We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Cynthia Griffiths

National Capital Area Council Announces New Director of Field Services

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The National Capital Area Council is pleased to announce Stuart Goins as the new Director of Field Services effective May 1, 2023.

Since 2021, Goins has served as the Scout Executive/CEO of Tuscarora Council in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Previously, he was the Director of Field Service for Quivira Council in Wichita, Kansas from 2019 to 2021. Past experience also includes Assistant Scout Executive for Norwela Council in Shreveport, LA and District Director in the Sam Houston Area Council in Houston, TX.

Goins has a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, LA. He grew up in Louisiana and was a Scout. He is a member of the Order of the Arrow, is Wood Badge trained, and is a James E. West Fellow.

“Everyone involved with Stuart’s interview process connected with his welcoming personality,” said Mario A. Pèrez, NCAC Scout Executive/CEO. “We know his years of experience will benefit the NCAC. We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome Stuart Goins to NCAC’s leadership team.”

National Capital Area Council Welcomes New Deputy Scout Executive

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Photo of G. Lee Murdoch
G. Lee Murdoch

The National Capital Area Council, BSA (NCAC) is pleased to announce G. Lee Murdoch as Deputy Scout Executive effective May 1, 2023.

Since 2019, Murdoch has served as the Scout Executive/CEO of the Conquistador Council, BSA in Roswell, New Mexico. Previously, he served as Director of Support Services, Director of Camping, and Field Director at the Crossroads of America Council, BSA in Indianapolis, Indiana. Before moving to Indiana, he was both a Program and Field Director at Del-Mar-Va Council, BSA, headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware.

Murdoch grew up in Easton, Maryland where he was the second generation in his family to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. He began his Scouting career as a seasonal camp staff employee teaching fishing, canoeing, and small boat sailing. He is a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow and is Wood Badge trained. Murdoch has a Master of Science in Parks and Recreation Management from Indiana University and Bachelor of Science in Parks and Recreation Administration from Frostburg State University. He and his wife, Christina, have two young children.

As part of the selection process, Murdoch wrote, “We’re excited about the opportunity to relocate to the DC Metro Area as we feel it offers a great opportunity for our family to live, work and play in a community intimately connected with moving our country forward and near amazing natural resources.”

“After an extensive interview process, we are delighted to have Lee Murdoch join the leadership team at the National Capital Area Council,” said Mario A. Pérez, NCAC Scout Executive/CEO. Pérez continued by saying “Lee has both the depth and breadth of leadership necessary to help lead the largest BSA Council in the country, which serves nearly 34,000 Scouts and over 17,000 volunteers. We are thrilled that Lee is joining the team.”

 

Scout Reach Camp Days in the US Virgin Islands

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Scouts from Claude O’Markoe School in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) visited Camp Wall as part of NCAC’s Scout Reach program.

Although the school is for 1st – 5th graders, most of the Cub Scouts are in third and fourth grade.

During the camp days, the Scouts did some fun outdoor group games and kids learned “repeat after me” camps songs. When the United States and the Virgin Island flags were raised, the Scouts learned why. Scouts also learned how to tie a couple of useful knots that they now can use in their everyday lives. During camp, the Scouts talked about the importance of the Scout Oath and Law and how both can be applied to everyday life in the territory. Because Scouts are helpful, they also did a beach cleanup to give back to the environment. Both camp days were loud, wild, beneficial, and most of all, super fun for the kids too!

This Pack is made possible by generous donors who are dedicated to continuing our Scouting program in the USVI.

Pinewood Derby Excitement at Scouting Cares

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Through NCAC’s Scouting Cares program, we conducted Pinewood Derby races in early February with both the 1st and 3rd grades at Suitland Elementary School.

 

Scouts were given precut Pinewood Derby cars in the shape of wedges then Scouts spent two meetings completing their cars. Weights were offered and they could decide exactly how to modify the weight of their cars in order to increase their chances of winning. The students installed their wheels and then proceeded to paint and put stickers on their cars.

In addition to the fun of the Pinewood Derby competition, the first grade Scouts learned about speed and velocity with their first grade teacher.

The Pinewood Derby was enjoyed by all!

 

 

NCAC Donates Popcorn to Military Families in Our Community

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Today, our Council! Staff loaded up a truck with around 600 cases of popcorn and pretzels worth over $100,000 which was then transported and donated to support military families in our community. Each year our Scouts sell popcorn to learn the value of earning their own way, setting goals, and contributing to their activity budget. When making a purchase, supporters are given the option of making a Heroes and Helpers donation. We are pleased to be able to #supportourtroops in this special way!

NCAC Welcomes New Scout Executive/CEO

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Mario Perez Heads National Capital Area Council, BSA

JANUARY 5, 2023, WASHINGTON, DC — The National Capital Area Council, Boy Scouts of America (NCAC) is pleased to announce Mario Perez as Scout Executive/CEO as of January 1, 2023. Craig Poland, the former CEO and Scout Executive, retired on December 31, 2022.

Since 2019, Perez served as Deputy Scout Executive/Chief Operating Officer of the NCAC. Previously, he served as the Scout Executive/CEO of the Yucca Council, Boy Scouts of America. Yucca Council serves nearly 5,000 youth and over 2,200 volunteers throughout West Texas and Southern New Mexico. Over a twenty-one year career, Perez has successfully served four BSA Councils and helped to achieve Council objectives in the development and implementation of programs for Scouts of all ranks. His aptitude to work with youth and adults from diverse backgrounds and socio-economic conditions (rural, urban, multi-cultural, corporate, military etc.) has helped in the accomplishment of successful volunteer recruitment, youth membership growth, innovative fund-raising programs and creative youth program delivery.

Perez grew up in western Kansas, where his parents and three siblings still reside. He is a graduate of West Texas A&M University in Canyon TX, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He is a Vigil Honor member in the Order of the Arrow and completed his Wood Badge ticket in 2006.

“We are excited to have Mario Perez lead the National Capital Area Council,” said Jim Morgan, NCAC Council President. “As Deputy Scout Executive, he has demonstrated his leadership ability during the last few years through the pandemic and its related challenges. I’m confident his proven skills coupled with his vision for the future will keep our Council at the forefront of the Scouting movement in this region and the entire nation.”

“Mario Perez’s hard work and dedication have always been appreciated by our Board,” added Morgan H. Sullivan, NCAC Executive Vice President. “We have been fortunate to depend on his experienced management these last few years. Now, his leadership will take the NCAC forward and benefit even more of the youth in our region by providing the highest-quality Scouting program possible.”

“Over the next few years, my strategic goals are to purposefully connect with community partners to increase our service to the community, to establish new Scouting programs throughout our region with conviction, and to lead the implementation of a far-reaching Strategic Plan that will lay the foundation for the next 25 years of Scouting in National Capital Area Council,” said Perez.

In 2022, the Council’s theme was “Adventure On.” Last year, our Scouts performed more than 440,000 hours of service to the community, 1,263 Scouts attained the highest rank of Eagle, and 5,372 youth experienced the outdoors at one of our camps.

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About Scouts, BSA and the National Capital Area Council

Scouts, 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 1,042 million youth members between the ages of 6 and 21 and volunteers in local councils throughout the United States and its territories. For more information, please visit www.Scouting.org.

National Capital Area Council was organized in 1911 and today stands as one of the oldest and the Council with the largest youth membership in America, at just under 34,000 Scouts. 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; and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information, please visit www.NCACBSA.org.