We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Cub Scouts

Pack 55 Scouts Celebrate America250 with History, Service, and Honor

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In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, Cub Scouts from Pack 55 in Great Falls, Virginia took part in a meaningful outing focused on history, citizenship, and service at the Balls Bluff Battlefield. Through hiking, learning flag etiquette, and honoring fallen soldiers, the Scouts experienced an important piece of American history while living out the values of Scouting.

Cub Scouts from Pack 55 explored the Balls Bluff Battlefield, a historic Civil War site with wooded trails and views of the Potomac River in Leesburg, Virginia. As they hiked together, Scouts enjoyed being outdoors, moving along the winding paths, and experiencing the natural setting of the battlefield. The hike gave Scouts a chance to stay active, work together, and appreciate being outside while visiting a place that has been part of American history for generations.

Scouts also learned about the Civil War from representatives of the Friends of the Balls Bluff Battlefield, who shared information about the site and its importance. Hearing from local experts helped Scouts better understand why the battlefield is preserved today and how communities work to protect historic places.

A meaningful part of the visit included learning proper flag etiquette and placing American flags at the Balls Bluff National Cemetery. This respectful activity allowed Scouts to honor the soldiers buried there and recognize the service and sacrifice of those who fought for the country. Taking time to place flags gave Scouts a hands-on way to show respect and gratitude.

The activities reflect key elements of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. By learning about history and honoring those who served, the Scouts demonstrated being respectful, reverent, and helpful. Working together throughout the outing showed cooperation and kindness, while caring for a historic site reflected responsibility and citizenship.

This experience also connects to the spirit of America250, which encourages reflection on the nation’s history and the people who shaped it. By visiting a historic battlefield and honoring soldiers from the past, Pack 55 Scouts participated in remembering America’s story while building their own understanding of service and community.

Way to go, Pack 55 Scouts!

Cub Scouts In Action: Community Cleanup and Nature Exploration

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group of Cub Scouts standing in front of a pond during their trash pick up nature hike.

Earlier this month, a group of Cub Scouts from Pack 160 in Herndon, VA came together for a 2.5‑mile spring hike along the ponds and trails in their community of Franklin Farm. The goal was simple: enjoy the nice weather, help clean up the neighborhood, and learn more about the wildlife around us.

Working Together and Helping the Community

All of our Scouts put on gloves, grabbed trash bags, and teamed up in small groups to scour the trails for litter. By the end of the hike, we filled two trash bags with wrappers, bottles, and other trash found along the trails and ponds. Several neighbors stopped to thank the Scouts for helping keep the area clean, which gave everyone a great chance to practice being polite and representing Scouting well.

The most memorable find of the day was the bottom half of an early‑2000s Sony PSYC CD Walkman. None of the Scouts knew what it was, so we paused for a fun “old‑school music” lesson. The parents got a good laugh from the guesses!

Fun Wildlife Discoveries

Spring wildlife was everywhere along the trails. The Scouts spotted turtles sunbathing on logs, deer and dog tracks in the mud, a fallen bird egg, and even a crawfish shell left behind on a bridge. During a quick snack break, a large flock of Sandhill Cranes flew overhead, calling loudly — a rare and exciting sight.

Practicing Leave No Trace

Throughout the hike, we talked about the Outdoor Code and Leave No Trace principles. And our Scouts practiced staying on the right side of the path, giving space to dogs and other walkers, and respecting both nature and the people around them.

A Great Day Outdoors

It was a perfect spring afternoon to serve the community, learn about nature, and enjoy being outside together. Scouts from all age groups worked as a team, explored the outdoors, and showed what it means to “leave the world better than you found it.”

 

              

2026 Supernova STEM Event Hosted by Piedmont District

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Warrenton, VA — Cub Scout Pack 1161 and Pack 1166 enjoyed a Saturday afternoon at Rady Park learning all about our Solar System, Circuitry, Geocaching, preforming Rocket Nozzle Experiments and so much more! Thank you to Phil McBride for hosting such a wonderful event – the Scouts had a BLAST!

STEM learning is an essential part of Scouting because it encourages curiosity, creativity, and hands‑on problem‑solving — skills that help young people understand the world around them. Activities like exploring our solar system, experimenting with circuitry, and practicing navigation through geocaching give Scouts the chance to see science, technology, engineering, and math come alive in memorable ways. These experiences don’t just teach concepts; they help Scouts build confidence as they test ideas, try new methods, and learn through discovery.

Each Cub Scout rank now includes at least one STEM Elective Adventure, ensuring that every young Scout has opportunities to dive into science, technology, engineering, and math at an age‑appropriate level. Whether they’re wiring simple circuits, learning how GPS technology works, studying the planets, or experimenting like real engineers, these adventures lay the foundation for future interest in STEM fields. More importantly, they spark excitement — showing Scouts that learning can be active, imaginative, and fun. Opportunities like our Piedmont District event at Rady Park reinforce that spirit of exploration and inspire our Scouts to keep asking questions, building things, and looking toward the stars!

 

        

Cub Scout Day Camp: The Life of a Den Walker

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Learn About the Vital Role of the Den Walker at Cub Scout Day Camp

In the March installment of our 2026 Cub Scout Day Camp Webinar Series, our Day Camp leadership team highlights the essential role of the Den Walker—a key position that helps ensure every Scout has a safe, fun, and successful camp experience.

This session is perfect for parents attending camp with their Cub Scout, adults interested in serving as Staff Den Walkers, and anyone who wants to better understand how parents and volunteers support daily operations and program delivery at camp. The webinar provides practical insights and a behind-the-scenes look at how Den Walkers contribute to a positive and memorable Day Camp experience for our Scouts.

If you couldn’t join us live, we’ve got you covered.

Missed the webinar?
👉 Watch the recording here:

We encourage all families and volunteers to take advantage of this valuable resource as we prepare for another outstanding summer at Cub Scout Day Camp.

Download the slides from the webinar here: Cub Scout Day Camp: The Life of a Den Walker [PDF]

Need more resources? Sign up and prepare for your week of Day Camp at www.gotodaycamp.org

Cub Scout Earns Medal of Merit for Helping Rescue Child from Drowning

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In 2025 Nate, a Cub Scout in Pack 107, used what he learned from Scouting to recognize and help a young child from drowning. Because of his heroic efforts, Nate was just recently honored with the prestigious Medal of Merit. Read his full story given to us by his dad, an Eagle Scout, who recollected what happened while they were on vacation in Texas.

“During spring break last year, our family was vacationing in Galveston, Texas. While at the hotel pool, Nate was swimming in the deep end when a younger child—approximately four to five years old—jumped into the pool while his family was not nearby. Almost immediately, it became clear that the child was unable to swim and could not touch the bottom. He began struggling to stay afloat and was having difficulty keeping his head above water.

Nate immediately recognized what was happening and swam over to help without hesitation. Although Nate himself could not touch the bottom and the water was above his head, he positioned himself next to the child and began treading water while lifting the child up repeatedly to keep his head above the surface. Nate’s own head went under the water several times as he continued supporting the child until the child’s older brother arrived. Together, they were able to help the child to safely reach the side of the pool and get out of danger.

As you can imagine, the child’s family was extremely grateful and relieved. Nate was proud that he knew what to do and had the confidence to act in a difficult and unexpected situation. As an Eagle Scout, what stood out most to me afterward was how quickly he connected the experience to the values he is learning through scouting. Nate talked about stories he had read in Scout’s Life that describe scouts helping others during emergencies, and he shared how this experience reminded him of the Scout Oath and Law—particularly the importance of helping others at all times. He was able to reflect on the moment not just as an event, but as a real-life example of putting those values into action.

We were incredibly proud of Nate, and the experience further strengthened both his—and our—enthusiasm for scouting and its values. We are excited to share this story with more families and to highlight for our community the positive impact scouting has on those involved, as well as the meaningful difference scouts can make through service to others.”

 

Summer Camp Planning: For Current Bear and Webelos Dens

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Summer camp is one of the highlights of the Scouting year. If you have a current Bear Den or current Webelos Den, then Camp Ross is the summer camp experience just for you! Camp Ross is a week-long camp just for Cub Scouts who are rising Webelos and rising Arrow of Light Scouts. With lots of fun activities – including swimming, boating, fishing, archery, BB shooting, hiking, crafting, and outdoor skills – it is the an amazing opportunity for your den to learn, grow, and get ready for an awesome upcoming year of adventure in their new rank as well as prepare them for the next step of the program – Scouts BSA.

Watch the recording:

You can also download the slides from the webinar here: Introduction to Camp Ross [PDF]

Looking for more resources? Get information, registration links, and the Summer Camp Planning Tool Kit at www.gotogoshen.org/ross