We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

The Scouter Digest Staff

SIGN UP – Seeking Counselors for March 2021 NCAC MB@Home

by

NCAC is looking for Merit Badge Counselors for the March 2021 session of the MeritBadges@Home program.

Counselors will conduct remote instruction for Scouts through the Zoom and collaborate through the Basecamp platform between a period of March 15-April 3, 2021.

If you are interested in serving as a counselor, please follow the link below to learn more and sign up. The counselor registration deadline is Monday, February 22.

March 2021 MB@Home Counselor Registration Form (https://forms.gle/TsvZK1PuFhnQTay88)

Feel free to share these links with your Scouting and professional colleagues.

Camp Snyder Scouts BSA Merit Badge Week Is Coming!

by

Join us at Camp Snyder for the FIRST EVER MERIT BADGE week for Scouts BSA for the week July 18 – 24, 2021!

We will offer a wide range of Trail-to-Eagle and Outdoor Merit Badges (like Cooking, Swimming, Soil and Water Conservation, First Aid, Archery, Rifle Shooting, Geocaching and more) and Specialty Merit Badges (like Woodworking, Aviation, Search and Rescue, Photography, Weather, Archeology and more). Classes will be small (10 scouts maximum) and up to 50 Merit Badges will be offered.

There are two ways to participate. Individual Scouts or Units can:

  1. stay at Camp Snyder all week and camp overnight or
  2. be a day-only participant while staying overnight at home.

The entire program, to include dining, camping, merit badge classes and fun activities (like the swimming pool, climbing tower, air rifles, craftwork and campfires) will be conducted using strict COVID-19 virus precautions.

Sign up now at https://www.gotosnyder.org/summer-camp/specialty-week/ to RESERVE YOUR PLACE, since the number of participants will be LIMITED to 100 campers and 50 day-only participants. Units can sign up one adult leader for FREE for every 5 paying Scouts. Sign-up for specific Merit Badges classes will be later, during Spring 2021 once the class schedule is finalized!

A Scouting Testimonial from Will Gouker

by

Dear Order of the Arrow Member:

Last year I had the honor of serving as the Lodge Chief of the Amangamek-Wipit Lodge, the largest Order of the Arrow Lodge in the nation, to serve and represent over four-thousand of my fellow Scouts and Scouters in NCAC. Through this experience and my time in the Order of the Arrow, I have gotten to meet many along the trail, including you. Our Scouting community needs us all to help build our endowment for future generations of youth!

One of my favorite stories to tell of my own journey along the trail—one that truly defines what it means to be in the world of Scouting—originates at our very own Goshen Scout Reservation. Not that long ago, I was sitting with all my friends in my Pack at Camp Ross. We were laughing, singing along to “Froggy,” chanting “Ross is Boss” at the top of our lungs, and having a fantastic time. Just along the ridge of the mountain came these giant, barreling purple clouds that threatened the camps that surrounded our Lake Merriweather. As those clouds grew closer to us, the winds picked up, and rain began to pelt our backs. The incredible Staff gathered all these crazy Cub Scouts in the dining hall, our new accommodations for the night. As the evening was coming to a close, the stories and skits and songs had dissipated from the room, the next question was “how do we sleep” came up. Without hesitation, those Camp Staffers ventured back into the storm to gather their own beds, blankets, pillows, and anything they could muster. In the end, we made it through the night, we woke up the next day and headed home having grown up a little.

Each time I recount that story, it continually inspires me. The young men and women that the Scouting program has developed were willing to give everything they had to seemingly random strangers, and those Scouts were bound together by the ties of brotherhood in Scouting—the pinnacle of the Scout Oath and Law, executed without hesitation, showing the incredible resiliency and dedication of Scouts.

But what strikes me, each time I look back on my time or listen to others describe their times in Scouting is that this story is not unique. Looking back on our journeys along the trail, it becomes wholly apparent that the most important thing that Scouting has provided each and every single one of us: a community.

Like almost every organization, this pandemic has shaken our community to the core. With every meeting, event, and class moving online, the continual question gets asked: “Why do I stay?”

For me, I stay for the immense opportunity to grow in a safe environment, where I can learn immeasurable skills that will apply to my everyday life. This organization has been a second home for me and millions of my friends. Years ago, when we were sitting around the fire at Camp Ross, gearing up for the Centennial Celebration of Scouting, we were made a promise that this family would build these children into young adults. The challenges we face, a pandemic exacerbated by bankruptcy, can only be overcome if we have local leaders to ensure the future of Scouting is still burning bright. At the end of the day, it is not about endowing tomorrow, but endowing the next century of Scouting and ensuring that the promise I had as a Cub Scout is still there for tomorrow.

I encourage you to visit www.ncacbsa.org to see all the fantastic opportunities we give the young people of the National Capital Area Council. To learn more about how you can ensure that our community of Scouts and Scouters will live on, give Jenna Welle (301-214-9113) or Forrest Horton (703-919-4636) a call soon!

Yours in Scouting,

William Gouker
2019-2020 Lodge Chief

Join the GOAT Crew: A Scout’s Perspective

by

In summer of 2019, I participated in the Goshen Order of the Arrow Trail Crew (GOAT). Based out of Lenhok’sin High Adventure at the Goshen Scout Reservation, GOAT offers a two-week program, where one week is filled with trail work and skill building, and is followed by a week of backpacking and fun activities through the Lenhok’sin Program. Through the GOAT program, I was able to experience all of the amazing outposts at Lenhok’sin High Adventure while still performing acts of service and fulfilling my commitment as a member of the Order of the Arrow. The GOAT Crew was composed of several scouts from the Amangamek-Wipit Order of the Arrow Lodge, furthering the goal of cheerful service and the brotherhood of scouting.

While working on the many trails around Goshen, I learned how to interpret trail blazes, repair wooden bridges, and use several tools that I had never even heard of before. This trail work helped to ensure that the many miles of trail system were cleared after a long off season, and ready to host the scouts that would come adventuring during the next few weeks. I was also able to see behind the scenes action of what it takes to set up and operate a high adventure camp while creating friendships with staff members.

After a week of hard work restoring trails, the GOAT crew took a well-earned rest and traveled into Lexington where we ordered burgers and shakes, hung out at a local pet shop to play with puppies, and watched Men in Black: International.

The next week was spent backpacking along the newly restored trails throughout Goshen, climbing the five mountain peaks and visiting the various outposts that were part of the Lenhok’sin program. The first part of our weeklong journey was spent climbing Viewing Rock and Jump Rock, two of the five peaks required to earn the Five Peaks Award. Following the long and strenuous hike, we hiked to the Caving Outpost, where we ate dinner before spending three hours crawling through a part of the three miles of extensive caves beneath a cow pasture near Goshen. On day two, we packed up our gear and hiked to The Knob, which was the third peak at Goshen. At the end of our hike, we traveled on to Mountain Man, where we learned about fur trapping and trading in the 18th century. At Mountain Man, the GOAT crew engaged in a shooting competition with black-powder rifles, threw hatchets at oak logs, and shared potatoes with the Irish immigrant who helped run the outpost. On the third day, we completed a primitive night in the backcountry woods of Goshen, away from the safety of Outposts. The GOAT crew finished the trek at Foxfire, an 18th century Appalachian blacksmith’s forge, where we learned the trade of blade making and forged a legendary butterknife worthy of King Arthur himself.

GOAT is an amazing program that I feel every scout who is able should take advantage of. A week of high adventure programs and service at a discounted rate? There’s really no better way to spend two weeks of your summer.

Find out more on how to join the GOAT Crew at http://wipit470.org/goat.html or by emailing GOAT@wipit470.org.

Solo Summer Camp for Individual Scouts

by

No Troop, Crew, or adults required!

Goshen’s Provisional Camp program is offered at Camp Marriott for a Scout, Venturer, or small group of Scouts or Venturers to attend camp on their own without their unit and without having to bring their own adult leaders. All Scouts and Venturers, boys and girls, are welcome. There is no minimum age requirement, as long as the Scout is registered with a Troop or a Crew.

So how does it work? As a provisional camper, you will be part of a Provisional Troop. Provisional units are comprised of provisional campers with staff members and adult volunteers. During the day, you can partake in the program at Camp Marriott. Those new to Scouts may wish to check out New Scout Quest, Camp Marriott’s introduction to Scouting and Scout Camp, full of advancement, Merit Badges, and fun. Older Scouts can try out some cool programs like the ATV Ridership program or Goshen’s older Scout program, Vets. Camp Marriott also has a Venturing program, which provides outdoor adventure as Venturers work towards their Venturing Ranger Award.

But whether you are looking for a standard camp program, like Scoutcraft and Aquatics, or more unique offerings, like the Eagle-required badges at Eagle’s Eyrie or the advanced crafts of The Guild, you will find lots to do here.

Provisional Camp is offered all weeks – from Week 1 (June 27 – July 3, 2021) through Week 5 (July 25 – July 31, 2021).

Registration opens on March 1, 2021.

Learn more about Provisional Camp at www.gotogoshen.org/provisional.

Camp Staff: Still Accepting Applications

by

Just realized you want to spend an awesome summer on camp staff? It’s not too late. Missed our January hiring event? No problem, we’re still scheduling phone interviews.

We’re always looking for funloving, energetic, hardworking, and maybe just a little – or let’s face it, sometimes very – quirky individuals to join our team. The sooner you apply, the more likely you are to be able to apply for your first choice of camp or your first choice of program area!

 

Applicants must be 15 years of age or older to work at Camp Snyder, Goshen’s Webelos Camps (PMI and Ross), and Goshen’s Scout/Venturing Resident Camps (Bowman, Marriott, and Olmsted). Applicants for Lenhok’sin High Adventure must be 16 years of age or older. We are also seeking those 18 years and older for leadership and other positions.

Not yet 15 years old? Applicants can apply to be a Counselor-in-Training at one of the resident camps starting at 14 years old.

Employment dates are from June 19 to August 3, 2021 for Goshen Camps and June 21 to July 30, 2021 for Camp Snyder.

Learn more and find your summer job at Goshen Scout Reservation (www.gotogoshen.org/staff) or Camp Snyder (www.gotosnyder.org/work)