• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
We Own Adventure

We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

  • Home
  • Newsletters
  • Sponsorship Opportunities
  • Sport Adventures
  • Submit Your News
  • Be an Influencer!
  • Scouting America National Capital Area Council Main website

Aquia

Aquia District’s Pack 242 Conducts Socially Distanced Cross Over

June 1, 2020 by Ronan Moran

On May 26th, Pack 242 of Aquia Harbour in Stafford, VA conducted its annual crossing over/ranking up. Traditionally, this event is held at the last Pack meeting of the school year in order to advance Scouts’ Dens prior to the start of Day and Summer Camps. As part of the ceremony in previous years, Scouts come forward as a Den, have their neckerchiefs removed, and the neckerchief of their new rank is placed around their neck by the Scouts from the next higher level Den.

With the unusual restrictions on group events this year, Pack 242’s Wolf Den Leader, Derek Cook, came up with the idea of a socially distanced crossing over ceremony. A local foot bridge was used as the location; with the occasional non-Scout, pedestrian being given a congratulatory cheer upon emerging from it, as well!

Dens were given time slots to line up in cars. They would be sent forward, the Scout, or sibling Scouts, would exit the vehicle, greet Cubmaster Jim Isajewicz, salute and give the Scout sign and Oath before some words of wisdom or a short discussion about their Scouting year, often with a little humor, such as the social distancing measuring tape (pictured). The Scout(s) would proceed through the streamers to a table to pick up their new rank’s neckerchief, then triumphantly return through the streamers and to their families. The entire event was live-streamed in the same way as conducting our virtual Pack meetings. Scouts and families not ready to venture out, as well as distant family members, were all able to participate through the live virtual event.

     A photo station was set up further past the ceremony location using our traditional bridge for Arrow of Light crossovers and our Pack and US flags, where parents could take additional photos of their Scouts.

We hope the Scouts had as much fun as the Leaders did putting this event on! It was great to see so many of our Scouts and their families, even if at a distance.

Filed Under: Scouting At Home, Scouting Programs Tagged With: Aquia, crossover ceremony, Cub Scouts, Pack 242

Aquia District Pack 242 Cheetah Den Visits Stafford County Board of Supervisors

May 6, 2020 by Ronan Moran

In January, as part of our Building a Better World Adventure, Scouts from Aquia District’s Pack 242, led by the multi-age girl’s Cheetah Den, visited the Stafford County Board of Supervisors. While there, they met with one of their local Supervisors, Ms. Cindy Shelton, and the Board’s Chairwoman, Ms. Meg Bohmke, to discuss the roles of the Board of Supervisors and how they came to represent our area. The Den led the Pledge of Allegiance at the opening of the meeting, and then stayed to observe the Board’s business.

Filed Under: Scouting Programs Tagged With: Aquia, cubs, den, Pack 242

Aquia District’s 12th Annual Bear Claw Leadership Conference is Gearing Up!

February 20, 2020 by Mike Haas

The 12th Annual Aquia District Bear Claw Leadership Conference registration page is now open! Bear Claw will be held on March 28, 2020 in Stafford, VA and is a day-long leadership conference run entirely by our Youth Staff who’s Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) is busy getting the Staff ready through a series of four Staff Development sessions. Bear Claw is open to Troops, Crews and Ships. Scouts & Adults can register at https://scoutingevent.com/082-27302

For those unfamiliar with the program, Bear Claw is an exciting, action-packed program designed to offer Scouts training on leadership skills and provide Scouts practical experience and ideas to take back and use in their home units and in other situations demanding leadership of self and others. Bear Claw is a one-day interactive leadership training event designed by Scouts for Scouts. It is a District-level leadership workshop and is intended to bridge the leadership training gap between Introduction to Leadership Skills (ILSx) offered by Scout units and the National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) program offered at the Council level.

There is also an adult breakout session designed to share ideas and help adults gain a better understanding of how running a Scout program using the Youth-led Patrol Method benefits their Scouts and Scout unit. This session is open to all registered adults and parents too, including Webelos II parents. Come take a deep dive into the Patrol Method – as Baden-Powell said: “The patrol system is not one method in which Scouting for [Youth] can be carried on. It is the only method.”

Content is delivered in a Troop and Patrol setting by trained Youth Staffers who are experienced Scouts. Participants, with their Scoutmaster’s/Crew Adviser’s/Skipper’s approval, may choose between the Patrol Leader or Senior Patrol Leader track. Throughout the Bear Claw training day all participants will learn how to more effectively lead their Scout units using the Patrol Method. They will see how a Scout program can achieve results with minimal adult oversight through proper planning, communication and team development.

By offering a training track for adults who want to better understand the Youth-led/Adult-mentored Patrol Method concepts, Bear Claw provides an excellent opportunity to get Scouts, Scouters and Parents on the same page and to share best practices and cross-pollinate ideas for what’s working and not in their home units. Again, going back to the words of our founder, Baden-Powell: “The object of the Patrol Method is not so much saving the Scoutmaster trouble as to give responsibility to the [Scout].”

WHY BEAR CLAW?

Every Scout deserves well-trained leaders. Regardless of a Scout’s program affiliation, Bear Claw provides exposure to leadership skills that hopefully reinforce and expand upon lessons learned through their unit’s ILSx training and provides a bridge to promote attending NYLT. Bear Claw offers Scouts a leadership training environment with Scouts from other units across the District – this opportunity to meet and talk about Scout leadership challenges with Scouts from other units is an invaluable part of the experience and hopefully encourages Bear Claw graduates to continue their Scout leadership training through NYLT. The Bear Claw Youth Staff also demonstrates that the Youth-led Patrol Method can work quite well with minimal adult supervision. As The Ancient One (TAO) has been known to say: “Adults are meant to be seen, not heard!”

Over the course of the Bear Claw leadership conference, participants are exposed to six of the eleven leadership skills or competencies, originally offered in BSA’s Junior Leader Training (JLT) program, using Buzz Groups and practical application – including a SPL-led Patrol Leader Council (PLC) meeting, a PLC-planned/executed Troop meeting and PLC-planned/executed closing campfire where Patrols and Staff have fun putting on skits, songs and cheers before the closing ceremony.

This course is built around the BE-KNOW-DO of leadership:

What a leader must BE

What a leader must KNOW

What a leader must DO

Registration is only $25 per participant until March 1, 2020 and $30 after March 1st. Registration normally fills up quickly so don’t delay. Did we mention your registration also includes lunch? You can register at https://scoutingevent.com/082-27302

If you are not a member of an Aquia District Scout unit and would like to attend or learn more about Bear Claw leadership training, please contact our Aquia Bear Claw Coordinator, Ken Buszta at ken.buszta@gmail.com. Our 2020 Bear Claw Course Director & Scoutmaster is Aleska Buszta and she can be reached at aquia.bearclaw@gmail.com

Filed Under: Adventure, Scouting Programs Tagged With: Aquia, Leadership, scouting, ScoutMeIn

How to Become an Eagle Scout in the Aquia District!

October 21, 2019 by Ken Todd

Are you wondering about the process of becoming an Eagle Scout?

All Life Scouts, their parents, and interested Scouters are strongly encouraged to attend a Life to Eagle Seminar. In addition to providing the most current information on the Eagle Scout Service Project and other Eagle Scout rank requirements, the seminar provides the opportunity to address recent issues and answer questions.

The Aquia District will be holding its next Life to Eagle Seminar on Oct. 26th at Ebenezer United Methodist Church. Registration is preferred at scoutingevent.com/082-25071 so that we have enough handouts. Contact Mike Cooper at michael.cooper@usmcu.edu if you have any questions.

Filed Under: Leaders, Scouting Programs Tagged With: Aquia, Eagle Scout

Flag Retirement at Quantico National Cemetery

July 4, 2019 by Dawn Elizabeth Schwarting

A Scout teaches a younger Scout about retiring a flag on Flag Day 2019. My son is AJ Schwarting, the Scout from Troop 317. The younger scout is Chase Radics of Pack 845. The adult is Terry Schneider, a leader in Troop 317.

Filed Under: Leaders, Scouting Programs Tagged With: Aquia, flag, quantico

The Adventure Begins for Troop 199G

May 20, 2019 by Mike Haas

Scouts BSA Girl Troop 199

It’s one thing to hear about change, it’s another thing to be a Change Leader!! And we have such a group of Leaders – both Adult and Youth – in Aquia District.

With the recent change to Scouting BSA, Aquia District started its first Troop for girls on February 4, 2019 – officially, Troop 199G in Stafford County, VA. The Scouters who helped organize this pioneering effort include Scoutmaster – Sharon Patrick, Committee Chair – Amanda Tyler, and COR – Brian Freeman.

The Troop started with only five Scouts – these pioneers are: Rose Armstrong, Brenna Futrell, Sylvia Robles, Emily Surette, and Kaitlyn Tyler – and in just a few short months Troop 199G has grown over 100% to 13 Scouts (and counting) – Abby Deputy, Bella Hammond, Kate Marcinkevicius, Katie Ramos, Becca Reynolds, Marley Schneider, Micaela Walker, and Paige Walser. The Troop is led by Senior Patrol Leader, Rose Armstrong.

Getting off to a fast start, the Scouts enjoyed their first outdoor experience during a New Scout Campout on March 29-31, 2019 at Ferry Farms, Scouts worked on earning their Totin’ Chip and Fireman Chit and practiced basic knot-tying skills. A fun time and adventure was had by all, especially those Scouts who had never been camping before this event.

The Patrol Leader Council (PLC) planned the Troop’s next campout which was held April 26-28, 2019 in Devil’s Marbleyard in Natural Bridge, VA. Scouts rose to the challenge of their first 5-mile hike – socks, boots, backpacks, food and water all organized so the Scouts would Be Prepared – it’s not just a motto, it’s a way of life! Along the way, the Scouts worked on map and compass skills to meet BSA advancement and merit badge requirements.

Along with other normal Troop activities, the Scouts will be working with a Merit Badge Counselor on the Weather Merit Badge in May and participating in the 2019 Fredericksburg National Cemetery Luminaria on May 25th, an annual service project that local Stafford and Fredericksburg Scouts participate in to honor Civil War soldiers who died so that our Nation could live. A lot of work by many Scouts’ hands and a very impressive sight, if you get a chance to visit at dusk when thousands of candles, each in its individually prepared paper sack, are all aglow among the headstones marking the graves of these heroes of yesteryear.

In June the Troop will continue with outdoor activities, including going to Lake Arrowhead in Luray, VA to have fun camping, hiking, working on Merit Badge requirements and just sitting around a campfire enjoying an early summer evening and each other’s company.

And it’s going to continue being a terrific summer with six Scouts from Troop 199G attending summer camp at Camp Enon in July. Summer camp adventures, fun and creating life-long memories are always extra special at Summer Camp.

Everything these Scouts do as a Troop is a first and especially in this very first year of existence! What a great adventure and what a great group of pioneers making Scouting even bigger and better than it ever was – reaching more Youth and more families than ever before in BSA history. The Scouts are excited to be part of the Scouting program and are looking forward to even more outings and activities as the year progresses.

Filed Under: Scouting Programs Tagged With: Aquia, Scouts BSA

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Page 4
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

NCAC Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Latest Issue

TSD Summer '18 is on Issuu

Archives

  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • October 2018
  • July 2018
  • May 2018

Follow Us!

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

You Might Also Like…

  • Director David Henrie Invites NCAC to Digital Movie Premiere

    August 26, 2020

  • Missing Summer Day Camp or Resident Camp?

    June 25, 2020

  • Microscope + Camping = FUN !!!

    June 15, 2020

  • Family – Fun – Flag – FOURTH!

    June 14, 2020

  • Guidance on Resuming In-Person Scouting Activities

    June 12, 2020

  • NCAC Scouting at Home 2020 Award for Unit Scouters!

    May 29, 2020

  • Introducing the NCAC Scouting at Home 2020 Award!

    May 11, 2020

  • NCAC Response to COVID-19

    April 4, 2020

  • Scouting At Home Challenge!

    March 19, 2020

  • Scout Service Center Closing

    March 17, 2020

  • Help Celebrate NCAC Camping Centennial at Camp Snyder’s Work Days for All

    March 5, 2020

  • General David L. Goldfein Receives the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award

    February 25, 2020

  • TUSKEGEE AIRMAN RECEIVES NCAC LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

    February 14, 2020

  • Aquia District Cub Scout Day Camp a Huge STEM Success!

    July 14, 2021

  • Aquia and Mattaponi Scouts Team Up to Retire Old Glory with Proper Respect and Honors

    September 18, 2020

  • A Second Aquia District Scouts BSA No-Contact Food Drive in August – Continuing to Serve Stafford Safely

    September 18, 2020

  • Aquia OA Chapter Leaders Bring 2020 Virtual Flag Day to Life

    June 26, 2020

Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Elk on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in