NCAC Conservation Committee, under the leadership of Carol Brown & Sara Holtz, Camp William B. Snyder’s Camp Ranger James Donelson & Troop 131, collaborated to plan a conservation project in memory of Will Rodger, the first Chair of the NCAC Conservation Committee. Scout Sean & Scouter Kevin from Troop 11, Will’s wife Betsy Rodger, Carol & Sara said a few words to remember Will and his dedication to scouts, scouting & conservation.
Nearly 90 Scouts & Scouters from 8 NCAC Districts and from Virginia Headwaters Council spent 3 hours restoring habitat by removing invasive plants, rescuing trees from invasive vines & planting native trees. Participants earned the Messenger of Peace Award. The event launched the Camp Snyder Habitat Restoration program, which will strongly encourage units camping at Camp William B. Snyder to set aside time for an invasive plant removal & tree rescue session. Contact Camp Snyder Camp Ranger James Donelson to schedule a conservation project.
Will Rodger served as the founding Chair of the NCAC Conservation Committee, on the NCAC International Committee, and in many roles in Toop 131 in Alexandria, VA (Accotink Bay District). In his role as chair of the Conservation Committee, he energetically & passionately focused on training Scouters to support scouts in earning the prestigious Hornaday, now Distinguished Conservation Service Award (DCSA) award for their exceptional, impactful conservation projects. As a nod to his long membership in the NCAC International Committee, the project organizers designated the event as a Messenger of Peace Award project, an award coordinated by the International Committee, and all participants earned the ring-shaped Messenger of Peace Award patch. Invasive plants are plants that are not native to the place where they are growing; in the context of Camp Snyder, that means plants that did not originate in northern Virginia. Invasive plants spread rapidly or aggressively & cause ecological & or economic damage.
Thanks to Fairfax Master Naturalists and Virginia Native Plant Society members for leading teams of scouts & scouters during the work sessions. Thanks to generous donors who bought native trees & supplies for today’s project: John Selstrom, Dan Kurtenbach, Carol Brown & Sara Holtz. Thanks to the native plant nursery Earth Sangha for giving us a discount on purchasing native trees such as redbud, redcedar, white oak, maple, and hickory oak. Thanks to Carol, Chris & Alan Brown for marking invasive plants in advance of the event. Thanks to all the hardworking volunteers, many of whom did not know Will. Finally, a huge thanks to Carol Brown & Jim Donelson; this project would not be possible without them!
Carol Brown is a wildlife biologist, recipient of the Silver Beaver award, Leave No Trace Level 2 instructor, DCSA Advisor, and NCAC Outdoor Ethics & NCAC Conservation Committees member.
Sara Holtz is the chair of the NCAC Outdoor Ethics Committee.
But the excitement didn’t stop there. The Scouts took center stage for the daily weather report, channeling their inner TV presenters as they shared the forecast with fellow campers.
I liked everything we did, from archery to BB’s and everything in between. The Beekeeper was a surprise but was a delight. Also, I loved tasting honey and making Bee hives with the other scouts (my dad won’t let me put the Bee hive in our backyard because it attracts carpenter bees!🤣).
This week, our favorite wedding venue in Loudoun County has been taken over by nearly 130 Cub Scouts from dens all around the area!
We started camp on Monday, but on Sunday, our amazing adult and youth leaders transformed the venue into a scout paradise, just hours after a wedding that even had an Eagle Scout groom!
Throughout the week, we’re having a blast making harmonicas and slingshots, learning first aid, improving our wilderness and sports skills, practicing with bow and arrows and BB rifles, and trying to catch fish in the pond. Nurses from the GW School of Nursing are running our First Aid station, ensuring we’re safe while having fun.
Our staff is a mix of volunteers of all ages, from seasoned scouters whose kids have aged out but who still love to be involved to young adults who have just crossed over and brand-new Scouts who have just joined a Troop. We have Cub Scouts of all ages here, from new Tigers to Arrow of Light scouts. It’s been an unforgettable adventure!