We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

The Scouter Digest Staff

Pack 350 Experiences Continued Growth

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by Aaron Bachmann, Cubmaster

For several years, Pack 350 described itself as a “small but mighty” pack that always tried to do more with less. We have been sponsored by the Fairlington United Methodist Men’s group since our inception when a number of families in the Fairlington area were looking for a pack closer to home.

In my two plus years with Pack 350, we have grown exponentially. Despite the challenges that this growth has created for camping food prep, it is incredibly rewarding to see how much our Scouts enjoy the Pack 350 program. It is perhaps all the more special because the vast majority of our growth is through word of mouth – our Scouts share their experiences and invite their friends. After all, that’s the best form of advertisement you can have!

While we have had a handful of Arrow of Light Scouts transition in the past, last year was our first large group. These Scouts had been around for the beginnings of the pack, and the bond they shared from the Pack 350 experience was strong. As such, they wanted to transition to Boy Scouts together, and they wanted their Boy Scout life to match with the climate of Pack 350. Therefore, Tony Baker and Elina Erlendsson, along with the help of many other parents and our charter representative, Rolf Blank, created Troop 350. After getting off the ground with one former Pack 350 Scout and, of course, a bunch of friends he brought from soccer, Troop 350 doubled in size with the influx of last year’s Arrow of Light Scouts.

Pack 350 is excited to have a troop that is also associated with Fairlington United and a natural place to continue the positive and welcoming Scouting environment that we take pride in in Pack 350. It seems that the feeling is mutual – a couple of Troop 350’s Scouts came back to assist with Pack 350’s Join Scouting Night in early September. It is definitely a sign of the strong relationship that we hope to continue to forge with each generation of Scouts.

Of course, that was not the only milestone that Pack 350 saw at Join Scouting Night. After having the distinction of registering the very first girl in the Chain Bridge District, we were thrilled to welcome eleven (!) girls to Pack 350. Most were joining in the early years as Lions, Tigers, and Wolves, but we even have a Webelos. As I said above, Pack 350 prides itself on its inclusivity and welcoming environment; the addition of so many girls to the Cub Scouting program is a natural extension for us.

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.

Post 1010 Competes in Engineering Challenge

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Explorer Post 1010 annually competes in four engineering challenges – FIRST Tech Robotics (FTC), Team America Rocketry (TARC), Botball Robotics, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). This year, all four teams did well in local and regional events, making it to the highest level tournaments in their respective competition. In April, the FTC team travelled to the world championship in Detroit, Michigan. The TARC teams competed in the national championship in May in The Plains, Virginia. In July the Botball team travelled to Indian Wells, California to compete in the global Botball tournament. And finally in August, the drone team competed in the national UAS competition in Muncie, Indiana. It was a great year for growth, opportunity, and fun. Many of the leaders went off to college in September, so it looks like 2019 will be a rebuilding year. See more at their website: http://post1010.org.

Red Rose

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In 2015, Scoutmasters Alexandria Keenan (Troop 1572, Clinton, MD) and Wahbe Tamari (Troop 61, Washington, DC) met during Wood Badge course N6-82-15-3 in the National Capital Area Council. Little did they know how often their paths would cross after the course ended. A year later, they met by chance at Kandersteg International Scout Centre. After that, they met again at an Order of the Arrow Ordeal where they began chatting about planned trips for their respective Troops. Keenan’s Troop was planning a trip to England for the Red Rose International Scout Jamboree; Tamari’s Troop was heading to England to hike Hadrian’s Wall. Both trips were being planned for August 2018, so they decided to join forces and do the trip together.

Late in July 2018, Troops 1572 and 61 headed off to England to tour London, hike Hadrian’s Wall, and attend Red Rose. The group of 23 Scouts and Scouters arrived in London and spent three days at the Baden-Powell House. They toured Buckingham Palace, Churchill’s War Rooms, the Tower of London, Hyde Park, Greenwich Village and more. Once the jet-lag subsided, the group boarded a train to Carlisle where they would be staying the first few nights of their journey along Hadrian’s Wall.

Early in the morning on August 3, the group arrived at King’s Arms in Bowness-on-Solway to begin the 84 mile hike to Wallsend. Day 1 was a 16 mile hike back to Carlisle. While there were no parts of Hadrian’s Wall visible on this part of the journey, and the weather was a bit rainy, the group was excited to be setting off on this trip of a lifetime.

Over the course of eight days, the group hiked the entire 84 mile length of Hadrian’s Wall, arriving in Wallsend the afternoon of August 10. Along the way, there miles of cattle and sheep fields, phenomenal views of the countryside, old castles and forts visited, and museums explored. There was even time for a side trip to Vindolanda to see an active archaeological excavation in progress. Despite a little rain and many blisters everyone completed the hike.

After the hike, a sub-set of the original group headed down to the Westmoreland Showground in the Lake District to attend Red Rose International Scout Jamboree. The Jamboree, named for the host District (West Lancashire) in England, is held every four years. Red Rose started in 1979, and until this year, Scouts from the United States have never before attended.

The group was excited to represent the United States and proudly flew our country’s flag as they marched in parades around camp. Scouts from all over the world stopped by Subcamp Spielberg to visit, swap neckers and patches, and ask about next year’s World Jamboree at Summit and Scouting in the United States.

Red Rose is a week long event and is divided into activity days such as: International Day, Explore, Adventure, Challenge, and Splash. Each day provides campers with different activities around the camp and the Lake District. Options for water sports, COPE, panning for gold, caving, sightseeing, friendship, spirit, adventure, and more abound! More information about Red Rose on their website:www.redrose.org.uk

Next up for the group…. perhaps following in the footsteps of Thomas Cook, the Great Wall of China, or…..

Bull Run Helps Lead Flag Day US Flag Retirement

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Every year the United States celebrates Flag Day on June 14 to mark the anniversary of  adopting “the Stars and Stripes” as the nation’s official flag, and Prince William County residents have the opportunity to observe the holiday by retiring old or tattered American flags at the Prince William County Landfill anytime during open hours.

Local Boy Scout troops from Occoquan and Bull Run Districts collect the flags and ensure that they are properly disposed of and ceremoniously retired. Flag retirement is a long-standing American tradition of respectfully and reverently burning flags that are no longer fit to be flown.

The American Flag Collection Center led by Scout Leader Dave Byrne is a joint effort between the Boy Scouts of America Occoquan and Bull Run Districts, Keep Prince William Beautiful and Prince William County Solid Waste Division.

The partners who run the American Flag Collection Center consider safety in addition to tradition. Not all flags are safe to burn, for example, American flags made of nylon can release toxic fumes when burned. These flags will be recycled in an appropriate manner.

Eagle Scout to Receive 2018 Billy Michal Student Leadership Award

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Troop 761 Eagle Scout John Matter has been selected to represent Virginia to receive the 2018 Billy Michal Student Leadership Award from the National WWII Museum. Matter will travel to New Orleans to receive the award at the 2018 American Spirit Awards Gala on June 8th.

Matter was nominated by Boy Scout Troop 761 Committee Member, Kathleen Quinn, of Ashburn, Virginia. “I nominated John because of his selflessness to his troop and to his community,” Quinn said. “He is very deserving of this honorable award. John represents the values of leadership, teamwork, creativity and perseverance, and quietly demonstrates them in his daily life.”

The Billy Michal Student Leadership Award is given annually to one student from each state who demonstrates the American spirit in his or her community. The values of leadership, teamwork, tolerance, creativity and perseverance can and should be learned and lived by all Americans regardless of age.

During World War II, when six-year-old Billy Michal from Zimmerman, La., helped his one-room school win a statewide scrap-metal collection contest, he understood that every citizen – no matter their age – could contribute to victory in the war. Billy Michal’s example, and the actions of millions of other students on the Homefront during World War II, reminds all that service to country and community helps create active, engaged citizens.

An Eagle Scout, National Honor Society student and varsity athlete, Matter is honored as one of the top student leaders in his school, community and state. But it was his service to others that prompted his nomination. Matter co-captains a team each year in the annual Race for Hope in Washington, D.C. to raise money for brain cancer research, and in 2017, he organized Troop 761 Scouts for “Project Starfish” to collect clothing, household items and money to aid victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.

Stone Bridge High School Principal Matthew Wilburn said, “This is a tremendous honor for John. We are very proud to have him as a representative of Stone Bridge High School. He is definitely deserving of this recognition due to his dedication to Stone Bridge and our community. I have no doubt that when the National WWII Museum created the Billy Michal Student Leadership Award, they had someone like John in mind.”

Upon hearing the exciting news, Matter said, “I am very honored to receive this award on behalf of the state of Virginia. I have been fortunate to have the support of my Scout troop, my school, and my community. I’ve learned a life lesson that leadership is a team effort.”