Is it too early to start inspiring our future generation of scientists? Heck No! That’s what 50 Cub Scouts, boys and girls ranging in age from 6 – 10, discovered while having “Fun with a Purpose” exploring becoming scientists at the STEM-focused Aquia District Cub Scout Day Camp held at Pratt Park in Fredericksburg, from June 28 – July 2. The Founder of Scouting, Lord Baden-Powell said: “A week of camp life is worth six months of theoretical teaching in the meeting room.” And did this ever prove to be true – Everyone left already excited about coming back for next year’s Camp!
Director, Kristy Freeman, and Program Director, Jenna Cooper, led their all-volunteer Camp Staff of adults from Pack and Troop 26 and older Scouts from Troops 26 and 907, who kept these budding scientists busy all week with a variety of activities setup and run by the hard-working Camp Staff, including some pretty cool nature hikes. These included fun with model rockets, elephant toothpaste, bubble snakes, rock testing, lava lamps, leather work, robot hands, tie dye, marbles, exploding sticks, moon dough, slime, ooblick, learning about planets, yo-yos, puzzles and codes, as well as shooting archery, BB guns, and sling shots!
Scouts got to meet two of Stafford’s finest K9’s and their handlers, while Stafford Fire & Rescue stopped by to cool everyone down. Scouts also enjoyed singing some seriously silly songs with great gusto and much laughter!
All the Scouts grew from the experience and found it fun trying new things, working as a team and meeting new friends. They also learned about flexibility when weather threatened the fun – but the Staff made sure it was about K.I.S.M.I.F. (Keeping it Safe, Making it Fun!)
Kristy and Jenna had an amazing adult Camp Staff: Susan Wood, Hallie Graves, Joe Fijalkowski, Kari Hammond, Xander Korb, and Jennifer Bell. But the Staffers who truly made it the best week ever were teen Scouts BSA volunteers, Michael, Maddie, Jackson, and Nathan (aka Ranger Rick). Everyone is already looking forward to next summer!
Elena Ziu discovered Michael’s Woodshop while her son was working on his Woodworking MB. The shop reminded her of her days at the University of Virginia where as an experimental physicist she often modified or built parts for her experimental apparatus in a machine shop. Elena has been active in Scouting since 2016 and currently serves as NCAC STEM Counselor and Powhatan Crew 160 Advisor.
Ayaan A. is an Eagle Scout with Troop 1548. While working on his Eagle Scout Project in Michael’s Woodshop, he was “bitten” by the woodworking bug (we would apologize, but it would not be sincere…). Ayaan has a goal of earning a Gold Congressional Service Award (requires 400 service hours) and has decided to combine his new interest in woodworking with his desire to serve others.
Mihai Z. is a First Class Scout with Troop 160. He loves playing trumpet and serves as bugler for his Troop. Mihai completed the Woodworking MB Spring 2021 and now has three hobbies he loves: woodworking, model rocketry, and 3D model design and printing. Mihai is already excited to try out our newly donated CNC machine. (And the adult volunteers are happy to have a teenager around to teach us how to use it!)
This spring, the Aquatics Committee hosted its first paddlemaking class in Michael’s Woodshop at Camp Snyder. Two Scouts and two adults from Troop 191F and a shop volunteer all crafted their own paddles in this initial class. The process began with each student receiving a milled Ash “blank” approximately 1 1/8” thick, 6” wide and 6’ long and ended with everyone having created their own individually sized, properly balanced and beautifully shaped flatwater canoe paddle which they will treasure for a lifetime!
Bill Buff is managing partner of Stratacomm, a communications and marketing firm recognized by Washingtonian magazine as one of “50 Great Places to Work.” Along with his business partners, Bill carefully nurtures Stratacomm’s corporate culture, which places high value on client service, innovation, entrepreneurship, inclusion, teamwork, learning, ethics and fun.
Wetsuits are a must when braving the cold water temperatures in April in Pennsylvania! Over 30 brave scouts and adults from Troop 58 in Ashburn, VA partook in a 7.5 mile white water rafting adventure on the Lower Youghiogheny River that included Class II – IV rapids. The frigid 45 degree water temperature was shocking to the system for a raft of voyagers who were thrown overboard during the adventure. The cold water temperature didn’t deter some courageous scouts from launching themselves from an overhang into the icy cold water just for the thrill of it! After whitewater rafting (and polar plunge for some) the scouts warmed up with a hike to Great Gorge and campfire cooking in the Ohiopyle State Park, PA.
