We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

The Scouter Digest Staff

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!

Winter WFA Courses at Camp Snyder

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Get Wilderness First Aid Certified with the NCAC’s own Outdoor Preparedness Initiative (OPI)! Be prepared for a BSA national or local high adventure, your own trip, or just outdoor adventure in general.

OPI’s winter WFA course dates have been set. Check out the dates and register on www.ncacbsa.org/opi-wfa.

 

OPI provides certification from the American Red Cross and offers courses at Camp Snyder in Haymarket, VA. The training is for adults and youth, ages 14 and up.

Make sure to sign up soon, since course sizes are strictly limited due to COVID-19!

Check out some of the pictures, below, from our fall courses!

 

 

Awesomeness Wanted: Camp Staff 2021

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Do you like camping and the outdoors? Do you miss camp? So do we! Join our awesome group of camp staff and work at one of the coolest summer jobs you could ever have!

Ready to Sa-TURN a Cub Scout’s summer into something stellar? Apply to work at Camp Snyder, where the 2021 Camp Theme – A Space Adventure – is carried through archery, nature, crafts, swimming, boating, and all camp activities as Cub Scouts and their leaders have fun outdoors.

Want to escape to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains for the summer? Apply to work at one of seven Goshen Scout Reservation Camps! Join our energetic and goofy staff at our Webelos Camps – Camp PMI and Camp Ross. Want to teach your favorite Merit Badge? Choose one of our three Scouts BSA/Venturing camps – Camp Bowman, Camp Olmsted, or Camp Marriott. Looking for adventure? Become part of our elite staff at Lenhok’sin High Adventure Base. Want to support camps in retail or in emergency medicine? Our administration camp – Camp Post – might be the place for you.

Staff must be 15 years or older to be an instructor and 16 or older to work at Goshen’s Lenhok’sin High Adventure. Not yet 15? If you’re 14, you can be a Counselor-in-Training at any of our Cub Scout, Webelos, or Scouts BSA/Venturing Resident Camps. We’re also on the lookout for those 18 years of age or older to take on leadership positions.

Have friends or family that love the outdoors, but aren’t in Scouting? Tell them about it! Prior experience with the Boy Scouts of America is not required.

Employment dates are from June 12 to August 3, 2021 for Goshen Camps and June 21 to July 30, 2021 for Camp Snyder.

We’re coming up on hiring season! Interviews, via phone or video call, start January 2. Submit your application by January 19th to get a January interview date.

Apply online and get more information on our websites. Visit www.gotogoshen.org/staff for Goshen Camps and www.gotosnyder.org/work for Camp Snyder.

Save the Date: College of Commissioner Service 2021

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Save the dates!

NCAC’s College of Commissioner Service 2021 will be held virtually via Zoom on March 13 and 14, 2021. The program on Saturday, March 13 will consist of six class periods plus a Keynote Speaker. The Sunday program will consist of three class periods. Our Keynote Speaker is (tentatively) Roger Mosby, CEO and President of the Boy Scouts of America!

Registration will open in February. Watch this site for more news as it breaks!