We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

The Scouter Digest Staff

The Importance of Bees

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Robbie S. of Troop 2012 in Sterling, Virginia, had taken an interest in his father’s hobby as a beekeeper. Watching him work taught Robbie the importance of bees in the environment. He learned that bees and other pollinators are vital to plant reproduction and biodiversity. While learning more about these pollinators, he also learned that honey bees are at extreme risk of extinction due to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) which is caused by various factors such as pesticides and poor nutrition. Robbie knew that for his Eagle Scout Project he wanted to raise awareness about pollinators and help the local honey bees out with some new bee boxes.

Robbie needed to show his Troop and his community the importance of pollinators to their ecosystem. So he began to research all he could about honey bees, mice, tracheal mites, and other pollinators, and how they help spread pollen. While Robbie was enthused to have found so much information, he was a bit overwhelmed by the amount of it and he had to figure out how to condense it into a slideshow. Once he had completed his slideshow, he recruited some volunteers to begin the process of building bee boxes. They were able to get their hands on a few kits with the help of Robbie’s father and they began their work. After finishing two beehives, Robbie was ready to show his work and spread awareness about pollinators to his community. He explained their importance to biodiversity, and ways they can help on an individual level, such as not using pesticides on your lawn.

Now that he completed his project, Robbie was able to not only learn more about pollinators and how to build bee boxes but how to effectively communicate and organize. There were many steps to this project from emails and agendas to keeping Scouts organized and keeping track of dates which led Robbie to quickly build his communication and organization skills. Even though it was hard work, it was all worth it in the end for Robbie because he was able to spread more awareness about the importance of pollinators.

If you’re interested in learning more about pollinators, you can check out Robbie’s slideshow here!

Memories from University of Scouting

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As we’re getting ready for this year’s University of Scouting – are you registered yet? – here are some of my favorite photos from last year’s UoS.

 

Messengers of Peace Course Participants

 

Met a Scouter from Australia who is now registered with NCAC

The Abrahmic Faith Representatives from the New NCAC Religious Relationships Committee

 

James E. West and friends of the Endowment Committee

Wood Badge Buffalo Mahmood Qadri sporting a World Scout Jamboree Tartan cap.

Watch Michael’s Woodshop Come to Life!

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If you have ever wondered about the power of volunteering and donations, we invite you to view this short series of slideshows that chronicle the creation of Michael’s Woodshop at Camp William B. Snyder.

Before: Storage Space, December 2017

The slideshows capture the development of underutilized storage space from bare steel walls to the incredible facility which exists today.  As you view the slideshows, please keep in mind that everything you see was created ENTIRELY through the skills and efforts of volunteers.  In addition, substantially all of the equipment and tooling in the shop has been acquired through generous donations from individuals and units within the NCAC Scouting community.  Please enjoy our slideshows and remember how much of a difference you can make!

Michael’s Woodshop is operated and maintained by a group of dedicated Volunteer Shop Stewards.  The Shop Stewards take great pride in the shop and are committed to providing high-quality program offerings to all NCAC youth.  We invite you to visit Michael’s Woodshop Webpage which has information about upcoming events, scheduling a unit activity, volunteering, our shop calendar, and more.

After: Michael’s Woodshop, December 2020

There are also many other ways to support Camp Snyder.  Individuals, small teams and large groups can participate in Service Days or schedule a Service Project.  If you have specialized skills or training, you can register these skills with the Camp Ranger to assist at camp as needs arise.

Please visit the Volunteering Webpage for information about how you can get involved.           

Come out and enjoy Michael’s Woodshop at Camp William B. Snyder!

An Eagle Project With a History

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The Eagle project of fourteen year old Jack Gray, of Troop 51 in Herndon, is literally historic. Jack and his team recently completed a ten-month, 450 hour restoration project at the Civil War era Lyon Family Cemetery in Loudoun County Virginia.

A site of historic interest at the edge of Brambleton Regional Park in Ashburn provides a glimpse into our area’s past. Featuring grave markers that pre-date the U.S. Civil War, members of several prominent and distantly related Loudoun County families with names like Burdine, Edwards, Havener, Hawes, Jackson, Lyon, Moran, Paxson, and Shryock connect us with events and individuals whose life and times helped shape our own. The site’s historical marker, notes the presence of Private Richard “Dick” Moran, the “Warring Methodist” and an influential member of Mosby’s Raiders – a well know contingent of Confederate soldiers, and a bold disruptor of local union army efforts of the time.

Exposure of the Lyon Family Cemetery to the elements over the decades left headstones sunken, fallen over, or severely tilted. Many were cracked. The spoils of time rendered many of their faces unreadable. The stone perimeter fence– expertly constructed and laid hundreds of years ago— had crumbled under nature’s ongoing assault. A once grand and impressive rectangular wrought iron fence surrounding a large granite marker withered with rust and tilted inward as if in protective crouch.

To restore these grounds, and with it a piece of local history, the fourteen-year-old Gray recruited an impressive array of volunteers to carry out this restorative work. The effort required not only physical repairs, but expertise of skilled craftsmen and local historic preservation organizations.

Chief among these volunteers was Mr. James Short, a former Brambleton Regional Park manager, and owner of a local gravesite maintenance company, Gravesite Guardians LLC. As a project consultant and trainer for the work crew of Troop 51 Scouts and community members helping with the project, Mr. Short conducted onsite demonstrations on marker identification, cleaning, leveling, and re-mounting.

Representatives of local historic preservation organizations contributed their expertise and abilities to the project. The Stuart-Mosby Historical Society, and the Loudon Preservation Society, assisted in archival research, database and information retrieval. Several representatives from the Daughters of the Confederacy gave of their time to help clean and remount headstones. Scouts and families of Troop 51 contributed both physical skill and enthusiasm for completing the effort.

Thanks to the work of Jack Gray and his team, visitors to this site have gained a new opportunity to understand the history of our area and country. With a greater appreciation for the events and individuals who have shaped our society, we as citizens are better prepared to discuss our shared challenges and solutions.
To explore the Lyon family cemetery historic location, and see the work of Eagle Scout Jack Gray and his team, visit Brambleton Regional Park in Ashburn.

NCAC Conservation Committee

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The NCAC Conservation Committee promotes an ethic of conservation throughout the Council, providing technical assistance and expertise regarding matters of ecology, conservation, and resources management to all units as well as NCAC property managers. The committee administers the Distinguished Conservation Service Award and provides guidance to scouts and units who want to perform conservation projects or earn conservation awards.

Conservation is an important part of Scouting’s mission. Your unit might practice conservation by working with qualified experts to remove invasive species, plant native trees, reduce runoff into streams or encourage the regeneration of species under pressure such as the monarch or other pollinators. The possibilities are endless, and most parks and woodland sanctuaries have land managers who can help you get started.

The Committee also promotes Scouting’s conservation awards such as:

  • Distinguished Conservation Service Award – The fundamental purpose of the BSA Distinguished Conservation Service Awards program is to encourage learning by the participants and to increase public awareness about natural resource conservation. The goal of this awards program is to encourage and recognize truly outstanding efforts that have contributed significantly to natural resource conservation and environmental protection. https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/conservation-and-environment/conservation-awards-and-recognitions/bsa-distinguished-conservation-service-award/
  • World Conservation Award, an opportunity for individual Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturers, and Sea Scouts to think globally and act locally to preserve and improve our environment. This program is designed to help youth members gain awareness that all nations are closely related through natural resources and that we are interdependent with our world environment. https://www.scouting.org/awards/awards-central/world-conservation/
  • Conservation Good Turn Award, which is an opportunity for Cub Scout packs, Scouts BSA troops, Venturing crews, and Sea Scout ships to join with conservation or environmental organizations (federal, state, local, or private) to carry out a Conservation Good Turn in their home communities. https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/conservation-and-environment/conservation-good-turn/
  • Conservation rocker patch for the National Medal for Outdoor Achievement, which is awarded for service to the environment. A gold device may be earned for each additional 25 hours of conservation work. A silver device is earned for each additional 100 hours of conservation work (for example, the first silver device is earned at 125 total hours of conservation work). https://www.scouting.org/awards/awards-central/national-medal-outdoor/
  • Keep America Beautiful Hometown USA Award – a joint program between Keep America Beautiful Inc. and the Boy Scouts of America. It is designed to give recognition to the outstanding efforts of Scouts in their communities in regard to citizenship and environmental improvement. https://www.scouting.org/awards/awards-central/keep-america-beautiful-hometown-usa-award/
  • Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award – Awarded for completing a certain number of outdoor activities while at Cub Scout camp or day camp. Activities include a nature/conservation project in a Cub’s area. https://www.scouting.org/awards/awards-central/cs-outdoor/
  • National Park Service Scout Ranger Program – The Scout Ranger program invites Scouts of all ages to participate in educational and/or volunteer service projects at national park sites to spark their awareness of the national parks and to provide Scouts with the opportunity to explore the national parks and learn more about protecting our natural and cultural resources. Scouts are awarded a certificate and/or patch. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/youthprograms/scout-ranger.htm
  • Messengers of Peace – A global initiative designed to inspire millions of young men and women in more than 220 countries and territories to work toward peace. Any Scout or Scouter who participates in a project that has had a significant impact on the community in any one of the three dimensions (#3 is ‘relationships between humankind and its environment’) can qualify as a Messenger of Peace. https://www.scouting.org/international/messengers-of-peace/

More details are here: https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/conservation-and-environment/conservation-awards-and-recognitions/

Scouters wishing to promote conservation in their District or Unit should contact Committee Chair Will Rodger at wrodger@outlook.com or their district’s conservation point of contact.

Cub Scout Fall Funstravagnza = Week 4: Duty to God

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Happy Holidays everyone! As we spend days together on breaks from school and maybe take some time off from work – This is a great time to talk about how your family practices your faith.
Many of you will attend extra special religious services during this time of year, or practice an observance in your home. Use these unique family moments to help your Cub learn about your family history and faith, and keep progressing towards their next rank.

Lions – Lions Honor (Cub Scout Basics): https://public.3.basecamp.com/p/XkPRaMp7C1eTPeFfmMUAbQF8 or you could complete the Pick My Path elective
Tigers – Tiger Circle – Duty to God: https://public.3.basecamp.com/p/rYe9KnN5DWmLLCaLis1cRt5z
Wolves – Duty to God Footsteps: https://public.3.basecamp.com/p/MMm8vc8QUb8Z8URvLHHPuHsb
Bears – Fellowship and Duty to God: https://public.3.basecamp.com/p/qGtMzyCPxDKcph5qfVfvRbTL
Webelos – Duty to God and You: https://public.3.basecamp.com/p/1ULshuzo3in4sP8ussfCBX2V
Arrow of Light – Duty to God in Action: https://public.3.basecamp.com/p/9gc5shg4DSXZW4Ub9VQuuAcd

Have a safe and happy New Year and check back soon for more updates!