We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Scouting Programs

New STEM Scouts Lab forming in Alexandria!

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Do you have a burgeoning engineer or scientist growing up in your house?
Are you sick of your kid taking apart the TV to “see how it works?”
Does your carpet bear the marks of past chemistry experiments?
We have an outlet for that STEM energy!

STEM Scouts is a new type of unit for boys and girls interested in STEM. We will meet every other week at the US Patent & Trademark Office in Alexandria, VA. Our unit will start meetings in early June, so you would need to register by May 21. For details, please email Lab Manager Burt Wagner.

Pack 961 Earns the Hornaday Award

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By Webelos Tom Hughes

It all began a year ago, but I missed the beginning. On Saturday, March 23, 2019 my Pack 961 went to Sleeter Lake Park and picked up sticks and planted trees.

We also had our photo taken with the MAYOR! During our Cub Scout event we went to the lake for a conservation program.

Also to work on the pollinator garden Pack 961 installed in April 2018.

The reason we planted tress was to make it look beautiful and support lots of ecosystems.

Also to help the environment.

Ashburn Troop 997 Earns Hornaday Award

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Recently we shared a story about an Eagle project Tapp Rhoads was leading, and Troop 997’s efforts to help Tapp achieve his goals. The project was to install and maintain a series of Mallard Nesting Tubes around the local community. After the project was completed, Hornaday Advisor Sara Holtz reviewed it and found it met the criteria of both significant scope and sustainable impact. Since over 75% of Troop 997 Scouts participated in the project, we learned last week that the Troop had earned the prestigious Hornaday Unit Award for its efforts.

The National Capital Area Council (NCAC) Hornaday Committee recently created a patch for Scouts participating in a Hornaday Unit Award project, honoring the legacy of William Hornaday and his work with the Smithsonian Institution and his efforts to save the American Bison from extinction. Scouts BSA Troop 997 is the first Troop to earn this newly designed award patch.

Six Eagles graduate from St. Mary’s STEM Academy

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St. Mary’s new Eagle Scout graduates (from left): Alan H., Adam L., Kevin M., Jack O., Finn O., and Jay L.

The St. Mary’s County Public Schools STEM Academy in Maryland has something to brag about: 35% of the young men in the STEM Class of 2019 are Eagle Scouts!

Nationally, only 4-6% of members of the Boy Scouts of America earn the rank of Eagle Scout. Up until now, all of those Scouts have been young men, so when you look at the total number of young men in the United States only about 1.5% of them earn the rank of Eagle Scout. And yet, six out of seventeen young men in the STEM Class of 2019 are now part of that elite group.

According to the St. Mary’s County Public Schools website, the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Academy at Great Mills High School is “a rigorous and unique program of study emphasizing the core areas of mathematics and science with an infusion of technology and engineering.” Students take as many as twelve Advanced Placement courses during their high school career and complete an internship in a STEM field during the Summer before their senior year.

The Scouts represent four different troops throughout St. Mary’s County: Troop 303 in Valley Lee, Troop 793 in California, Troop 1785 in Mechanicsville, and Troop 2819 in California. In addition to their school work, each of these Scouts completed at least twenty-one merit badges in subjects such as citizenship, first aid, cooking, camping and personal fitness. Some of the merit badges they earned were STEM related, with topics such as environmental science, mammal study, robotics, weather, and energy. They each also completed a leadership project to benefit their community.

If that were not enough, four of them participated in varsity sports during high school, including track, cross country, tennis, lacrosse, and soccer. Three are active in the National Honor Society. Two competed with robotics teams and one participated in several school plays.

Their future plans include degrees in paleontology, biology, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, and environmental planning.

Gone Home: NCAC Celebrates the Life of John Leonard Wolfgang, Jr.

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It is with great sadness that the NCAC family acknowledges the loss of John Leonard Wolfgang, Jr. John was Chairman of the NCAC Shooting Sports Committee and led a significant quality improvement effort in BSA Shooting Sports training and safety at both the Council and National level. He was also a leader in many other committees and teams within our Council, in our Region, and for the BSA nationally.

A longtime member of BSA National Training Committee, Exploring Committee, Learning for Life Committee, Venturing Program Committee, and Safety Committee, John authored of a number of high-quality training materials, primarily in Exploring and Venturing, and was one of the Founders of the Powder Horn course. Within his 71 plus years of involvement and service in Scouting, John earned the rank of Eagle, as well as the Exploring Silver Award, Silver Antelope, Silver Beaver, a Fox in Wood Badge and as Course Director, Vigil honor in the OA, Venturing Leadership Award, Spurgeon Award, and the District Award of Merit. He directed multiple courses at Philmont, served 15 years as a Scoutmaster, and served 33 years as an Explorer Post and Venturing Crew Advisor to Post & Crew 1275. John remarkably staffed 9 National Jamborees, including as National Exhibits and Displays Chairman, and also staffed 2 World Jamborees.

We are fortunate that his entire Scouting experience happened here in the National Capital Area Council. Leaders of his caliber are rare, and we are not only proud to have had him as a part of our programs, but cherish all that he shared with us. He has gone home.

In celebration of John’s life and accomplishments, we invite you to a memorial service in his honor at Camp William B. Snyder. The service will take place on Sunday, May 19th from 5 pm until 8 pm. Light refreshments will follow. To help us plan, please register to attend at https://scoutingevent.com/082-wolfgang. For more information, please contact Phillip.Barbash@Scouting.org.

Cub Scouts Investigate the Art of Investigation

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On March 30, Cub Scout Pack 492 of Rockville, MD spent the morning earning their Forensics Adventure loop by “investigating a break-in” at the National Law Enforcement Museum. The Cub Scouts learned how to photograph and bag evidence from a crime scene, how to dust & lift their own fingerprints, and how to cast a shoe impression.

The Cub Scouts were also explored the museum’s K-9 and forensic science exhibits, and created some memories at the interactive police car and Wanted Poster wall.