We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Eagle Scout

Scout Refurbishes 1982 Eagle Scout Project

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One of the strengths and wonders of Scouting in our area is the continuity inherent in our communities with families remaining in the area for decades. One of our current Scouts in Point of Rocks is looking to do his Eagle project refurnishing and adding names to an Eagle project that our third Eagle Scout did back in 1982. They met recently to go over pointers.

The sign depicts the local veterans who have since passed as of 1982, when the original sign was done. He will be working with the VFW, the American Legion, and the local newsletter to get the names needed to update the sign. The sign will get newer materials rather than the wood that was used and improved landscaping including removing the tree that is swallowing it on the right.

The Impact of Scouting on Ross Perot’s Life – In his own words

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Much of the news surrounding the recent death of Henry Ross Perot expectedly focused upon his business acumen at IBM and EDS, his two unsuccessful bids to become President, and his dedication to principles, performance and country. What few Scouters and Scouts likely learned or came to appreciate, however, is that, long before Mr. Perot donned the iconic business attire of a dark suite, white shirt and narrow black tie, he proudly wore the uniform of the Boy Scouts of America.

Beginning as a Cub Scout in his then home town of Texarkana, TX, he would later join Troop 18 at age 11 where he set for himself the ambitious goal of reaching the rank of Eagle Scout in 15 months, the shortest period of time permitted given the position requirements. He met that goal handily at age 13 in 1943. He would later describe Scouting’s impact on him in a video presentation and a biography, “How to Become A Billionaire” by Martin Fridson, by saying:

“The day I became an Eagle Scout was more important to me than the day I discovered I was a billionaire. Scouting taught me to set goals and objectives and gave me my first leadership training and experience, I keep my old handbook in my office to remind me of the principles of Scouting.”

Throughout his life, Ross Perot never forgot Scouting and he remained generously supportive of the organization for decades. His son, son-in-law, and all five grandsons are Eagle Scouts. His philanthropy and personal engagement helped fund Scouting outreach efforts to local underprivileged youth enabling about 12,000 Scouts in Texas to participate annually at no cost. More recently, he and his family funded the Ross Perot, Sr. Family Wing and Hall in the new Tillerson Leadership Training Center at the BSA’s Summit Bechtel Reserve near Beckley, WV. In gratitude, Scouting recognized Mr. Perot over the years with their most prestigious national awards: The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, The Silver Beaver Award, The Silver Antelope Award and, finally, the Silver Buffalo Award.

Scouting is still there today for those young male, and now female, Ross Perots of this upcoming generation. Our Nation needs more Ross Perots who pledge the Scout Oath to be dedicated in duty to God, Country and the service of others; to aspire to live the Scout Law – to be Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent. As Ross Perot’s life demonstrated, these are more than a litany of idyllic traits recited by rote; they are words to live by.

To find a Scouts, BSA Troop near you for the young Ross Perot in your family, girl or boy, go to: https://beascout.scouting.org/.

T.G. Motta – ASM, Scouts, BSA Troop 1717

Scouts for Conservation

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Scouts displayed their conservation projects as part of the Sustainable Garden Tour hosted the weekend of June 9 by the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District. The annual garden tour features homes, churches, schools, and libraries with native plant landscaping, rain barrels, wildlife habitat, composting, rain gardens, and grass-free front yards.

One Eagle Scout presented his Hornaday Badge project and Eagle project to remove invasive plants at South Run Rec Center in Springfield, Virginia. He led an effort to mobilize volunteers to remove invasive vines and plants. Invasive plants are plants that are non-native and spread so quickly and aggressively that they prevent native plants from growing. The Fairfax County Park Authority’s Invasive Management Area (IMA) program coordinates site leaders at over 60 sites throughout Fairfax County.

Another other Eagle Scout discussed his project to remove highly-invasive Japanese stiltgrass at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon, Virginia. He orchestrated several work days for Scouts and the public. During the second phase of his project, he led volunteers to plant common milkweed and other native plants in the area where the stiltgrass had been removed. This project also collaborated with the IMA program and helped the Scout earn the a Hornaday Award in addition to his Eagle Scout Award.

This garden tour provided an excellent opportunity for Scouts to educate the public, advocate for environmental action, and showcase some of the amazing conservation service projects led by Scouts.

Six Eagles graduate from St. Mary’s STEM Academy

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St. Mary’s new Eagle Scout graduates (from left): Alan H., Adam L., Kevin M., Jack O., Finn O., and Jay L.

The St. Mary’s County Public Schools STEM Academy in Maryland has something to brag about: 35% of the young men in the STEM Class of 2019 are Eagle Scouts!

Nationally, only 4-6% of members of the Boy Scouts of America earn the rank of Eagle Scout. Up until now, all of those Scouts have been young men, so when you look at the total number of young men in the United States only about 1.5% of them earn the rank of Eagle Scout. And yet, six out of seventeen young men in the STEM Class of 2019 are now part of that elite group.

According to the St. Mary’s County Public Schools website, the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Academy at Great Mills High School is “a rigorous and unique program of study emphasizing the core areas of mathematics and science with an infusion of technology and engineering.” Students take as many as twelve Advanced Placement courses during their high school career and complete an internship in a STEM field during the Summer before their senior year.

The Scouts represent four different troops throughout St. Mary’s County: Troop 303 in Valley Lee, Troop 793 in California, Troop 1785 in Mechanicsville, and Troop 2819 in California. In addition to their school work, each of these Scouts completed at least twenty-one merit badges in subjects such as citizenship, first aid, cooking, camping and personal fitness. Some of the merit badges they earned were STEM related, with topics such as environmental science, mammal study, robotics, weather, and energy. They each also completed a leadership project to benefit their community.

If that were not enough, four of them participated in varsity sports during high school, including track, cross country, tennis, lacrosse, and soccer. Three are active in the National Honor Society. Two competed with robotics teams and one participated in several school plays.

Their future plans include degrees in paleontology, biology, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, and environmental planning.

Local Eagle Scout Wins $1,000 Eagles-Only Award In Leadership / American History Competition

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Northern Virginia Eagle Scout Matthew Lawley of Herndon (Troop 157) was awarded $1,000 in a Leadership / American History statewide competition held in Richmond February 9th sponsored by the Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (VASSAR). All current Eagles and aspiring Eagles should pay attention to this program for the coming year as this is a program limited to Eagle Scouts.

Matthew had first won the competition at the local chapter level competition sponsored by the Fairfax Resolves Chapter (http://fairfaxresolvessar.org/) (Fairfax and Loudoun county areas VA) of the Sons of the American Revolution. There are 28 Virginia SAR chapters eligible to participate in this annual competition. Matthew will now move forward to the national competition to be held this summer in Costa Mesa, CA which provides a top award of $10,000 and lesser amounts for second ($6,000) and third ($4,000) place.

Eagle Scout Matthew Lawley won the Arthur M. and Berdena King Eagle Scout competition by submitting an impressive application documenting the leadership he has already shown in his young life through scouting, in the community and through his church. The Eagle Scout competition consists of an application reflecting accomplishment, a four generation genealogy chart of the Scout’s family and a 500 word patriotic themed essay related to the revolutionary war. The competition is open to all Eagle Scouts under the age of 19. The SAR gives extra credit to those applicants that have secured the American Heritage, Law and Genealogy merit badges. Matthew had all three of these badges. For his essay, Matthew wrote a persuasive argument as to the need to have a monument to John Adams in Washington, D.C. John Adams is one of the few founding presidents not so memorialized.

The SAR sponsors a range of competitive educational programs for youth (4th through 12th grades) to enhance their understanding of the founding principles of our nation and the role the Revolutionary War played in establishing our freedom (https://www.sar.org/education/youth-contests-and-awards). There is no requirement for Revolutionary War ancestry in order to compete.