We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

The Scouter Digest Staff

50th Merit Badge Earned in Michael’s Woodshop

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In November, Cole S. of Troop 424 attended his second merit badge session in Michael’s Woodshop and completed all of the requirements to earn the Woodwork merit badge. He arrived well prepared with materials and project plans and was able to make a DVD/game storage console, two versions of a cell phone stand and a bird house. While completing the requirements, Cole used a classic “brace and bit”, various saws, a hand plane and more. In his projects he demonstrated several incised cuts and built a project with beveled edges. Not only did he complete all of the requirements, he also earned the distinction of being the 50th Scout to earn the Woodwork merit badge in Michael’s Woodshop. Congratulations!

Earning the Woodwork merit badge requires a certain level of interest and dedication. In addition to learning about shop safety, first aid, tool sharpening and various aspects of lumber production, there are four projects to complete. Youth must demonstrate the use of certain tools, joinery and cutting techniques and project estimating skills. Scouts who earn this merit badge should take pride in their achievement.

Since early 2019, Michael’s Woodshop has offered two monthly merit badge sessions. The first session focuses on shop safety, first aid and the other “non-sawdust-making” requirements. The second session provides supervised shop time for Scouts to work on their projects. In addition to the scheduled monthly classes, Units with 3 or more youth interested in earning the merit badge may also arrange to hold their own merit badge sessions.

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

 

Camp Snyder Campmasters – Join the Team!

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Calling all friends of Camp Snyder! Have you been out to Camp Snyder and met our amazing Camp Ranger, Ryan? Did you know that there is a group of volunteers who help Ryan take care of the camp each weekend? That group is the Camp Snyder Campmaster Corps.

Each weekend, one member of the corps comes out and works checking in and checking out visitors, watching over the camp, and making sure that the visitors are having a good visit while on the camp property. The corps covers every weekend from September 1 through the first weekend of June. As you can imagine we need a strong group who are willing to commit to coming out a couple weekends each year to help with coverage. We are reaching out to the Scouting community to extend an invitation to join the corps.

We will be holding an information/training session on Saturday, December 11th from 1pm – 2pm in the Dining Hall at Camp Snyder. The session will cover the expectations of a Campmaster, what a weekend typically looks like, and customer service. If you are interested in learning more about the program and/or joining, please come out on the 11th!

What: Camp Snyder Campmaster Information Session
Where: Camp Snyder Dining Hall
When: December 11
Time: 1pm – 2pm

No advance sign ups necessary!

Get more information on Campmasters at www.gotosnyder.org/work-volunteer/campmaster

Aquia Scouts BSA get “Back to Basics” at Fall Camporee

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Scouts get “Back to Basics” at the Aquia District Fall Camporee.

On the weekend of October 15-17, 2021, 175 Scouts from ten Troops and seven Webelos Dens Aquia District gathered for a joint Camporee and Webelos-ree in Stafford County’s Curtis Memorial Park.

The theme of the Fall Camporee was “Back to Scouting Basics”. In addition to doing typical camping and fellowship activities, Scouts competed as Patrols in a series of basic Scout skills challenges in the Scout Activity Area which the Scouts discovered Saturday morning after a one-mile hike from Curtis Memorial Park. Seventeen patrols demonstrated their knowledge of topics such as navigation with map and compass, first aid, rescue techniques, outdoor preparedness, US flag etiquette, and even basic seamanship. A bonus station involved testing the Patrols’ abilities to cook a nutritious meal while hiking.

The average score of each Troop’s Patrols was added to the score each Troop received from a campsite inspection to determine the winner of the 2021 Commissioners Cup award. Coming in 1st Place was the Bobcat Patrol from Troop 199G and Troop 1717G chartered to Hartwood Presbyterian Church posted the highest overall score! The girls of Troop 1717G will keep the Commissioner’s Cup until the next Aquia District Camporee in 2022.

In the Patrol competition, 2nd Place was earned by the Wolverine Patrol from Troop 840B and in 3rd Place was the Panda Patrol from Troop 218B. Placing 2nd in the overall Troop results was Troop 1717B and 3rd Place was claimed by T26B. Congratulations to all Scouts who did their best!

The Webelos-ree’s theme was “Scouting Olympics”, and centered on teaching and perfecting traditional Scouting skills like knot tying and fire building. However, as with every Scouting activity, there were interesting “adjustments” to each activity. For example, the knot tying station did include rope, of course, but the rope was 50 feet long and 2 inches thick! The eyes of the Scouts popped wide when they saw the rope and realized what they were going to have to do to be successful… And then came the smiles.

The foot races, a standard component of Scouting’s physical fitness mantra, were not merely races against the clock. For instance, there was a 3-legged race where the Scouts had to cooperate and coordinate with each other to get down the track. It proved a good idea to hold this event on the grass, as many Scouts spilled over as they tried to run, laughing as they fell, rolled, struggled to recover, and fell again before finally crossing the finish line. The cheers and laughs from fellow Scouts provided good motivation.

Another of the seven stations the Scouts traversed was fire building, a staple of Scouting experience, skill and knowledge. However, this time the Scouts were amazed to learn they could spark a fire without matches! How? They learned to use steel wool and a 9-volt battery. The amazed and giddy enjoyment of yet another Scout-learning experience was an apt reward for the many adult Scouters who had planned and organized this great weekend.

In the evening, after the end of a fun-filled Saturday, the Webelos and Scouts gathered for a campfire hosted by the Aquia Chapter of the Order of the Arrow, BSA’s honor Scout society. Numerous skits and songs were performed by the Scouts. A great time was had by all!

After a long hiatus from the 3-dimensional fun of the Scouting program, this “Back to Scouting Basics” and “Scouting Olympics” weekend was a welcome reminder that the Scouting program is still alive and well in Stafford, Virginia. Come join us! Learn more about at ncacbsa.org/aquia/.

Sea Scouts Safety @ Sea 2021

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It is called “the best kept secret of the BSA” and it is Sea Scouts BSA.

On Saturday, September 11, 2021, Life Scout Austin, an ASPL from Troop 447, visited the “Safety @ Sea 2021” event by the Coast Guard Auxiliary at the U.S. Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, MD. Ever since Austin had seen a small sailboat at Camp William B. Snyder as a Cub Scout, he wanted to join the Sea Scouts, but he had to wait until he had reached the age of 14. The event is sponsored jointly by the United States Coast Guard Sector Maryland-National Capital Region, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, FOSSOM Inc. (Friends of Sea Scouts of Maryland), and Sea Scouts BSA.

Since Sea Scouts BSA were sponsors, Scouts were allowed to participate in the 2021 Safety @ Sea event. This annual event gives Scouts and Scouters a close look at the many facets of Maritime safety in sailing, motor boating, paddle crafts, etc. It also introduces the Scouts to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and membership in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the all-volunteer branch of the Coast Guard.

For Scouters it was an excellent opportunity to brush up their skills or to network with the many Units, NST-12 and National representatives, like NST-12 Commodore Stanley Kwok.
Among the most popular activities at the event were the Helicopter rescue demonstration and the “man overboard” drill and of course the live flares station.

Sea Scouts is the official maritime program of the BSA for male and female youth from 14 to 20 years. Sea Scouts BSA has 4 different ranks: Apprentice, Ordinary, Able and Quartermaster. Last year only 36 Sea Scouts achieved the highest rank of Quartermaster nationwide.

To get a valuable introduction in leadership skills for adults, Scouters of both Sea Scouts BSA and from Scouts BSA should consider the Seabadge training offered throughout the year. Check out the next opportunity at seascout.org/adult-training/seabadge/ .

To learn more about the Sea Scouts BSA program, please visit seascout.org.

Goshen Service Weekend Highlights

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The Goshen Staff Alumni Association got a lot done at their recent work weekend. Projects included moving tables, chairs, and equipment from a special event, building 25 brand new platforms for tents, repairing picnic tables, and starting the large project of replacing boards on the Olmsted docks.

Visit Goshen’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/GOSHENNCAC , for more pictures from the weekend.

Want to learn more about the GSAA? www.gotogoshen.org/gsaa

NCAC Troops Take Multiple Honors at the 45th Annual Scout Orienteering Day

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Arlington Troop 111 from Chain Bridge District won the troop championship at the 45th Annual Maryland Scout Orienteering Day on Oct. 23, 2021 at Patuxent River Park near Upper Marlboro, They hung on to first overall even though edged out in the afternoon Score Orienteering by 2nd place Kensington T. 439 from Potomac District.

Joey H. of La Plata T. 1321 in the Western Shores District won the super-tough advanced course in 92 minutes. The fourth perfect score in the 45 years of the event was recorded by older category winners Zack S. & Alex G. of Arlington, leading T. 647 to a best-ever third place out of 45 units.

Hans R. & Max W. of 6th place McLean T.652 were a very close second in that 98-team older category, just ahead of 111’s Matthew Sullivan & Alan McCartney, 111’s Michael Corso & Sam Cruley, Edward Gun & Chad Bo from Patuxent District T. 1033 in Beltsville, and Jimmy Mazel & Liam Merrigan from Arlington T. 164.

Troop 439’s 2nd place, tying their best ever (2011), was a real team effort led by Spenser M., Daniel E., Lance M., Orion C., and the top NCAC Scouts in the 88-team younger category, James T. & Adam A. Troop 191 from King George, Mattaponi District, had three pairs of Scouts in the top 16.

It was NCAC’s most successful year ever at this event, with 14 of the top 21 awards, sweeping all of the top 12 troops except for the 4th and 7th place Baltimore units, a Jersey Shore troop in 5th, and a 9th place Girl Scout camp staff. Troop 111’s team effort tied a 45-year record with its 6th troop title; they hold the record with 11 Top Two finishes, all since 2003 with Dr. Bob Klein and some very adept SPL’s coordinating. One Scout this year was the 20,000th attendee over the 45 years of the event.

Self-guided instruction was followed by a part-instructional, part-competitive course, and then the fun “free-for-all” Score Orienteering with over 400 youth and over 100 adults looking for 45 markers scattered over five square miles. Similar to recent years, the top 10 places in the younger category were captured by 9 different troops, and the top 9 in the older competition were spread out among 7 troops. Each scout and participating adult received two special color maps, and everyone got answer keys, instructional tips, and patches. Over 100 awards were presented.