We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Scouting Programs

Troops 111, 439, 647 Tops at Orienteering!

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NCAC tied their own record of nine of the top twelve troops at the 43rd Annual Maryland Scout Orienteering Championships on Nov. 2, led by Chain Bridge District’s Troop 111 from Arlington, Potomac District’s Troop 439 in Kensington (teamed with a Howard County unit), and Arlington’s Troop 647.

The super-competitive Advanced competition was won with a time of 42:12 by Nate Beardmore of Western Shores Troop 347 in Prince Frederick, the fifth overall unit (teamed with Chesapeake Beach Troop 429.) Not far behind were Rockville Troop 944 teamed with Patriot District Venture Crew 1345 from Burke, and La Plata Troop 1321. Nate edged out Jeremy Bloom from Rockville Troop 1450 by two minutes, 111’s Thomas Sullivan, and 1321’s Christian Decker.

Over 775 attended this map training and competition event at Broad Creek Scout Res. north of Baltimore, including over 60 girls. Amongst 110 teams in the Older category, 111’s Houston Burnside and Jon Hales plus Owen Caputo and Kaden Carpenter were the top NCAC teams, with Milo Engel and Keni McBee from Venture Crew 1130, McLean. Topping the Younger competition’s100 teams from NCAC were 111’s Andrew Hales and Michael Corso, 647’s Connor Jones and Aiden Madden, and Charlie Conroy and Felix Shareno from DC’s Troop 1946.

For Troop 111, it was a record tenth time finishing in the top two troops at this event. Everyone completed several beginner to intermediate map training courses, then competed on two orienteering courses. As with the past few years, the top 14 places in the Older category were captured by twelve different troops, and eight different troops nabbed the top nine in the Younger competition! Troops from NJ, DE, PA, MD, DC, and VA took part.

On March 21, 2020, Jim Chaplin’s 15th Annual NCAC Scout Orienteering Day will be at Pohick Bay; reach Jim at jhchaplin@comcast.net. In 2020 the 44th Annual MD Scout Orienteering Day will be at Patuxent River Park near Upper Marlboro October 24; you’ll find more details (and full results from 2019) at BaltimoreBSA.org/orienteering, plus information via qocweb.org for good orienteering events suitable for scouts on most winter and spring weekends.

Photos by: Stan Turk

Duty to God Interfaith Brunch Brings all Together

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On November 3rd, 2019 many gathered for the the Duty to God Interfaith Brunch, at the newly refreshed John Mosby Russell Interfaith Chapel at Camp Snyder to celebrate Scout Fellowship and Interfaith diagloue. The free event began with a model Interfaith Campfire Worship Service humbly led by Scouts. The brunch included a “Duty to God” youth seminar, presentations of youth and adult awards, the “A Scout is Reverent” midway featuring local faith-based sponsors of Scouting programs and special words from Keynote Speaker Brig. Gen. Ron Harvell, USAF, Deputy Chief of USAF Chaplains.

ADAMS Center Youth Choir singing “America the Beautiful” to participants at the brunch.
Scout Executive Craig Poland and Forrest Horton present Brig. Gen. Ron Harvell with Camp Snyder Hiking Staff for serving as keynote speaker 3.

Brig. Gen. Ron Harvell, USAF, Deputy Chief of USAF Chaplains, serving as Keynote Speaker for NCAC Duty to God Brunch.
Eagle Scout Mikaeel Martinez- Jaka addressing participants at Duty to God Interfaith Youth Seminar.

An “A-Neigh-Zing” Eagle Project!

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Check out this “a-neigh-zing” Eagle project! Bryce Treichel constructed an ADA Compliant Disability ramp for horse riders! He and his team of volunteers designed and constructed the massive structure to allow those with disabilities to be able to ride horses. His wheelchair accessible ramp allowed anyone who had trouble walking or climbing stairs to be able to mount a horse. The equestrian field he built it for offers special therapeutic horse riding sessions for those with disabilities. Bryce loved leading the project, he found that when “Everyone as a team successfully accomplished something under my supervision,” he “felt extraordinary.” Bryce’s eagle project helped give those with mobility issues and disabilities the ability to ride horses. Who will your eagle project serve?

Teaching Scouts to Save

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Download Westie's Save, Spend & Share Jar Labels

NCAC is partnering with Northwest Financial Credit Union to provide tools you can use with your Scouts to discuss financial literacy. Watch for future articles to help teach children about saving, budgeting, and more! As the Scout Law says, A Scout is Thrifty!

One might ask, when is the right age for children to learn about saving? Some may say parents should start teaching their kids about the importance of money as early as age two. Some say parents should let children be children and not worry about real-life matters, such as finances. You can teach your children to save money at almost any age, just by following these tips:

No Spoiling

Be careful not to give in to your children every time they ask for toys and gifts. Many parents have their children earn rewards instead of getting things just because they asked for it. If they have to earn something, they are more likely to appreciate its value.

Use Jars to Save

A fun way to help your children save money is to use piggy banks or jars. Using clear jars will give a visual of how much money is piling up and how close they are getting to meeting their savings goal.

Set an Example Through Actions

Our kids learn from us. If they see us doing something, the likelihood they will also do it is high. If your children see you purchasing excessively, they might think that this is a normal part of life.

Start a Savings Account for Them

Open savings accounts for your children as early as possible. It will help you teach them the importance of saving for something special and how to earn dividends.

Credit Cards are Loans

It’s important to teach your kids about loans and debt. Teach them to respect credit cards, how they work and that credit cards are loans.

Allowance vs. Commission

Instead of just giving children a monthly allowance, you could pay them commission in return for doing chores. Money in return for mowing the lawn, doing the dishes, cleaning their room, doing the laundry, and other chores, will help teach them it can be hard work to earn money.

Talk to Them

The best way to get the message about saving money across is by talking to your children. Nothing works better than telling children about the advantages of savings. Teach them what they can do with their savings and how it’s beneficial to save as early as possible. If you help your children to understand the importance of money early, they will develop smart savings habits to use as adults.

Make your own Save, Spend, and Share Savings Jars with Westie! ww.nwfcu.org/youth

Boy Scouts at the Ballpark, A Home Run Eagle Project!

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Check out this home run of an Eagle Project! Julian Edmonds, a creative writer who’s active on his school’s debate team, decided that he wanted to help the local little league players. The players desperately needed benches for their dugouts, as they were forced to stand while waiting for their turn in the game.

Leading his group of volunteers, Julian built, painted, and installed secure seats for the small baseball players. Julian did his research on what benches would work for the park, and how he would be able to build them before instructing his team and completing an awesome addition to the baseball field.

Julian helped the little league teams of his area with new benches, who will your eagle project help?

Be Prepared with Wilderness First Aid Training

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Getting ready for a BSA national or local high adventure? Planning your own trip? Be prepared for outdoor adventure with Wilderness First Aid training!

National Capital Area Council offers its own Wilderness First Aid training with the Outdoor Preparedness Initiative (OPI). OPI provides certification from the American Red Cross and offers courses in the fall through the spring at Camp Snyder in Haymarket, VA. The training is for adults and youth, ages 14 and up.

Due to the cost of certification, course fees are increasing in the spring. Check out our November and January course dates to get in before the fees increase!

Go to www.ncacbsa.org/opi-wfa to learn more and select your course!