be inspired to love science. He noted, “She is currently working on her second children’s book, studying Mandarin Chinese and completing additional coursework to become an astrophysicist. Linda plans to finish high school by age 14, complete an astrophysics degree at the University of Virginia by age 16, and secure her dream job with NASA.”

“The connection between the values instilled through Scouting and the leaders of tomorrow in our industry is absolutely irrefutable,” declaed Mr. Casell during his remarks. “For all the immense good that technology brings and the encouragement we can, should, and will provide Scouts to pursue their passions in this area, I’m simply reminded that now is a critical time to support organizations like Scouting.  From overcoming the profound delays in social development exacerbated by the pandemic, to enriching compassion and empathy through activities and interactions with those not like us, Scouting is playing a critical role.  We are building stronger and more empathetic citizens and with them – even in a small way – strengthening our communities.”

This annual event that recognizes and honors outstanding leaders in the technology industry from within the Greater Washington, DC area who exemplify the values of the Scout Oath and Law in his or her daily life. This year the event was chaired by Richard Montoni, NVTC Board Chair, Maximus Board Co-Chair, and raised over $200,000 for our Scouting program.

Additional photos from the event can be found on NCAC’s Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/ncacbsa/albums/72177720312531730