We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

The Scouter Digest Staff

Learn Python Coding with Ayiti Analytics, a Data Science Lab!

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Exploring is a BSA affiliate program focused on career exploration and development.

Ayiti Analytics is a Data Science Lab formed by a former NCAC Scout based in Haiti that is advancing analytical capacity through education, consulting and research.

Ayiti Analytics is forming virtual NCAC Explorer Posts and you are invited!

In their first cohort, Ayiti will will offer a series about Introductions to Computer Programming in Python. This is a series of six 90-minute sessions in which Ayiti will teach:

  • Python knowledge: introduction to computing
  • Shadowing at a Data Science Company: as a bonus, Ayiti will also provide students who complete the Introduction to Computing Course with an opportunity to shadow their virtual Data Science Lab for an afternoon; the goal is to show you what a real working day at a Data Science Company looks like!
  • Nova Award: for those who are registered Scouts BSA, they will have the opportunity to earn requirements 3-8 of Nova Award – Hello World! Please note however, that you do not need to be a Scout to become an Ayiti Explorer.

The first cohort kicked off in June, and the second cohort will begin this Saturday, July 11th. This session will run on Saturday from 10:00AM – 11:30AM on these days:

  • July 11, 2020
  • July 18, 2020
  • July 25, 2020
  • August 1, 2020
  • August 8, 2020
  • August 15, 2020

Read more about Ayiti Analytics and register here!

This program is brought to you by a former White Oak District Boy Scout, Morgan Mendis!

Climb—Shoot—Build—Fly—Create at Camp Snyder!

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Claim your campsite for Camp Snyder Family Camping and enjoy the program activities! You can still sign up for Family Camping weekends in July and early August.

Settle into your campsite and begin your adventure! Climb the Scouterhorn like a
mountaineer; see who is the best shot at the BB gun range; build a bird house or tool box or game at the Wood Shop; fly a drone or drive a robot car and create heat, color and odd shapes with STEM Foam Fun! You can also fish, walk the nature trail, try your hand at Geocaching and roast marsh mellows over your campfire before ending a very full day.

Register at https://scoutingevent.com/082-38193 and count down to your family’s weekend adventure at Camp Snyder. See you at camp!

7/7 at 7PM Webinar: Philmont Fires, the Welcome Center, the highest peaks and longest treks

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Our very first feature in Adventure Talks will be live on July 7, at 7PM and will feature a Philmont Panel!

Our excellent panelists have stories about the Philmont Fires, the Welcome Center, the highest peaks and longest Treks. They’ve participated as Philmont Ambassadors, Scouting U Faculty, Camp Directors, Operational Staff and participants in their youth – and aim to offer you a glimpse of each role and how you can participate too!

At the end our panelists will open up to questions from you– please sign up for the ZOOM to join the Q&A session: https://scoutingevent.com/082-adventureTalks

Panelists: Tom Giugni, Jay Oakman, Sam McGrath and Arden Dougan

Moderator: Julia Mae-Shen Lesko

Read their bios in the photo gallery above and be sure to tune in at 7PM!

Pack 7203 Holds Virtual Pinewood Derby!

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On June 28th, 2020, Cub Scout Pack 7203, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, held their annual Pinewood Derby virtually with 17 competitors. Competitors were required to submit their cars in advance of the race and were inspected and remediated where necessary to ensure compliance with published rules. The derby was broadcasted and viewed on Zoom. Derby cars were judged on speed, design, color and best of show.

The results of the Pinewood Derby (Virtual):

Speed (Cub Scout Pack)
1st Place – Howard “Will” Zimmerman (Bear)
2nd Place – Hunter Kirkland (Webelos)
3rd Place – Cristo Morris (Webelos) *Previous two time derby winner)

Speed (Cub Scout Dens)
Fastest Tiger – Alexus Gumbs
Fastest Bear – Howard “Will” Zimmerman
Fastest Webelo I – Hunter Kirkland
Fastest Webelos II – Nick DeGraff

Innovative Design
Alex Gumbs (Tiger)

Color Scheme
Kriston Ward (Bear)

Best of Show
Veer Chatlani (Webelos)

USVI Pack 7227 is Off to the Races!

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After weeks of sanding, painting and assembling, the day finally came when Pack 7227 of St. Croix USVI was ready to race in March 2020. Scouts, parents and siblings lined the track as Scout Master Chris Mercer got every excited for the first race. With the help of several youth volunteers from Troop 7227 and Scout parents, the Cub Scouts were able to race their cars through the final elimination.

The derby was filled with laughter, excitement, great sportsmanship and smiling faces the whole time. This event is a great reminder of why we put these events together and work hard to keep the spirit of Scouting alive.

 

Cub-A-Day Program Week 5 (July 6th – July 11th)

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Hey, Cub Scouts, it’s Make Something Monday

You’ve learned some handy skills with Make Something Monday; time to put some of them to good use.  Make a pine cone or toilet paper roll bird feeder.

When you are done making it, find a place to hang it that you can watch the birds that visit.

You can find instructions and some ideas for Adventure requirements you can complete using your feeder here: https://cubscoutideas.com/209/cub-scout-den-meeting-bird-feeders

Are you hungry? It’s Taste Something Tuesday…

It’s summertime and the weather is hot – Cool off by making custom ice pops at home!

https://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-Ice-Cube-Tray-Popsicles/ is a good place to start, but you can use your favorite juices or add fruit chunks to make them your own.

All who wander are not lost… especially on Wander Around Wednesday

Use a map (paper or digital) and locate where you live.  Draw a route that would get you to a local grocery store, park, your school, or somewhere else you visit often.

Use the map to plan a walk around your neighborhood and then head out and see how well you can follow your route.

Wolf Scouts can use this activity to Finding your Way #1 or #4.  Orienting a map and working with a compass is also a NOVA Science Everywhere activity.

It’s time to Do Something Thoughtful Thursday
Reflect on what one point of the Scout Law means to you.  Talk with your family about what that point means to them.  See if you all think about the Scout Law the same way and what you can learn from your family and their point of view.
It’s Family Fun Friday… family time is fun time!

The family that goes to places together has FUN!  Take a hike or bike ride with your family today.  Try to find a new and exciting place to explore – a nearby park, a new area of town, or nature preserve.

This activity fulfills a Cub Family Summertime Passport Activity (A completed Passport counts as Cub Summer Camp! for the Outdoor Activity Award)  Get your passport here: https://www.ncacbsa.org/cubspa/

It’s Safety Saturday…but it’s also International Scouts Trash the Trash Day!

Scouts Trash the Trash Day is a cooperative community clean up – If everyone picks up just 1 pound of trash – The world would be so much cleaner.

Practice safe habits while you pick up trash in your neighborhood, on a trail, or around shared community spaces:

1) Know the weather
2) Dress for the place you are cleaning.
3) Wear sturdy gloves and consider rubber gloves over those.
4) Have a traffic lookout if you are near a road
5) Don’t try to pick up anything sharp or that you can’t identify.

Register your unit for Scouts Trash the Trash day here: https://www.scoutstrashthetrashday.org/ and you can access their Garbage Scavenger Hunt!!