Troop 1920 had their first campout and first bridging this weekend. The weather was cold, but the Scouts didn’t complain one bit. We arrived to snow and made peachy french toast in the dutch oven for breakfast and then went on a 5 mile very muddy hike. Lunch on the trail was followed by dinner and another night camping, this time in the rain. While we were doing that, representatives of our troop went to their first Webelos bridging. We had a really busy weekend, and although we’re tired, we had our first Scout make Scout rank.
Annalise S., Abby E, and Katie H are the first members of Girls Troop 987 to reach the rank of Tenderfoot, with more right on their heels! The Scouts said the second campout was the highlight of their adventure so far!
AQUIA DISTRICT – Scouts of Troop 1717, sponsored by Hartwood Presbyterian Church, decided to do something special this year in recognition of Veterans’ Day. They scheduled a campout at Prince William Forest Park in Triangle, VA so that they could spend the day touring the nearby National Museum of the Marine Corps. While there, Scouts were given a personal perspective on a veteran’s service with a guided tour of the Vietnam War gallery and other galleries by Vietnam War Veteran and Museum Docent, Major William (“Bill”) Peters, USMC (ret.). Scouts also received a special sneak peak of the new museum wing, still under construction, which is slated to open sometime in 2020 and will depict Marines in action from 1976 through the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Before leaving, the Scouts participated in a remembrance and honor ceremony in the Semper Fidelis Memorial Park behind the museum where they presented a wreath in recognition of all veterans, past and present, “who risked or gave their lives for our country and the cause of freedom.”
The National Capital Area Council (NCAC) Outdoor Ethics Committee recently held it’s fourth annual Mid-Atlantic Outdoor Ethics Community Meeting at the Marriott Scout Service Center. The event brings together Leave No Trace Trainers and Master Educators from around the region to receive updates on the latest trends in Outdoor Ethics, to share information, and enjoy fellowship. This year’s event drew 35 participants including the Leave No Trace State Advocates for Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, the Council Outdoor Ethics Advocates for NCAC, Hawk Mountain Council, Cradle of Liberty Council, Garden State Council, and the Colonial Virginia Council, and the BSA Area 6 Outdoor Ethics Advocate.
The group received an update from Paul Sanford, National Director of Recreation Policy at the Wilderness Society. Paul gave a great overview of the Wilderness Society, land designation under the Wilderness Act, the importance of wilderness, and the current issues in wilderness recreation. His talk was very well received by the group and will be used to help shape our ongoing awareness and educational efforts. Paul indicated that the Wilderness Society will soon be releasing a wilderness curriculum aimed at middle and secondary school age youth. We will post this information on the Outdoor Ethics page of the NCAC website once it is released.
Mallard ducks and other waterfowl lay their nests on the ground near the edge of water, making them very vulnerable to predators like fox or raccoons. Some estimate nesting success as low as 10 percent for ground nests. Eagle Scout candidate Tapp Rhoads wanted to increase those odds, so he and his fellow Scouts from Ashburn’s Troop 997 spent a weekend building and installing mallard duck nesting tubes all around the Ashburn Farm area, helping protect eggs and ducklings until they’re able to fend for themselves. Nesting tubes of the design Tapp and his Troop have built are generally thought to increase nesting success by up to 80%. The tubes can be repaired and refurbished every year, making the project both near-term impactful and long-term sustainable.
With over 70% of Troop 997’s Scouts participating in the project and an ongoing outreach and education program, the Troop may also be eligible for the prestigious Hornaday Unit Award, one of the most coveted of environmental and conservation awards of the Boy Scouts of America.
On January 5th, 2019, a Patriot District Scouts BSA Troop celebrated a major milestone. Troop 50, chartered by Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Annandale, has been continuously chartered and active for more than a quarter of a century. The chartering in May 1993 launched a vibrant Troop known for producing 142 Eagle Scouts, for high-impact Eagle Projects throughout the local area, and for frequent high-adventure trips.
Their celebration featured a large display of historic photos, patrol flags, mementos, excerpts from past newsletters, and a slideshow. More than 230 current and former scouts and leaders and their families were in attendance, and the night was very lively. The event included a full dinner showcasing Dutch oven cobblers for dessert. Our current Scoutmaster and Committee Chair both welcomed the crowd and shared their reflections. The program paid special tribute to the founders who launched the Troop in 1993, and wrapped-up with the “Original Scoutmaster’s Minute” from founding Scoutmaster Dennis McFaden. He recalled both the principles that have shaped the Troop ever since, and some of the humorous moments from the early years. Of course, Scouts had a major role in the evening. The current SPL MC’d the program, and Troop historians presented the “Top Ten Moments” in Troop 50’s history. Five of our former Senior Patrol Leaders, and our current SPL organized a tribute to the Troop’s Scoutmasters. Of the ten Scoutmasters in Troop 50’s history, we were proud to have eight with us for this celebration. All the Troop 50 Eagle Scouts in attendance had the chance to re-connect, and lots of old friendships were re-kindled.