We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Scouting Programs

2018 Summer Highlights and 2019 Summer Sneak Peaks

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Goshen had a big, busy summer this year! Attendance was high and weeks filled up quickly, with Week 1 being especially popular. Week 2 was more populous than normal this summer, which made the Independence Day celebration at Goshen even more fun – with field games, snacks, special trading post items and sales, and fireworks over the lake. Our Wilderness First Aid Courses, run out of the Goshen Health Lodge, were also quite popular this summer. Adult leaders from all camps took part in those and other training courses around the lake, improving their skills and getting more prepared for the outdoors and other Scouting experiences.

Youth campers enjoyed earning Merit Badges, working toward Adventures, and doing all kinds of fun activities. The older Scouts at the three Boy Scout Camps all got together – for the first time – as Bowman’s Vets program opened up participation to Scouts from Marriott and Olmsted. Other older Scouts vied for a place in our ATV Ridership program – which was opened to those as young as 14 this year and was so popular another section had to be opened. In addition to opportunities for older Scouts, each of the Boy Scout Camps also improved the program in their own camp. Camp Bowman introduced a new area – Culture Craft – which offered various humanities- and citizenship-based Merit Badges. Meanwhile, Camp Marriott continued to improve its Provisional provisional program as it grew in popularity. Camp Olmsted expanded the offerings at an existing program area – Handicraft – by adding Merit Badges like Graphic Arts and combining Fingerprinting with Crime Prevention. Camp Olmsted also piloted the first Goshen Adirondack in Site 19.

The Webelos Camps thrilled the Webelos with dinosaurs and cavemen in their slightly historically inaccurate, but wonderfully fun Stone Age and Prehistoric theme for the summer. Camp PMI introduced Dungeons and Dragons-style role playing in Handicraft, which quickly overtook and replaced making tomahawks in popularity. Camp Ross added to their already wide assortment of general games around the Parade Field and Admin Building. The new Gaga pit was very popular, but the really cool new game was the Escape Room.

Lenhok’sin High Adventure continued to further introduce crews to the wilderness. On the Lenhok’sin Trail Trek, crews backpacked to great views between fun, challenging adventure activities at the outposts. Other crews experienced class I and II whitewater on the James River Canoe Trek. Lenhok’sin also welcomed many crews that were suddenly without a summer high adventure when the fires closed Philmont. Crews commented that it was a mild hassle to pack differently than they had been anticipating – more socks were required for the damper environment – but they had a great time on the trails, visiting the peaks, and taking part in program at the outposts.

In big news, Camp PMI and Camp Ross welcomed the first female Webelos to camp this summer, whether they attended as a whole Den, as part of a large Pack, or with just mom. Camp Marriott, Camp Bowman, and Lenhok’sin High Adventure have had girl campers for many years now, as part of various Venturing programs. Camp Olmsted has welcomed girls as part of international units. Though only a few girl Webelos attended Camp PMI and Camp Ross this summer, we’re looking forward to welcoming girls and boys at all our camps as part of Family Scouting in 2019.

There’s also more exciting sneak peaks of what’s to come next summer. With the success of the Adirondack at Camp Olmsted, we’re looking at adding more 4-person Adirondacks in place of tents at camps across Goshen Scout Reservation. Camp Marriott is working on adding a new program area with some life skill and extreme crafting options. Camp Marriott and Camp Bowman will also be joining the rest of the camps on the lake in becoming 6 day, Sunday to Saturday camps. By transitioning to 6 day, the camps hope to improve camp logistics and camp program for all campers. Meanwhile, Camp Olmsted will be running a special schedule – the camp will be closed during Week 4 to welcome in the German World Jamboree Contingent on their way to Summit for the 2019 World Jamboree. At this time, we are looking for volunteers to help the camp staff during that week. If you are interested, please contact Phil Barbash at Philip.Barbash@Scouting.org for more information.

Stay up to date on changes and check out everything Goshen has to offer by checking out our website or following Goshen and all your favorite camps on Facebook and Instagram.

Sully Tees Off 21st Annual Golf Classic

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The Sully District held its 21st Annual Golf Classic on October 4th at Twin Lakes in Clifton, VA. This year’s tournament saw an increase in attendance and new sponsors. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped put on the event. If you would like to participate next year or know someone who would please reach out to the Sully District Leadership.

Scouting in the Amazon

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by Evan Dann

This summer Evan Dann participated in the 2018 NESA World Explorer Program. One of twelve Eagle Scouts selected, he traveled to Ecuador and the Yasuni National Reserve’s Tiputini Biodiversity Research Station. The following is an abbreviated version of his 24 page photo essay submitted to Dr. Michael Manyak and managers at National’s NESA World Explorer Program leadership.Evan is a Scouter registered with Troop 1023 in Kemptown, MD as well as a Sea Scout with Ship 59 in Frederick, MD. He is a merit badge counselor at FSK District Camp Airy. Currently, Evan studyies Biomedical Engineering at Boston University.

In my troop, going on a Philmont trek is something to which every scout looks forward and something that completes one’s scouting experience. I went to Philmont when I was 15, the summer just before earning my Eagle Scout award. After finishing both of these experiences, I thought that my scouting career was complete. However, earning my Eagle was the beginning of the most amazing scouting expedition I had yet to experience, and one that I would only discover existed several years after earning this premier scouting award.

This past summer I had the opportunity through the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) World Explorer’s program to travel to Ecuador with another scout, Gabriel Burgos, where we spent a week deep in the remote Ecuadorian Amazon at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station (TBS). It takes a full day of travel to get from Quito, the capital of Ecuador to TBS. First, we flew over the Andes mountains to Coca, a city that lies on the Napo river in the Amazon. Next, we took a motorized canoe down the Napo river for about 2 hours. At the end of this leg in the journey, we travelled by bus over the oil concession about 60 km to reach the Tiputini river where we got on another motorized canoe for 2 hours and finally reached TBS. It is truly a remote place that is situated in a pristine rainforest.

We learned about the studies they do at the research station using motion sensitive camera traps. TBS mounts anywhere between twelve to fifty camera traps in the forest hoping to capture images of more elusive or nocturnal animals – such as armadillos, ocelots, jaguarundi, and jaguars. Specifically, the researchers use the camera traps to track individual jaguars to better understand the animal’s home range. Since jaguars live alone, the size of their range is not currently known. The photo information plays a key role in understanding a jaguar sighting in a particular area, and how deforestation impacts this apex predator. Gabriel & I set up our own two camera traps under the supervision of Diego, the TBS manager. Our goal was to help the station find answers to some of these questions.

While we were at TBS, we also had the opportunity to explore different parts of the forest. Each day, we would follow our machete wielding guide and go hiking to look for animals – some mornings we climbed the observation tower before sunrise for bird watching, some days we went trekking through the Amazonian swamps looking for capuchin monkeys, and other days we went fishing for piranhas in the Tiputini river. When we were tracking a group of peccaries through the forest, we tried to get close enough to get photos. However, as we approached, it became apparent that we were actually following white-lipped peccaries who travel in large packs. We could hear them feeding, breathing and snorting all round us but due to the dense vegetation, we couldn’t see them. Suddenly, there was complete silence in the forest indicating that the pack was lining up and preparing a defensive charge. Our guide immediately directed us to quickly run back up the trail to escape the charging peccaries!

We enjoyed dining in the outdoor pavilion where all our meals were served. I really enjoyed eating here because while we were covered under the pavilion, the sounds of the forest surrounded us, so I never lost a sense for how special it was to be in the forest. I particularly looked forward to eating dinner since by that time, it was dark and the bats would by flying all around the pavilion chasing mosquitos and other insects. Mealtimes were also a chance to network with the visiting scientists. We were fortunate to interact with an international group of primatologists studying the 11 different species of monkeys found at TBS. 

Just like you never forget the stories you have from Philmont, Gabriel and I have incredibly unique stories that we will never forget. I am grateful and honored to have experienced the Tiputini Biodiversity Station. This is an opportunity for which all Eagle Scouts are eligible and I strongly encourage you to apply at www.NESA.org.

Great Falls NPS VA Cub Scout Day Brings Together NPS and Scouts for Fun and Service

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On Sunday, September 23, over 130 Cub Scouts from across NCAC came together at Great Falls Park in Virginia to celebrate 100 years of partnership between the National Park Service and Boy Scouts of America. Cub Scouts got up close and personal with a Great Horned Owl, Screech Owl, Barred Owl, Red Shouldered Hawk, and Barn Owl. They also were able to touch corn snakes, and observe other snakes feeding. Most Scouts also stretched their legs as they took part in hikes ranging from one to three miles along the river.

“Some of the best moments in Scouting take place in national parks,” said Andrew Turner Au, Park Guide at Great Falls Park. “My first experience as a Scout was in the National Park Service climbing Old Rag in Shenandoah Valley. I am tremendously grateful for what Scouting provided me when I was young and what it has taught me.”

Turner Au has been giving back ever since, creating opportunities for Scouts to explore NPS by promoting Eagle Scout projects at Great Falls, providing merit badge programs, offering rank requirement opportunities, and arranging other Scouting activities in the park, such as Cub Scout Day.

On this day, he was proud to report that nearly all Scouts completed the junior ranger book, earning the coveted Junior Ranger Badge. Scouts also did a good turn on their hikes by picking up litter and learning about Leave No Trace (LNT).

LNT activities were conducted by Scouts in Troop 55, and Cub Scouts received LNT certificates after reciting the seven principles from memory, watching an LNT video, and picking up ten pieces of trash. According to one volunteer on site on Sunday, the park hasn’t looked this clean in years.

Cub Scouts who stayed at the park the whole day earned the NPS/BSA patch for learning, helping, and inspiring others about the National Park Service.

“Each year Scouts spend more than 60,000 hours on volunteer projects to restore or enhance our national parks,” said Turner Au. “This service is not only integral to Scouting, but also provides a great benefit for NPS.”

For more information regarding Scouting or volunteer opportunities within Great Falls National Park, please contact Park Guide Andrew Turner Au at andrew_turnerau@nps.gov. Special thanks to Park Rangers Cheryl Breese, Susan Finta, and Franice Sewell for their support of the Cub Scout Day program.