We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Scouting Programs

NCAC Scouting at Home 2020 Award for Unit Scouters!

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In response to the Coronavirus Pandemic, the National Capital Area Council (NCAC)’s Scouting at Home Award was introduced to encourage Scouts of all ages to stay home and be safe, while continuing to be a Scout. Scouts seeking to earn the award are supported and mentored by Unit Scouters, who during the pandemic are going the extra mile to make a difference in their units, in Scouting families, and in their communities. The NCAC Scouting at Home 2020 Award for Unit Scouters recognizes these Unit Scouters for meeting the challenge of instilling the Scout Oath and Law in others while the pandemic requires social distancing to be in place.

Unit Scouters who lead their units in providing community service, promote Scout advancement during the pandemic, seek to improve as a leader by taking training, broaden Scouts’ capabilities by providing instruction in Scouting skills, provide Scouts opportunities through virtual meetings, and encourage Scouts to practice the Scout Oath and Law through individual acts of kindness, earn the Scouting at Home 2020 Award for Unit Scouters.

For specific details or to obtain the requirement sheet, see https://www.scoutingevent.com/082-scoutingathomeaward.

NCAC Cub Scout earns all 13 Cubs’ STEM Awards!

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NCAC is pleased to announce a unique recognition for Caden Coffee who earned all the Nova & Supernova Awards available to Cub Scouts within BSA!

Caden Coffee is currently a fourth grader at BASIS Independent McLean and a Webelos in Pack 1344 of Patriot District. Caden earned his first Nova Award in early 2018, as a Wolf, and he has since then pursued every single Nova Award (11) & Supernova Award (2) that BSA currently offers to Cub Scouts.

Topping off Caden’s long and dedicated journey of STEM in Scouting, Caden remarkably finished the final requirements to the highest Cub Scout Supernova Award during social distancing lockdown (due to Covid-19).

The NCAC STEM Committee reviewed Caden’s application for the Dr. Charles H. Townes Supernova Award virtually. Dr. Arden Dougan, the NCAC STEM Committee Chair, recognized Caden in a virtual STEM@Home event and Caden’s father, Brett Coffee presented Caden with his Supernova medal.

During the virtual recognition ceremony, Caden mentioned that one of his most memorable projects was an experiment in which he had investigated how changing the shape and surface area of the Mentos dropped into a Coke bottle would affect the reaction. Caden shared the photos so you can see why; one of his experimental groups “2 Mentos” went almost 9 feet high!

Please join us in congratulating Caden Coffee for the rare feat of earning all the STEM Award in Cub Scouts; we can’t wait to see Caden’s continued pursuit of STEM!

To learn more about BSA’s Nova & Supernova Awards, click here.

Cub Scouts Receive Supernova Award During Pandemic

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A total of 28 NCAC Cub Scouts have earned a Supernova Award during these first months of Covid-19.

Congratulations to the 19 Bears and Wolves from 6 Districts who earned the Dr. Luis Alvarez Supernova Award, and congratulations to the 9 Webelos/AOLs from 4 Districts who earned the Dr. Charles H. Townes Supernova Award!

While the requirements for each award are distinct, all of these Cubs had to earn at least one rank-specific adventure, learn about famous scientists, participate in a science experiment and connect with their teachers.

Supernova Awards are approved at the Council level, and must be earned under the guidance of a registered Supernova Mentor. A tremendous thank you to all of these Cub Scouts’ Supernova Mentors!

To see the requirements for the Cubs Supernova Awards, click here.

To learn more about BSA’s Nova & Supernova Awards, click here.

Virtual Reality, Helicopter Pilot… join STEM@Home!

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Every Thursday at 7PM, you can join our virtual STEM@Home Speaker Series! Read more about the upcoming speakers, leap into STEM career exploration, and secure your spot here.

The presentations will be streamed live, and the presenters will host a special VIP Q&A with registrants in ZOOM. We hope you join this program for STEM careers exploration!

May 28: Engineering Night: A Conversation with LT John Delpizzo

John is an Eagle Scout from Troop 980 with a degree in Computer Science and a Minor in Cyber Security. But he is also interested in anything having to do with computers, robotics and programming. He will be working in Cyber Operations in the Air Force and is going to his first assignment this summer. As a hobby he likes to work with Virtual Reality (VR) equipment and software; he will explain how it works and allow the viewers to experience a bit of what VR is capable of doing. It’s not just about gaming! (But yeah, the games are pretty cool).

June 4: Technology Night: A Conversation with Mark Bruno

Mr. Mark Bruno is a 2006 Coast Guard Academy graduate, with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Specialized in Computer Networking. He spent 11 years flying helicopters for the Coast Guard and Maryland State Police, and now works as an Aviation Safety Program Manager. He has a passion for physics, weather, mechanical systems, computers, navigation, and data analysis. He is an Eagle Scout and the Cubmaster of Pack 1014 in Brandywine, Maryland.

30 Day Nova Challenge for Cubs!

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It’s been over two months of lockdown for most, and so here we have it – two 30 Day STEM Challenges!

This calendar is designed to help your Wolf, Bear, or Webelos Scout complete some NOVA Award Requirements. Please contact your Council/District STEM Committee to get in touch with a registered NOVA Counselor and complete the remainder of the award. If your youth is in NCAC, and seeking a Nova Counselor, please contact stem@ncacbsa.org and be sure to include your District so we may help connect you!

The downloadable PDF and PNG for each Nova Challenge is available here!

Special notes: Use proper safety precautions for hands-on activities. There are resources and ideas for most awards included in the requirements links at the start of each week. Extra Research is HIGHLY encouraged. Have fun!
#STEMatHome #Nova #scoutingAtHome

Mattaponi District Welcomes Pack 847

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During the virtual Roundtable Meeting on Thursday, May 21, 2020, the Mattaponi District welcomed our newest unit, Pack 847. Sponsored by Tabernacle United Methodist Church, the families of Pack 847 have entered the Scouting World running! Leaders have attended PowWow and completed their trainings and Scouts have enjoyed hikes, field trips, achievements, and more. The Mattaponi District is happy to welcome them into our Scouting family and we look forward to celebrating their Chartering and other Scouting accomplishments in person soon.