We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Scouting Programs

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.

Troop 845’s Deep Sea Adventure

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Troop 845 attended the Scuba Adventure at Florida Sea Base August 5-12, 2018. To prepare for this experience, all six boys and two adult leaders earned their Open Water SCUBA certification last summer as well as additional dive trips between June 2017 and August 2018. Justin Mallory, Life Scout and Crew Leader, helped the Crew organize for the trip, including fundraising during the year. The Crew included Alex Dudley (First Class), Anthony Nieves (Life), Nolan Ragon (Life), Robert Nieves (Life), Sean Sullivan (Star) and two Troop Committee members Jim Mallory and Mike Ragon. The adventure began with snorkeling and earning the BSA snorkeling badge.

During their first boat dive, they saw a barracuda, a reef shark and a million fish! During the following days, they experienced many close encounters with nurse sharks, saw sea turtles, a moray eel and a small octopus. The Dive Master commented that it was rare to see an octopus during the day and the Crew felt extremely lucky! From the boat docks, they also saw manatee playing in the water and from the boat, a school of playful porpoises. One of the dives allowed them to dive around a Norwegian freighter that sank during World War II. The conditions were good that day with 60 feet visibility and a coral formation “swim through”. The adventure also included a night dive and the conditions were perfect to see the sea turtles, eels and barracuda. By the last day, the Crew was exhausted and ready to come home to share their incredible stories! Crew Leader Justin Mallory said, “We plan to create a presentation to share with the Troop and encourage younger Scouts to follow in our footsteps and embark on this incredible journey for themselves.”

Crew/Troop 427’s Hike Across Maryland Adventure

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On the morning of Thursday, July 19th, under a clear blue sky, members of Troop and Crew 427 set off to hike across Maryland on the Appalachian Trail. The Scouts chose the 41.9-mile hike as a warmup for their 2019 Philmont trek. https://www.hikingupward.com/OMH/MarylandChallenge/

With a total elevation gain of over 5,000 feet, and total elevation loss of over 6,000 feet, this hike would definitely challenge the crew’s endurance. The first two days were an opportunity to practice their navigation, cooking and water treatment skills along with building their crew integrity.

The crew’s days weren’t restricted to skills training. While hiking they were able to enjoy a bucolic view of the Maryland countryside from High Rock, MD (elev. 1900 ft. +), climb the first Washington Monument overlooking Boonsboro, MD, and visit the National War Correspondents Memorial at Gathland State Park.

On day three the crew had to hike hard in order to get to the Ed Garvey shelter before the torrential rain that brought flash flooding to much of the Central Atlantic states and New England. Once under cover of the shelter, which they shared with two other hikers and their dog, the crew passed the time playing cards, napping and generally relaxing in preparation for the next day’s push into Harpers Ferry.

Rising early on Sunday the 22nd, under overcast skies, the crew was on the trail a little before 7 and arrived at Harpers Ferry at a little before 9:30, covering the six and a half miles in just two and a half hours.

Pack 81 to Host OE Award Event

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Scouts interested in earning the NCAC Outdoor Ethics Award can start that process on Sunday; October 28, 2018 at Caledon State Park, 11617 Caledon Road, King George, VA 22485 from 1-3 pm. ALL Scouts are welcome; please RSVP and let us know that you are interested. There will be a Leave No Trace trainer on site during the river/beach cleanup to help fulfill requirement #4.

Please Arrive by 12:45 pm. We will depart the visitor’s center at 1:00 pm. Caledon State Park will be providing transportation by pickup truck and large wagon from the visitor’s center to the cleanup site (2 miles one way if you decide to walk). Bring gloves for picking up debris and other garbage.

Leave No Trace instills an awareness that spurs questions like, “What can we do to reduce our impact on the environment and on the experiences of other visitors?” Leave No Trace is an awareness and an attitude rather than a set of rules. We should all practice Leave No Trace in our thinking and actions – – – wherever we go.