Leaders

On November 10-12, I had the privilege to attend the 2022 BSA National Outdoor Ethics and Conservation Conference at Camp Bert Adams in Covington, GA. It was an awesome experience! Outdoor Ethics and conservation are at the core of Scouting’s outdoor program, and after attending this conference I can attest that our focus on them is making Scouting’s outdoor program stronger than ever.

There was so much to do, and so many people to talk to! Participants got to hear from and sit down to share a meal with national experts and resources. The Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers were there to share a lot of great ideas on how to help youth to build an outdoor ethic. Leave No Trace Director of Education and Training JD Tanner took us through Leave No Trace’s recent changes and their strategies for the next few years. The BSA National Outdoor Ethics and Conservation Committee teams shared what they’re working on and the support they can provide to councils.

But that wasn’t all! We learned about the new Distinguished Conservation Service Award for youth. This award replaces the former Hornaday Award, which was administered by BSA National. The new DCSA award is administered by council Conservation Committees, which will make the award more accessible to more youth. We were joined by the Green Crew, a new Venturing crew from Minneapolis. The Green Crew is a unique Venturing crew. They are a Venturing crew whose program is planning and conducting services projects for their chartering Izaak Walton League of America chapter. All their projects are advertised and open to the public to participate in. They’ve gotten a lot of national attention. https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2022/11/09/the-secret-of-their-success-venturing-crew-focuses-solely-on-conservation/ Once again, it was great to hear from and sit down with these creative and passionate youth and their leaders.

In that great mix, I had the opportunity to share some of the NCAC Outdoor Ethics Committee’s successes. Often, we don’t appreciate what we have right here at home. Our NCAC Outdoor Ethics Committee is viewed as one of, and perhaps the best in the country. I was asked to share the work we’ve done creating training for new Scouts BSA troop Outdoor Ethics Guides. I also led a workshop on how other councils can better market their own Outdoor Ethics offerings. It really felt great to be able to help other councils by sharing some of the work that so many people have done through the NCAC Outdoor Ethics Committee, particularly Sara Holtz and Victor Bieniek.

Just when most of us felt that our brains were starting to hurt from all the great ideas we’d picked up, our closing speaker was Professor Doug Tallamy of the University of Delaware. His presentation on “Nature’s Best Hope” was a wonderful way to cap off the conference.

Your NCAC Outdoor Ethics Committee is here to help you advance your unit’s program. Let us know how we can help!

 

Akela’s Trail is a leadership training for Cub Scout leaders has been cancelled. It is a great way to learn the basics of Cub Scouting or take more advanced trainings to help the Pack and program grow. Akela’s Trail has something to offer everyone. Being held virtually in the comfort of your home on November 19, 2022 from 8:30am-Noon. Click the registration link for more information and the course descriptions.

UPDATE: 12/5/22 Jack Lundin’s Memorial service will be held at the Vienna Presbyterian Church on December 28, 2022 at 11:00 AM with a repast afterwards.

UPDATE: With tremendous sadness, we announce the passing of Mr. Lundin at Fairfax Hospital on November 10, 2022. Our condolences to his family and everyone in our Scouting family who mourn this loss. He will be missed by many who appreciated his help and dedication through these many decades. 

If your son is or was a Scout in the Vienna Virginia area and achieved the rank of Eagle, chances are pretty good he sat in Jack Lundin’s family room. Jack has played an exemplary role in the lives of many Scouts on their journey towards Eagle.

More accurately, that figure is 881 young men at the time of this writing. Jack keeps an on going log in his white binder of every single scout who comes to see him as part of their Eagle Scout Service Project and Eagle Application Process, usually culminating in an Eagle Scout Board of Review (BOR).

Jack recently celebrated his 99th birthday and has no plans to slow down. He continues to meet with at least 1 Eagle Scout candidate each week.

I first met Jack when my oldest of three sons went through the Eagle application process. Later, I would meet with Jack at his home as the Scoutmaster of Troop 976 with many of our Eagle candidates during my tenure in that position. My other two boys would soon follow their older brother. Jack is a kind hearted soul who really knows how to connect with young scouts. He challenges them with interesting, thought provoking questions centered around service to others, good citizenship, and leadership. And yet, he was somewhat of a mystery to me and my fellow Scout Leaders. Seeing a photo of Jack celebrating with yet another successful Eagle Scout, I was compelled to visit him and learn more about our hometown Scouting legend.

Jack Lundin was born in St. Paul Minnesota on September 23, 1923, 13 years after the Scout Movement first came to America; a movement that Jack’s father was part of establishing in the St. Paul area. Jack achieved the Eagle Rank in 1937 with Troop 65, chartered by the Cleveland Methodist Church. He graduated from Monroe High school in 1941. He would spend the following summer working on the “Empire Builder” passenger train of the Great Northern Railway as a “news butch” selling newspapers and refreshments for just $2 a day while riding the train back and forth to South Dakota. He earned enough money to pay for his first year’s tuition at the University of Minnesota where he studied Chemical Engineering.

Jack’s academics were put on hold during WWII when he decided to enlist in the U.S. Army as a pre-meteorologist in January of 1943. After he completed basic training at Kearns Airfield, near Salt Lake city, he was sent to the University of Wisconsin for further training, then to Chanute Airfield, IL, to attend the meteorology cadet school. Jack was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in June of that same year. For the next 6 months he worked in the weather station at Dale Mabry Field in Florida and was then transferred to the Air Transport Command in Myitkyina, Burma, to support the War in the Pacific. Jack served as the Weight and Balance Officer in charge of loading aircraft preparing to travel over the Hump, the nickname given to the treacherous journey over the Himalayan Mountain Range into China. After the war Jack returned to the states and was honorably discharged in 1946.

Upon his return Jack continued his education at the University of Minnesota earning a BS in Mathematics, Physics and Radiochemistry. He was then employed by Macalester College in St. Paul as a Chemistry Instructor. In 1951 Jack was hired by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) where he worked for the next 35 years! During that time, the CIA would send him to the Oak Ridge School of Reactor Training where he became a Nuclear Engineer.

During Jack’s many adventures and achievements he would marry his lovely wife Kyle in 1949 and share his life with her for the next 59 years until her passing. They had 4 children together; three sons Erick (1951), James (1954), and Robert (1957), and a wonderful daughter Susan (1964).

Jack moved to Vienna Virginia in 1952. His long history in Scouting began in his youth and was later nurtured when in 1967 he would volunteer to serve on a the Naval War College’s Troop Committee while he was attending classes there. Upon returning to Vienna he joined Troop 152 chartered by the Vienna Presbyterian Church. He served as Scoutmaster from 1969 to 1975 and supported his three sons on their journey to Eagle. He became an Area Commissioner and soon joined the National Capital Area Council’s (NCAC) High Adventure Committee where he was a member for 35 years. He completed two Crew Treks as an Adult Advisor on the Philmont Scout Ranch in 1978 and 1982. He currently serves as the Chairman of the George Mason District’s Eagle Board that he joined in 1975.

Jack Lundin has been a registered Scout Leader for 59 years! Imagine for a moment how many young men Jack has positively influenced in that time. His grandson’s Timothy and David also joined the Lundin Eagle’s nest when both achieved the rank in 2002. Jack was proud to show me his family room mantel that hosts his numerous scouting achievements such as his Troop Scoutmaster Award (Troop 152, 1972), the Silver Beaver Award (NCAC, 1981), the Excellence in Scouting Award (NCAC, 2007), the Hal Fuerst Service Award (Troop 152, 2009), two George Mason District Key Three Awards (2012, 2014), and the very prestigious Lifetime Scouter Award (NCAC, 2015).

Thank you Mr. Jack Lundin for all you have done and still do for our youth, our community, and for your service to our country. May you enjoy many more birthdays to come.

As of 10.27.22 I have just learned that Jack has officially retired from Scouting. I know he would appreciate hearing from our Scouting community.

The Silver Beaver Award was introduced in 1931 and is a council-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. Recipients of this award are registered Scouters who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given at the council, district, and unit levels. The Silver Beaver is given to those who implement the Scouting program and perform community service over a period of several years.

Nominations are due to Kelly Wratkowski by November 30, 2022 . The nomination process is not a guarantee of selection and should remain confidential. The potential candidate should not know that he or she is being considered for the Silver Beaver.

More information and the submission details are available at https://www.ncacbsa.org/silver-beaver-award/.

We are pleased to introduce the newest volunteers in Michael’s Woodshop. Alyssa and Teaghan have completed their training and have joined the team as Youth Assistants. In addition, we would like to recognize Dallas Cecil, a dedicated volunteer who has given three years of service in the woodshop. Michael’s Woodshop is run entirely through the time, effort and talent of volunteers and we welcome these latest additions and appreciate the ongoing commitment of our volunteers

Meet Our New Youth Assistants

Alyssa is a First Class scout with Troop 893G in Centreville, VA. She enjoys camping, uses Merit Badges to explore new interests, and looks forward to high adventure trips! Her dad has been woodworking for many years, and has roped her into many a project, so it just ‘made sense’ for her to join the team in Michael’s Woodshop. In her non-scouting time she rides horses and is a member of Centreville Dance Theater.

Teaghan is a Life Scout in Troop 1137G in Centreville, VA. Her Scouting passions include shooting sports, camping, and nature. Teaghan has an artistic spirit and enjoys exploring her talents through drawing and crochet. Her newfound interest in woodworking sparked while completing her Woodwork Merit Badge requirements at Camp Snyder in July.

Volunteer Service Award

We are pleased to recognize Dallas Cecil for three years of volunteer service in Michael’s Woodshop. Dallas serves as our CNC Lead and provides training and support for all CNC projects. He is an Eagle Scout and has served for over 12 years as an adult Scout leader serving as the outdoor chair for Pack 1148, Assistant Scoutmaster for Troops 1430B and 1148G and a Committee Member for Crew 1430. Dallas has received the District Award of Merit, the Venturing Leadership Award, and the International Scouter’s Award, with just completing an epic two-week Denmark adventure with Crew 1430.

We are always looking for additional volunteers in Michael’s Woodshop. Roles are available for adults and youth, from novices to experience woodworkers. If you are interested in volunteering, please see “Join the Michael’s Woodshop Team”, or email us at MichaelsWoodshop.CWBS@gmail.com.

Is your unit is planning a high adventure experience?

Are you looking for a place to learn or refresh the skills needed to provide the adult leadership necessary to a successful trek?

Do you want to understand how to work with older youth and how interpersonal skills, small group dynamics and team building techniques help manage risk and affect the overall quality of the trek?

Do you want to help your youth master trek planning, gear selection, gear requirements; packing, land navigation and terrain awareness, health and hygiene, menu planning, food preparation and clean-up, and field maintenance all within the context of Leave No Trace?

Then Back Country Outdoor Leader Skills (BCOLS) is the course for you! Through a well-balanced mix of explanation, demonstration, and guided hands-on practice, BCOLS will enable you to become a servant-leader to your youth and prepare them for a memorable and challenging outdoor experience.

The purpose of the course is to provide adults with an understanding of the skills necessary to implement a basic backcountry program. While this course uses backpacking as the training vehicle, the skills are applicable to treks focused on specialized skills such as rock climbing, caving, white water, mountain biking or winter camping. The training is conducted in two parts: one indoor classroom session (September 24) followed by a weekend outdoor, overnight session (October 22-23).

Register here==> https://scoutingevent.com/082-59004