Thirty-nine Scouts and 13 Scouters from Troops 55B and 55G attended the Great Falls Memorial Service last night at Great Falls Freedom memorial.
Scouts carried the US flag and troop flag as color guard, led the Pledge of Allegiance, raised the flags, supported the candle-lighting ceremony, and helped with set-up and clean-up efforts.
While camping at Camp Snyder, Scouts from Troop 1148G, South Riding, VA visited Michael’s Woodshop and crossed woodworking off of their Scouts BSA bucket list. After watching their brothers build pinewood derby cars and work on Eagle Scout projects for years, it was their turn in the shop! The Scouts learned about shop and tool safety, lumber basics and the proper use of a wide variety of hand and power tools; their favorite was the block plane. They also saw a demonstration of milling rough sawn, “ugly” boards into useable, “pretty” lumber. Scouts used their newfound skills of measuring, cutting, drilling and sanding to complete a project of their own. It was an awesome day!
Come see first-hand what our wood shop capabilities are during the NCAC Adult Scouting Skills Event on Saturday, September 14th. It’s not too late to register to attend, you can register here.
Are your Scouts interested in learning woodworking fundamentals? Michael’s Woodshop offers Woodworking 101 classes for Scouts BSA youth each month. The class provides Scouts with a solid foundation of shop and tool safety and the function and proper use of common hand tools and other shop equipment. The course provide Scouts with skills they can apply towards the Woodwork Merit Badge, Eagle Scout projects and other service projects or it could even spark the desire to become a Woodworker!
Michael’s Woodshop is a great, hands-on work space where Scouts can learn and create. The shop was designed, constructed and is operated by volunteers. Michael’s Woodshop is currently seeking additional volunteers; both experienced wood workers and shop assistants.
To learn more about volunteering or for information about shop capabilities, upcoming events or reserving the shop, please visit the Camp Snyder website https://gotosnyder.org/ or email us at Camp.Snyder@Scouting.Org
Much of the news surrounding the recent death of Henry Ross Perot expectedly focused upon his business acumen at IBM and EDS, his two unsuccessful bids to become President, and his dedication to principles, performance and country. What few Scouters and Scouts likely learned or came to appreciate, however, is that, long before Mr. Perot donned the iconic business attire of a dark suite, white shirt and narrow black tie, he proudly wore the uniform of the Boy Scouts of America.
Beginning as a Cub Scout in his then home town of Texarkana, TX, he would later join Troop 18 at age 11 where he set for himself the ambitious goal of reaching the rank of Eagle Scout in 15 months, the shortest period of time permitted given the position requirements. He met that goal handily at age 13 in 1943. He would later describe Scouting’s impact on him in a video presentation and a biography, “How to Become A Billionaire” by Martin Fridson, by saying:
“The day I became an Eagle Scout was more important to me than the day I discovered I was a billionaire. Scouting taught me to set goals and objectives and gave me my first leadership training and experience, I keep my old handbook in my office to remind me of the principles of Scouting.”
Throughout his life, Ross Perot never forgot Scouting and he remained generously supportive of the organization for decades. His son, son-in-law, and all five grandsons are Eagle Scouts. His philanthropy and personal engagement helped fund Scouting outreach efforts to local underprivileged youth enabling about 12,000 Scouts in Texas to participate annually at no cost. More recently, he and his family funded the Ross Perot, Sr. Family Wing and Hall in the new Tillerson Leadership Training Center at the BSA’s Summit Bechtel Reserve near Beckley, WV. In gratitude, Scouting recognized Mr. Perot over the years with their most prestigious national awards: The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, The Silver Beaver Award, The Silver Antelope Award and, finally, the Silver Buffalo Award.
Scouting is still there today for those young male, and now female, Ross Perots of this upcoming generation. Our Nation needs more Ross Perots who pledge the Scout Oath to be dedicated in duty to God, Country and the service of others; to aspire to live the Scout Law – to be Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent. As Ross Perot’s life demonstrated, these are more than a litany of idyllic traits recited by rote; they are words to live by.
To find a Scouts, BSA Troop near you for the young Ross Perot in your family, girl or boy, go to: https://beascout.scouting.org/.
T.G. Motta – ASM, Scouts, BSA Troop 1717
Cub Scout Pack 117 from Dumfries, VA participated in the 9/11 Remembrance and Patriotic Sing-a-Long at Swans Creek Elementary School.
This summer has been STEM-tastic, for local scout, Marco J. Martin. During the summer of 2018, Marco spent countless hours working on the Boy Scouts of America NOVA and Supernova STEM program and on Friday, June 14, 2019 all of his hard work was recognized when he received the Dr. Luis Alvarez Supernova medal, a plaque, a NOVA patch and a variety of congratulatory letters from his Senator, Congressman and County Executive to mark this momentous occasion. What an awesome way to begin a STEM-tastic Summer.
His next STEM adventure would take place as he participated in his first Cub Scout Summer Day Camp in Hughesville, MD at the Kings Landing National Park. He had an opportunity to present a STEM project to his fellow Scouts and complete the NOVA section: Uncovering the Past with the help of his camp Den Leader, Amanda Zimmerman.
Once Cub Scout Camp came to a close, he continued to explore the world of STEM by attending a STEM Fair at the Community Center in Alexandria, VA which was sponsored by an organization named Fly Minds. At this event, he was the grand prize winner of a STEM door raffle. He won his very own VEX Robot. Later in the summer, he attended 2 of 3 free STEM Day programs by Fly Minds where he was a part of team that built and programmed their own robot. Now that’s cool!!
Just when you thought his STEM-TASTIC Summer couldn’t get any better, a new STEM Scout unit was forming in Alexandria, VA which he became a part of. His Cub Scout Pack 539 was taking a break during the summer and his STEM Scout unit Lab 9941 led by Burt Wagner was just getting off the ground. His new uniform was a lab coat, disposal gloves and rubber goggles. The first three weeks his unit did science experiments that made Slime, a Bouncy Ball and Silly Sand. Each experiment required Marco and his lab mates to read lab instructions, gather the necessary ingredients and mix various items to get different results as the project called for. It was funny watching the kids learn by measuring and modifying the experiments to see if more or less of an item made a difference towards the end result.
Marco’s last STEM adventure for the Summer would involve the DMV NSBE Jr Chapter located at Howard University. He became a new member and membership has privileges. During the school year, he will be a member of the Lego Robotics team. Each weekend, he will have the chance to learn Spanish and work on Advance mathematics. What I thought was the coolest thing that NSBE Jr had to offer was Marco could talk to an Astronaut and get all of his science and space questions answered.
STEM summer days are over and Prince George’s County schools are be back in session. Hopefully, this article will encourage other Scouts to learn more about STEM and to see what activities occur during the school year! Have a STEM-TASTIC day!
Star Scout Peydon Wilmoth (left), Life Scout Joey Sheldrick (center), and Scoutmaster Jon Culberson (right) of Troop 1422 Mattaponi District, National Capital Area Council attended Scuba Camp at Pipsico Scout Reservation where they earned “Open Water Diver” SCUBA Certification and Scouts earned SCUBA Merit badge. Upon arrival participants had to pass a SCUBA swim test, which includes a 200-yard swim and a 10-minute surface float without aid. The course consists of three parts: classroom, confined water, and open water.
SCUBA students begin their week at Pipsico Scout Reservation to learn, practice, and demonstrate material for the entry level “Open Water Diver” certification. This consists of classroom study and testing with intervals of confined water diving in the onsite pool. On Wednesday of SCUBA Camp, participants loaded up personal gear, camping supplies, and dive equipment to complete their practical training at Lake Phoenix (formerly Lake Rawlings). On Thursday evening, participants returned to Pipsico after completing 5 Open Water Dives to depths of 50 feet.
Troop 1422 normally meets Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm, and is Chartered and supported by American Legion Post 320, located in Spotsylvania County.
