We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Kadie Fishman

Eagle Scout Project improves the safety at Sky Meadow State Park

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In September, Mia R. became an Eagle Scout after completing her Eagle Scout Project that sought to improve the conditions of Sky Meadows State Park.

Mia is part of Troop 1865G, a unit from the Buke Lake District. Mia joined Scouting when she was 14, dedicating almost four years of participation before receiving her Eagle. As a Scout, Mia has earned over 40 merit badges, visited Philmont and works as a camp counselor at Camp Rodney. 

“I really like Scouts and I’m really glad I got to be part of it,” Mia said. 

The Sky Meadows State Park provided a program called Youth Conservation Corps that Mia participated in during 9th grade. With this opportunity, she formed connections from the park and reached out to them when she was ready to start her project. Mia had in mind that she wanted it to involve building, which led to the idea of building a trail. 

The idea sparked because the park is well known for its astronomy program, so many visitors will park and walk 170 feet to reach the visitors center. Because these visitors walked along the road, it became a traffic hazard. She hoped the trail would provide a safer and more distinct place for visitors to walk on. 

“They were having a lot of trouble with that and so they wanted to have the trail right now,” Mia said. “There was, in theory, a trail, but it was more just a grass path undistinguishable from the other grass that you were supposed to walk on, but you had no means of knowing to walk on it.” 

With the help of her Troop, Mia dug out a trail, lined it with metal edging, put down landscaping fabric and covered it in gravel. Her project also consisted of installing two signposts and building a bench with her dad. 

Mia spent 37 to 40 hours on her project and with her 37 volunteers, they totaled up to around 300 hours. 

One challenge Mia faced was transportation because the park is 50 minutes away from her home. Despite this, she got her volunteers to meet at her house and carpool to the park together. Mia was also unsure if she would manage to get enough volunteers, but after reaching out to friends, she exceeded her expectations. 

“I was constantly texting people, ‘hey can you be there?’” Mia said. “So, the fact we got 37, it’s kind of a miracle.” 

Finding the funding for the project was another factor Mia had to consider. When she went to the Lowes in Gainesville, Virginia, they gave her the metal edging completely for free. The park also supplied the gravel, showing how large of a group effort it was to finish the project. 

The project allowed Mia to learn how to communicate with adults, as well as continuing her leadership skills that she has learned from being Senior Patrol Leader. Mia joined Scouting to learn skills such as first aid but has recognized this skill as an ability to help others. 

“I feel like maybe I wouldn’t have stopped on the street to help someone before I joined Scouts,” Mia said. “But now I definitely would, because I’ve learned a lot, and I think I’ve become a better person.” 

Eagle Scout Project encourages literacy among children

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Jaiden R. completed her Eagle Scout rank in September after creating three little libraries for her synagogue as her Eagle Scout Project to improve literacy and accessibility to books.

As a member Troop 987G, Jaiden has participated in Scouting for three and a half years. She achieved her Eagle this past summer and has also participated as a Senior Patrol Leader for two terms. One of the first female Eagle Scouts in the country was a founding member of her Troop, showing the possibilities for girls in Scouting.

“She joined as soon as it was possible,” Jaiden said. “First wave, first day possible.”

Jaiden put her three libraries in a variety of areas around Vienna for her synagogue, Temple Rodef Shalom. She spent 52 hours on the project, but with the participation of her father as the project advisor and her Troop, it was around 300 cumulative hours. 

Staff from Jaiden’s Troop came in two sessions to cut, paint and build the structure. On her own, she installed the doors, touched up the paint and put the boxes on the post at all the locations.  

“It really livens up the community and I wanted to do that for my synagogue because it’s also a very community-centric place,” Jaiden said. “I thought a lot of people could benefit from that.” 

Jaiden planned to only make one little library but ended up raising more than her initial goal. With only one beneficiary lined up, she got the experience of reaching out to government organizations to find more beneficiaries. Despite this challenge, Jaiden had friends that helped her reach her goals and found a community for her project. 

Jaiden decided to create these libraries because of her love for reading. She hoped to encourage literacy for kids and made sure the locations were accessible for them, placing them near a path by the elementary school. 

“A lot of people can access it, and it can really help enrich people’s lives,” Jaiden said.  

With this project, Jaiden was able to learn and improve skills such as carpentry, reaching out to different organizations and working towards a goal. The libraries also allow her to help others by providing kids with the opportunity to learn new skills.

“Whatever I’m doing today, it won’t be necessary for anyone to do it tomorrow,” Jaiden said. 

Jaiden’s mom, Melissa R., acknowledged Jaiden’s accomplishments that she achieved very quickly. Jaiden joined Scouting after the pandemic and after only one year of Scouting, she rose to leadership positions and became a Senior Patrol Leader. Because of Scouting, Jaiden’s leadership and public speaking skills have grown significantly.

Rebranding of Scouting America impacts many Scouts

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On Feb. 8, Boy Scouts of America officially rebranded to Scouting America to promote its inclusivity, which many Scouts from the National Capital Area Council (NCAC) have reflected positively upon.

Scouting America announced the rebranding of the organization on May 7, 2024, and the official day to change was marked for Feb. 8, 2025, which was the 115th birthday of the organization’s founding.

The organization opened single-gender dens in Cub Scouts for boys and girls during 2018. A year after this transformative development, Scouts BSA was introduced so older boys and girls could join single-gender troops and earn their Eagle Scout rank. Since this change, Scouting America has seen over 8,000 females become Eagle Scouts.

NCAC has a membership of over 4,330 female Scouts, according to the 2024 annual report. Sophia R., a 17-year-old Scout from Troop 1526, joined Cub Scout Pack 873 in 2018 when the program opened up to girls.

“Because of Scouting, I would say my biggest accomplishments are the things I’ve been able to do with the skills that I’ve received,” Sophia said. “Definitely my public speaking [and] confidence greatly improved.”

Sophia watched her brother’s journey through Scouting and knew she wanted to join when she could. She joined as a Webelos in her Cub Scout Pack and then bridged into being a troop founder for Troop 1526.

Sophia received her Eagle in 2022 and has worked on Wood Badge staff for adults the last two years. She shared that because of her experiences, she has been the friend that many rely on.

“When cars breakdown, I’m the friend who gets called,” Sophia said. “It’s little things like that have really impacted my life and definitely made me who I am.”

Because of the rebranding, Sophia said it is easier to explain her participation in Scouting America. Sophia’s father, Keith R., was a Scoutmaster for Troop 1525 and created Troop 1526 so “each troop had its own culture.” Keith said that Scouting is necessary to build skills that youth are struggling with today.

“It’s life skills that are being missed by today’s youth that Scouting can fill that gap,” Keith said.

Nirali S. is another Scout from Troop 1920 and she joined over a year ago. She participates in FLL, or First Lego League, and encouraged girls to join Scouting as part of her project in the 2024 competition.

Nirali said that the rebranding will allow for more representation of Scout experiences and is surprised that many people aren’t aware of Scouting America’s inclusivity to girls. Nirali said that the rebranding “reinforces the organization’s commitment to serving all youth.”

Nirali shared the many skills she has been able to learn because of Scouting. She emphasized skills such as confidence, leadership and teamwork, as well as life skills such as first aid, camping and knot-tying.

“Girls are empowered within Scouts,” Nirali said. “They can participate in all the same activities, earn the same merit badges, and achieve the same ranks.”

Boys and girls in Scouting believe the rebranding will bring beneficial changes to the organization. Keenan Pallone, who works as a field Director in the NCAC, is also an Eagle Scout from the Council. He started as a Cub Scout, joined Troop 996, and then helped form Troop 301 in Alexandria, Virginia.

Pallone believes that rebranding to Scouting America is a necessity. He went to many recruitment events where parents didn’t know girls could be in Scouting, so the rebranding will create awareness of the opportunity.

“We welcome everyone who wants to be a Scout that wants to follow the Scout Oath and Law and motto and slogan,” Pallone said.

Pallone noticed the benefits Scouting had on him, as well as someone he mentored during his youth and adult years. His mentee had learning and physical disabilities and struggled to find a healthy environment, until he entered the Scouting program.

“You would have never guessed the hardships that this kid had gone through,” Pallone said. “Scouting saved this kid’s life.”

With the rebranding of Scouting America, youth and adults should be able to see the benefits of Scouting. Pallone enjoyed his experience as a Scout and noticed the impact it had on him through character development, trying new things and learning new values.

“I would not be who I am today if it wasn’t for Scouting,” Pallone said. “When I look back as an adult, those were some of the most formative years of my life.”

 

 

Scouting America National Capital Area Council Celebrates 115 Years of Youth Leadership, Character Development and Adventure

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Scouting America has been inspiring generations of leaders since 1910. Join the movement at BeAScout.org.

WASHINGTON, DC (February 7, 2025) – On February 8, Boy Scouts of America will celebrate its 115th birthday, marking a pivotal moment in the organization’s journey as it officially adopts its new name, Scouting America. Scouting America is the nation’s foremost youth program providing young people with unique opportunities focused on character development, leadership, fun and outdoor exploration. The organization continues to adapt to meet the evolving needs of young people, ensuring that future generations will have the opportunity to benefit from this transformative program.

For more than a century, Scouting America’s mission has remained the same: 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. Whether it’s a camping trip, a pinewood derby car race, or a trail hike, every adventure encourages personal growth by teaching youth how to set goals and achieve them with determination. As we look to the future, Scouting America is dedicated to providing young people with the values, skills and experiences they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

“Scouting America has helped instill timeless values for multiple generations of Americans,” Roger Krone, Scouting America president and CEO said. “In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, the values and skills instilled by Scouting are more critical than ever, and the need for strong character, ethical decision-making and effective leadership remains paramount. As we celebrate 115 years of service to our nation, we are reaffirming our commitment to providing a safe and supportive environment where young people can develop these essential qualities, empowering to reach their full potential, and preparing them to become responsible and engaged citizens.”

Scouting America has remained committed to providing youth with a safe environment where they can learn meaningful life skills, create lifelong memories and grow into tomorrow’s leaders. In fact, more than 130 million Americans have been through Scouting America programs since our founding in 1910. Currently, more than 1 million youth are served by 477,000 dedicated adult volunteers in local councils throughout the country.

The annual report of 2024 for NCAC showed membership at 31,107 with 957 total units. Out of all the youth in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Explorers, Venturers, Sea Scouts and those in the U.S. Virgin island or abroad, 4,330 of them are female Scouts. The entire organization of Scouting America has also seen over 8,000 females earn the rank of Eagle Scout.

“The rebranding marks an important moment for the organization to celebrate its growing inclusivity,” NCAC Scout Executive Mario A. Pérez said. “Our Council has been dedicated to welcoming all youth, no matter what gender, race, ethnicity, or background the child may have.”

The opportunities for all youth are limitless in Scouting America. In 2018, Scouting America started single-gender dens for boys and girls in the Cub Scout programs. A year later, Scouts BSA was introduced so older boys and girls could join single-gender troops and earn their Eagle Scout. Co-ed programs are also available in Venturing, Sea Scouting, STEM Scouts, Exploring and Learning for Life.

NCAC has seen approval and positivity about the rebranding from parents, Scouts and leaders. This change will improve the impact of the organization and NCAC will reach out to more youth to showcase its inclusivity and opportunities. Scouts across the board recognize skills they have learned from their program, which includes confidence, leadership, teamwork and friendship.

“We welcome families who want to have fun, and learn about important life skills, personal safety, and environmental stewardship. In Scouting we participate in outdoor activities, get involved in the local community, and learn teamwork,” NCAC Field Director and Eagle Scout Keenan Pallone said.

The weeklong birthday celebration will kick off with historic sites from coast-to-coast illuminated in red, white and blue lights in honor of Scouting America — including Niagara Falls, Milwaukee’s Hoan Bridge, St. Louis’ The Wheel at Union Station, Cleveland’s Terminal Tower, Pennsylvania State Capitol, Louisiana State Capitol, Baltimore City Hall and Capella Tower, and I-35W Mississippi River Bridge in Minneapolis. Scouts and non-Scouts alike can join in the celebration by sharing their favorite Scouting moments on Instagram (@boyscoutsofamerica) and TikTok (@scouting.america). Lastly, Scouting America will raise the redesigned organization flag over its headquarters in Irving, Texas on Wednesday, February 12.

Scouting America invites families, individuals and communities nationwide to join its mission. Whether you come from a family with a Scouting tradition or are considering Scouting for the first time, we welcome you to be a part of our next 115 years. To learn more, visit www.BeAScout.org.

 

About Scouting America National Capital Area Council (NCAC)

NCAC started in 1911 and stands as one of the largest and oldest councils in Scouting America. The Council represents a variety of territories from the Washington Metropolitan Area, which includes the District of Columbia, such as Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties from Maryland, Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William, Loudon, Fauquier, Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George, Stafford and Culpeper counties from Virginia and the independent cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas, Manassas Park and Fredericksburg in Virginia. NCAC also serves the U.S. Virgin Islands and Scouting families abroad in North, Central and South America. During 2024, NCAC Scouts performed over 200,000 hours of community service and over 1,000 Eagle Scouts were attained.

 

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, or to sign your child up for Scouting, visit www.BeAScout.org.

 

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Camp Kenya features hiking and safari

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A group of Scouts in Troop 160 traveled to Nairobi to attend the Camp Kenya 2024 program from Dec. 29 to Jan. 4, participating in many adventure activities and learning new Scouting skills.

Camp Kenya was open to all youth and adults registered in a Scouts BSA Troop. A Scout parent from Troop 160 is from Kenya and found out about the opportunity, prompting them to share it back to the troop. Namith Gangireddyvari, 19, and Nishanth Gangireddyvari, 15, were two Scouts who participated in the camp.

“This is such an organized activity that everyone gets to have some levels of fun with it,” Namith said.

Courtesy of Namith Gangireddyvari

The troop participated in the Kilele camp program, which featured hiking, abseiling, rafting, a safari and many other teambuilding activities. Namith said the best part of the trip was the safari, while Nishanth said his favorite was the rafting.

There were two safari trips, morning and night. The two Scouts said they were able to see animals such as lions, hippos, rhinos, hyenas and buffalos. The morning safari featured a tour at Ol Pejeta Conservancy where Scouts saw a chimpanzee conservatory and a blind Rhino.

“It was pretty fun, I would love to do it again,” Nishanth said.

The camp also featured a backpacking hike with abseiling. They hiked up Mt. Kiambicho and stayed there overnight in tents. Both Scouts said they experienced challenges such as running out of water, not enough space in backpacks, and the hot weather.

“It was pretty challenging for people who aren’t used to backpacking and then people who had minimal water,” Namith said. “So, we also learned how to ration water pretty well.”

Courtesy of Namith Gangireddyvari

The Scouts also participated in a conservation project by going to Lord Robert Baden-Powell’s memorial, who was the founder of the Boy Scouts and its first Chief Scout. The project consisted of cleaning his grave and doing yard work. Troop 160 also interacted with the Kenyan Scouts who participated in the project as well.

Namith said there were a few differences in the Kenya Scouting program. Scouts in Kenya are not done at 18, but can continue to be a Scout at their university’s troop. He also said their flag ceremony was very different, specifically the way they held the flag.

“I’d say it’s more ceremonial the way they carry themselves,” Namith said.

Courtesy of Namith Gangireddyvari

Overall, Scouts from Troop 160 were able to learn new skills such as leadership, friendship and teamwork, as well as interacting with new cultures during their time in Kenya.