We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

At Camp

NCAC Bids Farewell to Snyder Camping Director, Michael Snowden

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On Sunday, September 23, several hundred Scouters from across the Council gathered in the dining hall of Camp William B. Snyder to celebrate the life of former Camp Snyder Camping Director Michael Snowden.

Michael passed away unexepectedly in August of this year. In his time with our Council, he made a lasting mark at Snyder, driving it to achieve its full potential and energetically creating a superior experience for all those he hosted there.

For those who had the privilege of getting to know him, he is remembered as a uniquely warm and kind individual who possessed a drive to succeed in all that he did.

NCAC asks that you please continue to keep Michael and his loved ones in your prayers. As you mourn his passing, we also encourage you to take the time to celebrate his life by sharing your memories. As a co-worker, a colleague, or most importantly, a friend, he will certainly be missed by all of us in the NCAC community.

He has gone home.

Family Camp: Two Camps, Twice the Fun!

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For the first time this year, Goshen had two Family Camps – one during Memorial Day Weekend and one during Labor Day Weekend. The inaugural Memorial Day Family Camp had good turnout for the new event. It was a little stormy, but campers crammed in fun in the sunny mornings at Aquatics and Shooting Sports and then, when the storms came in the afternoon, tried their hand at crafts in Handicraft. The event was popular enough that Goshen is happy to announce it will be offering Memorial Day Family Camp again in 2019!

The traditional Labor Day Family Camp once again had great attendance this year and had the full range of activities. Families could have fun shooting rifles and BB’s, test their skills at archery, go swimming and boating, fly on the giant swing, and more. It was a little rainy on Saturday, but that didn’t stop the hike to the Swimming Hole, where families could hop in and float down the river. The sky was nice and clear the next day for the Viewing Rock Hike, which afforded those who went beautiful views. In addition to swimming and boating, Aquatics also offered tours of the lake on the pontoon boat.

The newest aspect of Family Camp during the Labor Day Weekend was the return of the Saturday evening Square Dance. Way back in the day, the Square Dance was a staple of Family Camp, but it gradually faded away as there was no one who knew how to call. Lucky for Goshen, one of the current summer camp staff members, Lauren Brown, knows how to call from her off-season job at an outdoor school. She led much of the camp in square dancing and line dancing at Forster Hall. Everyone had a fantastic time and we’re looking forward to adding the Square Dance back in as a regular event at Goshen’s Family Camps.

Family Camp closed off, as usual, with the Sunday evening campfire. Families, Troops, Packs, Staff, and Staff Alumni shared their favorite songs and skits before heading back to their campsites for bed.

Miss out on the fun? Want to come back again? Join us for Family Camping fun in 2019. Goshen Family Camps will be offered Memorial Day Weekend (May 24-27, 2019) and Labor Day Weekend (August 30-September 2, 2019). The cost is $20 per person. Bring your own tent, bring your own food, and Goshen supplies the program. All ages are welcome. Registration is already open! Learn more and sign up at www.gotogoshen.org/family-camp.

Wood Shop Opens at Camp Snyder

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Looking for a great place to work on your Eagle Project?  Would your Pack or Den like to hold a Pinewood Derby clinic?  Would you like to add a service project to a weekend camping event?  Camp William B. Snyder is pleased to announce the opening of its new wood shop.  The wood shop is fully outfitted and with approximately 1200 square feet of floor space and 150 sq. ft. of work benches, there is ample space to handle projects of all sizes.

We are very excited to have this facility up and running.  We are expecting to be able to offer new events and merit badge opportunities throughout the year and to offer expanded program activities for our summer camps. In addition, the space will be available for Scout, Unit or District events and service projects.  We have created a photo gallery for the wood shop which shows the space, tools available and the many safety features of the shop.  It will be available shortly on our website. 

An official grand opening and open house will be held during the Scout Expo at Camp Snyder on November 17, 2018.  Demonstrations will be scheduled throughout the day and our volunteer Shop Stewards will be on hand to answer questions about the facility. 

This has been another great example of how volunteers have added tremendous value to Camp Snyder.  From the initial planning and throughout the construction, this project has been completed with 100% volunteer labor.  We would like to thank all the volunteers who have contributed their time, tools and equipment to the construction and outfitting of the shop.  We would like to specifically recognize Dave Schneeman, CJ Staton and Mell Cunningham for their countless hours of effort in planning and construction of the shop and Dick Meyers, Mitch Lynch and Pack 1860 for their generous donations of equipment and tools.  In addition, we would like thank Cole Howell who arranged for the donation of all of the electrical supplies needed for the project as well as for his time in making all of the final electrical connections.

We will be continuously seeking to improve the offering and capabilities of the shop.  If you would like to purchase a tool or supplies for the shop or if you have tools, supplies or equipment that you would like to donate, a list of needed items is posted on the website.  We are also looking for experienced woodworkers to serve as Shop Stewards to help maintain & operate the shop.  If you have tools or equipment to donate, or if you are interested in volunteering as a Shop Steward, please email Dave Schneeman at dschneeman@cox.net.

We hope to see you at our open house on November 17.  If you have questions or would like to visit the shop, please contact Phil Barbash at Philip.Barbash@Scouting.Org.

2018 Summer Highlights and 2019 Summer Sneak Peaks

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Goshen had a big, busy summer this year! Attendance was high and weeks filled up quickly, with Week 1 being especially popular. Week 2 was more populous than normal this summer, which made the Independence Day celebration at Goshen even more fun – with field games, snacks, special trading post items and sales, and fireworks over the lake. Our Wilderness First Aid Courses, run out of the Goshen Health Lodge, were also quite popular this summer. Adult leaders from all camps took part in those and other training courses around the lake, improving their skills and getting more prepared for the outdoors and other Scouting experiences.

Youth campers enjoyed earning Merit Badges, working toward Adventures, and doing all kinds of fun activities. The older Scouts at the three Boy Scout Camps all got together – for the first time – as Bowman’s Vets program opened up participation to Scouts from Marriott and Olmsted. Other older Scouts vied for a place in our ATV Ridership program – which was opened to those as young as 14 this year and was so popular another section had to be opened. In addition to opportunities for older Scouts, each of the Boy Scout Camps also improved the program in their own camp. Camp Bowman introduced a new area – Culture Craft – which offered various humanities- and citizenship-based Merit Badges. Meanwhile, Camp Marriott continued to improve its Provisional provisional program as it grew in popularity. Camp Olmsted expanded the offerings at an existing program area – Handicraft – by adding Merit Badges like Graphic Arts and combining Fingerprinting with Crime Prevention. Camp Olmsted also piloted the first Goshen Adirondack in Site 19.

The Webelos Camps thrilled the Webelos with dinosaurs and cavemen in their slightly historically inaccurate, but wonderfully fun Stone Age and Prehistoric theme for the summer. Camp PMI introduced Dungeons and Dragons-style role playing in Handicraft, which quickly overtook and replaced making tomahawks in popularity. Camp Ross added to their already wide assortment of general games around the Parade Field and Admin Building. The new Gaga pit was very popular, but the really cool new game was the Escape Room.

Lenhok’sin High Adventure continued to further introduce crews to the wilderness. On the Lenhok’sin Trail Trek, crews backpacked to great views between fun, challenging adventure activities at the outposts. Other crews experienced class I and II whitewater on the James River Canoe Trek. Lenhok’sin also welcomed many crews that were suddenly without a summer high adventure when the fires closed Philmont. Crews commented that it was a mild hassle to pack differently than they had been anticipating – more socks were required for the damper environment – but they had a great time on the trails, visiting the peaks, and taking part in program at the outposts.

In big news, Camp PMI and Camp Ross welcomed the first female Webelos to camp this summer, whether they attended as a whole Den, as part of a large Pack, or with just mom. Camp Marriott, Camp Bowman, and Lenhok’sin High Adventure have had girl campers for many years now, as part of various Venturing programs. Camp Olmsted has welcomed girls as part of international units. Though only a few girl Webelos attended Camp PMI and Camp Ross this summer, we’re looking forward to welcoming girls and boys at all our camps as part of Family Scouting in 2019.

There’s also more exciting sneak peaks of what’s to come next summer. With the success of the Adirondack at Camp Olmsted, we’re looking at adding more 4-person Adirondacks in place of tents at camps across Goshen Scout Reservation. Camp Marriott is working on adding a new program area with some life skill and extreme crafting options. Camp Marriott and Camp Bowman will also be joining the rest of the camps on the lake in becoming 6 day, Sunday to Saturday camps. By transitioning to 6 day, the camps hope to improve camp logistics and camp program for all campers. Meanwhile, Camp Olmsted will be running a special schedule – the camp will be closed during Week 4 to welcome in the German World Jamboree Contingent on their way to Summit for the 2019 World Jamboree. At this time, we are looking for volunteers to help the camp staff during that week. If you are interested, please contact Phil Barbash at Philip.Barbash@Scouting.org for more information.

Stay up to date on changes and check out everything Goshen has to offer by checking out our website or following Goshen and all your favorite camps on Facebook and Instagram.

Now Hiring: Summer Camp Staff

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Do you want the coolest summer job? Got a favorite Merit Badge or Cub Scout Adventure? You could teach it!

We’re seeking motivated and enthusiastic people who enjoy the outdoors to be part of our Goshen 2019 Summer Staff.

Know someone who is 15 years of age or older? We’re hiring instructors at our Webelos and Scout/Venturing Resident Camps. We’re also seeking those 16 years of age or older for positions at our High Adventure Base and those 18 years of age and older for leadership and other positions.

Not yet 15 years old? Those 14 years old can be part of one of our Counselor-in-Training programs at our resident camps.

For more info or to apply, please visit www.gotogoshen.org/staff.

Vietnamese Scouts Celebrate Culture & Scouting @ Camp Snyder

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This summer, Thẳng Tiến returned to the Washington D.C. metropolitan area for the first time in 20 years, and Camp William H. Snyder was thrilled to be the host site for the largest gathering of Vietnamese Scouts in the nation. For 7 days from June 28th to July 4th, Vietnamese Scouts from around the globe for a week of action-packed adventure and fellowship, This year’s theme was “Tighten our Bond & Set New Record”.