Please join us for a fun evening of basketball as the Washington Wizards take on the Toronto Raptors.
$5 from each ticket purchased will be donated directly back to the National Capital Area Council, BSA. Each ticket purchased through this special link will also come with a Wizards branded patch (while supplies last).
Link to purchase tickets:https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/wizards-scouts24
Please email Grant Mintz at gmintz@monumentalsports.com with any questions
Callum is a Star Scout from Troop 697 in the Patriot District. He has earned 65 out of the 138 Merit Badges. He first began his Scouting career as a Cub in the first grade. After reading his Scout Handbook cover to cover he became inspired to earn merit badges and advance in rank. When asked what he learned in pursuit of his badges Callum shared “I have learned countless things, like how to mount a stamp, how to use a tourniquet, how to operate a tractor, and how to write my own musical composition! I do find that some badges are more useful, like First Aid. If I’m hiking and I fall and there’s a bleeding wound, I know how to treat it. I learned in Sustainability how I can save money and protect the environment. In plumbing, I learned how to unclog pipes. During all the recent strikes, I learned about American Labor and Unions. I’m curious about everything!”
Not only did he work hard to earn these badges, but Callum decided to earn the rank of Star Scout. He
completed his necessary service hours, became a patrol leader, and completed 6 of the 13 badges from the list required for Eagle Scouts. Earning merit badges for First Aid, Swimming, Environmental Science, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Citizenship in Society, and Lifesaving. He is currently working on Cooking, Personal Management, and Family Life. Callum thought the Sustainability badge was the hardest to earn, he recalled “I had to implement ways to save on my family’s energy, water, heating, and transportation bills. Even though this one was super hard, It is still one of my favorite badges because I’m really interested in making the world a 
better place.” When asked what his favorite merit badge Callum explained” Space Exploration was my favorite because I got to build a model rocket and launch it into the sky. I got to design a lunar base and learn about Aerospace Engineers. I really want to become an Aerospace Engineer, especially after earning that badge.”
Callum is currently a Patrol leader and Webmaster for his Troop. He plans on earning many more badges and awards. Currently, Callum is working on the Ad Atari Dei Medal, Messengers of Peace( making 35 no-sew fleece blankets for a local homeless shelter), the Distinguished Conservation Service Award, and the NOVA awards. He plans on using what he learned earning these awards/badges and has his eye set on becoming an Eagle Scout.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award is an internationally recognized award initially started and sponsored by the late Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip. The Award was first launched in The UK in 1956 to motivate young people to become involved in a balanced program of voluntary self-development activities. The award is still active and has four components including voluntary service, skill, physical recreation, and an adventurous journey. These components have different requirements under three award levels: gold, silver, and bronze. The age range for the award is 14-25, and can be worked on concurrently with Scouting, however, there is no grandfathering. The time commitment depending on the award level varies from 6 months to 12-15 months. Cost is $100-150 per Scout per award level selected. Financial aid is available to those who qualify.
Example: This is just an example, not “the” solution. A Life Scout who is 16 years old can use their Eagle Scout project to count toward their voluntary service or toward their Gold award project (in this case, they would need additional volunteer hours/project for voluntary service). If they plan to attend high adventure (Philmont, Northern Tier, Sea Base, etc.), this will count toward their Adventurous Journey. The Scout is active on the high school track team (physical recreation) and is working on earning their private pilot’s license (skill). Based on this broad outline, and after the Scout meets all the requirements and time commitment for the components and award level, they would earn the award.
Previous awardees in the Washington, DC, area were honored at a ceremony with the British Ambassador to the US!
More information about the program can be found here:
NCAC Duke of Edinburgh Award Interest Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JW7QN5V
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAwardUSA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theawardusa/
Twitter: @TheAwardUSA
Liam S. was awarded The Medal of Merit for saving his Assistant Scoutmaster’s life. The Medal of Merit successfully recognizes those who have performed acts of service of a rare or exceptional character that reflect an uncommon degree of concern for the well-being of others. Liam was out on a routine walk with his dog and witnessed his neighbor and Assistant Scout Master Jack collapse. He was able to perform CPR and keep up blood circulation until the EMTs arrived. With Liam’s help, Jack was able to make it to the hospital in a timely manner and recover.
During the night of the ceremony, Jack was able to pin the medal on the young Scout that saved his life. Jack not only thanked Liam but reflected on the importance of the Scout skills he teaches his Troop and other youth. These skills prepare our Scouts for life, to be stellar members of the community, and ultimately can contribute to saving a life.
Our local Fredericksburg Nationals (FredNats) baseball team invited all Northern Virginia BSA Scouting units to a special “Scout Night” on July 15th at FredNats Park. All Scout leaders and Scouting Families were able to buy discounted tickets (some packages included food and a commemorative patch) to a great baseball game. Our Scouts responded with enthusiasm! Many thanks to Brian Lehman, FredNats Ticket Sales Account Executive and Wendy Latella, a local Scout Leader, for coordinating this event.
Over 500 tickets were sold to Troops and Packs from Fredericksburg, Locust Grove, Stafford, Springfield, Spotsylvania, Woodbridge, Alexandria, King George, Dalghren & Dumfries. Represented were: Cub Scout Packs 22, 26, 28, 38, 46, 57, 199, 320, 802, 907, 1373, 1777 & 2220 and Scouts BSA Troops 165, 197, 218, 317, 1777 & 1889.
For the pre-game Scout Parade, all attending Scouts and Scout leaders paraded from near the home outfield bullpen, around the warning track to behind home plate. Scouts also had the opportunity to campout in the outfield after the game and watch a post-game movie, but this was unfortunately moved to August 5th because a thunderstorm ended the evening early on July 15th.
Part of the pre-game Scouting highlights including first pitch honors for a local Aquia District
Scout leader. Richard “Dick” Haas, is affectionately known in the National Capital Area Council as “The Ancient One” (or “TAO” for short), and not just because this WWII Navy Veteran is 96, but because he’s been continuously Scouting for over 86 years! TAO actually shook the hand of Scouting’s Founder, Robert Baden-Powell, at the World’s Fair in Queens, NY in 1939. TAO earned lifesaving awards in 1964 for rescuing 2 fellow bus crash victims from drowning in the Harlem River – the only 3 survivors. A Scoutmaster in New York in the 1960s & 80s, TAO remains an active Scouter in Virginia today and is the proud patriarch of 4 generations of active Aquia District BSA Scouts & Scouters who joined him on the field – great grandsons Stellan & Ronin and their parents Ben & Heather from Pack 242 and his son, Mike, a retired Marine and Aquia Scouter, who got to throw out the first pitch in TAO’s honor. A great Scout Night indeed! Go FredNats!
To join BSA, please go to www.beascout.org to find a BSA Scout unit near you – Cub Scouting serves families with children in Kindergarten through 5th Grade; Scouts BSA serves families with children ages 11-18. There are BSA programs for families with older Youths, ages 14 – 20, including Venturing, Exploring or Sea Scouting.
The mission of the BSA is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Aquia District includes Stafford County and Marine Corps Base Quantico. For more information on Scouting in Stafford/Fredericksburg area, including how to donate, join or volunteer, contact Kristy Freeman, Aquia District Executive, at Kristy.Freeman@Scouting.org or (540)287-3866.
Troop 706B, sponsored by Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Potomac, Maryland, hosted their annual Pinewood Derby Cut -Out Day on Jan 7. For over 20 years, the troop has been assisting our next generation of Boy Scouts by offering this fun filled Cub Scout event. Cub Scouts, along with an adult, started with a safety briefing, then entered the cutting room where they designed their cars, work with the trained T 706 leaders to cut their cars, sanded and then weighted in for accuracy. The many tools, industrial machinery and complex vacuuming system was all provided by the youth and adults leadership of troop. Together, they helped to cut over 360 cars for the upcoming Pinewood Derby season!
