We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

At Camp

New Cub-A-Day Summer Program

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Welcome to the new Cub-A-Day Summer Program, where every day there’s an adventure waiting for you and your Cub Scout! For the next 12 weeks we will post new, fun and exciting Cub Scout activities in efforts to keep your Scouts engaged, active and learning. From crafts to exercise to cooking, your Cub Scout will advance in a variety of skills!

We invite all Lions, Tigers, Wolves, and Webelos to join us on this 7 week adventure! And remember if you have a friend interested in Scouting, they can join in on the fun too! For more information on Cub Scout activities and programs please visit ncacbsa.org/summer and be sure to join our new Cub Scout Group on Facebook! Check out our first week of adventurous activities below.

MAKE SOMETHING MONDAY

WELCOME TO THE FIRST CUB-A-DAY MAKE SOMETHING MONDAY!
Today, you should make a kit to carry your 6 Cub Scout Essentials for all your Adventures this summer. https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2017/08/08/cub-scout-six-essentials-half-dozen-items-pack-every-campout-hike/ Tigers, Wolves, and Webelos – Make sure you get credit for your hiking adventure requirements!

TASTE SOMETHING TUESDAY

Hey, Cub Scouts it’s Taste It Tuesday!
Nothing tastes quite like homemade food.
Today your challenge is to make a Loaf of Bread or Biscuits.  Never done it before? Here is a simple recipe that can help: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/102151/easy-baking-powder-drop-biscuits/

WANDER AROUND WEDNESDAY

Wander Around Wednesday: Get outside – Exercise, Fresh Air, and Sunlight are important!!
If you get 60 mins of physical activity, five days a week, for six weeks in a row – You are eligible for the Scout Presidental Active Lifestyle Award – so start a ScoutStrong Tracker and keep it going: https://www.scouting.org/resources/scoutstrong/

DO SOMETHING THOUGHTFUL THURSDAY

Thoughtful Thursday: Make a Summer 2020 Memory Box.  Collect trinkets and write notes about what you do all summer – Use a shoebox, a wooden box you build or buy, or any other container that you like.  Decorate it how you want and start collecting memories.

FAMILY FUN FRIDAY

Family Fun Friday: Make s’mores as a family.  You can roast marshmallows over a fire, or get them melty in the microwave. Classic Smores Recipe: https://www.myfoodandfamily.com/recipe/075108/classic-smores
Some variations for anyone who wants to be adventurous: https://www.campingforfoodies.com/campfire-smores-recipes-10-mouth-watering-smore-variations/ Bonus:  Set up a video call with your den friends and have a Virtual Campfire.

SAFETY SATURDAY

Safety Saturday: The new Protect Yourself Adventure is a great way to learn how to keep yourself safe around strangers, on the internet, and who you can talk with if something happens that makes you feel unsafe. Pick a requirement from the Adventure for your rank and work on it as a family: https://www.scouting.org/programs/cub-scouts/preview-adventures/protect-yourself-rules/

The Chris Lantos Waterfront

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The waterfront at Camp Bowman-Goshen Scout Reservation was named in memory of Boy Scout Chris Lantos in 2014.

Chris was born on September 29, 2000. He was an avid Boy Scout camper who visited Goshen three consecutive summers in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

He loved exploring nature, swimming in the lake and roasting smores by the campfire with his Scout buddies in the evenings.

In 2012 Chris was diagnosed with leukemia and passed away in 2013.

In his memory, his parents supported the Boy Scouts and named the waterfront at Goshen Scout Reservation after Chris. They also established the Chris Lantos Foundation to help kids with cancer to benefit other youth experiencing childhood Leukemia. (ChrisLantosFoundation.org)

This is a great example of how to create a legacy within Scouting for someone you love or yourself in the future so that Scouts for many generations can continue to have amazing experiences like Chris.

For more information about creating your Legacy, please contact Jenna Welle at Jenna.Welle@scouting.org.

Get Ready to Camp!!!

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Calling all Scouts and their families! Get your tents, sleeping bags and cook gear ready and make your grocery list for Homecamping. You can participate in an on-line Webelos or Scouts BSA advancement program and Merit Badge classes during the week AND camp at either Goshen Scout Reservation or Camp Snyder on the weekend with your family.

As an added bonus, for those camping at Camp Snyder there will be a fun program to choose from, including flying drones and driving robotic cars, STEM kits, Wood Shop projects, Geocaching and Scouterhorn climbing. Plus, at both camps there is the great outdoors with hiking, nature trails, fishing, family campfires and more self-guided activities.

There will be COVID-19 virus precautions in place to protect the campers and staff during activities. Registration is open, so sign-up NOW for Goshen Scout Reservation and for Camp Snyder. We hope to see you at camp!

The COVID that Stole Summer Camp…

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Every Scout in the Council liked Summer Camp, a lot…

But the COVID, who ruined all activities, did NOT!

The COVID hated camp! The whole camping season!
Now please don’t ask why, COVID acted without reason.
It could be the government closed things up tight.
It could be that parents didn’t feel quite right.
But I think the most likely reason of all
Was the Pandemic Panic had thrown up a wall.

But, whatever the reason, the groans or the shouts
COVID lurked there in the spring, hating the Scouts!
Staring out across the Council with a sour COVID frown
Stay-at-home and lock-downs had gripped every town.
He cancelled camporees and webelos encampments
and state parks were closed to any who camp went.

“They’re packing their gear!” he snarled with a sneer.
“Summer Camp is coming! It’s practically here!”
Then he growled, with his COVID fingers nervously
drumming,
“I MUST find some way to stop Summer Camp from coming!”

For, this summer, he knew…

… all the Scout girls and guys
The older and younger, both large and pint size
Would pitch up their tents in the meadows, by the creek
Ready for activities to take them through the week.

Then the Scouts would shoot arrows and rifles each day.
They’d go to aquatics, in the water they’d play.
All around the camp each Scout would scamper
Doing handicrafts and nature walks to thrill every camper.

And then they’d do something, he couldn’t out run!
Each scout down in Summer Camp would start to have FUN!
Having fun was the reason attendance increased
Having FUN was something COVID couldn’t stand in the least.

And the more COVID thought of the annual fling,
The more COVID thought, “I must stop this whole thing!”
“Why for dozens of years they’ve got away with this now!”
“I must stop Summer Camp from happening – but HOW?”

Then he got an idea! An awful idea!
COVID GOT A TERRIBLY, AWFUL IDEA!

“Do you know what I’ll do?” COVID laughingly asked
“After months of wearing gloves and uncomfortable masks,
“I’ll have them turn on one another each one pointing a finger
“And with each dad and mother a cautious doubt will linger.”

And that’s all it took, for his plan to take hold
Summer Camp was cancelled, the plans were to fold.
“Pooh-Pooh to the Scouts!” COVID was humming
“They’re finding out now no camp will be coming!
“There mouths will hang open a minute or two
“Then every staffer bound for summer camp
will all cry BOO-HOO!”

COVID put up his hand to cup his ear.
“That’s a sound that I simply can’t wait to hear.”
But the sound that he heard wasn’t what he expected.
“But I took all their plans and proceeded to wreck it!”
The sound he heard was not happy, and it started to grow.
He hadn’t stopped Scouting, but how could he know?

See, Scouting’s a spirit that lives deep within.
When troubles arrive they are met with a grin.
12 laws of Scouting serve each boy and girl well.
How we will get through this only time will tell.

Maybe Scouting, just think, doesn’t come in a tent.
Maybe Scouting, perhaps, comes from hearts well meant.

So survive it we will, we’ve done it before,
Through depression, famine and a few wars.
So let’s be patient, and wait for our turn to serve
For one day, surely, we will flatten that curve.

Created by: Christopher Mark Johnson

NCAC Summer Camp 2020 Update

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As always, your safety and the safety of all our members, volunteers, and employees is the Boy Scouts of America’s top priority. As such, we have taken a careful and informed approach in evaluating whether to run summer camp this year.  Since the spread of this pandemic, we have been continually monitoring the situation, and consulting with health experts, government officials and other camp professionals.

It is with a heavy heart that we inform you that, after a thorough review, the National Capital Area Council has decided to suspend our resident camp programs at Goshen Scout Reservation, Camp William B. Snyder, Camp Airy, and the Day Camp program for the 2020 summer season. We know camp is an important part of every Scout’s summer, and this decision was not made lightly. This is not the end of our summer programming, however; NCAC has assembled a team of volunteers who are designing a fun, exciting alternative program that provides advancement opportunities for our Scouts. More information on these programs will be coming soon.

As promised, we will be issuing refunds for any payments already made towards camp. Your unit will have the following options for your refund:

  1. Roll over some or all of your payments to Summer 2021.
    We look forward to getting our summer camp community back together as soon as possible; rolling your payment forward as a deposit for next year ensures you will be a part of that fun!
  2. Request a refund for your 2020 fees.
    We appreciate your patience as we determine how to make refunds available.

If you have already registered for summer camp, please discuss with your unit and inform us which option you would prefer by following this link. If we have not heard from you by June 30, 2020, we will roll your deposit to next year.

Our entire team is saddened that we will not be able to see you at camp this summer. This is an extraordinarily challenging time unlike anything we have experienced. Our hope is we all emerge from this challenging moment stronger than before.

Most importantly, we look forward to providing the full range of Scouting programs, including outdoor adventures, as soon as the situation allows. For Scouting At Home information and resources, please visit ncacbsa.org/scouting-at-home.

We hope all our Scouting families stay healthy and positive in our current environment and join us in preparing for future great summer camp experiences at Camp!

Early Bird Extension for Summer Camp!

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Plans are still on for summer camp, because we’re all going to need some extra time outside this summer! Planning that far out is difficult right now for many families so to give you more time to decide National Capital Area Council is extending the Early Bird signup period for all of our camps through April 30, 2020!

Check out our 2020 Summer Camp Guide for info about all our programs, then find your favorite below and reserve your tent!

Day Camp

NCAC offers about 20 local day camps every summer so that every Scout has one nearby. Each camp’s program is a little different, but each offers some combination of the all-time favorite Scout camp activities; things like BB guns, archery, sling shots, arts and crafts, nature, field sports, fishing, and aquatics.

This year’s Day Camp theme is On The Farm, so get ready for a barn-raising, sheep-herding, egg-hatching good time! To find a camp near you and sign up, go to gotodaycamp.org!

Go To Day Camp

Camp William B. Snyder

The closest Scout Camp to Washington, D.C., Camp Snyder will have a variety of programs for Packs to enjoy this summer, including day camp, weekend Cub Scout camps, STEM programs, and full-week programs for Cub Scouts and Webelos!

This year’s camp will be truly out of this world a Cub Scouts go on an astronaut adventure! Learn more and sign up at gotosnyder.org

Go To Camp Snyder

Goshen Scout Reservation

Goshen offers programs for Scouts BSA, Webelos, and Venturers on the shores of beautiful Lake Merriweather. With three Scout camps, two Webelos camps, and the Lenhok’sin High Adventure Base, there is an adventure waiting for you this summer that will thrill and challenge you.

To keep in line with the extension of the early bird dates, merit badge registration has also been delayed until May 1, 2020. We hope that will give your Scouts more time to make their plans for the summer. To learn more, get important updates, and register for Goshen, please click gotogoshen.org.

Go To Goshen

Refund Policy

One question many leaders have is what will happen if the COVID-19 pandemic requires us to cancel summer camp. Please assure your families that if camp is cancelled by NCAC they will receive a 100% refund. We hope this will give your families the chance to make their plans without worrying about the financial risks.

Further updates about our plans for summer 2020 will be coming as the situation develops. Until then, stay home, wash your hands, and keep on #ScoutingAtHome!