We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

The Scouter Digest Staff

Troop 58’s Whitewater Rafting & Polar Plunge Adventure

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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.

          

Goose Creek District Merit Badge Dean

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Boy Scout builds outdoor classroom for Eagle Scout project

By John Battiston, Loudoun Times-Mirror

Grant Newcomb planned and helped build an outdoor classroom at his childhood school, Discovery Elementary School, for his Eagle Scout project. Here he’s pictured with the nearly finished project on May 19.

For his Eagle Scout project, Grant Newcomb of Ashburn’s Boy Scout Troop 997 decided to leave a legacy at his childhood school by building an outdoor classroom.

“I wanted to make something that would last a very, very long time and would leave my impact there,” he said of his project at Discovery Elementary School in Ashburn.

Newcomb, now a junior at Broad Run High School, said he first came up with the idea of an outdoor classroom for Discovery’s center courtyard two years ago.

As it turned out, the school already had previously come up with a budget for an outdoor classroom and made calls for ideas for the classroom’s design.

However, the school’s outdoor classroom was never brought to fruition, according to Newcomb’s father, Rich Newcomb.

“So when Grant showed up and said, ‘Hey, we’d like to do an outdoor classroom,’ they were very excited that they had a path forward,” Rich Newcomb said.

After a six-month planning period, Grant Newcomb enlisted the help of fellow scouts as well as friends from his neighborhood and workplace to start building earlier this month.

Close to 400 volunteer hours went into the project, he predicted. He said the school’s parent-teacher organization is providing the project’s funding.

Over a two-week period, the project team dug holes in the school courtyard, poured in concrete, then built nine wooden benches and a stage to be placed into the holes.

The stage includes a weatherproof whiteboard that any school instructor can use to teach a class on a particularly nice day.

Grant Newcomb said he also hopes the space will help teachers educate students on Leave No Trace and The Outdoor Code — two very important practices for him and other scouts.

“This project will definitely leave a very positive impact here,” he said. “It gives kids a good space where they can learn and be outside, so they’re not cooped up in their classrooms all day.”

Meet 2021 NOESA Honoree Richard Harrington

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Rich has been the CEO of RHED Pixel, a visual communications company in Falls Church, VA, since 1999. He is an expert in motion graphic design and digital video who started his career in broadcast journalism in Iowa. His interest in visual communications can be seen throughout his career. He’s directed live television, published a regional music website, taught at two universities, and wrote for various magazines. He’s helped his clients effectively communicate their message. Some of RHED Pixel’s clients include the American Red Cross, American Diabetes Association, Canon, Children’s National Hospital, LinkedIn, Microsoft, the Obesity Action Coalition, and Skylum. His certification as a Project Management Professional helps him blend creative vision with real-world results.

Rich values sharing what he knows with others. This has been highlighted during the pandemic when he helped multinational companies, local small businesses, and our NCAC scouts communicate virtually as the country quickly moved to online platforms. He shares his enthusiasm and knowledge with more than four million people a year through books, magazines, websites, and conferences. He is a highly in-demand industry speaker and consultant. He has helped develop conferences since 2003 for the National Association of Broadcasters. He has been a featured speaker at conferences such as Adobe MAX, Photo Plus Expo, Macworld, Photoshop World, and other conferences internationally.

Rich has published more than 40 books on technology topics ranging from Photoshop and PowerPoint to Video Production and Podcasting. Many of them have been translated into other languages. Rich is an avid blogger. He has produced more than 1,000 podcasts to help others learn about creative software and manage their projects effectively. Rich owns and publishes the Photofocus website, which reaches 350,000 viewers each month. His tutorials can be found on LinkedIn Learning, Lynda.com, Creative Cow, and other locations. He enjoys sharing knowledge and helping others expand their creativity.

Rich strives to be friendly, positive, and inclusive in his professional life. He has built a diverse network of colleagues and clients that spans the globe. Rich recognizes that his industry needs more women and diverse voices and works to create opportunities at his company, on his website, and when selecting speakers for conferences. He openly engages others in respectful and friendly ways to create a better future for his industry.

Rich believes in giving back to the scouting community in a variety of ways. He is a former Cub Scout Den Leader (2010 – 2013), Assistant Cubmaster (2013 – 2015), Assistant Scoutmaster (2015 – 2017), and Scoutmaster (2017 – 2019). He is currently an ASM for the girls’ Troop 1533 and Advisor for the Venture Crew 2188.

Rich tries to do a good turn daily by being generous with his time. Rich cheerfully runs merit badges for youth in his troop and at the council level on topics of expertise – including Moviemaking, Photography, and Animation. He helps train adult Scouters to communicate more effectively and inclusively by running training sessions at the University of Scouting. Since the need for Scout-At-Home programs began, he has helped develop these opportunities by working with leadership and scouts alike. He lends his skills and service to his council, helping with messaging and website redesign as the Vice President of Marketing for NCAC.

Congratulations to Rich and his fellow 2021 NOESA Honorees! Eagle alums, let’s stay connected. Join NESA DC today! www.ncacbsa.org/national-eagle-scout-association/

Aquia District’s Pack 142 Ceremony Celebrates Scouts’ Advancements

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There is a long-standing Spring tradition when Cub Scouts advance to their new rank after they have spent the past year fulfilling all the requirements and earning all their achievements to do so. It typically aligns with the school year and is often celebrated as a large Pack event with friends and family attending to share in the celebration too!

Pack 142 of the Aquia District in the National Capital Area Council (NCAC) carried out this tradition on Thursday, May 27, 2021 on the grounds of Izaak Walton League of America’s Alexandria Chapter in Stafford, VA, the Pack’s chartering organization. It was a beautiful evening that began with the presentation of our Nation’s colors and Pack 142 flag by some of the older Scouts, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and Scout Oath.

The guest speaker for the evening, Crystal Vanuch, then opened the advancement ceremony with kind words and inspiration to the Cub Scouts and their families. Crystal Vanuch is the Chairman of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors and elected to serve the Rock Hill District. Following her opening speech, she offered an opportunity for Scouts to ask her questions about her job or being an elected official. The best question of the night went to Jasen A. (Age 7) who asked her “Now that you explained your job, what do you actually do?” The audience and speaker were thoroughly amused by his candid nature!

Pack leaders then proceeded to recognize each Cub Scout’s accomplishments along with a neckerchief for their new rank. Pack 142 advanced all 12 active Scouts in the Pack to their new ranks and there was much celebration and many smiles. These achievements represented the great dedication and commitment from every Cub Scout, their Scout leaders, and their families. Scouting is a family affair, after all!

Lucas M. advanced from Lion to Tiger and Ambrose O., Asher C., Bryson D., and Jasen A. from Tiger to Wolf. There were two Wolves who moved up to Bear, Caleb L. and Drew M. and Justin C. and Payce B. from Bears to Webelos. Lastly, Webelos Anthony C., Brooks B., and Justin W. earned their Webelos rank moving towards their Arrow of Light award.

Cub Scouting is a program of Boy Scouts of America (BSA), whose overall mission is to help young people build character, learn citizenship, and develop personal fitness and leadership. While the BSA serves youth from ages 5 through 20, Cub Scouting focuses on kindergarten through fifth grade.

Pack 142 started a new year of Scouting on 1 June and would like to invite all families interested to contact us at ncac.pack142@gmail.com.

Pack 278 NOVA Adventure

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Pack 278 in Braddock Heights, Maryland started to develop a NOVA program prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. After a brief hiatus, Leaders worked hard to get the program back on track. This Spring, the Pack held a 3-Day NOVA program for the Science Everywhere NOVA Award. On Day 1, Scouts learned about the scientific method by testing water bottle rockets. They each created different fins and nose cones to see how differently they flew with and without them. On Day 2, Scouts learned about Earth’s magnetic field by investigating how a compass works. After making their own compass with a magnet and paper clip, they used a compass to set bearings and solve a compass course.

On Day 3, Scouts took a field trip to Hunting Creek Fishery in Thurmont, Maryland. Hunting Creek Fishery is a family owned Koi and Ornamental Goldfish hatchery that farms and ships fish all over the country. Scouts learned how science is used to spawn and raise fish from eggs in their multiple indoor and outdoor ponds. Leaders of Pack 278 have had success building a strong NOVA program even through the difficulty of the pandemic and hope to engage our youth in STEM activities that will inspire them as they continue in Scouts.

Meet 2021 NOESA Honoree Craig Burkhardt

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Craig Burkhardt is an attorney and capital partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP.   He has focused on the representation of clients before the Executive and Legislative agencies of the United States and Illinois State governments for 37 years.  His clients have spanned from individuals, statewide and national business and industrial associations, businesses from technology start-ups, Fortune 500 corporations, to ambassadors, legislative leaders and chief executives of foreign nations.  He also practices election law, and has twice served as president of the Republican National Lawyers Association, and as chief counsel for the Republican leader of the Illinois House of Representatives and general counsel of the Illinois Republican Party. He regularly provides legal and political advice to federal and state Republican candidates and organizations.

His legal career started in 1984 in Springfield, Illinois, where he practiced for 20 years.  Following terrorist attacks on the United States, Craig was appointed by the White House to serve as Chief Counsel for Technology at the U.S. Department of Commerce, leading the legal staff responsible for providing advice to federal technology-related agencies. In that role, he supervised the legal team investigating the New York World Trade Center building and fire safety disaster, for which he was presented a federal gold medal for distinguished scientific and engineering achievement. He also headed the department’s Office of the Chief Counsel for Industry and Security, leading the legal staff responsible for preventing export of dangerous commercial goods to unauthorized entities and providing export administration and enforcement advice to the Bureau of Industry and Security.  In 2006, Craig resumed private legal practice at his firm’s Washington, DC office.  He concentrates on representing companies and foreign countries in their interactions with the United States Government.

Craig has been a leader at the local and national levels of the Boy Scouts of America for 35 years.  His leadership activities have included service as District Chair, Council President, Area President, Region Vice President (Membership), National Venturing Vice-Chair, National BSA Foundation Trustee, National Second Century Society Co-Chair, and Member of the National Advisory Council.  A favorite service was as founding Council President of the Chicago-headquartered Pathway to Adventure Council, which combined four predecessor councils.  This included the council of his youth, where he earned Arrow of Light, Eagle Scout and Quartermaster Sea Scout and was a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow.  He is Scoutmaster of Scouts BSA Troop 248 for Girls in the District of Columbia, which he founded with Barbara, his wife of 35 years, and First Class Scout Gloria Burkhardt.

Congratulations to Craig and his fellow 2021 NOESA Honorees! Eagle alums, let’s stay connected. Join NESA DC today! www.ncacbsa.org/national-eagle-scout-association/