We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Adventure

Experience High Adventure at ACE Adventure Resort – Sponsored

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ACE Adventure Resort’s 1500-acre resort, located in the heart of the New River Gorge National Park in Southern West Virginia, has been serving the Scouting community for over 40 years. The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve and High Adventure camp are just a 20-minute drive away.

Scouts use ACE as a single-day location for rafting and the waterpark or a multi-day location that provides a budget-friendly option for a multi-day to weeklong camp.

The Resort provides 40 miles of hiking and biking trails for guests to discover the beauty of “These West Virginia Hills.” The New River region of the state is the home of high adventure, and ACE provides lodging, meals, and guided activities that Scouts incorporate into their programming to build confidence, discover activities that challenge individuals, and develop troop cohesiveness.

Budget-friendly lodging options include primitive camping, bunkhouses, and cabin tents.   You’ll find shower houses with hot running water strategically placed throughout the resort.

ACE’s Wonderland Waterpark is a great place to keep your Scouts active between guided activities and the perfect option to finish the day’s adventures.

In addition to rafting the Upper or Lower New River, you can choose from land-based (zip lining, rock climbing, aerial park, hiking, and mountain biking) or water-based (rafting, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding) activities.

The New River Gorge High Adventure Package, created with Scouts in mind, offers a week of guided adventures, waterpark passes, and primitive camping with the addition of a six piece patch set. 

Be sure to check out the New River Gorge National Park Junior Ranger Program and Scout Ranger Program.

Both are available free of charge as a part of the NPS programming for youth.

If the goal of your trip to Southern West Virginia is to hike every day, then the New River Gorge National Park will not disappoint.

  • WV Tourism’s Waterfall Trail provides directions and incentives to locate and enjoy 40 Waterfalls throughout the state, and you will find 15 of those waterfalls are in the New River Gorge. Start with Finn’s Falls, located here at ACE Resort.
  • The Meadow River Rail Trail opened in 2023 with six miles of completed trail. This trail provides a unique opportunity to experience the beauty of the Meadow River backcountry, accessible by rail trail or river.
  • Needles Eye Bouldering Park is located just 15 minutes from the Resort. You’ll discover unique rock formations that invite you to climb up, around, and through the large rock formations and boulders.

 

ACE provides activities for youth as young as four years old, young adults, and seasoned leaders. Non-profit group rates are available for lodging, activities, and meals. Discover ACE as your “go-to” location when visiting the New River Gorge and add high adventure programming to your Troop’s 2024 Summer activities.

Call Agnes Casto in Group Sales @ 304-469-0130 to plan your trip.

Earning the Triple Crown of Scouting Achievements

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After first obtaining the Eagle Scout rank and then reaching the rank of Sea Scout Quartermaster, on March 8th, 2024, William Kennedy completed his trifecta of highest rank in three different Scouting programs, earning his Venturing Summit. From attending National and World Jamborees, to becoming a man overboard with a broken arm at SEAL Training, William had an exceptional journey completing this ultimate (daunting) challenge. To top it all off, he completed everything a month before turning 19 years old.

Attaining Eagle Scout has been a goal since he looked through Boys Life magazine while in Cub Scouts. He joined Scouts BSA in 2016 and the catalyst that would start his journey for the other two achievements was the 2019 World Jamboree, which would cause the motivation to be more active in Scouting, leading him to join Sea Scouts in late 2020 and Venture Scouts in 2021.

His original Skipper, Tom Ballew, helped motivate him to get Sea Scout Quartermaster, especially since William was one of the last Scouts for Skipper Ballew, who sailed under him when he joined Ship 942. After Skipper Ballew left, William wanted to be one of the many Sea Scouts who earned Quartermaster under his guidance.

By the time he really invested in Venturers, William had nearly completed his Eagle Scout and was on his way to Quartermaster, so he decided he wanted the Trifecta by earning his Venturing Summit. However, the main reason that he decided to earn the Venturing Summit was because of how much personal growth, expanded opportunities, and unique advancement he had. While advancing in Scouts BSA and Sea Scouts are similar, advancing in Venturers was another motivator for William to go all the way.

William was primarily a lone Scout, or a Scout without a troop or unit, so attending the 2019 World Scout Jamboree (WSJ) was William’s highlight for Scouts BSA. As previously mentioned, this experience was not only the catalyst to this fantastic journey but also the authentic experience of being in a Patrol for the first time, being a part of a unit comprised of over 40 scouts from all around the world. William stated, “People take for granted the impact patrols have. No matter the size, having a patrol is probably the best way to experience scouting.” On a more fun note, when 14-year-old William accidentally cut his finger, requiring three stitches, he mainly remembered how “the medical tents looked just like the M*A*S*H hospitals, and it was awesome.”

He obtained a good portion of his leadership training in Sea Scouts, which required him to learn the complex skills necessary to sail a ship and know them well enough to teach newer Sea Scouts. His most memorable Sea Scout moment was Sea Scout Advanced Leadership (SEAL) Training in Seattle. It was nine days, but he stayed for three more days to volunteer at the Sea Fair. He thoroughly enjoyed learning unique leadership styles you wouldn’t learn in Youth Training. SEAL did this through Drills, which taught necessary responses for emergencies and responsibility and accountability for yourself and others. With two drills a day, one would always be a man overboard drill, the other being any drill the Bosun-of-the-day chose. For one day, William got to be the man overboard with a broken arm, but for his drill as Bosun, he chose hydraulics failure, which involved tasks like manually turning the ship’s rudder.

His most memorable Venturing moment was when he was a part of the Venturing Explorers Sea Scouts International (VESSI) Scouts staff for the 2023 National Jamboree. While there as a Venturer, he worked as the Sea Scout Bosun, teaching NSJ Scouts how to tie the complex Bosun Knot. He was only there for the first half, a little over a week, due to being a staff member at the 2023 WSJ. He learned valuable lessons about management and keeping things under control, made some great friends, and met some great people. In particular, the Mercy Flight Explorer Scouts were impressive, working at the medical tent. William stated, “If you mention any sort of injury to them, you will get a complete checkup every time.”

However, his all-time favorite memory from his entire Scouting life was going to Philmont in the summer of 2023 with Troop 581, the Troop he’d become an Assistant Scoutmaster. With two crews, William, one of the crew leaders, had an unforgettable experience and memories that will last a lifetime.

In the last four years, William K worked 1300 community volunteer hours, received his Eagle Rank on May 22nd, 2022, Sea Scout Quartermaster on October 15th, 2023, and finally, his Venturing Summit on March 8th, 2024. William stated, “I felt relieved because I wanted to get this before going to college this fall, taking a gap year to focus on Scouting,” and “can finally relax and not worry about managing my time.” When asked what advice to give to other scouts having experienced so much of Scouting, he first said, “You are never too old to make the most out of Scouting.” followed with, “I was mainly, a provisional Scout, so all Scouts should always look for provisional opportunities, regardless if your troops participates. If you want to do it, go for it.”

All This Before Most of Them Turned 10!

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At Pack 1100’s Arrow of Light Crossover Ceremony on March 2, 2024 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Springfield, Virginia, the positive impact of this one den made over the last six years was documented. These 11 Scouts positively influnced the community in so many ways through the Scouting program. Just look at this list!

They have:

  • cleaned up parks and waterways,
  • supported our local schools when there was no one to maintain the grounds,
  • cleaned our local trails,
  • made cards for wounded warriors,
  • collected toys for newly admitted families at Walter Reed,
  • provided Christmas greetings to a Virgina Veterans home, and
  • celebrated the “Month of the Military Child” in the White House with First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden.

They earned:

  • top scores for teamwork at Camp Ross,
  • recognition for their commitment to their religious organizations, and
  • the National Park Award by participating in volunteer and educational activities.

They have overcome challenges with diversity, learned how to work as a team and how to accept the loses with the wins.

They supported Wreaths Across America, recruited new friends who have become Scouts, earned the top NOVA awards in Cub Scouting, collected and delivered over 200 pounds of supplies for the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, and presented the BSA Report to the Nation.

Through the years they have collected over 5,000 pounds of food to support our local food bank and
community and conducted over 150 hours of community service.

They have spent 112 nights camping, hiked over 332 miles (that’s like hiking from Springfield to Cleveland), and Scouted for 12,816 day or 35 years.

One of them even participated in a push up challenge with Congressman Dan Crenshaw on the steps of the US Capitol.

“As we celebrate these 11 Scouts today,” explained their Den Leader, Marjorie McDonald, at the ceremony,“we know these Scouts are our future and knowing what we know about them, I can tell you our future is bright! It has been an honor for Christina and I to lead these Scouts, but perhaps they were leading us and we didn’t
even know it….. Watch out world here they come!”

Ashburn Scouts Soar to New Heights with Aviation Merit Badge

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What do you get when you combine 20 Scouts, a Guinness World Record holder, and a Civil Air Patrol plane? A thrilling and educational experience that none of them will ever forget!

That’s what happened this week when Scouts from three troops in Ashburn, VA earned their Aviation Merit Badge at the Leesburg Executive Airport. They learned from Christopher Freeze, a part-time flight instructor, full-time Eagle Scout, and world record holder for the longest wheelie in an airplane (14,319.5 ft).

Mr. Freeze taught the Scouts everything they needed to know about flying, from the basics of aerodynamics and weather to the intricacies of navigation and communication. He also showed them how to perform pre- and post-flight inspections on a Cessna model 172, generously provided by the Virginia Wing Civil Air Patrol, where Mr. Freeze serves as Captain and Emergency Services Officer.

The highlight of the day was the FPG-9 flight competition, where the Scouts tested their skills by launching paper gliders made from foam plates. Jacob G. of Troop 1158B emerged as the winner, with the longest flight time and distance. He received a special certificate signed and stamped by Mr. Freeze, commemorating his Guinness World Record achievement.

The Scouts had a blast learning from Mr. Freeze and getting hands-on experience with the aircraft. They also gained valuable insights into the world of aviation and the opportunities it offers. The Troops thanked Mr. Freeze and the Civil Air Patrol, Leesburg Composite Squadron for their time and generosity.

Congratulations to all the Scouts who earned their Aviation Merit Badge, and a big thank you to Mr. Freeze and the Civil Air Patrol for making it possible!

Troop 12’s Fall Adventures!

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Scouts from Troop 12, sponsored by Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Herndon, VA have had quite the fall 2023 season so far.

On September 10th, the Troop 12 scouts were at Manassas Airport where each scout got to fly as a passenger in a single engine plane thanks to Dallas of Flywyld, LLC. This trip was a highlight of their working on their aviation merit badge. During this visit, each scout had to record certain facts and observations as a part of the merit badge requirements.

On Sept. 22nd, one of the Troop 12 Scouts, Ben, was on Good Morning America to show how a letterboard allows non-verbal people to communicate. That’s Ben in the front row with the glasses.

Then on October 6th – 8th, Troop 12 camped at Bear Wallow Camp at the larger Shrine Mont Retreat Center in Orkney Springs, VA, an Episcopal Diocese of Virginia camp. This was a cabin and tent camping event that started on Friday evening at 4pm. Parents and some scouts unloaded cars and set up rooms and beds and the rest of the Scouts checked out the camp. They were easily monitored as all cabins faced the 360 open pavilion. The Shrine Mont dinner bell tolled around 5:30 pm, so the group drove or hiked to the 2nd floor dining hall in the prominent white-with-green-trim 1850’s Virginia House at the center of town, passing inviting rockers out front. There was a wonderful aroma of abundant home cooked food waiting for the Scouts. After dinner, there was a campfire with s’mores, and everyone fell asleep to the sound of rain.

Saturday was blustery with increasing sun and falling temperatures. In the morning, Scouts hiked to one of the town springs, then up to the rustic, hand-built rock shrine to hear Assistant Scoutmaster Dave McDonald explain its history from the 1920’s on. After lunch, the Scouts drove to an orchard about 30 minutes away to explore, pick apples and take in the magnificent view of the fields and nearby Blue Ridge Mountain. As there were breaks in the day, groups would form to compete in heavy-duty Velcro axe throwing and cornhole. The group had fun developing the Scouts’ skills and camaraderie. The day ended with another roaring campfire and s’mores.

On Sunday after breakfast, Assistant Troop Chaplain Nick lead a prayer service in front of one of the cabins with the cabin steps as pews. After packing out of Shrine Mont, several families drove to explore nearby Lake Laura, then had lunch and headed home.

Scoutmaster Scott Smith reflected on the weekend, “Even though I can’t provide a long list of scout achievements, for our troop, I think this campout was a success. We got to spend quality time outdoors and inside with our scout sons and their families. We also got to focus more on them as we weren’t distracted or time constrained managing, preparing, and cleaning up for meals. Yes, in part it was glamping. But it was also very much an outdoor camping experience with cold, wind and rain. More than anything, I think it was a troop bonding opportunity. I’m not sure about everyone else, but I could tell that Brandon and I were both a little sad when we saw Orkney Springs in our rearview mirror.”

Troop 12 helped Holy Cross put on Trunk or Treat in the church’s parking lot on October 29th along with the Herndon Police Department.

Troop 12 is a special needs troop where the Scout never ages out. Troop 12 meets at Holy Cross most Tuesday nights from 7pm-8pm in the Fellowship Hall where they work on various merit badges and rank advancements. Stop by to see love and scouting in action!

 

Article submitted by Anne Geiger
Troop 12 Chartered Organization Representative (COR)
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
1090 Sterling Road Herndon, VA 20170
fellowshipchair@holycrosslutheranchurch.net

25th World Scout Jamboree in South Korea

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This past summer, Scouts from the National Capital Area Council attended the 25nd World Scout Jamboree in Seoul, South Korea. For two weeks, the Scouts bonded, shared stories, laughed, and explored Korea with thousands of Scouts from around the world. As they
journeyed far from home to experience a once in a lifetime event, they came back as better and brighter leaders of tomorrow. Several of the Scouts detailed their adventures, from arriving at the airport to saying goodbye for the last time. Arriving at camp, Dillon stated “I found solace in the diversity of Scouts gathered in one spot from around the world who shared my passion and love for Scouting…Walking to the concert area was the most unique experience I’ve had. Scouts from all types of countries were marching with us, waving flags, singing songs, and talking in so many different languages. The opening ceremony had many speakers: from the event organizers to even the president of South Korea. The ceremony ended with a drone and firework show that drew out the logos of all the past Jamborees in the sky and ended with an image of the founder of the Scouting movement, Lord Baden Powell.” Scouts got to tour parts of Korea, and Phalha describes their time outside of the Jamboree, “One of my favorite parts of the tours were buddying up with new friends and exploring the different cities and towns we stopped at. I loved discovering more about modern Korea through these outings. Even coming to find one of my new favorite desserts, Korean shaved ice. We looked everywhere for the shop that our tour guide, Jake suggested but eventually we had to ask for help in which we met a very kind owner who apparently had a daughter that was going to the World Scout Jamboree later that week.” Abbey talks about the the wonderful culture of Korea and how much she enjoyed the experience, “On the days between the 6th and the Closing Ceremony, we went to a South Korean Water Park, a traditional Tai Kwon Do and Folk Festival, went to the Samsung Plant, and a South Korean baseball game at which they had cheerleaders! Baseball is huge in South Korea.” She mentions that though it was not what she expected, she was excited to have gone and become a better leader for it. The Scouts from Troop 612 in Virginia allows us to see how beautiful the experience of learning new cultures and sharing a love of Scouting: “Throughout our stay at the camp, we often visited the Scouts from Vietnam, sharing our own scouting experiences with Vietnamese Scouting, despite our country’s differences. The camp was incredibly massive, designed to accommodate over 40,000 people…Trading was a significant part of the World Scout Jamboree, a universal activity that transcended language barriers. Given our Troop 612’s involvement in lion dancing, we worked to obtain patches and neckerchiefs from Hong Kong, which featured designs related to lion dance—a meaningful aspect of our culture.” The Scouts had an incredible experience that turned out to be full of fun, joy, and an appreciation for the many cultures. As they departed camp, they looked forward to seeing their friends in Poland in four years at the next World Scout Jamboree!

https://www.jamboree2027.org/