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Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Cub Scouts

How to Polish Your Pinewood Derby Car’s Axles and Wheels

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The quality of your Pinewood Derby car’s axles and wheels may be the most important factor in building a fast car. Here’s how to choose and polish your car’s axles and wheels.

Polishing Pinewood Derby Axles

1. Start with a set of raw axles.

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2. Can you tell the difference between the axles in the top row and the ones on the bottom? The ones on the bottom aren’t straight and will slow your car.

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3. To tell which are straight and which aren’t, mark each axle with a marker about 1/2 inch from the pointed end.

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4. Have an adult clamp a power drill into a vise, a device that will hold it perfectly still.

5. Have an adult help you insert each axle into the drill at the location you marked in Step 3. Have the adult turn on the drill.

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6. Bent axles will wobble as they turn in the drill. Straight axles will hardly wobble at all. Pick the ones that wobble least.

7. Once you’ve selected the four straightest axles, use a file or fine-grit sandpaper to remove small burrs and mold marks that can cause friction and slow a car. These imperfections should be removed from both the axles and the wheels. Watch this video to learn one way to do this.

8. Use polishing compound from the auto supply store to polish the wheels and axles. One easy way to do this is to clamp the axles back in the drill and let the drill spin the axle while you polish it.

9. When you install the axles and wheels, make sure they are aligned perfectly straight. You can test the alignment of your axles by pushing your car across a smooth floor or table. It should roll in a straight line.

10. Don’t forget to add graphite or another dry lubricant to your wheels and axles.

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This post originally appeared on the online version of Boys’ Life Magazine at https://boyslife.org/hobbies-projects/pinewood-derby/151297/how-to-polish-your-pinewood-derby-cars-axles-and-wheels/. 

Cub Scout Recognized for Achievement in STEM Activities

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A local Cub Scout, Marco J Martin of Pack 539 has earned the Alvarez Supernova.

“I wanted to do the Supernova because there were fun activities,” said Marco. “And I would learn a lot about mathematics, science and engineering.”

Marco entered into the Lion Pilot Program at Mt. Ennon Baptist Church located in Clinton, Maryland at the age of 5. He has gone through the ranks of Lion and Tiger, and is currently at the rank of Wolf. As a Tiger, Marco wanted to earn the Supernova, however, Tigers are not eligible to earn the Cub Scout Supernova award.

“I was not able to start the Supernova until this year when I became a Wolf,” said Marco. “I continued in Cub Scouts because it was fun and I have friends in Cub Scouts.”

The Cub Scout Supernova award recognizes superior achievement by a Cub Scout in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). To earn the award, Marco learned about Dr. Luis Alvarez and other famous scientists, participated in a science project at school, visited a workplace where STEM technology is being used, and conducted an experiment of his own choosing. The requirements provide options for pursuit, and since Marco enjoys mathematics, he concentrated his efforts in that area.

Since 2014, 128 Cub Scouts have earned the Alvarez Supernova in NCAC. Less than 2500 Alvarez Supernova Awards have been earned Nationwide. Since 2018,  70 Supernova Awards from all ranks have been earned in NCAC.

Current NCAC records show that Marco is the first Cub to earn the Alvarez Supernova in the Patuxent District.

“When I was reading books or doing experiment I learned new stuff and it was fun. I thought it was going to be hard, but it was just a lot of work.”

 

First Campout – First Bridging!

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 Troop 1920 had their first campout and first bridging this weekend. The weather was cold, but the Scouts didn’t complain one bit. We arrived to snow and made peachy french toast in the dutch oven for breakfast and then went on a 5 mile very muddy hike. Lunch on the trail was followed by dinner and another night camping, this time in the rain. While we were doing that, representatives of our troop went to their first Webelos bridging. We had a really busy weekend, and although we’re tired, we had our first Scout make Scout rank.

 

First recipients of the New Hornaday Unit Patch

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Congratulations to Pack 1530 in Powhatan District for being the first unit to earn the new NCAC Hornaday Unit award patch.

William T. Hornaday awards are given for distinguished service to natural resource conservation. The Hornaday Unit certificate is awarded to a pack, troop, crew or ship of five or more Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA Scouts, Venturers, or Sea Scouts for participating in a substantial conservation project. At least 60 percent of registered youth must participate. The Unit award may be awarded for participation in a Hornaday Badge or Medal project, for participation in an outside organization’s conservation project, or for a standalone project the unit planned and conducted on its own.

NCAC developed this new patch for the participants in Hornaday Unit award projects. It features the Smithsonian Castle and a bison because William T. Hornaday, a taxidermist for the Smithsonian, is credited with helping to prevent the extinction of the America bison.

Pack 1530 earned this prestigious conservation award by participating in Boy Scout John Foong’s Hornaday Badge project to remove invasive plant Japanese stiltgrass at Frying Pan Farm Park. Japanese stiltgrass is invasive because it is non-native, grows aggressively, and crowds out native plants. Pack 1530 Cub Scouts, scouters, alums, and family members helped over 100 other volunteers remove 110 large garbage bags of stiltgrass. In the spring, volunteers will help plant native shrubs and perennials on the site where the stiltgrass once lived. This project site is part of Fairfax County Park Authority’s Invasive Management Area (IMA) program.

For more information about Hornaday projects, please go to the NCAC Hornaday page (https://www.ncacbsa.org/advancement/awards-and-recognition/hornaday/). We strongly advise any scout interested in a Hornaday project or any unit interested in a Hornaday Unit award to identify a Hornaday Adviser to guide you through the process.

“Unusual prizes are won only by unusual service.”
– William T. Hornaday

“Very special thanks to our local Cub Scouts who participated in clean-ups. Your efforts will help the land to heal and provide a fresh landscape for native plants and animals to live. When we all pull together great things happen. May you all continue your wonderful work in conservation and thank you all so much from your friends at Frying Pan Farm Park.”
        – Patrick Macnamara, land manager at Frying Pan Farm Park

2019 Akela Chess Classic

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On Saturday, February 2 and Saturday, February 9 scouts from all over the National Capital Area Council competed in the Council’s five-round chess tournament, the Akela Chess Classic. The February 2nd event, held at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Herndon, VA, was the Scouts BSA tournament, open to all scouts in troops, crews and ships. Seventeen scouts competed in two brackets: age 10-12 and age 13 and up. In the younger-scout bracket, one scout took first-place honors, with one scout finishing second, and three scouts finishing third. In the older-scout bracket one scout took first-place honors, with three scouts finishing second and three scouts finishing third. The first-place winner in each bracket finished with a perfect 5-0 score.

The February 9th event, held at St. Raphael School in Rockville, MD, was the Cub Scout tournament, open to all scouts in Cub Scout packs. Twenty-seven scouts competed in two brackets: Lion/Tiger/Wolf and Bear/Webelos/Arrow of Light, with awards given for first, second, or third by rank. One Tiger took part, winning first place for his rank. There were one first-place, two second-place, and one third-place finishers in the Wolf rank. For the Bear rank, one scout finished first, one finished second, and two finished third. The Webelos rank had five first-place finishers, three second-place finishers, and one in third place. Rounding out the tournament were one first-place Arrow of Light scout, one in second place, and three in third place. The first-place Wolf and Bear each had a perfect 5-0 score.

Each round of the Akela Chess Classic is limited to one hour, with touch-move rules in effect; under these rules if a player touches a piece he is obligated to move it. All participating scouts must know, in advance of the tournament, the rules of chess and how to play. The 2019 Cub Scout tournament was the 14th annual tournament, and the 2019 Scouts BSA tournament was the 8th annual tournament.

A fun and exciting time was had by all participating scouts. All are looking forward to the Akela Chess Classic next year!

Pack 2019 Lions Say “I’ll Do It Myself”

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The girls’ and boys’ Lions Dens from Pack 2019 at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society in Sterling, VA, completed their “I’ll Do It Myself” adventure. They made and decorated bags to keep their Scout swag organized and on hand. Each Scout chose how they wanted to decorate and with their parent partners’ help used glue guns, foam letters, glitter glue, and a slew of other craft supplies to make their bags shine.

These two dens have already earned their Lion’s Honor, Animal Kingdom, and King of the Jungle adventure loops and are well on their way to earning their full Lion ranks! Pack 2019 has girls’ dens for Lions, Wolves, and Bears, and are welcoming more Scouts every day.