Boys and Girls Troop 1137 helped their chartering organization, Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA) Arlington – Fairfax Chapter, with a conservation clean-up service project on Sunday March 23, 2025.
The Scouts cleaned up the natural areas on the grounds and around the fishing pond for the benefit of the wildlife, community, and to protect the environment.
These Scouts are helping to get things ready for NCAC Twilight Camp that runs there from June 16-20, 2025!
Youth have joined Scouting at various ages and rose to success, demonstrating the possibilities you can experience as a Scout no matter when you start.
Roberto R., a freshman in the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, is a prime example of success in only four years. He started Scouting in December of 2020 for Troop 98 and in 2022, he was inducted in the Order of the Arrow. After only three years of Scouting, Roberto received his Eagle in 2023 and worked at Philmont Scout Ranch for the 2024 summer session.
Roberto encouraged youth, even if they’re in 8th grade, to join Scouting America because it teaches skills and forms connections like nothing else.
“Scouting is not only going to help you learn those [skills]. It’ll also help you learn so much more,” Roberto said. “And if you get Eagle, that’s not only your brotherhood right there, but it shows how well you can work.”
He was persuaded to join Scouting when his uncle passed away, who often encouraged him to join the program and had two sons who earned their Eagle.
Because of Scouting, Roberto was able to enjoy and strengthen his love for fishing because his Troop would often have projects related to his interests. He now majors in fish conservation.
“I came to really understand the whole issue we have with conservation and invasive species, and it’s become my passion to deal with,” Roberto said.
Back in 8th grade, Roberto witnessed a women get her heel stuck in between two bricks at St. Johns Church. The bricks were falling apart and from that moment, Roberto knew what was going to be his Eagle Scout Project.
“It was sort of a project from the start of my Scouting journey,” Roberto said. “I was just like, ‘That’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to end up helping them some way, shape or form.’”
The full project consisted of laying down 210 by 6 feet of a brick pathway with no mortar and instead patting down sand. Roberto received help from the OA, his family, Troop and friends.
As a Senior Patrol Leader, Roberto expressed challenges he faced of motivating Scouts to complete a task. His technique of overcoming this hardship was to pair them with another Scout.
“Find a new Scout that’s incredibly motivated or an older Scout that knows the experience, you pair them with the unmotivated Scout to try and accomplish a goal,” Roberto said.
Along with this exceptional leadership training, Scouting allowed Roberto to develop values in community service, helping others and patriotism. He also feels impacted by the Scout Law and Oath and has joined several community service organizations.
“Scout Law makes up being a good person and I’ve shaped my life around that,” Roberto said.
Roberto is considering a career as a game warden for the Department of Wildlife Resources in Virginia or a special agent in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but he is not set on anything yet.
Reflecting on his experience in Scouting, Roberto acknowledged how much the program has helped him and has often pushed Scouts towards earning their Eagle.
“Every Scout that I’ve told, ‘Hey you’re going to make it to Eagle Scout. I know it.’ It gives them confidence and pushes them all the way,” Roberto said. “They always make it.”
A former Scoutmaster created a council shoulder patch design that included cherry blossoms and the Jefferson Memorial for a contest in 1974 and it’s still being used today as Scouting America National Capital Area Council’s standard.
Robert Wehr was a Scoutmaster for Troop 403, which contained around 55 Scouts at the time. Before 1974, the patches had no pictures and only the area listed, but Wehr changed the tradition when he participated in a contest to create the new design.
“We had a really good group going,” Wehr said. “So, it was a bit of a challenge.”
When the contest in 1974 arose, Wehr met with a Scout mother, who was a graphic designer, to come up with ideas for the new shoulder patch. Many of the designs were rejected until the cherry blossom design.
Wehr submitted a colored sketch of his design and ended up winning the contest. After 50 years, he feels honored to have his design still be the Council shoulder patch.
“It means the world to me,” Wehr said. “It makes me smile.”
Wehr also presented the patch for the first time to a Scout in Troop 403 and the event was published in a newspaper.
His main reason for choosing cherry blossoms as the design was because it was something unique to Washington. He said the bright color “makes you look twice”, but that it is also a good representation of the city and people will know what it is.
“There’s only one cherry blossom,” Wehr said. “That’s it. You don’t want to put a building.”
Scouting America describes the council shoulder patch as being “designed for each council and embodies local tradition for all members of the council.”
Wehr also shared his role in organizing the Scout’s participation in a parade for the 200th anniversary of the United State’s independence. Wehr encouraged Scouting America to participate in the parade for America250, which is a “nonpartisan initiative working to engage every American in the 250th anniversary of the United States,” their website says.
Wehr remembered how important timing was during the parade. It was televised, so the Scouts were restricted to a time limit and had to practice staying in line together. They paraded successfully and Wehr emphasized the professionalism that is needed for these events.
“No matter where you are, you’re representing that group,” Wehr said.
#cherryblossom
