We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Cub Scouts

Cub Scout Fall Funstravagnza = Week 4: Duty to God

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Happy Holidays everyone! As we spend days together on breaks from school and maybe take some time off from work – This is a great time to talk about how your family practices your faith.
Many of you will attend extra special religious services during this time of year, or practice an observance in your home. Use these unique family moments to help your Cub learn about your family history and faith, and keep progressing towards their next rank.

Lions – Lions Honor (Cub Scout Basics): https://public.3.basecamp.com/p/XkPRaMp7C1eTPeFfmMUAbQF8 or you could complete the Pick My Path elective
Tigers – Tiger Circle – Duty to God: https://public.3.basecamp.com/p/rYe9KnN5DWmLLCaLis1cRt5z
Wolves – Duty to God Footsteps: https://public.3.basecamp.com/p/MMm8vc8QUb8Z8URvLHHPuHsb
Bears – Fellowship and Duty to God: https://public.3.basecamp.com/p/qGtMzyCPxDKcph5qfVfvRbTL
Webelos – Duty to God and You: https://public.3.basecamp.com/p/1ULshuzo3in4sP8ussfCBX2V
Arrow of Light – Duty to God in Action: https://public.3.basecamp.com/p/9gc5shg4DSXZW4Ub9VQuuAcd

Have a safe and happy New Year and check back soon for more updates!

What Is the Arrow of Light?

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The Arrow of Light is both a rank and an award. It is the highest achievement in Cub Scouting, and the only Cub Scout Award that can still be worn once a scout enters ScoutsBSA. Adult leaders who earned the Arrow of Light Award may show their achievement by wearing a special square knot on their uniform.

The award design is a yellow arrow with a rising sun. There are seven rays in the sun that represent wisdom, courage, self-control, justice, faith, hope, and love. The symbolism of the award peaks to the heart of scouting – like an arrow, scouts travel a straight path. Achieving the award is not an end, but like a new day is just a beginning. The values represented by the sun are those that form a well-rounded person. Other interpretations of the badge say that like the sun, Cub Scouts should be a light for those around them. Also, the seven rays of the sun represent the days of the week, and serves as a reminder that Scouts should do their best every day.

Very often a Webelos earns the award at the end of their time in the pack, so the awarding of the AOL coincides with the crossover to a troop. These crossover, or bridging ceremonies, recognize the Scouts commencing a journey into Scouts BSA.

No matter how you interpret the award, it is worthy of its own ceremony. There are many different ceremonies developed over the years by different packs. Each is tailored to meet the time of year, and the needs of the pack. My favorite ceremonies have featured campfires, candles, and a reflection on what it took each scout to get to that point. It is a recognition of a lot of hard work, both from the scouts, and the leaders and parents that helped them get there.

Leesburg’s Scouts BSA Girl Troop 998 Grows in 2020 and Works to Cement Bonds Across Area Scouting

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Leesburg’s Scouts BSA Girl Troop 998 welcomed their new Scouts to the Troop recently with a weekend camp out at Burke Lake in Fairfax County. Cooking, fire-building, knife safety and first aid were all on the agenda, plus some down time fishing on the lake.

But then, in the next campsite, Pack 1865 arrived for a Saturday night camp out and ceremony to advance their Lion Den up to Tigers. After T998G’s youth leaders reached out to the Pack 1865 leaders, they were invited to join the ceremony and welcome the new Cubs (both boys and girls) to their new status as Tigers. The Scouts then invited the Pack to join their evening campfire, participate in a solemn flag retirement ceremony, and complete the evening with traditional Scout Vespers.

Scouts BSA Girl Troop 998 is chartered by Leesburg United Methodist Church, but during COVID is currently meeting on Monday nights, outside at adult leaders’ homes in Leesburg and Ashburn. If you’d like to visit and learn more, please contact Scoutmaster Denise Pender at 703-727-1806 or smpender998g@gmail.com.

Plan to have FUN at the Webelos/Scout EXPO

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There will be guaranteed FUN for Webelos and Scouts BSA who attend the November 20-22 Exposition at Camp Snyder! The FUN includes family camping, program activities lead by volunteers and self-guided activities each family can do on its own.

Climb the Scouterhorn, shoot an air rifle, try your hand at archery, fly or drive a drone, create your own leatherwork article, build a toolbox or birdhouse in the Woodshop, or “walk on water” at the STEM station. Plus, learn all about the 2021 Summer Camps at Camp Snyder and Goshen Scout Reservation. And, on your own, roast marsh mellows at your personal campfire, fish (they’re biting!), bike (bring yours and a helmet), try a Nature Scavenger Hunt or find trinkets while Geocaching. There is more to do than you have time!

Don’t delay in registering because space is limited. We are limiting the number of campers and using an appointment system for the program activities as part of our COVID-19 virus precautions. Learn about all the virus health precautions we are taking when you register at https://scoutingevent.com/082-2020SnyderFallFamilyCamping

See you at Camp Snyder this Fall!

The Great Bike Rodeo

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Have you ever heard of a bike rodeo? If you’re expecting bull riders riding bicycles at a you’ll be disappointed, but Pack 1323 from Laytonsville, MD, did something just as cool this past August. The bike rodeo was held in an open parking lot to teach Scouts bike riding safety and techniques. Scouts learned about safety inspections, hand signals, helmet safety, and safe braking. One Scout remarked how his favorite part of the event was the “Slow Race” where Scouts had to follow a large circle on the ground and ride as slowly as possible without letting their feet touch the ground. The Scout with the longest time would win! Overall the Scouts had a great time at this fun, interactive, and educational event.

Poppin’ in the USA challenge – 50 States in 3 Days!

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When Trail’s End announced the Poppin’ in the USA challenge – collecting one order from each of the 50 states – First Class Scout and Patrol Leader Michael Browning of Troop 492 was really excited. He had set a low popcorn sales goal this year, since we are not willing to let him do any in-person sales due to COVID-19. But an order from every state? That inspired him!

Michael had me film a Facebook Live video of him explaining the challenge, being careful to not mention his last name or where he lived. He shared a bit of his story, why he loves Scouting so much, and how achieving his goal would help both his troop and him. He showed the map of the 50 states that he had printed out, and promised to keep updating everyone. Michael asked everyone to share his video with their friends. I set the video to ‘public’ and added his Trail’s End web address.

The next two days were crazy! Michael’s video was being shared like crazy, as were all his updates. Friend of friends of friends were tagging people they knew in states Michael still needed. As it progressed, Michael stayed busy handwriting thank you notes to everyone I could get addresses for. A little less than 48 hours after starting, Michael got the last state: South Dakota!

Or so he thought. I emailed Trail’s End to verify, and they replied a day later to let me know he did not have Oklahoma. What?? It turns out the lady in Oklahoma did order…but shipped the order to her daughter in California, so it counted as a California order! We updated on Facebook again, and everyone shared like crazy, and an hour and a half later, Michael got an order from Oklahoma. He did it! All 50 states!

Today Trail’s End sent Michael two e-mails. The first notified him that he was one of the first 20 Scouts in the country to get an order from 25 different states, earning him a $50 Amazon gift card. And the second notified him that he was one of the first 5 Scouts in the country to get an order from all 50 states, earning him a $150 Amazon gift card!

In achieving this goal, Michael not only surpassed his goal from last year and earned another free week at Goshen, he learned a lot of important lessons. The first is that huge goals are achievable one small step – or state – at a time. The second is that sharing your goal with enthusiasm gets others excited to help you reach that goal. And finally, not only was it thrilling for Michael to achieve his goal, but everyone who was cheering him on was excited too! Lots of people have been thanking him for giving him a fun challenge to follow and share in the excitement of. And best of all, he has been able to help his beloved Troop 492 at a time when the troop is going to need more equipment to make socially distanced events safe and possible.