Scouting CARES (Character, Achievement, Respect, Education, and STEM) provides students with engaging programs with a focus on character development and leadership. NCAC’s CARES program partners with schools and communities that would benefit from a vibrant Scouting program. Serving almost 300 students across five different schools!
CARES students from St. Francis Xavier School received their Belts and Belt Loop Badges after completing the first 8 weeks of the 16-week curriculum. Notable belt loops earned included Howling at the Moon, Adventures in Coins, Tiger Bites, and Call of the Wild, among others. Howling at the Moon had students communicating in creative ways, while Tigers Bites taught them the joys of healthy eating and handwashing. Adventures in Coin introduced them to the fascinating world of currency, and Games Tigers Play emphasized the power of teamwork. Call of the Wild? It’s all about being prepared with a first aid kit and mastering knots! Eager to continue their journey, the students expressed enthusiasm for acquiring more badges in the future.
Suitland Elementary School 3rd- 5th graders received their Belt Loops and Belt Loop Badges after completing half of their CARES
curriculum. The 3rd graders earned a few badges including Howling at the Moon, Adventures in Coins, Tiger Bites, and Call of the Wild.
4th and 5th graders also held their Belt Loop Ceremony. The 4th graders are in their second year of Scouting CARES and received badges such as Running with the Pack, Council of Fire, Code of the Wolf, and Roaring with Laughter to name a few. These activities promoted the importance of physical activity, community service, and mathematics.
The 5th grade students in Scouting CARES are following a more STEM specific Scouting CARES Curriculum in their science class. These students earned Belt Loops for Digging in the Past, Engineer, and Air of the Wolf. The STEM-specific curriculum dove into topics like fossils, matter, and aerodynamics. They explored STEM through hands-on experiences, building, and creating. Teachers were thrilled to see how Scouting CARES could make learning extra fun and relevant to their daily science lessons.
A significant highlight of the fall 2023 program was the field trip to the College Park Aviation Museum by Suitland Elementary School. These field trips expose students to new experiences as a substitute for traditional scouting activities. Exciting plans for 2024 include visits to the Air and Space Museum, The University of Maryland Greenhouse, and the Monuments in Washington D.C. Along with continuing to engage with possible new schools.
