We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

The Scouter Digest Staff

Recruit More Scouts: Cancel Your Troop Open House

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Want to recruit more youth to your troop? Don’t hold a “troop open house.” Sure, it is one of the three key recruiting methods – But, I say don’t do it.

Why? Put yourself in the shoes of a 10-year old child. The words “open house” represent that night each year when mom or dad head to school to talk to their teachers. And, the last thing most youth want to do after six hours enclosed in the cinderblock walls of learning is to volunteer themselves for another 90-minutes of anything that sounds remotely like school.

So now what? Hold an event and call it anything other than an open house. Be creative and tap into the talents of your troop. Do something that will excite your membership – current and future – so you can showcase the energy of all of your unit membership.

Be wary of static displays that provide nothing for the Webelos to do. Punch up “Ye olde campsite display” with well-done campfire program and you have the beginning of a successful not-a-troop-open-house. Add some hands-on Dutch oven cobbler preparation and you’ll have an event that makes me, um, I mean my Webelos want to join your troop!

Lima Scouts Sojourn to Camp Olmstead

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A contingent of Scouts and leaders from Troop 5 in Lima, Peru attended Camp Olmsted this past summer. Scouts and leaders traveled from 4 different countries to enjoy a week at summer camp during their winter break in the US before going back to school. Highlights of the week were rifle and shot gun shooting, sailing on Lake Merriweather and the Olmsted Olympics. The contingent enjoyed meet-ing Scouts from the US, Scouts with ties to Peru living in the US, and Zack our Staff Guide from Bogota Columbia. The three Scouts earned 16 merit badges and one attended the Trailhead Program. Plans are being made for a larger contingent next summer and a return to Camp Olmsted.

 

Save the Date: University of Scouting Is February 23rd

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The University of Scouting, a supplemental training opportunity for all adult Scout leaders, returns to Hayfield High School on February 23. It is the one time during the year where you can find the widest variety of training opportunities in all program areas all in one place.

The University offers interesting courses in Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting (soon to be Scouts BSA), “Adventuring” (a combination of Venturing and Sea Scouts), District Operations, and an Electives College where the classes cover a broad range of areas of interest to Scouting but not specific to any one Scouting program. A key topic across all programs this year will be Family Scouting.

The University has a degree program where, over time, attendees can earn Bachelors, Masters, and PhD degrees in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Adventuring.

Classes are taught by experienced Scouters and Scouting professionals. Many classes focus on subject areas not otherwise covered in the usual adult leader training curriculum.

We expect to offer over 160 different courses from which to choose. In addition to the academic program, there is more… a midway where up to fifty vendors and council committees will have exhibits describing how their products and services can enhance your scouting program and a Scout Shop trading post where you can pick up needed items. And finally, there will be a scouting museum where dedicated collectors will be displaying their extensive collections of scouting memorabilia. 

At the closing ceremony, we will be presenting the D. Andrew Grafton Exceptional Trainer Award.  This annual award, presented by the NCAC Leadership Training Committee, recognizes a single NCAC Scouter for sustained, dedicated and highly skilled service to Scouting over the years by demonstrating a high commitment to quality adult leader training. 

The University of Scouting provides all the above, along with great fellowship with dedicated Scouters, making this a day to be remembered. 

Registration is expected to open on or about January 2, 2019. Your registration fee includes morning refreshments, lunch, an event patch, course materials, and a special recognitions.   

Whether you are new to Scouting or a veteran of many years, the University is a place where you can learn from experienced Scouters from all over the council; it truly provides something for everyone.

Hayfield High School is close to the Beltway, just south of Alexandria, VA. Doors open at 7:15 AM. The opening ceremony starts at 8:15 AM with the closing ceremony ending by 4:30. In 2018 over 900 Scouters were in attendance. Help us pass 1000 for 2019!

In Just Five Minutes You Could Double Your Donation or Get Paid for Volunteer Hours!

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Did you know there is an easy way to double the impact of your contribution to local Scouting programs? It’s called an employee giving program!

Scouting counts on the generosity of donors like you to keep our program accessible to all families, and to ensure we provide top-notch services, facilities, and programs for young people and volunteer leaders.

Employee giving programs enhance the impact of your donations. These typically take two forms: matching gifts and matching hours.

Matching gifts are donations a company makes to match its employees’ charitable contributions. These are typically dollar-for-dollar matches but some companies go even further by tripling or quadrupling their employees’ donations.

Some companies even offer matching hours and will pay NCAC for hours you volunteer! To recognize your ongoing support of Scouting, your employer may provide a grant to our Council. These grants can be anywhere from $25 to $5,000!

Is your company a matching gift or matching hours company? Please take a minute to find out. Visit www.doublethedonation.org/ncacbsa and see if your employer is listed.

Statistics show that only 9% of employees take advantage of their employers matching gifts opportunity. Let us help you become one of those 9%! Contact Tiffany Tomeo at Tiffany.Tomeo@Scouting.org if you need assistance, and please help us spread the word by sending this link to others in your company so they can join you in taking advantage of this opportunity to help young people in our communities.

www.DoubleTheDonation.org/NCACBSA

 

Pack 196 Hosts Cookout

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Piedmont Pack 196, chartered by St. Lukes Lutheran Church and School, is a family pack out of Culpeper, VA, and started their year off with an amazing cook out! This is a yearly event, in August, that welcomes returning and new families with plenty of fun activities and food. The Cub Scouts built and decorated raingutter regatta boats and rockets and then had a blast racing their boats against one another and shooting rockets with a compressed air launcher. All the youth had a great time getting to know their new den leaders and members and even welcomed their first girl dens!

Troop 142 sponsors Youth Mental Health First Aid Training

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Scouts must Be Prepared to “Help other People at ALL times” – Our Scout Oath and Law don’t distinguish who “people” should be or when help may be needed. Lord Baden-Powell, Founder of Scouting, when asked by a reporter: “Be Prepared, why for what?” replied simply, “Why, for ANY old thing!” First Aid skills come in many forms. This year, Boy Scout Troop 142 sponsored the Youth Mental Health First Aid Training on Saturday, 8 September. This training was given by the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) at North Stafford Baptist Church in Stafford, VA.

This course used role-playing to teach participants to offer assistance in a mental health crisis. Participants learned the common risk factors and warning signs of mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, substance use disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. They also put community resources and how to find correct help right at our finger tips. Participating Scouts and others who attended are now Better Prepared to provide initial help to young people experiencing problems.

September was National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month—a time to share resources and stories in an effort to shed light on this highly taboo and stigmatized topic. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people, ages 15-24, according to national statistics. Suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background. In fact, suicide is often the result of an untreated mental health condition. Suicidal thoughts, although common, should not be considered normal and often indicate more serious issues.

While suicide prevention is important to address year-round, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month provides a dedicated time to come together with collective passion and strength around a difficult topic. The truth is, we can all benefit from honest conversations about mental health conditions and suicide, because just one conversation can change a life.

Crisis Resources

  • If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 911 immediately.
  • If you are in crisis or are experiencing difficult or suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273 TALK (8255)
  • If you’re uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can also text NAMI to 741-741 to be connected to a free, trained crisis counselor on the Crisis Text Line.

Please do your part to help ensure that no one is alone on their mental health journey.