We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

The Scouter Digest Staff

Sign Up NOW for Camp Snyder Spring Bullseye Family Camping !!!

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Calling all Scouts and Parents who want to camp and have fun in the outdoors this spring! You can sign up now for Spring Bullseye Family Camping for either April 22-24 or May 20-22, 2022 at Camp Snyder.

The EXPANDED program has A) 10 activities you can schedule by appointment, to avoid waiting in line, B) 15 shorter, un-scheduled guided activities that you can do in between your scheduled activities and C) 5 self-guided activities that you can enjoy anytime during your stay. This year we will also have an Opening Ceremony and an evening Campfire Program open to all campers. We will run the program using COVID-19 virus precautions to protect both our campers and our volunteer staff.

This program is for you ONLY if you like to shoot BBs or arrows, climb the Scouterhorn, drive robotic vehicles, create your own handicraft, race your Pinewood Derby car, take a guided nature walk, play field games, run an obstacle course, build something in the Wood Shop, fish, bicycle, find geocached items or participate in many other hands-on activities. Choose wisely, because you can’t do them all!

DON’T MISS OUT! Space is limited and many families have already signed up! You can register and find a lot more information at https://scoutingevent.com/082-BullsEyeFamily

Meet 2022 NOESA Honoree Aaron Burciaga

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Aaron Burciaga is a renowned Data Scientist, AI Engineer, Author, and Advisor. As a seasoned technology and business leader in both startup and enterprise settings, he has focused his career on delivering efficiency and value through automation, data science, machine learning, Artificial Intelligence, blockchain, quantum computing, and emerging concepts and innovative technologies. His development and implementation of programs and initiatives have enhanced multi-billion dollar programs and operational efficiencies across industries in commercial, federal, and defense.

Aaron’s roles have included Senior Practice Manager for Artificial Intelligence System Integration at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Vice President Data & Artificial Intelligence at ECS Technology, Global Operation Director Analytics & Artificial Intelligence at HCL Technologies, CTO at Analytics2Go, Vice President Data Science & AI at Booz Allen Hamilton, Global Analytics Platform Lead at Accenture, and Senior Research Scientist at Elder Research.

Before turning his attention to commercial and public sectors, Aaron was a Marine Corps officer and Iraq war veteran and was the head operations research analyst and director of an operations analysis activity at the Pentagon, supporting the Marine Corps Headquarters. He is also a Marine Reservist, where he supports the Chief Information Officer at Headquarters Marine Corps-Pentagon as Lead Data Technologist.

Aaron is a Forbes contributor, frequently invited keynote and speaker, and Certified Analytics Professional (CAP). He is an appointed member of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Technology Information Service advisory board. Aaron received his M.S. Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School and his B.S. from the US Naval Academy.

Congratulations to Aaron and his fellow 2022 NOESA Honorees! Please join us on March 23, 2022 at Army Navy Country Club for a celebration honoring the 2022 NOESA recipients. For more information visit, www.ncacbsa.org/noesa/.

Eco STEM Sailing Adventure to USVI – summer 2022!

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Are you ready to take your STEM interest out on the open seas? Are you interested in studying the marine environment in the crystal clear waters around the US Virgin Islands? Join STEM Lab 991 in St. Thomas this summer at Sea Base for a STEM-oriented sailing adventure! Spend a week on a sailboat with your fellow STEM Scouts, sailing the ocean and studying the science involved in doing so. You’ll be underway for a week on a sailing vessel or around St. Thomas, USVI, snorkeling the beautiful reefs near St. Thomas. You’ll also study astronomy, navigation, fish identification and coral reef ecology. This is a six-night, seven-day adventure. Registration for the 2022 STEM Laboratory 0991 – sponsored Sea Base Eco STEM Sailing adventure is now open, and spaces are limited, so don’t miss out!

Photo from: https://www.facebook.com/seabase.st.thomas/

DATES: Tuesday 07-26-2022 1:00 PM ET to
Monday 08-01-2022 10:00 AM ET

LOCATION: Sea Base – St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands (USVI)

CREW SIZE: A Sea Base crew has a minimum of six and a maximum number of eight participants with at least two adults, and a majority of youth participants.

 

AGE REQUIREMENT: Every participant must be at least 13 years of age by their date of arrival at Sea Base. No exceptions can or will be made.

Photo from: https://www.facebook.com/seabase.st.thomas/

REGISTRATION & PAYMENT:

The total estimated cost for each participant is $1,655 to $1,700. This includes the Sea Base fee plus airfare, taxi, meals and tours. The trip cost consists of following items: Sea Base fee is $1025 for the ship, captain and food. Meals will be prepared by the scouts. Airfare from Ronald Regan, Washington National Airport (DCA) to Cyril E. King (STT) Airport is estimated to be $450-$550; round trip person taxi fare between the Sea Base Sapphire Beach Resort Marina is estimated to be $80 (the taxi cost each way is $40). Meals will be prepared by the scouts.

Payment Amount Due Date
Initial (deposit) $100 With request
Incremental $450* April 30, 2022
Final (estimate) $475 June 30, 2022

If interested to register, please contact Mark Gray, STEM 0991 Associate Lab Manager, at 78548b@Gmail.com. This trip is available on a first-come, first-served basis. All NCAC STEM Scouts who meet the Sea Base age, medical, weight, training and fitness requirements are welcome to participate!

There is one trip available for the STEM 0991 Laboratory which will include provisional crew members from other NCAC STEM units. Sign up for this this trip is “first come first serve” basis.

 

Training: 

Several STEM 0991 – sponsored training sessions will be held during the Spring 2022 timeframe. These will (tentatively) include sailing skills, snorkeling, and preliminary marine ecology studies. Attendance by the entire crew is required. STEM Scouts co-registered in a BSA Troop can earn Oceanography Merit Badge over the course of this trip if interested. Direct questions to Mark Gray, STEM 0991 Associate Lab Manager, at 78548b@Gmail.com or Burt Wagner, STEM 0991 Lab Manager, at bwagner3@gmail.com

Troop 440 Takes On Northern Tier’s Okpik

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Earlier this month, NCAC Venturing Officers Association President Brent Peate of Crew 1191 in Mount Airy and newly minted Eagle Scout Wilson N. of Troop 440 in Silver Spring successfully completed the inaugural Kodiak trek hosted at Northern Tier’s Okpik. Following a day in the classroom along with the Cold Weather Leader Training, the youth crew spent 2 consecutive nights camping on the ice at Flash Lake where temperatures dipped to -23 degrees. (Also pictured is Tiernan Barber of Troop 142, Pennsylvania Dutch Council).

Kodiak is a BSA youth leadership opportunity centered around high adventure trekking. This exciting youth driven challenge gives participants the opportunity to advance their leadership skills through the outdoor adventure setting while completing a trek and overcoming obstacles as a group. This course is particularly demanding due to its location at Northern Tier, the BSA’s premier cold weather camping center.

More information about Cold Weather Leader Training and Kodiak, hosted annually in January, at Northern Tier’s Okpik can be found here: www.ntier.org/expeditions/winter-adventures/winter-individual-programs/

Wolf Den Creates Pinewood Derby Trophies

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On January 26, the Wolf Den from Pack 1833 in Haymarket, VA held a Den activity in Michael’s Woodshop and created some nice trophies for their Pack’s upcoming pinewood derby race. The Wolves started with a safety briefing and were then given basic instructions for building the trophies. The Wolves were able to observe the set up and use of a number of pieces of shop equipment used by the leaders to make the initial cuts. They then had the opportunity to drill, sand and assemble the trophies. The Wolves not only had the opportunity to learn about shop safety and tool use, they also had some good hands-on experience and created some awesome trophies. It was a very fun evening!

Conveniently located at Camp William B. Snyder, Michael’s Woodshop is an incredible resource which may be reserved for use by all NCAC Units & Scouts. Michael’s Woodshop operates year-round wth opportunities for youth of all ages to participate in a variety of shop activities. Holding a Den project session is just one way to use the shop. Michael’s Woodshop also offers great Baloo the Builder and Webelos Build It workshops, Woodwork Merit Badge classes and has recently added several new Woodshop Specialty Classes. In addition, the shop is a great venue for hosting Eagle Scout and Summit Award projects as well as conservation projects and other unit activities.

Please visit the Michael’s Woodshop webpage for more information about the shop capabilities and upcoming events and for information about reserving the shop. If you have questions or would like additional information, please email the volunteer team at MichaelsWoodshop.CWBS@gmail.com

Camp Marriott Program Update: Welding MB

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A quick update to the Camp Marriott program schedule!

Welding Merit Badge now offers shorter classes, to better fit into your schedule, with smaller class sizes. To compensate, there is now an additional section offered.

Get the latest program schedule and learn more about programs at the Guild and other Camp Marriott program areas at www.gotogoshen.org/marriott

Camp Marriott programs are available for both Scouts BSA attending with their units as well as those attending as individuals as part of the Provisional Camp program.