Powhatan District held a very successful day camp this year at Algonkian Regional Park. There were 51 participants and one very special participant, Cubbie Bear, Powhatan’s Cub Scout mascot. With passports in hand everyone embarked on a week-long adventure!
The travelers enjoyed fishing, Leave No Trace training, games from India, arts and crafts, and archery. One of the highlights for the week was a trip to Volcano Island for some fun in the water. Another was a very special visit from the Loudoun County bomb squad. The bomb squad brought their truck, their bomb suit, a robot, and bomb sniffing dog.Two highlights of this demonstration were the dog and watching the robot disarm a “bomb” from Cubbie Bear’s backpack!
The Patuxent District celebrated its first annual Women in Scouting Award Ceremony on June 3rd, at the Greenbelt American Legion. The honorees for the First Annual Women in Scouting Dinner are Danielle Ballantine, Alex, Keenan, and Gloria Ike. Each has contributed to the greater success of Scouting in the Patuxent District and exemplifies what female leadership and support has meant to the BSA and the Scouts within its programs. We also awarded Alison Mocko with the Rebekah Weir Award, which allows her to participate in Wood badge on scholarship. District Executive, Danielle Finley stated “each woman here has impacted my short time so far in Scouting. They are all selfless, dedicated, and incredible volunteers”. We would like to thank Parktopia Travels for their Program sponsorship and Janice Cornish from Pack 257 for chairing this event. 
The last week of June at the Isaack Walton League was filled with Scouts engaged in outdoor activity. Mattaponi Scouts experienced many things in their day camp including shooting BB guns, fishing, a visit from the FBI, things found in nature, and archery. This year Scouts were joined by the very first family Scouting Unit (Pack 8100). “It is extraordinary! I wish they did this years ago so my daughter could have joined,” one parent exclaimed looking at the ponytails of the newest Scouters shooting bb guns. “I loved doing stuff like this as a kid, so it’s really great to have both my daughter and son growing up together…it’s really about keeping my family together,” said another. 
The weather the entire week was enjoyable and the camp director was perfectly on cue reminding everyone to “keep drinking your water; if you’re not using the restroom that means you are not getting enough water” to which the chorus of 90 children would laugh very hardy laughs! The last day of camp saw all 90 youth singing in unison, playing their instruments, accepting awards, and telling one another that they never want to leave! It truly is an amazing experience. See you all next year!
The Fundamentals of Training/Trainer’s EDGE is for anyone interested in different training methods. It will equip you with ideas, techniques, and materials for improving presentations by enabling you to select approaches that will communicate your messages most successfully, and with PIZZAZZ!!
NYLT is an exciting, action-packed program designed for youth to learn and practice the leadership skills that will help them succeed in Scouting and in life!
