Liam Riley of Troop 255 in Chevy Chase, MD led the design, construction, and installation of new golf course signage for the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, DC.
Exploring Advisor graduates from Citizens Police Academy!
Luz Diaz Villalobos has long been written about as an admirable youth in NCAC’s Exploring programs, and today, she continues to inspire with her accomplishments as a young adult.
Most recently, Diaz Villalobos graduated from the Prince George’s County Citizen’s Police Academy. This multi-month course educates civilians about the criminal justice system through interactive classes and facilitated discussion. Outside of this, Diaz Villalobos works as an Assistant Teacher at Estrellitas Montessori School DC, where the owner Marilyn Medrano says she is a special teacher. Diaz Villalobos also volunteers relentlessly as an Exploring Advisor for PGPD’s youth programs, and is always there for her younger siblings and community members. Amongst her many responsibilities, Diaz Villalobos kept the commitment to attend the regular CPA sessions, with determination to successfully complete the Academy.
On the final day, at a church in the county, Prince George’s County Chief of Police, Aziz Malik presented Diaz Villalobos with her award. Other dignitaries included Councilmember Jolene Ivey, whom Diaz Villalobos also thanks for her support. As soon as Diaz Villalobos’ name was announced, a crowd of over two dozen people erupted in cheers! Luz is accomplished, admirable and a truly beloved member of her community. In attendance were several officers from PGPD who have supported her to this day including Cpl. Black, Cpl. Lobin, Cpl. Ross, Sgt Jeffries, Captain Eboug, Captain Serpes and Lieutenant Dazzie. From Seat Pleasant, Officer Miller and Officer Bowers attended and from all across Prince George’s County came several younger Explorers to whom Diaz Villalobos now serves as a mentor. Though not pictured, a special mention also goes to Cpl. Hibbert who has always supported Diaz Villalobos too. Last but not least, a special shout out to Diaz Villalobos’ family for being present in this accomplishment!
Diaz Villalobos set precedent as the only Hispanic to graduate from the Prince George’s County Citizen Police Academy for Class 48! This is not the first time that Luz Diaz Villalobos set a record.
In her own words, we share her story of making history in Exploring.
“Upon my arrival to the United States, I set goals for myself and my future. I was determined to learn and flourish in school… While at William Wirt Middle School, I joined the soccer team starting one of my goals of being a scholar-athlete.
In 10th Grade, I learned about the Prince George’s County Police Explorers program, which focused on preparing student leaders for careers in Law Enforcement. While in 11th Grade, I joined the Explorers program in order to begin my goals of becoming a Police Cadet. Within one year of my time in the Explorers program, I have lead efforts to increase the program from 8 students to over 60 students! In addition, I have attended several conferences that have helped me develop my leadership skills as I set my focus on becoming a Police Officer. 
Throughout my tenure in the Prince George’s County Explorers program, I have moved up in rank from a basic explorer to Lieutenant. In 2019, through a strenuous process of assessments and interviews, I was promoted to Explorer Captain. I am now the first female and first Hispanic to lead the post!
As I continue to achieve one of my goals of becoming an American citizen, I know that is the first step in achieving my ultimate goal of becoming a Police Officer!”
To learn more about PGPD’s Law Enforcement Exploring Program, please visit: www.pgpdexplorers.com
Take Me Out to the Ballgame – FredNats’ Scout Night
Our local Fredericksburg Nationals (FredNats) baseball team invited all Northern Virginia BSA Scouting units to a special “Scout Night” on July 15th at FredNats Park. All Scout leaders and Scouting Families were able to buy discounted tickets (some packages included food and a commemorative patch) to a great baseball game. Our Scouts responded with enthusiasm! Many thanks to Brian Lehman, FredNats Ticket Sales Account Executive and Wendy Latella, a local Scout Leader, for coordinating this event.
Over 500 tickets were sold to Troops and Packs from Fredericksburg, Locust Grove, Stafford, Springfield, Spotsylvania, Woodbridge, Alexandria, King George, Dalghren & Dumfries. Represented were: Cub Scout Packs 22, 26, 28, 38, 46, 57, 199, 320, 802, 907, 1373, 1777 & 2220 and Scouts BSA Troops 165, 197, 218, 317, 1777 & 1889.
For the pre-game Scout Parade, all attending Scouts and Scout leaders paraded from near the home outfield bullpen, around the warning track to behind home plate. Scouts also had the opportunity to campout in the outfield after the game and watch a post-game movie, but this was unfortunately moved to August 5th because a thunderstorm ended the evening early on July 15th.
Part of the pre-game Scouting highlights including first pitch honors for a local Aquia District
Scout leader. Richard “Dick” Haas, is affectionately known in the National Capital Area Council as “The Ancient One” (or “TAO” for short), and not just because this WWII Navy Veteran is 96, but because he’s been continuously Scouting for over 86 years! TAO actually shook the hand of Scouting’s Founder, Robert Baden-Powell, at the World’s Fair in Queens, NY in 1939. TAO earned lifesaving awards in 1964 for rescuing 2 fellow bus crash victims from drowning in the Harlem River – the only 3 survivors. A Scoutmaster in New York in the 1960s & 80s, TAO remains an active Scouter in Virginia today and is the proud patriarch of 4 generations of active Aquia District BSA Scouts & Scouters who joined him on the field – great grandsons Stellan & Ronin and their parents Ben & Heather from Pack 242 and his son, Mike, a retired Marine and Aquia Scouter, who got to throw out the first pitch in TAO’s honor. A great Scout Night indeed! Go FredNats!
To join BSA, please go to www.beascout.org to find a BSA Scout unit near you – Cub Scouting serves families with children in Kindergarten through 5th Grade; Scouts BSA serves families with children ages 11-18. There are BSA programs for families with older Youths, ages 14 – 20, including Venturing, Exploring or Sea Scouting.
The mission of the BSA is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Aquia District includes Stafford County and Marine Corps Base Quantico. For more information on Scouting in Stafford/Fredericksburg area, including how to donate, join or volunteer, contact Kristy Freeman, Aquia District Executive, at Kristy.Freeman@Scouting.org or (540)287-3866.
Aquia Scouts BSA Troops 199’s Philmont Trek Adventure 2023
Troop 199B & 199G formed a crew that participated in a Philmont 7-day backpacking trek at the Philmont Scout Ranch. We had 5 adults (Glenna B, Lisa L, Skip S & Chris T), Trip Wiggins being the Lead Advisor, and the following 6 Scouts: Cameron B, Natalie G, Dots L, Alex S, Kaitlyn T and John W. John was the Crew Leader, Kaitlyn the Chaplain’s Aide and Dots the Wilderness Pledge Guia.
The crew headed to Philmont on ‘planes, trains, and automobiles’ arriving on July 13. We completed Check-In and immediately started with training and logistical support for our trek (tents, fly, bear bags, cooking pots, food, water purification tablets, etc.) guided by our Philmont Ranger, Yahir Olvera who accompanied us on our first two nights on the trail.
We hit the trail on July 14th and the training continued with map & compass/navigation, crew dynamics/positions, weather, backcountry cooking and cleanup, and bear bag use. Our daily camps, in order, were Heck Meadow (dry camp), Clark’s Ford (staff camp), Schaefer’s Pass (dry camp), Miner’s Park (staff camp), and Abreu (staff camp). We ended the trek at Rayado trailhead with a bus ride back to base camp. At Clark’s Fork and Abreu the crew enjoyed a staff Chuckwagon & Mexican dinner, respectively.
Notable aspects of the trek: Climbing the iconic Tooth of Time peak (9,000 feet MSL) and doing three hours of trail building work to assist future trekkers. More fun activities included horseback riding, climbing wall, getting hats branded with the Philmont brands, visiting a New Mexico homestead, the Kit Carson Museum, tomahawk throwing and at the end, visiting the National BSA Museum. Oh, and members of the crew spotted one black bear and 2 rattlesnakes to make the trek even more memorable!
The printed guidebook noted that our trek would cover some 37 miles – but, with side trips, actual miles logged was closer to 70! (Just ask our feet [NO blisters] and shoulders as we acclimated to the mountain desert climate.) The Base Camp elevation was 6,500 ft and we topped out at nearly 9,500 ft, with a 3,400 ft elevation gain on our 3rd day on the trail.
We noted lightning and thunder in the distance throughout the week, but our trek was rain free and the humidity in the 20-40% range – enviable to any Virginian.
At the end, we were all hot, dirty and tired – but a quick poll indicated that the Crew wanted to COME BACK TO Philmont! Yes, we all had FUN!
For any questions about Philmont – please contact Trip at tripwig@cox.net. He’s been there twice as Lead Advisor and has a dozen 50-Mile backpacking trips under his belt.
Test Your Orienteering Skills Oct. 28
On October 28 troops & Venture crews are challenged to test (and learn!) map skills at the 47th Annual Maryland Scout Orienteering Day, a fun event at Patuxent River Park near Upper Marlboro. The event cost is $4.00 (patch, 3 new color maps, more) plus $2/person/night if camping (about half of our usual ~50 units camp one or both nights.)
Come for the day, or camp on site. No Cubs, no Webelos. Self-guided map instruction starts off the day, designed for beginners to this forest navigation map sport. Register at BaltimoreBSA.org/orienteering by Oct. 22. Questions?…. contact event chair DaveLinthicum@earthlink.net
Last year NCAC had the usual 50% of attendees and most of the award winners, led by Arlington’s Troop 111 from Chain Bridge District and Kensington’s 439 from Potomac District…. For more, see https://weownadventure.com/troops-111-and-439-tops-at-orienteering/
Save the Dates: Goshen 2024
Save the dates for Goshen Scout Reservation Summer 2024!
We will be offering five weeks of summer camp at all three Scouts BSA resident camps – Camp Bowman, Camp Marriott, and Camp Olmsted, including the Provisional Camp program at Camp Marriott for individual campers.
Camp Ross for Webelos and Arrow of Light Cub Scouts will be running for six weeks.
Lenhok’sin High Adventure will be offering five weeks of its backpacking program and river trekking program.
Week 1: June 23 – June 29, 2024
Week 2: June 30 – July 6, 2024
Week 3: July 7 – July 13, 2024
Week 4: July 14 – July 20, 2024
Week 5: July 21 – July 27, 2024
Week 6 (Ross only): July 28 – August 3, 2024
Goshen 2023 units that reserved their spot at camp will get a confirmation email in early September with their new registration number.
Registration opens for the general public on September 6, 2023.
Information about provisional (individual) trek options at Lenhok’sin High Adventure and information about summer camp for small dens (only one leader) at Camp Ross will be available soon.
Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information as we get ready for Summer 2024!