We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

The Scouter Digest Staff

Aquia Troop 907 Girls (Troop 907G) Active & Growing!

by

As the third Aquia Troop founded after Scouts BSA opened the Scouting Trail to young women, Troop 907 Girls (Troop 907G), has been active and growing despite the on-going challenges of COVID-19. Troop 907G was founded on 19 Aug 2020 with 5 Scouts and 7 adults and is chartered to Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Stafford, VA. After 2 successful recruiting campouts and AOL crossovers, the Troop currently has 11 Scouts and 10 adult Scouters. The Scouts are Peyton, Ella, Kera, Bella, Josey, Maddy, Keira, Becca, Mariana, Emma, and Mackenzie. The adults are Ken Todd, Sharon Patrick, Helen Brennan, Chris Reynolds, Kristina Reynolds, Melonie Walker, Michael Walker, John Patrick, Kari Hammond, Jonathan Reynolds, and Jason Smith. As the Founder of Baden-Powell remarked over 100 years ago about the power of getting Scouts into the outdoors: “The key that unlocks the Spirit of the Movement is the romance of Woodcraft and Nature Lore.” Well, the hearty Scouts of Troop 907G have found that key and (safely) unlocked the Spirit of Scouting in the outdoors ever since COVID-19 reared its head. You can’t keep these Scouts down!!

In April, Scoutmaster (SM) John Patrick set up a 1-mile orienteering course at Pratt Park near Fredericksburg, VA for the Scouts to work on their land navigation skills with map and compass. Scouts left the starting point at 1.5-hour intervals, so there would be no overlap with any other Scout. For health and safety reasons, each Scout was accompanied by one of their parents – avoiding close contact with other Scouts and adhering to the Buddy System. Kera, Bella, and Becca completed the course.

From the March COVID-19 lockdown through May, the Troop had been doing Zoom meetings and virtual campouts along with classes to work on some virtual Merit Badges’ requirements, but the Scouts were getting really bored with the virtual world (something we can all identify with, right?) So, under the guidance of their Scoutmaster, the Scouts began preparations in April and May for getting back into the outdoors.

In June, Troop 907G Scouts safely conducted a backyard campout at the home of the Scoutmaster as preparation for a planned long-term camping trip in July. Six Scouts Kera, Keira, Maddy, Josey, Bella, Becca attended and worked on Scout Rank advancements for the new Arrow of Light Scouts who had crossed over in April. The older Scouts, under the supervision of the Scoutmaster (SM) and Assistant SMs, worked on their Totin’ Chip requirements and even practiced using a bow saw and ax, but only in the “ax yard” the Scouts roped off to ensure a clearly visible safe zone for handling woods tools. The Totin’ Chip certification grants a Scout the right to carry and use woods tools by showing their Scout leader that the Scout understands and can safely demonstrate knowledge, skills, abilities and responsibilities for properly using and taking care of woods tools and living the BSA Outdoor Code (see: https://www.Scouting.org/awards/awards-central/totin-chip/)

Troop 907G also had one new Scout join the day of the campout and Maddy camped with the Troop that Saturday night. The Scouts prepared all meals keeping COVID safe practices in mind and under the watchful eyes of adult Scouters. The day culminated with a Court of Honor where Scouts were presented with rank badge and other symbols of Scouting achievement. There were 3 Scouts who achieved the rank of Scout – Keira, Maddy and Josey, 1 Second Class Scout – Bella, and 2 First Class Scouts – Kera and Becca. Rank badges, as well as 5 Merit Badges were presented – Becca earned Environmental Science and Citizenship in the Community and Kera earned Environmental Science, Citizenship in the Nation, and Dog Care. 3 Totin’ Chip Awards and 3 Cyber Chip Awards – Keira, Maddy and Josey were also presented with proper ceremony and congratulations! After a hearty breakfast on Sunday morning, the Scouts packed up and headed home ready as they could be to “Be Prepared” for their long-term camping trip coming up in July.

From 9 to 14 July Scouts Kera, Becca, Bella, Maddy, Josey, and Mariana were accompanied by 4 Scouters, John Patrick, Kari Hammond, Kristina Reynolds and Sharon Patrick, and 2 moms, Melynda Moran and Yaquelin Sanchez, as Troop 907G thrived in the outdoors during a long-term camping trip consisting of 6 days and 5 nights just outside of Luray, VA in the county park at Lake Arrowhead. The Scouts went horse-back riding, swimming, toured the Luray Caverns, tackled the obstacles and challenges of a Ropes Course, then ran through a hedge maze and returned to camp and went swimming again. On Sunday, the Troop relocated to another campground at the Shenandoah River Outfitters where the Scouts practiced setting up their tents in the pouring rain. It was a learning experience for everyone, but you can bet you’ve never seen Scouts set up their tents faster than they did in the rain! As Baden-Powell liked to say: “The rain reveals the true Scout.”

Sunday evening, all campers were treated to a nighttime lightening show for about 45 minutes – which everyone enjoyed from the safety of nearby cars. On Monday, the Scouts went on a 4-hour tubing ride floating down the Shenandoah River – a great time was had by all! During the evening hours, the Scouts sat around a campfire, telling stories, talking with each other and bonding in a way only fellow adventurers can in camp. On Tuesday morning, the Troop broke camp in true Scout Spirit, leaving nothing behind but their thanks for a good time, and then headed home tired, but with a lots of great Scouting memories.

Troop 907G spent the weekend of 21-23 August at Westmoreland State Park where the Scouts worked on some of their nature requirements for rank advancement and also worked on the Geo-Caching merit badge. 6 Troop 907G Scouts, Kera, Keira, Maddy, Josey, Bella and Ella, participated, as well as 3 girls who joined the Troop to see what Scouting was all about. The Troop 907G Scouts introduced the visiting girls to camping and cooking outdoors and camping in the rain. The campers’ big surprise came when the bathhouse backed up and they had to go to other campgrounds in the park to use the facilities.

September 18th to 20th saw 6 Troop 907G Scouts Kera, Maddy, Josey, Bella, Mariana and Emma of Troop 907G camping at the Flying Circus Air Field in Bealeton, VA and watching the Air Show on Sunday. The older Scouts were given the responsibility of working with the younger Scouts, including one who had just joined the Monday before the camping trip, on their basic Scout skills and rank advancements. Baden-Powell would have been proud, as he often said that “Scouting is a game for [youth], under the leadership of [youth], in which the elder [Scouts] can give their younger [Scouts] a healthy environment and encourage them to healthy activities such as will help them to develop citizenship.” Saturday afternoon, one of the pilots gave the Scouts a tour of his hanger which had 5 different types of planes in it and explained about how they do the Air Shows and what all is involved in the planning.

During the weekend of 23-25 October, Troop 907G camped at Christopher Run Campground on part of Lake Anna outside of Mineral, VA and worked on the Fishing Merit Badge. The Troop was conducting another recruiting campout and had another new Scout join the Troop. The Scouts participating in the campout were Kera, Ella, Becca, Emma, Mariana, Maddy, Josey and Mackenzie. Josey completed all of the requirements for the Fishing Merit Badge, while Mackenzie caught 2 small fish that she threw back. None of the other Scouts were lucky in catching any fish but that’s the way fishing goes sometimes. All of the Scouts enjoyed fishing so it’s a pretty sure bet they will do this again next year.

During all of camping trips and weekly meetings the Scouts took time to participate in The Jared Box Project. In total 8 Scouts – Keira, Maddy, Josey, Bella, Becca, Emma, Mariana and Ella – stuffed 14 boxes for children from pre-K to pre-teen/early teen, who are in the Emergency Room (ER) at Stafford Hospital, with items ranging from playing cards to coloring books and colored pencils, and other things. The boxes are given to the young children to help ease their anxiety from being in an Emergency Room. The Scouts decorated the boxes with stickers and included a get-well card in each box. On October 20th, 5 Scouts participated in presenting the boxes to members of the Stafford Hospital ER. Those Troop 907G Scouts who exemplified and lived the Scout Promise to “Help Other People at All Times” and the Scout Law to be “Helpful, Friendly, Kind & Reverent” were Kera, Josey, Maddy, Emma and Becca.

On all Troop 907G’s camping trips, the Scouts learned many lessons about how to thrive and be safe in the outdoors and how to keep all of their fellow Scouts safe too (especially during this time of COVID-19 concerns). This included safely preparing all meals and the importance of cleanliness, including personal hygiene and doing good “KP” (Kitchen Police) by properly and thoroughly washing dishes. The Scouts slept in separate tents and used disposable plates and silverware for sanitation purposes since beginning to camp this past June. The Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) also designated one Scout on each camping trip who is responsible for taking the temperature of everyone attending the outing – Scouts and adults – and recording it in the Troop first aid book.

All Troop 907G Scouts have become fully impressed with the need to do things safely and with keeping the health of everyone involved in mind. As Aquia Scouter Dick Haas (aka: The Ancient One) likes to say: “KISMIF!” which means “Keep It Safe, Make it Fun!” This is the key to successful Scout programs. And WOW! is Troop 907G successful!

Blankets for Our Furry Friends

by

When I was thinking about what I wanted to do for my Eagle project, I thought about possible career and future paths that I am interested in. Veterinary Medicine has been a significant interest of mine since I was young, and this interest inspired me to do a project that could help animals. So I decided to look into different shelters in my area and what they needed from me. That’s how I found the Animal Welfare League of Arlington (AWLA). I decided that I would help make blankets and snuffle mats (a type of ripped blanket that dogs like to play with), and collect any items they may need.

I decided to split my project into two sections: making blankets/snuffle mats and collecting other material donations. I began by recruiting Scouts from my Troop by emailing them to see if they were interested. Then I had them help make blankets and snuffle mats, and asked Troop families for donations such as cat and dog food, unused toys, litter, among other things. When COVID-19 became a reality, I had to put my plans to a halt temporarily. So I ha to adjust my plan to work online, and I brought supplies to each volunteer’s house before a Zoom session and picked up completed mats and blankets afterward. In each Zoom session, I used the EDGE (explain, demonstrate, guide, enable) method to demonstrate and teach volunteers how to make the mats and blankets. During this time, it was quite challenging to get supplies from stores and then get them to each individual’s home. Luckily, I had my driver’s license for my project. Still, the time it took to get enough supplies before each session, cut them into the correct sizes for each volunteer, and then drive to each person’s house to deliver and pick up was a tricky part of the project. My favorite aspect was seeing the Scouts over Zoom learning how to make the mats or blankets. A few of the girls in my Troop came to two sessions to learn how to make both mats and blankets, and some even asked for more materials after the first session so they could independently apply what they learned again! It was exciting for me to see their enthusiasm both for helping the animals through my project and continuing their skills outside of the learning sessions.

By completing this project, I learned the difficulty of organizing groups, primarily digitally, to work towards a common goal. I didn’t expect how hard it would be to get schedules coordinated, but by the third session, I realized how much easier it was for me to plan compared to the first. I grew as a leader; I learned more about using the EDGE method and applying it to real situations. I gained more experience in finding the flaws in teaching plans and adapting them over time.

NCAC Volunteer Awarded Key Volunteering Award

by

Congratulations to Bill Pzedpelski for earning the Herbert G. Horton Service to Youth Award from the Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity (https://apo.org).

This prestigious award recognizes Brothers of Alpha Phi Omega, National Service Fraternity, who are in good standing that have made significant contribution to the youth of their communities by volunteering in the Scouting programs.

The award is also recognized by the BSA and qualifies for the Community Organization Award Knot (https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2011/08/01/updates-to-community-organization-award-square-knot/).

Mr. Pzedpelski worked on camp staff for the Heart of New England Council (then Nashua Valley Council) and the Daniel Webster Council before and during college. For the past 10 years, he has assisted the Zeta Mu chapter of Alpha Phi Omega at Catholic University of America, the Washington DC District, and the National Capitol Area Council with Merit Badge Events. He is the current chair of our NCAC MeritBadges@Home, enabling hundreds of Scouts BSA youth to earn merit badges virtually.

The award was presented November 20th at an online ceremony. You can watch it here: https://www.facebook.com/AlphaPhiOmega.USA/videos/377382460243265/
Great job, Bill!

Scouting Legacy of The Ancient One (TAO) – Four Concurrent Generations of Active Haas Scouts & Scouters in Aquia District!

by

Aquia District’s Richard “Dick” Haas, affectionately known as “The Ancient One” (aka, “TAO”, pronounced “TAY-OH”) throughout the National Capital Area Council (NCAC), has reached a milestone few (if any) other Scouters can claim anywhere in BSA – A living legacy of four simultaneous generations of active Scouts & Scouters from the same family in the same District!

TAO, with 84+ continuous years of active Scouting under his belt, began Scouting in New York City where, as a young Scout, he shook the hand of the Founder of Scouting, Lord Robert Baden-Powell, at the 1939 World’s Fair in Queens, NY. TAO and his wife Rita are now residents of Stafford, VA, where they moved from Rockville Centre, NY (Long Island) in 2002; they have been married 64 years! Since landing in Aquia District, TAO and his son Mike (with only 50+ continuous years of active Scouting) continue to serve NCAC Scouts and Scouters as Aquia District Roundtable Commissioners and Bear Claw Leadership Conference mentors and in NCAC as Wood Badge (WB) Staffers; Mike remains a registered Assistance Scoutmaster with Aquia Troop 26 (“26 KICKS!!”). In fact, the elder Haas was one of Mike’s WB Course Mentors when Mike had the honor of serving as Course Director/Scoutmaster for NCAC Wood Badge Course N6-82-19-1. And to return the favor, Mike served as TAO’s Order of the Arrow Guide at Camp Snyder when TAO earned Vigil Honors in the Amangamek-Wipit Lodge in 2019. So, that’s two generations, but who completes this Four-Generation Aquia District Scouting legacy?

Eagle Scout Ben Haas and his wife, Heather, with their sons, Ronin and Stellan, TAO’s Great-Grandsons, are now all actively registered in Aquia District’s Pack 242. As of this year, Ronin is a proud Lion, Stellan is a wise Wolf, and their parent Scouters Ben and Heather are serving as Den Leaders with Heather as Pack Treasurer too. Heather had been a Girl Scout for seven years from Brownies through Cadets; Ben was Senior Patrol Leader and earned his Eagle Rank in Aquia’s Troop 26 (“26 KICKS!”).

As a result, TAO’s active Scouting legacy now stretches across four generations of active Aquia District Haas Scouts & Scouters!!

[Professional photos by Karen Presecan https://kpresecanphotography.com/ were taken with COVID-19 safety in mind in two separate sessions – the elder Haases in one and the younger in another; Karen then photoshopped several together beautifully]

But there’s so much more to TAO’s Eight-Decade Scouting legacy!

Going back to the beginning of Mike’s and his brother Alan’s early Scouting years, it actually started when Scoutmaster Dick Haas took Troop 712 of Manhattan, NY to summer camp at Ten Mile River (TMR) Scout Camps’ Camp Nianque on the shores of Lake Nianque in the 1960’s. Mom and the boys (too young for Scouting) would live in a rustic forest cabin (no bathroom or running water) at the other end of Lake Nianque at TMR’s Family Camp. Alan and Mike went on many Troop 712 campouts in all kinds of weather from the time they were about 5-years old until they were old enough to join the Troop themselves. Guess you can say Alan and Mike learned to “Be Prepared” as a way of life from both Mom and Dad.

When it was time to begin Scouting, Mom was the boys’ Den Leader (back then, “Den Mother”) in Pack 757 in Manhattan and TAO became Mike’s and Alan’s first Scoutmaster in both Troop 712 of Manhattan and later in Troop 40 when the family moved to Rockville Centre, NY in 1972. Troop 40 is confirmed by National BSA to have originally been Troop 1 and the home of BSA’s first Eagle Scout, Arthur Eldred. Guess you can say that BSA history follows TAO wherever he goes.

Alan and Mike Scouted together in New York during the 1970’s and served on the same summer camp Staffs at TMR Scout Camps’ Camp Ranachqua. Alan went on to also Staff at TMR’s Camp Keowa.

But that’s not where the Haas Scouting legacy ends!

Mike and his wife, Lisa, were active Scouters, in both BSA and GSA from the mid-1990s through about 2007, with their children, Jennifer, Benjamin and Alexander, from Springfield, VA to Okinawa, Japan and then back to Stafford, VA. Mike and Lisa were so active they were known as “Velcro Scouters” –wearing Velcro on their uniform sleeves to change leadership role patches more easily. Lisa was Jenn’s Girl Scout Troop Leader, Alex’s Den Leader through Webelos and Ben’s Troop’s Committee Chair at Camp Kinser, Okinawa, where the Marine Corps stationed then Major Haas and family. Lisa was inducted into the Order of the Arrow there too. Mike served as Lisa’s Assistant Den Leader, Pack Committee Chair and Cubmaster for Pack 103 and Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 103. They both served on the Far East Council’s Roundtable, Training and Summer Camp Staffs – one summer highlight was the year everyone in the family was involved either staffing or attending the same Summer Camp on Kin Blue Beach in Okinawa, Japan.

Moving the family back from Okinawa to Virginia in 1999, Lisa continued as Alex’s Den Leader in Aquia District’s Pack 840 until he crossed over to join his brother Ben on the Scouting Trail in Troop 26 (“26 KICKS!!”). Mike served that Troop as both Assistant Scoutmaster and Scoutmaster and Jennifer successfully earned her GSA Silver Award.

Meanwhile, Alan and his son, Zach, began Scouting in Pack 539 of Kings Park, NY, where Alan served as Zach’s Den Leader through Webelos and, as the Committee Chair, Alan helped grow Pack 539 from 35 to over 100 Scouts – TAO’s Scouting Legacy continues!

There’s a Hebrew expression “Dor L’Dor” meaning “Generation-to-Generation” – The Haas family Scouting tree continues blooming with Scouts and Scouters who are proud to be the living legacy to the leader of the band.

More about TAO’s Scouting History

There aren’t many active Scouters in NCAC, or BSA for that matter, who can compare with TAO’s background as a WWII Navy Veteran and awardee for life-saving heroism, the latter for actions taken after the war, when he used lifesaving techniques learned as a Boy Scout and Red Cross Lifesaving Swim Instructor to rescue himself and the only two survivors from a public bus which plunged into the East River in New York City.

Besides actually shaking the hand of the Founder of Scouting, Lord Robert Baden-Powell, at the Boy Scout encampment at the 1939 World’s Fair in Queens, NY, TAO also met Dan Beard when he and his fellow Scouts stopped in at the Scouting Museum while hiking along the Palisades-Alpine Trail on the cliffs above the Hudson River in New Jersey. Scoutmaster Haas also met “Green Bar” Bill Hillcourt, the Scouter who literally wrote the book on the Patrol Method, when Green Bar Bill was a Staffer on TAO’s Wood Badge Course in 1966. In 2013, friends and family honored TAO with a full-sized brick on the Camp Snyder Dining Hall flag patio. So, if your Scouting Trails should cross TAO’s, shake his hand and talk with this living legacy of the Greatest Generation and Scouting’s history.

The Legacy Continues

TAO continues to inspire, train and impact untold numbers of Scouters and Scouts through on-going servant leadership roles at monthly Aquia District Scouts BSA Roundtable breakout sessions and on NCAC Wood Badge and Aquia District Bear Claw leadership Courses’ Staffs. What’s Bear Claw? Another example of TAO’s Scouting legacy across multiple generations. He started Bear Claw in his home District in New York and could have just let Bear Claw drop when he moved with his wife, Rita, to Virginia, but instead TAO brought it with him to share, planting new roots in Aquia District. So, his impact also includes 30 years of Youth-led BSA leadership training in New York and another 11 years (and counting) of Bear Claw in Aquia District.

TAO has served on nine NCAC Wood Badge leadership courses and two National Jamboree Staffs. He recently told fellow Scouters: “I am entering my 83rd consecutive year in Scouting and am still learning. Keeps me young at heart!” Active in his religious community at Beth Sholom Temple in Fredericksburg, VA, he still golfs and fishes with his buddies from Falls Run.

Like ripples on the water from a powerful Scouting Spirit dropped into our lake as a gift from the Great Spirit, TAO’s impact continues to move out in waves that extend beyond his (or our) visible horizon. TAO continues to be invited to speak to BSA Scout Units whose leaders want him to share Scouting’s history with their Scouts, Scouters and Parents.

When he was presented his 80-year BSA pin at an Aquia District Roundtable, during a time of substantial BSA policy changes and challenges, TAO used his time in front of the assembled Aquia Scouts and Scouters from Packs, Troops, Crews, Ship, and OA Brothers, to offer words of encouragement. He placed the momentous changes in historical context, based on his many decades and broader perspective of living through many changes in Scouting over that time. He expressed support for the changes and assured everyone that Scouting would be just fine. This kind of powerful leadership example and guiding light is emblematic of what TAO brings and will continue to bring to Scouting with all his heart and soul.

As TAO told an audience during a recent Eagle Court of Honor: “So you see, I’m proof that no matter how long you’re in Scouting or how old you get, there are plenty of opportunities to give back to Scouting and the Scouts who are following in your footsteps.”

TAO continued with a challenge for all Scouts & Scouters across all time: “I hope you give back to your Troop and Scouting as long as I have and that you continue on the leadership trail – it can be a life-long journey and I’m proof that it can be done! The only question left is – what will you do next for your fellow Scouts, your communities, and your Nation? A true Scout never stops serving others.” Dor L’Dor!!