We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Scouting At Home

Giving Tuesday Now

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Since the middle of March, National Capital Area Council has placed all fundraising efforts on hold. We understand that there is not a single person that has not been affected by this pandemic and that this year will be especially challenging for many of our families, volunteers and donors impacted by COVID- 19.

As you can imagine, funding the Scouting movement in this environment is incredibly difficult, with many families and businesses facing a good deal of uncertainty right now. That said, we also know that the mission and programs of the BSA must continue, our Scouts need and deserve it. In this time of uncertainty, there’s a fundamental truth that gives us hope – that together we can do extraordinary things. Over the past few weeks and months, the entire world has been coming together to stand up, help out, give back, and heal. Whether that’s through donations to community organizations, celebrating doctors and nurses at shift changes, or reaching out to a neighbor to help with groceries, generosity has been helping the entire world get through this global pandemic. Together. 

National Capital Area Council plans to reengage in fundraising efforts of our annual campaign by participating in #GivingTuesdayNow, a global day of giving and unity that will take place on May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. Currently, much is unknown about how dramatically we will be affected. However, we do know that impacts to NCAC will include:

  • Cancellation of programs or events
  •  Potential closure of summer camps and subsequent loss of camp revenue
  • Staff and volunteer absences
  • Technology and resource deficits challenging staff ability to work remotely
  • Disruption in donations from families that help to support Scouting
  • Future inability of families to afford Scouting programs and camps
  • Decline in number of families we will be able to serve

As part of #GivingTuesdayNow we ask you to help us stay on course. As a key supporter, please consider making your contribution as early as possible this year, complete payment on your pledge as soon as you can, and to be as generous as your means will allow.

Please visit www.NCACbsa.org/give to support us through Friends of Scouting during #GivingTuesdayNow, on May 5, 2020.

As we practice physical distancing, we can remain connected through acts of kindness and generosity. There is no reason that our physical separation means we can’t provide the financial, emotional and social supports that nurture our families and communities. We are committed to making the investments our Scouts and our camps need, but we can only do that with your help.

NCAC Celebrates Earth Week with Home Activities

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Take Action | Earth DayIt’s the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day! We are celebrating all week with special activities! NCAC’s Earth Week is brought to you by our Conservation Committee. We will have daily NCACBSA Facebook Live Brown Bag presentations on Boy Scouts of America Hornaday Awards, other Conservation awards, and will have some fun activities. On Earth Day, Scouts will choose a part of the Scout Law and do activities on that theme, sharing pictures and promises on Facebook and will have fun activities all day long.

Don’t miss the William Hornaday Gold Medal talk by NCAC’s very own recipient, Dr. Bill Bowerman! Sign up here to get the ZOOM link: https://www.scoutingevent.com/082-earthday.

Tuesday April 21
12:00 PM Brown Bag – Hornaday Awards – an overview for youth and adults, Will Rodger, NCAC Conservation Committee Chair

Wednesday, April 22 – EARTH DAY!
Watch the NCAC Facebook page for updates, challenges and fun ways to celebrate!
9:00 AM: Facebook Live: Plan Your Earth Day
12:00 PM: Brown Bag – Hornaday Unit Awards, Sarah Holtz & Carol Brown, NCAC Conservation Committee
5:00 PM: Facebook Live: Earth Day Recap
7:00 PM: William T. Hornaday Gold Medal Talk

Thursday, April 23
12:00 NOON Brown Bag – Messengers of Peace Awards, Abdul Rashid Abdulla

Friday, April 24
12:00 NOON Brown Bag – Earning the World Conservation Award, Conservation Good Turn and National Park Service Junior Ranger Award, Sara Holtz, NCAC Conservation Committee

To learn more tune into one or all of our Facebook lives this week at 12pm. Visit Earthday.org to learn more about Earth day activities and more.

Special thank yous to two NCAC STEM Committee members, to the Conservation Committee Chair, Will Rodger, and Conservation Committee Members Sara Holtz, Carol Brown & Abdul Rashid Abdulla for pulling this together!

Troop 996 Organizes ‘Remote’ Food Drive

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When we started social distancing and businesses closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, my family and I thought of something our Troop could do to help others. I started to research food pantries and our Scoutmaster suggested we contact the one supported by our chartering organization, Aldersgate United Methodist Church. So I called Rising Hope and asked if we could do a food drive, and they said yes.

So, we sent out an email about the food drive to the Troop then a few days later my brother, my Mom, and I went to Aldersgate parking lot to wait for Scout families to drive by and drop off food. Then the next day my Mom and I went to Rising Hope and delivered the food.

I felt good about organizing this because the food will be given to people that need it and we live out the Scout Law (Helpful, Kind) even when we can’t have regular Troop meetings. A Scout is HELPFUL and KIND.

Troop 35 Scouts “Telecamping” Program – Can’t Keep Good Scouts from Doing!!

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Scoutmaster Kevin Huddleston of Troop 35, Occoquan District, recently earned his Wood Badge Beads as a successful graduate of NCAC’s Spring 2019 Wood Badge Course, despite the advent and disruption of CORVID-19. What great leadership! What great Scout Spirit! What a great example of Baden-Powell’s quote that: ‘A Scout whistles and smiles under any circumstance.’ You just can’t keep a good Scouter down!”

Scoutmaster Huddleston’s Scouts are following his fine example of Leading Change! Huddleston said that, “I held a Zoom Patrol Leader Council [PLC] meeting; my PLC hate that their parents are ALL telecommuting, as their parents are driving them (the Scouts) crazy. So my Senior Patrol Leader [SL] and two Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders [ASPL] came up with a Patrol Competition called ‘TELECAMPING’. We recorded our intro via Zoom. If you want to use this to keep your Patrols and Troop and Scouts connected, excited and sustained – use away. I’ll let you know how it turns out.”

Below is the YouTube video Huddleston made of his SPL and ASPLs in a Zoom PLC that was then sent to all Troop 35 Patrol Leaders and their Scouts:

We are all looking for ways to keep our Scouts actively engaged, moving forward and Doing their Best. Through youthful enthusiasm, imagination and creativity, Scouts will find a way, when given the opportunity by adults. Well done to the Adult & Youth Leaders of Troop 35!

A final thought from Baden-Powell: “The [Scout] is not governed by don’t, but is led by do.” Let’s keep the doing in Scouting!

Troop 440 Donates 220 Bag Lunches to Homeless Shelter

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On April 8th, in the day and age of social distancing, our Troop (individually and in their own homes) prepared 220 bag lunches for Shepherd’s Table in Silver Spring, MD for “OPERATION SANDWICH.” 

Shepherd Table’s mission is to provide help to people who are homeless or in need by providing basic services, including meals, social services, medical support, clothing, and other assistance in an effective and compassionate manner.

Troop 440 had one Parent/Scout do all the shopping, sorting and delivering of supplies (to porches) and then another Parent/Scout collected the completed lunches from their fellow Scout’s porches the following afternoon and delivered the lunches to Shepherd’s Table. Almost 75% of our Troop families participated and the whole thing was completed in just over 24 hours! Remember a Scout is Helpful.

Pack 1055’s Virtual Bear Den Meeting

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Social distancing has canceled many activities but with today’s technology and the flexibility that scouting provides there is the capability to maintain Pack and Den operations. With this in mind, Pack 1055 is using those tools to keep their Cub Scouts working towards rank advancement.

It started with a simple survey using Google Forms that went out to the parents in the den. The hope was to discover the best platform to run a virtual meeting and when the best times would be to conduct the meeting. As it turns out, Zoom has been used frequently these days and most families were able to meet at the same time as the den would usually meet.

The virtual meeting invitation and information was sent out, and on April 7, 2020, the Cubmaster and Bear Den Leader of Pack 1055 led the meeting. The agenda was brief. Our main purpose was to see how a meeting would run. We started the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, the Scout Oath and the Scout Law, had a few announcements, then had our den discussion.

Each Scout was asked three questions about staying at home during the crisis and had a chance to talk about their current experiences. After each Scout finished, the den meeting was opened up for some free-time chatting between Scouts, then we closed the same way we close all our den meetings: by signing “Do Your Best,” which is perfect for a virtual meeting.

The meeting was a success and it provided a good experience for how meetings like this can continue. As a result, the Bear Den is planning on having more virtual den meetings to complete the Critter Care elective adventure. While the den can’t visit any animal shelters or veterinary practices, they can still meet the requirements of the elective using an online format and sharing PowerPoint or Google Slides. They will also have an opportunity to show off their pets, something that could have been difficult during an in-person den meeting.

Pack 1055 is currently planning a virtual Pack Meeting as well to take place later this month to help ensure that, even in times of crisis, We Own Adventure!