We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Scouting Programs

Washington, DC District Celebrates Ten Years and Honors Three Scouters with District Award of Merit

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From left: William Hemsley, Rhonda Gray, Thomas Scofield

The Washington, DC, District is now 10 years old and still going strong! Back in June 2008, the National Capital Area Council made some changes to existing boundaries and created three new Districts, including the consolidation of the Horizon and Benjamin Banneker Districts into the new Washington, DC District. 10 years later, only the Washington, DC District remains unchanged.

DC Scouters celebrated the 10th birthday of our District at our annual Family Picnic and Awards Campfire on June 12 in Rock Creek Park, where Scouts and Scouters sang a rousing “Happy Birthday” — led by two 10-year-old girl Webelos Scouts!

As part of the celebration, the Washington, DC District presented the District Award of Merit — the top honor a District can award to Scouters for rendering service of an outstanding nature — to three excellent and deserving Scouters. Receiving of the District Award of Merit were:

  • Ms. Rhonda Gray, who currently serves as the District Vice Chair for Membership; and the Committee Chair for Pack & Troop 1650
  • Mr. William Hemsley, who currently serves as the District Vice Chair for Finance; and the Chartered Organization Representative for Pack, Troop, & Crew 343
  • Mr. Thomas Scofield, who currently serves as the District Vice Chair for Camping and Outdoor Program; the Scoutmaster Troop 380; and the Order of the Arrow, DC Chapter, Associate Adviser
Two Webelos Scouts from Pack 666 lead us in song!

You can view more photos from the event on the District website at familycampfire.Scoutingindc.org.

DC Scouts and Scouters should mark their calendars for this Scouting year’s District Camporees. The District Fall Camporee is October 19 – 21, 2018 at State Forest in Brandywine, MD, and the District Spring Camporee is April 26 – 28, 2019 at Kings Landing Park in Huntingtown, MD.

All District and Council events can be found on our online calendar at calendar.Scoutingindc.org.

STEM University

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On June 9, 2018, the NCAC STEM Committee held the 3rd annual STEM University at the Microsoft Technology Center in Reston, VA. A special thanks to scouters and Microsoft employees, Damon DeSonier and Bill Cunnane, as well as Microsoft Corporation for making the facility available!

The day kicked off with an Einstein’s Science fair where Cubs and Scouts presented in a poster board style. Then adults and youth split off to separate activities. The adults engaged in a STEM & Special Needs session, and then selected from the following trainings: Supernova Mentor & Nova Counselor Training, Hands-on Science Activities, and STEM Roadmap to Success for Troops and STEM for Cub Scouts.

The Cub Scouts attended 6 rotations led by Boy Scout and adult leaders. Several of the activities helped with the new Nova Award, Fearful Symmetry!

Seneca Webelos Scout Awarded Medal of Merit

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Back row: Camille Finley(mother), Lois Finley (grandmother), Fritz Finley (father), Matthew Beyers (District Chair)
Front row: Graeme Finley, Vivien Finley (sister)

by Matthew Beyers, Chair, Seneca District

In June, Seneca District proudly awarded one of it’s youngest Scouts one of Scouting’s highest honors – the Medal of Merit. In July 2017, while working on his boat with his 82 year old grandfather John, 10-year-old Graeme of Pack 694 heard a splash and realized the John had fallen between the boat and dock. With his grandfather in a post-surgery weakened state, Graeme immediately threw a line to his grandfather and then yelled for help. Nearby adults pulled his grandfather from the harbor and the paramedics were summoned to check him out – all was good and Graeme, now at Troop 496, was awarded the Medal of Merit for doing the right thing at the right time under extreme pressure. Congratulations Graeme!

This Lone Scout Stays Connected Through Geocaching

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Three years ago, Cub Scout Pack 63, Aquia District, Stafford was looking for a way to offer an activity that the Scouts and families could do together and that would fit into their summer calendars. They decided on geocaching because the Scouts would learn a valuable skill while the entire family could participate in an outdoor adventure. It’s often hard to find a date when everyone can attend a summer Pack function, so we offer geocaching in addition to traditional summer activities like resident camps for Cubs and Webelos, Potomac Nationals Scout Night, etc. Our Scouts have gone geocaching locally and while traveling on summer vacations.

Lorraine Lince, the Packs Lion Leader had kept up with a fellow Wood Badge staff member and this spring realized the staffer and his family were currently living in Warsaw Poland. Lorrain discovered Dmitri, their son, was in the Lone Scout program and had no Pack to interact with in Poland. Since geocaching is done world-wide, she thought this would be a great way to help Dmitri stay connected to a Pack and provide a fun Scouting activity for his family as well. With NCAC’s permission, Pack 63 offered him the chance to participate with us to earn the National Summertime Award remotely. He and his family were thrilled to join in and are having a great time with it!

So far, he has found geocaches at Żelazowa Wola (the birthplace of Frederic Chopin), in Warsaw, Poland and a special cache in Gdańsk, Poland placed in honor of Alf Liczmański, an early Polish Scout and later a Scoutmaster. Dimitri is doing the same as all other Pack 63 families do: for each cache he and his family finds they post to the Pack’s Facebook page for everyone to see. It has been a great learning experience for both the Cubs here in the United States and for Dmitri in Poland. At the end of the summer, we will send him a special Pack 63 Geocaching Participation Certificate and certify that he has earned the National Summertime Award.

Occoquan District Day Camp

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by Angela Roth, Camp Director

Occoquan District DAY CAMP was held at Leesylvania State park this past June. Over 118 Cub Scouts took on the theme of “Passport to Adventure” in our beautiful state park that sits on the Potomac River.

While Day Camp offers many traditional Scouting activities like Archery, sling shots and BB guns the boys also took part in Crafts, Woodworking, Nature Study, Field Games, STEM and Fishing stations. The program also offered a chance to walk across a rope bridge and learn all about knots from our district chairman, Mr. Peirce. These Cub Scouts had many opportunities to earn achievements and even shooting awards! Some exciting elements to camp this year were found at the STEM station. Scouts made “potato clocks” and cool magnetic SLIME! In addition, we had a special guest, Mrs. Fox, who taught the boys all about bag pipes and even played them for us. It was a great way to start off our week.

On our last day of camp, we held family fun day! Parents, siblings and other family members all attended camp with their Scouts. Everyone enjoyed crafts and field games together. Even though the annual firetruck spray visit got cancelled due to mechanical issues, the Scouts and their families played in the morning rain and no one left dry.

 

Thank you to all our volunteers and den walkers who made an incredible week of Scouting memories for these young Scouts. Our Program Director, Justin, is already working on next year’s theme, “Under the Sea!” We hope to have you all back for more Scouting adventures next June!

Western Shore District Day Camp

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The 2018 Cub Scout Day Camp at St Mary’s Fairgrounds kicked off Monday June 18th with over 220 Cub Scouts.  We worked through the first day kinks quickly and the Scouts had a terrific day of archery and BB guns, master chef competitions, Cub Scout wash, and much more.

Tuesday was Cub Scout Day Camp accreditation with a tour of the camp and review of all records. The St. Mary’s Fairgrounds Cub Scout Day Camp received 55/55 on the review, with zero deficiencies and exemplary comments.

The Coast Guard visited on Wednesday. The visit was  a real hit for all participants. The Scouts continued their round robin events and left camp with smiles and exciting stories to tell their family and friends.

As a conservation project, the Scouts participated in Milkweed for Monarchs by learning about the decline in the Monarch Butterfly population and planting milkweed seed to restore its habitat. The Elms Environmental Center spoke to the Scouts about invasive species and what can be done to prevent the destruction of native habitats. Our Leave No Trace Pilot Program continued as we integrated LNT practiced into the daily program this week.

Despite the rainy weather on our closing day of camp, families and Scouts enjoyed their time together as we said our good byes.

We had several new additions to Day Camp this year that were big hits! Before & After care makes it convenient for parents to drop off/pick up their Scouts closer to the hours they go to/from work. The Bobcat Boot Camp has new Scouts working on and on target to complete their badge before the close of camp. The Gaga Ball pit at Sports & Games was a highlight this year! The new improved Obstacle Course had kids coming back again and again (maybe because they get wet?)!

Some special thanks go to Kevin McCray who built our new Obstacle Course, putting in lots of hours and work so the kids would have this fun and engaging activity. Matthew Albright with help from his family,worked hard the Saturday before camp to build us a Gaga Ball pit.

Thank you to all the volunteers, parents, and key staff who planned and made Day Camp a success for all the Scouts and siblings who attended and enjoyed their week.

#smccubScoutcamp2018