On May 7, Michael’s Woodshop presented the Distinguished Volunteer Award to volunteers CJ Staton and Mell Cunningham in recognition of their “many years of consistent and dedicated contributions of time and talent to the development and operation of Michael’s Woodshop”.
CJ began volunteering in the fall of 2017, when Michael’s Woodshop was still in the concept phase. He was engaged in the initial planning and construction, helping with the installation of the insulation and walls, running conduit, pulling hundreds of feet of wire and installing dozens and dozens of receptacles throughout the shop. He is a regular volunteer during program sessions and is in the process of upgrading our jigs and templates using his 3D printer. Among his most notable and valuable contributions has been the development of many of our most successful programs; Pinewood Derby Days, Baloo the Builder, Webelos Build It and our Youth Assistant Program, which he continues to lead today.
Mell began volunteering in the spring of 2018, assisting with the completion of the lumber rack, the first major improvement in Michael’s Woodshop. For the next 7 months, Mell volunteered on an almost full-time basis completing the interior improvements including all of the work benches, shelving, tool storage systems and the dust collection system. After the shop officially opened in November 2018 (and continuing today), Mell has consistently spent several mornings a week in the shop working on numerous shop improvements and preparing materials for youth activities. He is a prolific “jig maker”, designing and constructing jigs to support youth activities and is currently developing our third summer camp project design (including project prototypes, jigs and evaluating process flow).
Please join us in recognizing CJ and Mell for their incredible contributions to Michael’s Woodshop. If you are interested in volunteering, please see “Join the Michael’s Woodshop Team” on our webpage, or email any questions to MichaelsWoodshop.CWBS@gmail.com.
Scouts from Troop 1066 located in Jefferson, Maryland routinely pursue merit badges as a part of their Scouting Program. During the month of April, they chose to complete the Chemistry Merit Badge. During several meetings, Scouts learned the differences between physical and chemical changes, why atmospheric pressure can affect hikers and scuba divers, and why caramelization makes food taste delightful. Scouts also discovered why manufacturing single-use items can be harmful to the environment and why it’s important to safely store and dispose of products that could harm the environment. Scouts completed the Chemistry Merit Badge by visiting the biotech company, Lonza Walkersville, Inc located in Frederick County, Maryland.
The Walkersville location is the largest manufacturing site for Lonza Bioscience and has had a footprint in Frederick County since 1974. Scouts toured the facility and learned about a lifesaving product Lonza manufactures at the location. LAL, Limulus Amebocyte Lysate, is found in the blue blood of the Atlantic Horseshoe Crab and is a key component in Endotoxin Detection Kits. This incredibly unique compound is instrumental in detecting endotoxin found in Gram-negative bacteria. Endotoxin is widely present in the environment and exposure could lead to sepsis in humans.
In order to ensure that Lonza creates the highest quality products, its Quality Control Laboratory uses chemistry to test raw materials arriving at the facility and finished products prior to shipping to customers. Scouts wore lab coats and safety glasses as they learned to weigh material, transfer liquids with a pipette, and watch a chemical reaction used to test reagents. The Scouts ended the Chemistry Merit Badge with newfound knowledge of the critical importance of a 475-million-year-old species and how the principles of chemistry can affect their everyday life.
In a remarkable display of compassion and initiative, Joe Markland, a dedicated member of Troop 503, in the National Capital Area Council, based out of El Salvador, undertook an extraordinary Eagle Scout project that has touched the lives of countless families in his community. With a heartwarming mission to provide comfort during times of unimaginable loss, Joe built and donated ten meticulously crafted coffins for infants to local hospitals. This act of kindness is not only a testament to Joe’s character but also a significant step towards alleviating the hardships faced by impoverished families in El Salvador.
Joe’s Eagle Scout project, centered around building handmade coffins for infants and donating them to local hospitals, is a testament to his unwavering commitment to serving others. By addressing a pressing issue within his community, Joe has brought peace, comfort, and renewed hope to countless families in El Salvador. His actions exemplify the transformative power of empathy and serve as an inspiration to all, reminding us that through compassion and determination, we can make a tangible difference in the lives of others.
March 5th was a cold and windy day, but the Scouts’ rocket was ready to launch. After four weekends of meticulously gluing together fins, tubes, and nose cones, their custom built spacemodel was loaded with parachutes and a motor for its delicate mission. The rocket was specially designed to carry one Grade A hen’s egg to 850 feet and gently return to the ground in 45 seconds without breaking the egg, as part of the Scouts’ entry in the The American Rocketry Challenge (TARC) contest.
Some Scouts worked on the engine mount and payload section, while others designed and cut out the fins. They used a software program for altitude predictions to help the Scouts match the best motor for the mission. “I liked working out the calculations and figuring out which size motors would get us the most height.” said Chase R. who ran several altitude predictions.
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, VA, and Marine Corps Base Quantico. For more information on Scouting in the Stafford/Fredericksburg area, including how to donate, join or volunteer, contact Kristy Freeman, Aquia District Executive, at Kristy.Freeman@Scouting.org or call (540)287-3866
As the Scouts gathered at the entrance to the Administration Building, they were greeted by a very important person in local government. Dr. Pamela Yeung, Chairman of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors, happened to be walking by and took the time to share wisdom and insights with the Scouts about the importance of community and her own support of their willingness to engage in Scouting and took photos with the Scouts.
From there, the Scouts visited the General District Court, Judge Angela O’Connor, presiding. In Judge O’Connor’s courtroom, the Scouts observed misdemeanor traffic cases. Judge O’Connor talked with the Scouts from the bench, answering a myriad of questions about criminal law and procedure. The Scouts learned about the differences between misdemeanor and felony cases, a jury versus a bench trial, and how the courtroom operates.