We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

The Scouter Digest Staff

STEM University 2019

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Creative minds filled the Microsoft Technology Center as the various STEM professionals spoke about space, flight and the endless possibilities that STEM could bring the world.

STEM in Scouting provides Scouts with the fundamental skills and education necessary in preparing today’s youth for life in the 21st Century.

Throughout the morning, Scouts presented their well-planned science fair projects during the Einstein Science Fair while Scouters helped. Scouts enjoyed courses such as Meet a STEM Professional, a class on the scientific method and were able to work on the newest STEM NOVA award, Up and Away.

For more information on NCAC’s STEM program, please visit our events page and we hope to see you at the next STEM U!

Geology Rocks

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Geology Rocks, and this year it was awesome!

This was the 4th biannual Geology Day at George Mason University and sponsored by Dr. Julia Nord. The day’s events led with going through requirements 1 and 3-8 of the Earth Rocks Cub Scout Adventure, and requirements 2-3 of the Down and Dirty Nova Award.

Cub Scouts were able to learn about paleontology and physical sciences with tactile activities, including exploration of the microscope labs. The kids were most excited about the stream table which demonstrated how soil erosion changes our land forms.

Florida Sea Base Scuba Adventure

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If you’ve ever thought about scuba diving, we highly recommend it! It’s the perfect way to explore shipwrecks and see the abundant wildlife on our coral reefs.

…The ability to breathe underwater is pretty awesome too.

Scuba Adventure troop 1548 from Fairfax, VA–blowing bubbles and posing next to Alligator Reef light!

Summer Camp Fun in Michael’s Woodshop

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Webelos attending summer camp at Camp William B. Snyder in July had the opportunity to create their own marble tic tac toe board in Michael’s Woodshop. Scouts received a safety briefing, donned their safety glasses and were given a “blank” to begin their work. The Webelos rotated through three primary work stations “Sanding”, “Drilling” and “Cutting” and had the opportunity to use a variety of hand tools. They were supervised/assisted by camp staff in using the drill press. All Webelos in attendance followed the safety guidelines, completed their project and best of all – they all had fun!

Would your group enjoy this activity? Have another project in mind? Michael’s Woodshop may be reserved for Unit activities (all ages), District events, Eagle Scout projects and other Scouting activities. Our group of volunteer Shop Stewards can help you organize an event, can provide training and can attend your event to provide guidance and assistance to carry out a safe and enjoyable activity. In addition, Michael’s Woodshop offers monthly Woodwork Merit Badge and Woodworking 101 classes. We are also looking forward to our second season of Pinewood Derby Days beginning later in the year.

Michael’s Woodshop was designed, constructed and is operated by volunteers. In addition, a significant amount of the tools, equipment and building materials were acquired through donations from the local Scouting community. For information about shop capabilities, event registration, reserving the shop or to learn more about volunteering or supporting the shop, please visit the Michael’s Woodshop page on the Camp Snyder website or email Camp Snyder at Camp.Snyder@Scouting.Org

Assistant Council Commissioner (Exploring/Web), NCAC

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July 20, 2019 marked the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission’s landing on the Moon – the landing of the lunar module Eagle in the southwestern corner of the Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquility) on the Moon and the establishment of Tranquility Base.

The first two men to set foot on the Moon, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were Scouts – the first, Neil Armstrong was an Eagle Scout. If you were alive then, do you remember where you were at that moment in history? I was attending the 1969 National Jamboree in Farragut State Park, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I and 34,000 of my closest friends (all wearing red jackets!) watched as the telecast of the landing was projected on to giant screens. As I recall, there was a lot of cheering (as one might expect). Earlier in the Apollo 11 mission, on July 18, 1969, while flying toward the moon inside the command module Columbia, Eagle Scout Armstrong sent the following greeting to the Jamboree: “I’d like to say hello to all my fellow Scouts and Scouters at Farragut State Park in Idaho having a National Jamboree there this week.” Armstrong carried with him on the voyage, a World Scout Badge. All told, of the 12 Apollo astronauts to have walked on the moon, 11 were Scouts and two of them (Armstrong and Charles Duke of Apollo 16) were Eagle Scouts.

I’m sure the event we commemorate on its 50th anniversary caused me to get ‘stars in my eyes’ and want to be an astronaut. While that dream was never fulfilled, it did set me on a path to get a degree in astronautics and aeronautics and to pursue a career in Naval Aviation. Scouting and the Moon Landing molded my life. It’s exciting to think about what events will inspire the youth we serve today for the future.

Yours in Commissioner Service,

Jeff Schweiger

Unit and Assistant District Commissioner, Colonial District, NCAC
Assistant Council Commissioner (Exploring/Web), National Capital Area Council