We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

The Scouter Digest Staff

Workplace Giving Campaigns

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One of the easiest, most effective ways you can support National Capital Area Council is through workplace giving, an employer-sponsored program that empowers you to support your favorite charities through tax-deductible donations deducted directly from your paycheck.

Through our membership with America’s Charities, employees at hundreds of public and private organizations can donate to NCAC through payroll contributions.

Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)

CFC is a workplace giving campaign for federal employees: civilian employees, military personnel and postal workers. National Capital Area Council is a member of America’s Charities Community First federation and is listed as CFC #48974.

Look for us in your workplace charitable giving campaign and designate National Capital Area Council, Boy Scouts of America #48974 as recipient of your generosity on your pledge forms.

The campaign season is typically between September 1 and December 15 each year. Check with your agency for exact dates.

Don’t forget to check if you employer will match your donation or the hours you have volunteered! Visit www.doublethedonation.org/ncacbsa.

Family Camp: Two Camps, Twice the Fun!

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For the first time this year, Goshen had two Family Camps – one during Memorial Day Weekend and one during Labor Day Weekend. The inaugural Memorial Day Family Camp had good turnout for the new event. It was a little stormy, but campers crammed in fun in the sunny mornings at Aquatics and Shooting Sports and then, when the storms came in the afternoon, tried their hand at crafts in Handicraft. The event was popular enough that Goshen is happy to announce it will be offering Memorial Day Family Camp again in 2019!

The traditional Labor Day Family Camp once again had great attendance this year and had the full range of activities. Families could have fun shooting rifles and BB’s, test their skills at archery, go swimming and boating, fly on the giant swing, and more. It was a little rainy on Saturday, but that didn’t stop the hike to the Swimming Hole, where families could hop in and float down the river. The sky was nice and clear the next day for the Viewing Rock Hike, which afforded those who went beautiful views. In addition to swimming and boating, Aquatics also offered tours of the lake on the pontoon boat.

The newest aspect of Family Camp during the Labor Day Weekend was the return of the Saturday evening Square Dance. Way back in the day, the Square Dance was a staple of Family Camp, but it gradually faded away as there was no one who knew how to call. Lucky for Goshen, one of the current summer camp staff members, Lauren Brown, knows how to call from her off-season job at an outdoor school. She led much of the camp in square dancing and line dancing at Forster Hall. Everyone had a fantastic time and we’re looking forward to adding the Square Dance back in as a regular event at Goshen’s Family Camps.

Family Camp closed off, as usual, with the Sunday evening campfire. Families, Troops, Packs, Staff, and Staff Alumni shared their favorite songs and skits before heading back to their campsites for bed.

Miss out on the fun? Want to come back again? Join us for Family Camping fun in 2019. Goshen Family Camps will be offered Memorial Day Weekend (May 24-27, 2019) and Labor Day Weekend (August 30-September 2, 2019). The cost is $20 per person. Bring your own tent, bring your own food, and Goshen supplies the program. All ages are welcome. Registration is already open! Learn more and sign up at www.gotogoshen.org/family-camp.

Introducting USVI’s New District Executive, Laura Kuras

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My name is Laura Kuras and I am the NCAC District Executive for our US Virgin Islands and Director of the local Boy Scout Camp here in St. Croix, Camp Howard M. Wall. I am extremely excited to be here in the USVI because it is such a beautiful location filled with amazing people who are ready and willing to bring Scouting back in to the community.

Looking back, I am happy to say, I have been lucky enough to make Scouting a part of my life for over twenty-seven years and from that I have gained so much. My parents introduced me to Scouting at the age of five so, as a little kid I was able to learn and appreciate the outdoors in a way that not all young people get to and for that I am so thankful. Throughout grade school and well into my college years I was able to use my Scouting experiences to open so many new doors that I believe wouldn’t have been possible without my background in the outdoors. Before graduating from college, I was fortunate enough to work for two of the BSA high adventure bases, Sea Base and Philmont, which gave me the opportunity to really figure out what I was passionate about in life. Now as an adult, I get to share my experiences with others which could allow them to see the world from a whole new view. Throughout my life I hope to inspire others to enjoy the journey of life and take in every opportunity to try new things always, and I hope to do the same for as long as possible.

Exploring Knows Its Way Around the Kitchen

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by Andi Hannum

The new Exploring Post 3142, sponsored by the Marriott International Test Kitchen, is up and running. The Post held its first meeting on Wednesday, September 12. Our host was Mr. John Huppman, Chief Chef at the Marriott Test Kitchen in Bethesda. The first meeting was a meet-and-greet evening. Adult volunteer leaders were introduced. They are, John Huppman, Gary Silversmith, Pete Minderman, Michael Werling, Theresa Johnson, and Andi Hannum.

Activities for the evening included Mr. Huppman giving a tour of the newly renovated test kitchen. He then showed us the different kinds of knives and explained what their purpose was in the culinary arts industry. He also demonstrated proper carving and cutting techniques. Students then chopped up some vegetables that were to be used in the kitchen the next day. Those in attendance that evening enjoyed some refreshments and were excited about the upcoming events.

Upcoming topics and activities on the post’s agenda include: the Five Basic Cooking Techniques, Understanding “Sous Vide” Cooking Methods, Sustainable Seafood and Cooking Techniques, Understanding Nutrition and Healthy Easting, Environmental Impact of Cooking, two community service projects (Scouting for Food and cooking at a charity kitchen), visits to a farm or food vender, and a hotel visit. There will be a cook-off at the end of the year with the members cooking their favorite dish and serving it to the other members of the post.

There is still room for a couple of interested students. If you have any questions or are interested in joining Post 3142, please do not hesitate to contact Michael Werling at (703) 350-8628 or Michael.Werling@Scouting.org.

An exciting year is in store for Exploring Post 3142!

Wood Shop Opens at Camp Snyder

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Looking for a great place to work on your Eagle Project?  Would your Pack or Den like to hold a Pinewood Derby clinic?  Would you like to add a service project to a weekend camping event?  Camp William B. Snyder is pleased to announce the opening of its new wood shop.  The wood shop is fully outfitted and with approximately 1200 square feet of floor space and 150 sq. ft. of work benches, there is ample space to handle projects of all sizes.

We are very excited to have this facility up and running.  We are expecting to be able to offer new events and merit badge opportunities throughout the year and to offer expanded program activities for our summer camps. In addition, the space will be available for Scout, Unit or District events and service projects.  We have created a photo gallery for the wood shop which shows the space, tools available and the many safety features of the shop.  It will be available shortly on our website. 

An official grand opening and open house will be held during the Scout Expo at Camp Snyder on November 17, 2018.  Demonstrations will be scheduled throughout the day and our volunteer Shop Stewards will be on hand to answer questions about the facility. 

This has been another great example of how volunteers have added tremendous value to Camp Snyder.  From the initial planning and throughout the construction, this project has been completed with 100% volunteer labor.  We would like to thank all the volunteers who have contributed their time, tools and equipment to the construction and outfitting of the shop.  We would like to specifically recognize Dave Schneeman, CJ Staton and Mell Cunningham for their countless hours of effort in planning and construction of the shop and Dick Meyers, Mitch Lynch and Pack 1860 for their generous donations of equipment and tools.  In addition, we would like thank Cole Howell who arranged for the donation of all of the electrical supplies needed for the project as well as for his time in making all of the final electrical connections.

We will be continuously seeking to improve the offering and capabilities of the shop.  If you would like to purchase a tool or supplies for the shop or if you have tools, supplies or equipment that you would like to donate, a list of needed items is posted on the website.  We are also looking for experienced woodworkers to serve as Shop Stewards to help maintain & operate the shop.  If you have tools or equipment to donate, or if you are interested in volunteering as a Shop Steward, please email Dave Schneeman at dschneeman@cox.net.

We hope to see you at our open house on November 17.  If you have questions or would like to visit the shop, please contact Phil Barbash at Philip.Barbash@Scouting.Org.

Troop 26’s Excellent Summer

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This summer 16 Scouts and 3 Scouters of Troop 26 (“26 KICKS!!”) experienced the North Carolina mountains in BSA’s Southern Region, Area 5, Daniel Boone Council. We were way back in the holler, about 15 miles from Asheville as the crow flies. The 8-hour drive from Stafford was well worth it for the variety of activities and the opportunity to visit Boonesboro Village for our older Scouts, not to mention the cooler, drier air of the mountains – getting out of the heat and humidity was, well, pretty cool! Not only did Scouts and Scouters alike learn to appreciate the refreshing frigid temperature of spring fed mountains streams, but several older Scouts also participated in the Boonesboro Village living history camp. There they honed skills essential to living in the 1770s such as hatchet throwing, black powder rifle shooting, blacksmithing and making their own clothes. Average temperatures were 20 degrees cooler than those of their lowland Scout brethren which made for very restful evenings – good sleepin’ weather. As an added bonus the Troop camped at the New River Trail State Park and toured the Jackson Ferry Shot Tower that manufactured lead shot (musket bullets) hundreds of years ago. Our Scouts found both locations so outstanding that they are in the rotation to be visited again.