We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Scouting At Home

Cub Scouts Keep Advancing Despite Lockdown

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The boys from Dens 6 and 7 from Troop 1344 in Burke, Va. were able to complete one of their Arrow of Light Adventures last week, despite being in lockdown to address COVID-19.

The boys had already completed most of their requirements for the Build a Better World Adventure and had scheduled a meeting with Supervisor Pat Herrity of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to meet the final requirement. But when the shutdown of in-person events in the National Capital Area Council cancelled that meeting, Den Leaders Kim Painter and Craig Carroll decided to see what else they could do to keep the boys engaged and moving forward.

The boys met with Supervisor Herrity on a Zoom video conference, with everyone’s parents’ permission of course. The boys were able to learn about why local government is so important (especially now), some of the challenges of being a local leader, and ask questions about many issues facing our community. Many parents joined on the conference as well, and Supervisor Herrity told all the boys how important it was to keep on the path to Eagle Scout.

Not only are the Dens continuing advancement (with an online science experiment also scheduled for later this month and many boys targeting the Townes Supernova science award), but Pack 1344 Cubmaster Chris Yurasko is leading video Scoutmaster minutes and other dens are organizing virtual Den meetings and completing requirements.

Doing their best to deal with a challenging situation, Pack 1344 is charging ahead to ensure that the boys have fun activities, and keep advancing and learning.

Scouts Attend Virtual Court of Honor Ceremony

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On Saturday, April 25th, 38 from MD,VA, PA, MI and even 1 from the UK attended the BSA 2020 North East Region Area 6 Venturing Leadership Awards Zoom Ceremony plus the Introduction and Swearing in of the new 2020~2021 NER Area 6 Venturing Officers Association President and Vice Presidents! Congratulations are in order for all our awesome Scouts! 

Troop 1444 Scouts Make & Donate Cloth Masks for the DMV

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During a pandemic, social distancing can be difficult, especially as a Scout. Our values include being helpful, but how can we help if we have to stay home? Quoc-Huy Nicholas Nguyen and DangKhoa Noah Nguyen of Scouts BSA Troop 1444, together with their mother (Thai Le) and the Vietnamese charities (Nha VietNam MD, The Marriage Family Enrichment Program of Our Lady of Vietnam Parish and many Vietnamese in DMV area) found a way despite the pandemic. They volunteered to help make cloth face masks to donate to local hospitals, nursing homes, police stations and places in need.

Volunteers donated money, fabric, and their time to sew masks. The Scouts spent time packaging the masks, which included washing, drying, ironing, putting them in zip lock bags, and labeling them. Together they were able to donate thousands of handmade masks to the community. They are so proud to be able to give back to the community during this difficult time and living the Scout values.

Troop 33 Collects Over 5,000 Items for Virtual Food Drive

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Scouts BSA Troop 33 in Takoma Park, Maryland ran a virtual food drive for two weeks in mid-April, which collected over 5,000 to help the Capital Area Food Bank provide meals to vulnerable community members during the COVID-19 emergency. Like a 5K road race, the food drive had a specific challenge with a measurable goal. In this case, the 5K theme represented a race to collect 5,000 food items resulting in much-needed assistance to children, families, seniors, and other individuals who are food-insecure at this time.

Scouts are known for acts of service, many of which are enabled through in-person, group activities. The current state of emergency, with stay-at-home orders and social distancing, presents opportunities for Scouts to think about how to serve others while remaining obedient to public health policies and keeping themselves out of harm’s way. Troop 33, and a supportive community of other youth and adults, faced the conundrum head on and exceeded the 5K goal. The total 5,380 food items collected is valued at $11,243.24, and weighs nearly two tons!

The food drive happened 100% online, powered by a giving platform developed by the woman-owned business YouGiveGoods. The food items will be shipped directly from YouGiveGoods to the Capital Area Food Bank by the end of April. Troop 33 hopes its success will inspire other units to imagine how they can meet the challenges of Scouting in these unprecedented times. The troop is celebrating 100 years of service this year, and has called the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church its home for the entire time. Troop 33 is grateful to everyone who pitched in to support the food drive, and their virtuous efforts to help others in a moment of crisis.

Troop 13 Virtual Family Campout

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After their first month of virtual troop meeting, and a scheduled campout on the way, Senor Patrol Leader Connor Gephart saw the opportunity to maintain troop spirit and believed Troop 13 was ready to take their virtual meeting experience to the campground. That Saturday morning, April 18th, wouldn’t see the usual start of the Troop 13 family campout. Instead of gathering at the Church of the Good Shepherd, and preparing to drive off to the beach, scouts and their families gathered in their living rooms with camping equipment in hand.


Members of the troop and their families set up tents in their yards, played games, went for hikes and explored local trails, built fires, and worked on rank advancement requirements. Including a Patrol Leader meeting virtually with one of his patrol members.


The Scouts and their family fixed dinner outside enjoying the afternoon spring sunshine, when around 8pm with family campfires burning and the sun setting the members of Troop 13 gather both around their own campfires and digital devices to join zoom and share their adventures from the day, just as thousands of Scouts have done for over 100 years before them. The Senior Patrol Leader lead the discussion asking the Scout about their adventures that the day had brought, and as the campfire was winding down Scouts participated in Thorns and Roses, where many thorns were about not being together and enjoying the fun of camping in the woods as a Troop.


After the Senior Patrol Leader closed the campfire Scouts and their families retired to their tents to conclude the Troop 13 annual family campout.