Submitted by Troop Scribe Scott R. and Senior Patrol Leader Teddy G. Troop 996 is chartered by Aldersgate United Methodist Church
The Scouts of Troop 996, chartered by Aldersgate United Methodist Church, chose to tour the Nation’s Capital and hold a lock-in for their January event. The event was planned by Star Scout Aiden H., with adult assistance. On Saturday January 26th, Troop 996 gathered for a fun-filled day that began at the Pentagon, where scouts learned about the history of the facility and the U.S. military. The Troop also visited the Hall of Heroes, which is a room dedicated to all of the Medal of Honor recipients. The tour ended after visiting 9-11 memorials and hearing first-hand accounts from that day.
After touring the Pentagon, the Troop departed for the District of Columbia to enjoy lunch at the National Law Enforcement Memorial and tour the brand-new National Law Enforcement Museum. The Troop split into patrols for STEM-focused guided tours. Following the tour, the Troop explored independently and learned about bullet proof vests, new police cars, fingerprinting, SWAT takedowns, and lots of other cool stuff. In the museum, they even had a real patrol car that Scouts could sit in.
After touring the museum, the Troop visited Arlington National Cemetery. The Troop was led on a tour by Mr. Tom Schultz, a representative from DC Military Tours. The Troop respectfully observed the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and witnessed a very moving ceremony, a changing of the Guard, and a wreath laying. This tomb has been guarded every minute of every day by the Old Guard since 1937.
Following the tours, the Troop returned to Aldersgate United Methodist Church for dinner and an evening of camaraderie and friendship playing board games and cards – without electronics.
Big thanks to Mr. Hicks for our Pentagon Tour and Mr. Schultz for the tour of Arlington National Cemetery.
On Scout Sunday, mass at Blessed Sacrament was celebrated with Scouts from across the Colonial Districts. Participating units included Pack, Troop and Crew 129 chartered by Westminster Presbyterian Church, Troop 1515 from St. Stephens and St. Agnes Schools, and Pack 614 chartered by James K. Polk PTA.
All four of the BSA High-Adventure bases (HAB) require at least one person per trek (two per trek at Philmont Scout Ranch) to be current in Wilderness First Aid (WFA) through an approved provider. We want your trip to be safe and successful, and making certain that you have proper training certifications prior to launch is a big step towards that. Read on for tips on how to ensure that you’re prepared for that next high adventure trip, and how to verify that your current certifications meet BSA requirements.
Promptly at 6:30 A.M., the first wave of Scouts set out from Alexandria toward National Harbor as part of Colonial’s Carpe Adventure Trek, or CAT. The 40 and 20 kilometer distances challenged Scouts to seize the (early) call for adventure during a day with a brisk wind and a high temperature of 47. In its second year, the CAT challenge was answered by 29 more hikers than in 2018 and included 14 units from four districts in the Council.
Submitted from Troop 1906, Chartered by Bethlehem Baptist Church