We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Leaders

Young Adult Leaders Needed for Jamboree

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Scouting’s flagship event is a gathering of thousands of Scouts and Scouters that showcases everything that is great about the Boy Scouts of America. Over the course of 10 days, once every four years, the Boy Scouts of America gathers together. Scouts and Scouters who attend will participate in many adventures—stadium shows, pioneer village, hikes, sports and more! With 10,000 acres at the Summit to explore, there’s no shortage of opportunities to build Scouting memories.

National Capitol Area Council is looking for ASM3. This contingent Troop position is filled by men and women age 18-21. This unique position is for young adults who are able to serve as a liaison between the older adult leaders and the youth participants.

THE MOST EXCITING JAMBOREE EVER!

Scouting’s PREMIER High Adventure experience! The experience of a lifetime including: whitewater rafting, rock climbing, bouldering, rappelling, zip lines, mountain biking, canopy tours, shooting sports, dragon boats, paddle boats, COPE courses, BMX racing, Pioneering, canoe slalom, kayaking and more. In addition to all of the things you’ve grown to love about the Jamboree, there is patch trading, SCUBA, arena shows, Technology Quest, and over 30,000 of your closest friends.

• When: The 2021 National Jamboree is July 21 – 30, 2021
• Where: Summit Bechtel Reserve, New Hope, West Virginia
• We want you! SEEKING:
o Young Adults (age 18-21): who are willing to apply to serve as unit leadership
• Sign Up Now!!  http://jamboree.scouting.org

  • You must have a my.scouting.org account in order to register. If you do not have a profile, please visit http://my.scouting.org and set up an account; you will need to attach your BSA ID to the account so be sure to have the number available.
  • How Much: $1,500* per Young Adult Unit Leader
  • Fees include all food, insurance and equipment, as well as the use of a tent, cot, dining shelters, stoves, fuel and cooking utensils during your adventure at the Jamboree. Fees also include transportation to and from the Summit on motorcoach buses. There will be a shakedown campout prior to the Jamboree. No major additional costs. Just show up with your personal camping gear and Jamboree Uniform.
  • NCAC Contingent cost is estimated at $1,500pp. The national fee of $1,175 set by Jamboree Administration covers the expense of program materials, food, insurance, and equipment, as well as the use of a tent, cot, dining shelters, stoves, fuel, and cooking utensils. Additional Council fees cover transportation, bags, patches, and other fees.

YOUNG ADULT LEADERSHIP (ASM3 position):
Young adults wanting to be part of the NCAC Contingent need to submit their applications to Eric Smith (eric.smith@scouting.org) no later than June 1, 2020. Download adult application/survey packet here. All adult applications must be approved by the Council and applicants will be required to participant in an interview prior to being selected as part of the Council Contingent. One young adult will be selected for each of the 10 units sent by the Council.

Download the flier today and get ready to Face The Challenge, Jamboree 2021!

 

NCAC Eagle Scout Earns Dr. Bernard Harris Supernova Award

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Eagle Scout Tyler Schroder, of Troop 577 in Clifton, VA, has been awarded with the Dr. Bernard Harris Bronze Supernova Award. Schroder becomes one of less than twelve scouts in all of NCAC to have earned this award.

The Boy Scouts of America developed the STEM Nova Awards program to excite and expand a sense of wonder about STEM in scouts. By working with an adult counselor or mentor, the various modules allow scouts to explore the basic principles of STEM and discover the fun and fascinating world of STEM. There are three levels to the Supernova program: Bronze, Silver, and Gold.

Tyler Schroder is a junior at Centreville High School. He is a junior assistant scoutmaster to Troop 577, a member of Amangamek-Wipit Lodge, Order of the Arrow, and a member of Venture Crew 893.

Schroder’s Supernova journey started in 2019 with his mentor by working on three Nova activities. These covered topics such as programming, water conservation, and rocketry. He also earned merit badges touching on STEM topics such as composite materials. Earning the STEM merit badges is the first step toward earning this award as four STEM merit badges are required. To complete the requirements, Schroder helped teach Cub Scouts Can Code and hosted a lunchtime talk about the Supernova at the first NCAC STEM at home event.

What makes the Supernova program stand out from the regular Nova awards are the research requirements. A part of that requirement is the Supernova activities. These are deep dives into the four different STEM (Science, Technology, Mathematics, & Engineering) areas. Schroder chose Mathematics and Science for his two. When asked what his favorite activity was, “Mathematics was by far my favorite and proved to be a great area for a real-world experiment on voting methods”[1]. Schroder also participated in his regional science fair in engineering mechanics, and shadowed a Cybersecurity professional as part of this requirement.

Learn more about the Nova and Supernova awards program from Tyler himself at the NCAC Capital Camp-In on May 23rd.

[1] You can view a copy of Schroder’s Supernova report, A Paradox of Counting: Voting Methods and Fair Decisions, online at https://www.rts2.us/assets/SupernovaReport1.pdf.

Local Boy Scout Council To Hold Day Of Giving And Unity

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Scouts join #GivingTuesdayNow in response to urgent COVID-19 need

 BETHESDA, MD (May 1, 2020) — National Capital Area Council, BSA (NCAC) has joined forces with #GivingTuesday in order to support local Scouting families experiencing COVID-19 related needs and develop ongoing digital programs that enable Scouts to continue building leadership and character while maintaining social distancing.

#GivingTuesdayNow is a global day of giving and unity, set to take place on May 5, 2020, as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. The day is designed to drive an influx of generosity, citizen engagement, business and philanthropy activation, and support for communities and nonprofits around the world.

NCAC has cancelled or rescheduled all in-person events due to the pandemic. In addition to Scouts missing out on anticipated events such as Pinewood Derbies and Family Campouts, this has hurt the council by eliminating activity revenue and traditional fundraising campaigns, especially as stay-at-home orders are extended into the summer camping season. Many families now also face difficulty affording the Scouting program without assistance. NCAC plans to relaunch their annual fundraising campaign on #GivingTuesdayNow, restructured for online giving, in order to help meet these needs.

“If I was going to add one point to the Scout Law, it might just be, a Scout is grateful. We learn gratitude from truthful and reverent behavior, and in turn, it teaches us to be helpful and kind,” stated Scout Executive, Craig Poland. “We are incredibly grateful for all the Scout families, volunteers, and donors who are making it possible for young people to continue their Scouting experience while remaining safely at home.”

At a time when we are all experiencing the pandemic, generosity is what brings people of all races, faiths, and political views together across the globe. Generosity gives everyone power to make a positive change in the lives of others and is a fundamental value anyone can act on. It’s a day for everyone around the world to stand together and give back in all ways, no matter who or where we are.

People can show their generosity in a variety of ways during #GivingTuesdayNow, whether it’s helping a neighbor, advocating for an issue, sharing a skill, or giving to causes, every act of generosity counts. The global movement will emphasize opportunities to give back to communities and causes in safe ways that allow for social connection even while practicing physical distancing.

“As a global community, we can mourn this moment of extreme crisis while also finding the opportunity to support one another. We each have the power to make an impact with acts of generosity, no matter how small, and to ensure the sustainability of organizations and services that are crucial to the care and support of our communities,” said Asha Curran, CEO of GivingTuesday. “#GivingTuesdayNow is a chance for us to stand united and use grassroots generosity to show that we are all in this together, beginning to end. Even as many face financial uncertainty, generosity is not about size. From calling an elderly neighbor to chat to offering translation help; from showing gratitude to our healthcare workers to donating to your local food bank, every act of kindness is a beacon of hope in this crisis. We all have something to give, and every act of human consideration and kindness matters.”

Community members interested in joining NCAC’s #GivingTuesdayNow efforts can visit www.NCACBSA.org/GTN.

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About Boy Scouts of America & National Capital Area Council

Boy Scouts of America provides the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be “Prepared. For Life. ™ The Scouting organization is composed of 2.6 million youth members between the ages of 6 and 21 and more than a million volunteers in local councils throughout the United States and its territories. For more, please visit www.Scouting.org.

National Capital Area Council was organized in 1911 and today stands as one of the oldest and largest councils in America. The Council territory includes the District of Columbia; Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties in Maryland; and in Virginia the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Fauquier, Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George, Stafford and Culpeper as well as the independent cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas, Manassas Park and Fredericksburg in Virginia; and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information, please visit www.NCACBSA.org.

About GivingTuesday

GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past eight years, it has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.

Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give. GivingTuesday strives to build a world in which the catalytic power of generosity is at the heart of the society we build together, unlocking dignity, opportunity and equity around the globe.

Local Scout Earns All 137 Merit Badges

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Seventeen-year-old Eagle Scout Daniel Free of Troop 489 in Germantown Maryland achieved the rare status of earning all 137 merit badges currently offered by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). There are about 450 scouts who have earned all the merit badges in the 110-year history of the Boy Scouts.

BSA is among the largest youth organizations in the United States, numbering about 2.3 million youth participants and supported by just over one million adult volunteers. Founded in 1910, scouting’s mission is to “prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.” Youth are trained in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance. The Merit Badges are central to the program, offering a variety of training in life skills, exposure to careers, and other topics of interest. At least 21 Merit Badges must be earned in order to attain the rank of Eagle Scout, 13 of which must be from a list of eagle-required merit badges.

Daniel joined Scouting when he was six years old as a cub scout, earning the Arrow of Light, cub scouting’s highest award. He bridged into Boy Scouts near the end of 5th grade and became an Eagle Scout on October 27, 2017 at the age of 15. He had earned 54 merit badges at that time. His eagle project involved planning and leading other youth in building outdoor stations of the cross at Mother Seton Catholic Church in Germantown Maryland, where he also serves on the alter during the mass. The night he was awarded his Eagle, Daniel said that he “was not satisfied stopping there” and wanted to do more while as he continued his involvement in Scouting. That evening, he made it a personal goal to earn the rest of the merit badges before his 18th birthday.

His favorite merit badge subjects were welding and metal working. He says that cycling was the hardest for him personally as it involved multiple bicycling treks covering over 150 miles. His Eagle-required badges covered subjects such as citizenship, personal management, first aid, cooking, and physical fitness. Others included a variety of fun subjects such as scuba diving, golf, water sports, and athleticism. Through the merit badges, Daniel learned may life skills, grew personally, and was exposed to many opportunities to learn and do things he knew nothing about. His Scoutmaster Karl Moline says “It has been a great pleasure having Daniel as part of Troop 489 starting during his Cub Scout days when he would visit with his older brother Ryan, also an Eagle Scout. Daniel continued to be active in the Troop while pursuing his goal of earning all the merit badges, helping younger scouts start off on their trails to Eagle. The entire Troop has been watching Daniel’s countdown to earning all the merit badges, and we could not be prouder of him. His dedication and hard work are an inspiration to all of our Scouts.”

Daniel is a senior at Clarksburg High School in Clarksburg Maryland, where he played on the golf and volleyball teams. He is also a percussionist in the Symphonic Band and the Jazz Band. Daniel plans to attend college at the University of Maryland to major in Secondary Education and History.

NCAC Scout Earns American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year for Virginia

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The American Legion offers a number of scholarships and other resources to assist young people in their pursuit of higher education. To be eligible for the American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year award, some of the requirements include: being an Eagle Scout; having received the appropriate Boy Scout religious emblem; having demonstrated practical citizenship in church, school, Scouting and community; and reached the age of 15 and enrolled in high school at time of selection.

Noah Ventura of Mt. Vernon, VA is the American Legion’s Eagle Scout of the Year for Virginia.

Ventura, is a high school Junior at Gonzaga College High School. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout in January 2017 and was inducted in the NCAC Youth Leadership Society in 2019. Noah Ventura  is also an Eagle Scout with Crew 1022/Troop 1509. Other achievements for Ventura include Order of the Arrow Virginia Central Area Section Chief, National Youth Leadership Training Senior Patrol Leader, and Congressional Silver Award. He has a strong interest in STEM and has earned the BSA Supernova Awards; Thomas Edison (2017), Dr. Bernard Harris Award (2015) and William H. Townes Award (2013).

American Legion State Department headquarters then submit their nominations to the American Legion National Office’s Youth Activities Subcommittee for review of all department nominations and selection of The American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year.

As the American Legion, State of Virginia, Eagle Scout of the Year Noah will receive a $1,500 scholarship. The American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year will receive a $10,000 scholarship. Three runners-up will each receive $2,500.

NYLT Preparing for Summer Courses!!

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National Youth Leadership Training is an exciting 6-day program designed for youth to learn leadership skills that will help them succeed in Scouting and in life!

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Scouts who have completed their unit’s introduction to leadership course, have been practicing these skills, and are ready for the next level of training should attend NYLT once they meet all Eligibility Requirements.

NYLT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Scouts must:

  • Complete their home Unit’s Introduction to Leadership Skills course*
  • Receive approval from your Scoutmaster or Unit leader
  • Be at least 14 years of age by course start date. We reserve limited space for 13-year-old participants on each course. All 13-year-old participants must contact the Course Director listed on the registration page before registering to see if slots still exist.
  • Earn First Class rank, if registered in a Troop
  • Have current BSA Health Form (Parts A, B, and C)
  • Be comfortable camping and cooking outdoors
  • Commit to attending the entire six-day course

* Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST), Crews (ILSC), and Ships (ILSS) should be offered through a Scout’s home unit. Ask your Unit Leader how you can participate in this course.

WHAT NYLT IS (AND IS NOT)

NYLT is not like summer camp and is not designed for rank advancement or earning merit badges.  NYLT is an intense and challenging hands-on leadership training program.  It is essential that NYLT participants be physically, emotionally, and mentally prepared to handle the demands of this advanced training. In order to get the most benefit from this unique experience, participants must exhibit emotional maturity, a positive attitude, proficiency in basic camping and outdoor cooking, and have an ambition to serve in leadership roles.

SIGN UP TODAY

Behavior at NYLT: Participants agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the Scout Oath and Law.

QUESTIONS?

For information about specific courses, contact the Course Director listed on the registration page. General inquiries about the NYLT program may be directed to contact@myNYLT.org.

You can follow NCAC NYLT Youth Training online on Facebook facebook.com/myNYLT