We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Scouting Programs

Troop 50 Celebrates 25 Years

by

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.

Troop 50 is going strong into its 26th year, and looks forward to celebrating more milestones, and more impacts on our scouts and our community, in the years ahead.

2019 Marks 70th Anniversary of Exploring!

by

The following is a re-post from a January 19, 2019 post on www.exploring.org by Anissa R. Hicks.

2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the Exploring program and celebrates decades of opportunities for young adults to become prepared for life.

Here’s a little history about Exploring:

  • 1935 – Senior Scouts were called Explorers
  • 1949 – All young men in posts, Sea Scout ships, Air Scout squadrons, and Boy Scouts over 14 officially recognized as Explorers
  • 1959 – Program shifts major focus to career opportunities
  • 1971 – Young women became eligible for full membership in Exploring
  • 1981 – Specific career fields in Exploring developed, including the current 12 plus outdoors, Sea Exploring, and sports
  • 1994 – First National Exploring Leadership Conference held
  • 1998 – Exploring became solely focused on career opportunities and was moved under Learning for Life
  • 2013 – Exploring clubs (for middle school ages) launched nationally
  • 2019 – Exploring celebrates 70 years of youth development!

Exploring has touched many hundreds of thousands of young people over the past 70 years and is proud to have welcomed young women in the program for nearly 50 years! To learn more about the history of Exploring, visit www.exploring.org/about-us.

We celebrate this milestone with a renewed focus on growth, program development, and the new National Exploring Leadership Conference being held in July.

More details about the conference can be found here: https://www.exploring.org/blog/2019-national-exploring-leadership-conference/.

Workplace Giving: Don’t Leave Money on the Table

by

Community leadership takes many forms. The National Capital Area Council Boy Scouts of America is fortunate to have so many hardworking volunteers committed to Scouting programs in our area. We appreciate all the ways that the work of our volunteers contributes to Scouting’s mission, and that’s why we want you to know about an easy, powerful way you can support us while doing what you’re already doing. That way is workplace giving.

If you have given a donation to NCAC this year, don’t be afraid to ask your employer if they offer a matching gifts program. Often times, companies offer matching gifts to incentivize employees to participate in meaningful causes that benefit their communities, such as Scouting. For you, that means a possible avenue to doubling your donation for an organization that you’re already invested in. Some companies will even match the time you give with a financial contribution. That is, for each hour you volunteer, your employer may donate money to the Scouts. Because workplace giving is one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to support NCAC’s mission, it enables us to maximize the impact your donation makes–no matter what form it takes.

If you are unsure if your company offers a matching gifts program, please go to https://doublethedonation.com/ncacbsa and enter your company’s name to see if they participate. Every donation matters, and by taking a moment to check if your company participates in workplace giving, you could double the impact of what you’re already doing. And that’s working smarter.

Thank you for all that you do for Scouting. For more information on this and other ways to give, please visit: https://www.ncacbsa.org/support-scouting/

First recipients of the New Hornaday Unit Patch

by

Congratulations to Pack 1530 in Powhatan District for being the first unit to earn the new NCAC Hornaday Unit award patch.

William T. Hornaday awards are given for distinguished service to natural resource conservation. The Hornaday Unit certificate is awarded to a pack, troop, crew or ship of five or more Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA Scouts, Venturers, or Sea Scouts for participating in a substantial conservation project. At least 60 percent of registered youth must participate. The Unit award may be awarded for participation in a Hornaday Badge or Medal project, for participation in an outside organization’s conservation project, or for a standalone project the unit planned and conducted on its own.

NCAC developed this new patch for the participants in Hornaday Unit award projects. It features the Smithsonian Castle and a bison because William T. Hornaday, a taxidermist for the Smithsonian, is credited with helping to prevent the extinction of the America bison.

Pack 1530 earned this prestigious conservation award by participating in Boy Scout John Foong’s Hornaday Badge project to remove invasive plant Japanese stiltgrass at Frying Pan Farm Park. Japanese stiltgrass is invasive because it is non-native, grows aggressively, and crowds out native plants. Pack 1530 Cub Scouts, scouters, alums, and family members helped over 100 other volunteers remove 110 large garbage bags of stiltgrass. In the spring, volunteers will help plant native shrubs and perennials on the site where the stiltgrass once lived. This project site is part of Fairfax County Park Authority’s Invasive Management Area (IMA) program.

For more information about Hornaday projects, please go to the NCAC Hornaday page (https://www.ncacbsa.org/advancement/awards-and-recognition/hornaday/). We strongly advise any scout interested in a Hornaday project or any unit interested in a Hornaday Unit award to identify a Hornaday Adviser to guide you through the process.

“Unusual prizes are won only by unusual service.”
– William T. Hornaday

“Very special thanks to our local Cub Scouts who participated in clean-ups. Your efforts will help the land to heal and provide a fresh landscape for native plants and animals to live. When we all pull together great things happen. May you all continue your wonderful work in conservation and thank you all so much from your friends at Frying Pan Farm Park.”
        – Patrick Macnamara, land manager at Frying Pan Farm Park

Online YPT Course Replaced on March 1st: Make Sure You Completed Training

by

On March 1, 2019, the online YPT Course was replaced with an updated version.

If you started—but did not complete—the current Youth Protection Training by February 28th, any progress you made will not have been transferred. You will have to start over.

If you completed the current Youth Protection Training by March 1st, you WILL NOT have been affected.

Completions will not be recorded on my.scouting.org until you have completed all 3 modules and the certification test.

To print your completion certificate, return to my.scouting.org, select “Menu” then “My Dashboard.” Your Youth Protection Training Certificate can be printed by selecting the printer icon in the “YPT Status” area.