Adventures happen when you must do something unfamiliar and confront the unexpected. A truly memorable adventure often requires going the extra distance to face the challenge.That’s exactly what the White Oak District’s Troop 264B and Venturing Crew 264 did at Laurel Caverns, and that’s what landed them on the cover of Boys’ Life [March 2020].
That visit to Laurel Caverns in Western Pennsylvania brought scouts and Venturers face to face with dark caves, low rock ceilings, boulders, and rappelling down a thin rope. And dirt everywhere. Safety gear and proper attire were essential for safety and comfort and could not be neglected. Some activities were restricted by age or skill, but everyone had a range of activities to choose from, including two merit badges (Geology and Forestry). But a part of everyone’s activities was going underground.
Take a few minutes to read about the Laurel Caverns adventure in the March 2020 Boys’ Life, also available through the Boys’ Life app. There is also the summary in Troop 264’s Signaler newsletter . And most recently (April 3), Mr. Aaron Derr of Boys’ Life Magazine conducted a live interview with Mrs. Joan Geller, an Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 264B, about the outing on Facebook Live. The video of that interview is available on Facebook, even if you do not have an account!
Adventures don’t happen in meetings (but meetings are essential to planning safe and successful adventures). Take a look at what your unit does now. Then look at a radius an hour’s drive further out and see what’s there. Your biggest adventure could be ”just a little further.”
On February 9, Two Dens from Pack 1601, Powhatan District, attended their own Pack session in Michael’s Woodshop to work on a tool box project. During the process, the Cub Scouts received a shop safety briefing and were able to learn and apply many basic woodworking skills. They were instructed and guided in the use of a tape measure, hand saw, drill press, hammer, nail punch and sanding block. 
Parents in attendance were able to assist during the process making this an excellent parent/Cub Scout experience. At the end of their session, each Cub Scout had completed the project and went home with a sense of accomplishment and their very own tool box!
Michael’s Woodshop was designed to be a hands-on work space for use by Scouts of all ages to learn and create. For information about shop capabilities, upcoming events or reserving the shop, please visit the 
Troop 648 had a great year of outdoor adventures in 2019. We participated in many Chain Bridge District events (Camporee, Klondike Derby, Projectoree), local camping trips, and three high adventure trips (two crews to Seabase and another crew sent to Philmont). Scouts also earned many outdoor related merit badges and conducted a Leave No Trace program.
Over winter break, three Scouts BSA Girl Troops from three Pennsylvania Councils (Northeastern PA, Minsi, and PA Dutch) set out on one adventure together to Washington, DC. The Scoutmasters from these units had met and wanted to find a way for their Scouts to not only experience the wonders of DC, but also to learn about the Women’s Suffragette Movement, as 2020 is the 100th anniversary of women having the right to vote in the United States. The troops also combined resources to work on the Scouting Heritage and American Heritage Merit Badges, along with the Baden-Powell Hike Medal, which follows the path of the 1913 Suffrage parade.
Troop 82 from Lancaster offered to host Troop 519 from Allentown (Minsi Council) and Troop 2619 from Paupack, PA (Northeastern PA Council) overnight on the day before and after the DC trip to make the trip possible and to avoid high costs. Friday night, the two troops that had traveled to Lancaster were greeted with a taco bar dinner, followed by an evening of merit badge classwork in preparation for the hike. It was a bit crowded sleeping and eating in the church with about 40 leaders and Scouts tucked everywhere, but everyone had a wonderful time. The scouts woke up long before dawn, ate a ‘grab and go’ breakfast and left for their destination. Many of the scouts on this trip had never been to a big city, so they were all very enthusiastic upon seeing the Capitol Building in the distance as the sun was rising over DC.
1900s’ suffragettes. They began the trek at the Peace Memorial, and visited the Naval Memorial, the Benjamin Franklin statue outside the Old Post Office, the Vietnam Memorial Wall, and the Boy Scouts of America Memorial. Their group then headed to the Lincoln Memorial, where a park ranger gave them a personal tour. They learned about the Gettysburg Address, which is on the left side of the statue, and Lincoln’s second inaugural address, which is on the right. After that, they took a trolley bus ride back to Capitol Hill and ate their packed lunches in a beautiful grassy spot overlooking the Library of Congress. After lunch, they proceeded to their final destination, the Capitol Building.