We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

At Camp

Backpacking Trek: Looking for Campers!

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The NCAC High Adventure Committee is sponsoring a Provisional backpacking trek at Lenhok’sin High Adventure (Goshen Scout Reservation), July 2 – 8, 2023 (Week 2 Session)!

Lenhok’sin High Adventure is NCAC’s very own high adventure base, located at the Goshen Scout Reservation. Offering week-long backpacking and canoeing treks, Lenhok’sin is a platform to “plan your own adventure” and train for future high adventure opportunities, including Philmont and Northern Tier.

On a Lenhok’sin backpacking trek, each crew is able to personally tailor their itinerary to fit their level of experience and unit’s goals. Backpack through 4,000+ acres of the Goshen Scout Reservation and the 35,000 acres of the surrounding state wildlife game lands. Participate in outpost programs, including caving, blacksmithing, COPE, black powder rifle shooting, and more! Challenge your Crew to summit the five mountain peaks and earn awards along the way. Lenhok’sin is an opportunity for challenge, excitement, and growth for all scouts and scouters.

This crew is for individual Venturers and Scouts, ages 14+. Interested individuals who are 12 (13 by September 1, 2023) or 13 years old should contact the trek leaders first for information on attending.

Registration costs for 2023 is $485/youth and $265/adult. Enjoy a $30 discount if you register before the Early Bird Deadline on April 14, 2023. Camperships are available on the Goshen website: www.gotogoshen.org/camperships

Learn more about Lenhok’sin High Adventure and the Backpacking Trek at www.gotogoshen.org/lenhoksin

Register and get contact information for the NCAC High Adventure Committee Provisional Backpacking Trek Crew at https://scoutingevent.com/082-65212

Learn more about the NCAC High Adventure Committee and other high adventure trips for Summer 2022 at www.ncacbsa.org/high-adventure

Join 2023 Camp Staff

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Is a week of summer camp not enough? Spend the whole summer! Get out of the house and into the outdoors. Each summer, our summer camps employ close to 300 youth and adults as camp staff – one of the coolest summer jobs you could ever have! Work a fun summer job and get valuable experience and trainings to put on your resume and valuable skills to bring to future summers at camp and other future jobs.

Camp Snyder and the six camps of Goshen Scout Reservation are seeking motivated and enthusiastic individuals who enjoy the outdoors to be part of the Summer 2023 Camp Staff. Which camp is the best fit for you?

Engage your imagination and have a chance to lead your favorite Cub Scout activity at Camp Snyder. Create fun for Cub Scouts and their leaders in boating, crafts, nature, swimming, archery, and theme activities in both day camp settings and weekend overnight settings. Finish out the summer with a week of Merit Badge program for Scouts BSA with a core of expert Scouting volunteers.

Head into the Blue Ridge Mountains for the summer at one of the six camps of Goshen Scout Reservation. Join our energetic and goofy staff at our Webelos Camp – Camp Ross. Want to teach your favorite Merit Badge? Choose one of our three Scouts BSA camps – Camp Bowman, Camp Marriott, or Camp Olmsted. Looking for adventure? Become part of the elite staff at Lenhok’sin High Adventure Base. Are you a behind the scenes person? Our administration camp – Camp Post – might be the place for you.

Staff must be 15 years of age 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, apply to be a Counselor-in-Training at any of our Cub Scout, Webelos, or Scouts BSA Resident Camps. We’re also on the lookout for those 18 years of age or older to take on leadership positions and those 21 years of age or older to fill specialized 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 17 to August 1, 2023 for most camps at Goshen Scout Reservation and June 17 to July 28, 2023 for Camp Snyder.

Hiring season starts in January with interviews via phone or video call. Submit your application by January 20 for a January interview date.

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

Looking to be part of the volunteer staff for your District’s Cub Scout Day Camp? Contact the Camp Director for your local Day Camp or the District Executive for your District. The contact information for your local Day Camp Director will be on the event page for the Day Camp, accessible via www.gotodaycamp.org.

Want to volunteer for Camp Catoctin BSA? Finish out your summer with the dedicated volunteers of this one week Thurmont, MD camp for Scouts BSA in August by visiting www.campcatoctinbsa.org.

STEM Scouts have a Blast in the Woodshop!

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Have you ever heard of BlastCars?

They have been around for years as Scouts BSA programs, and sometimes dubbed the “older kid Pinewood Derby Cars”. The real difference? Their dimensions are a bit larger and above all they are powered by a C02 cartridge! Today, middle STEM Scouts have a 4 meeting module, where they experiment with building and racing Blastcars! Youth discover what friction is and how it affects the performance of a car, and learn about propulsion, acceleration and deceleration, and rocket-powered vehicles.

Lab Manager Ms. Pekarik (of paired Elementary Lab 9941) assists a scout.

To do all this, the scouts need to build cars – many, and each with variables tweaked. Sure, they could build cars with hand-tools, but NCAC’s STEM Lab 991 was lucky enough to build their cars under the expertise of Michael’s Woodshop volunteers!

 

Visit to Michael’s Woodshop

Michael’s Woodshop is a volunteer run woodshop for scouts at Camp Snyder in Haymarket, VA. Over the last 5 years, Michael’s Woodshop has assisted 250+ Bears in completing Baloo the Builder, 50+ Woodwork Merit Badges, and 1000+ Pinewood Derby Cars!

On October 30, seven STEM Scouts from Lab 991 visited Michael’s Woodshop at Camp Snyder for a Blastcar Build Day! Mr. Dave Schneeman, Woodshop Steward, led the group through a safety briefing, followed by stations to cut the cars according to the scouts’ designs, and sand the cars for finer finish.

After 1000+ Pinewood Derby cars, Michael’s Woodshop has perfected a build process. The Blastcar build was only slightly different. Scouts had to ensure that designs do not intersect with the drilled holes for the Co2 cartridges. Additionally, while PWD cars’ starting gates release at the front of each car, Blastcars are lined up against the rear (where the cartridges are!)

The Woodshop machinery as well as Mr. Dave’s expertise made for an incredible experience. Sure, scouts could design blast cars with hand tools. In fact, 2 weeks before the scouts’ woodshop visit, they practiced using hand tools. This juxtaposition led to a greater appreciation of the Woodshop opportunity, and the professional cars they got to design!

Lab Manager Mr. Scheina hands out blastcar kits.

Lab Manager of STEM Lab 991, Jon Scheina shared, “Building the cars at the woodshop was awesome. Every Scout I asked said that this activity was the highlight of the module. In the future, any labs that are fortunate enough to have access to a professional woodshop should absolutely use it to build their cars–both for the experience and for the opportunity to build more precise, well-functioning cars.”

Join the Woodshop Team

All of the activities in Michael’s Woodshop are designed and supervised by a dedicated group of volunteers. There are volunteer roles available for experienced woodworkers, and both adult and youth assistants. For more information about becoming a volunteer, please see Join the Woodshop Team or email us for additional information.

For more information about the merit badge classes, shop capabilities, upcoming events or reserving the shop, please visit the Michael’s Woodshop webpage. If you have questions or would like additional information, please email us at MichaelsWoodshop.CWBS@gmail.com

Important Thank Yous

Special thanks to:

  • Justin Youtz (T501) and Bruce Donlin (T1853) for sharing Blastcar kits (and tricks) with NCAC’s STEM Labs!
  • Dave Schneeman (Michael’s Woodshop Steward) for volunteering to lead the shop session
  • Jon Scheina, Mark Gray, Burt Wagner, Stacy Pekarik (Lab 991 Lab Manager and Associate Lab Leaders) for leading the inaugural Blastcars module!

 

250th Bear Completes Baloo the Builder Adventure

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On November 5th, Bears from Pack 1160 completed their Baloo the Builder Adventure in Michael’s Woodshop. They learned about useful tools to have in their boxes and practiced using a number of tools including clamps, sanding blocks, hammers and nail punches. They made a golf tee game board as their “fun project” and after sanding, they applied a clear polyurethane finish. Finally, as their “useful project”, each Bear made their very own tool box. It was a couple of hours very well spent and not only did these Bears learn a few things and have some fun, they also earned the distinction of having among their Den the 250th Bear to complete the Baloo the Builder Adventure in Michael’s Woodshop!

Since introducing the Baloo the Builder and Webelos Build It Workshops, they have quickly become two of the most popular activities in the shop. These workshops are both great, hands-on activities that are fun, learning experiences for the Cub Scouts.

To learn more about these workshops and the many other shop activities available, please visit the Michael’s Woodshop webpage. Start planning now to schedule an activity for your unit in the spring.

All of the activities in Michael’s Woodshop are designed and supervised by a dedicated group of volunteers. With the high demand for woodshop activities, we are seeking additional volunteers to join the Woodshop Team. There are roles available for experienced woodworkers, Woodwork Merit Badge Counselors and both adult and youth assistants. For more information about becoming a volunteer, please see Join the Woodshop Team or email us for additional information.

For more information about the merit badge classes, shop capabilities, upcoming events or reserving the shop, please visit the Michael’s Woodshop webpage. If you have questions or would like additional information, please email us at MichaelsWoodshop.CWBS@gmail.com

Productive Fall Work Weekends at Goshen

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This fall has been a productive one for Goshen Scout Reservation! We hosted two work weekends in October – one run by the Goshen Staff Alumni Association (GSAA) and one open to youth and adult volunteers.

The GSAA accomplished a number of projects, including:

  • Clearing a tremendous amount of brush at the Olmsted Chapel
  • Building new and resurfacing 17 picnic tables
  • Preparing the Marriott Administration building for an upcoming renovation project
  • Distributing previously built tent platforms and the aforementioned picnic tables to camps around the lake
  • Creating plans for chuck box construction in preparation for the Spring Weekend

The Volunteer Work Weekend projects included:

  • Repainting the Olmsted Shower House and Quartermaster/Trading Post facade
  • Replacing split rail fence at various program areas at Camp Olmsted, Camp Bowman, and Camp Marriott
  • Brush clearing throughout Camp Marriott OJ Corral
  • Counting and mapping all the buildings and shelters at Goshen to support the Goshen Admin staff with an updated inventory for insurance

Thank you to all the Scouting volunteers, alumni, and current camp staff who attended and for all their service to Goshen Scout Reservation! We hope to see them and others at future weekends.

 

Be sure to save the dates for the Spring Work Weekends:

  • GSAA Spring Service Weekend: April 28 – 30, 2023
    • Open to current and past Goshen camp staff, ages 18+. See old friends, meet alumni from across the decades, and work on camp projects.
  • Goshen Spring Volunteer Work Weekend: May 12 – 14, 2023 (tentative)
    • Open to youth and adult volunteers. Come down to Goshen for a weekend of service, camping, beautiful mountains, and fun!

Camp Catoctin BSA 2023

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Camp Catoctin BSA is one of only a few all-volunteer, nationally accredited BSA camps in the United States. Over our 60 year history, Camp Catoctin BSA has evolved from a small weekend camp-out to a week-long resident camp serving over 200 youth. Camp Catoctin staff are local volunteers, trained professionals, and represent generations of Scouts.

Why Camp Catoctin BSA?

Exciting Program
Close out the summer with a bang! Camp Catoctin BSA offers more than 40 merit badges to choose from, including many not offered at traditional scout camps. Whether you’re looking for natural face rock climbing, sailing around the lake, taking a stab at hatchet throwing, building a survival shelter, or learning to make gourmet meals in the woods we’ve got it.

Local Staff
Volunteer staff serve year-round in District, Council, and National positions. We’re often involved in local programming and we’re always around to help finish a badge or lend a hand.

New Scout Program
Our Acorn program is designed to guide youth through the advancement process and teach all the necessary skills for the new scout. Our small staff ratios allow our Acorn staff to get to know your youth and spend the extra time to ensure they succeed.

Older Scout Program
Looking for something new and different? Climb on over to our climbing program where you’ll have the opportunity to climb and rappel natural rock faces. Bear Grylls your inspiration? Wilderness survival will give you the opportunity to practice those firestarting skills and learn to build a shelter.

Not Just for Youth!
Don’t just let your scouts have the fun. Join our daily CampTalks geared for Scouters on various topics ranging from how to teach EDGE Method) to scouting history.