We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Family Scouting

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

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As summer drew to a close, Aquia District Scouts BSA focused their efforts on helping Stafford Community residents by holding a second No Contact Food Drive on August 22, 2020, due to the planning and leadership of Aquia District Scouter Laura Curran. Scouts and their families suspended their preparations for the school year for a moment and instead did their Good Turn by collecting 4,353 pounds of food to help replenish the dwindling supplies of local Stafford County pantries.

Like the Scouts BSA food drive service project in May, the goal was to support local pantries and keep Scouts, their families, pantry volunteers and donors all safe by maintaining safe physical distancing. Scouts were asked to help in whatever way they deemed appropriate for their family’s circumstances. When Scouts answered the call, they spread the word of the event virtually, shared flyers with neighbors and donned masks to collect donations from doorsteps and driveways. Some Scout units worked with their neighborhood homeowners’ associations to share information and created neighborhood collections points. The drop off point for residents who heard about the drive was operated with safety of all at the forefront.

Stafford pantries were grateful for the donations, as the need to help those affected by the pandemic continues. The pantries are expecting a prolonged demand due to corona-virus related job loss and furloughs and still need support to continue their fight against food insecurity. Donations of food via food drives are the main source of non-perishables for these food pantries.

This coming November, Aquia District Scouts BSA will be conducting “Scouting For Food,” a national food drive Scout BSA campaign. For this event held annually in November, Scouts “Do a Good Turn” to help Stafford County and Dumfries food pantries stock their shelves, not just for the holidays, but for the months beyond.

This year’s Scouting For Food may look a little different with the added emphasis on the safety of all participants. However, Aquia District Scouts BSA will continue to do their part to meet the needs of Stafford County, their efforts perpetuated by them living the Scout Oath for service to others by “Helping Other People At All times.”

Climb—Shoot—Build—Fly—Create at Camp Snyder!

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Claim your campsite for Camp Snyder Family Camping and enjoy the program activities! You can still sign up for Family Camping weekends in July and early August.

Settle into your campsite and begin your adventure! Climb the Scouterhorn like a
mountaineer; see who is the best shot at the BB gun range; build a bird house or tool box or game at the Wood Shop; fly a drone or drive a robot car and create heat, color and odd shapes with STEM Foam Fun! You can also fish, walk the nature trail, try your hand at Geocaching and roast marsh mellows over your campfire before ending a very full day.

Register at https://scoutingevent.com/082-38193 and count down to your family’s weekend adventure at Camp Snyder. See you at camp!

Family-Fun-Flag-Fourth Schedule Announced!

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The Family-Fun-Flag-Fourth is just a few days away and we can’t wait!

Flags are FUN! Do you love flags? Join us on Facebook July 4th for an awesome day of flag themed activities.

Be part of the action: Most every rank has an activity or adventure involving a flag ceremony or learning about flags. (Cub Scouts, check out Wolf – Council Fire, Bear – Paws for Action, and Arrow of Light – Building a Better World. Scouts BSA check Scout, Tenderfoot, and Second Class.) Make a short video showing your own Fun Flag activity—special kudos if you do it while dressed as your favorite superhero or historical figure. Your videos will be featured on Facebook. So, get busy and show us your Scouting patriotism!!

8:00 AM – Fitness Fun
Can you climb the Washington Monument? Not right now because it is closed due to COVID-19. However, you can try your hand at how many Washington Monuments you can walk, hike, run or bike. Learn some history about the Washington Monument and some engineering and math as well!

Download the worksheet here. Post and tag your pictures to Facebook here.

10:00 AM – Do a Good Turn: Operation Gratitude
Please join Scouts and Scouters from across the National Capital Area Council to write letters of thanks to first responders, deployed troops, veterans, and others, through Operation Gratitude. Can you take some time on July 4th and write some letters to our service women and men and first responders? Here are the steps:

1. Go to Operation Gratitude’s website and click on “register for letter writing and download guide”. Register with your contact information.
2. You will receive directions from the organization about how to prepare and address the letters. Distribute those directions to your unit and encourage them to participate. This is an excellent service opportunity for Scouts while maintaining social distancing!
3. When your unit has completed letter-writing, follow the directions for submitting them to Operation Gratitude. Keeping your own safety in mind, you may choose to collect all of your unit’s letters and send them as a group, or ask each Scout to send them individually.

4. Make sure that you record your unit’s service hours for this project.

Post and tag your pictures to Facebook here.

12:00 PM – Great Scout Cookoff
We are having a BAKE-OFF! At noon we will kick off our Scout Bake-off hosted by the NCAC Council Venturing Officers Association with a competition making Patriotic Pancakes. Be sure to get your patriotic ingredients beforehand. Send your videos and pictures to cvoa@ncacvsa.org.

Join us at noon on for the judging!

4:00 PM – Fun with Ice Cream
Are you hungry? Are you hot? With just a little science and a little shaking you can make ice cream in a plastic bag! How patriotic can you make yours? It’s a delicious treat that you can make in your kitchen with only a few ingredients. Just remember to save room for your veggies later!

At your own pace. Watch the video on Saturday. Want something a little more complicated? No worries, we will offer a more challenging version!  Supplies needed: milk, sugar, vanilla, salt, gloves, measuring cups, 2 quart size ziplock bags, and 1 gallon size ziplock bag.

Post and tag your pictures to Facebook here.

6:00 PM – Fireworks Fun
Leave the high-flying fireworks to the experts. You can always learn about the chemistry of fireworks from the experts and try your hand at some safer alternatives. The first experiment uses water, oil and food coloring. The second uses soda and Mentos. How much fun can you have?
• The Chemistry of Fireworks (Videos provided during event)
• Inside Fireworks with Oil and Water (supplies needed: oil, water, food coloring, and two glass cylinders or vases)
• Soda and Mentos Outside Fireworks (supplies needed: 2 liter bottle of clear soda, a little red and blue food coloring, and packs of Mint Mentos.)
Post and tag your pictures to Facebook here.

*We strongly encourage all Scouts to have an Adult Leader nearby while using the internet or joining Zoom calls.*

Climbing the Walls?

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If you’re climbing the walls at home, come out to Camp Snyder and climb ours. The 20′ tall Scouterhorn will be operating for family camping on 11, 18, 25 July and 1 Aug.

We have new sanitation protocols for reducing the possibility of climbers becoming infected by the virus. This training is mandatory and is held concurrent with family camping. If you want to operate it, please ask for details and sign up for a training session. To learn more please visit https://scoutingevent.com/082-38193 or contact Camp.Snyder@Scouting.org.

 

(VIRTUAL) EAGLE SCOUT COURT OF HONOR

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Brother Chase and Sister Sidney served as Masters of Ceremony

Eagles do not flock!  The Eagle soars independently above others.  Yet, an Eagle remains close to their family.  So, it was recently when Clay Dellinger of Troop 1347 in Burke, Virginia celebrated a backyard Court of Honor to recognize his achievement of the rank of Eagle Scout.  Clay and his family are moving to Germany soon, and the Troop was eager to conduct the Court of Honor before the move. Scouts, friends, and family all gathered virtually via internet video conferencing for the unique ceremony.

Scouts know how to improvise.  Even though in-person meetings are not allowed during the pandemic, Troop 1347 is using internet video conferencing for weekly virtual troop meetings and monthly virtual campouts to keep the Scouts connected and to encourage advancement when possible.  As the restrictions against in-person meetings started to overlap with Clay’s move to Germany, the Troop 1347 Scoutmaster and Senior Patrol Leader created a plan to adapt their virtual Troop gatherings into a virtual Court of Honor.

  Clay lead the Troop in reciting the Scout Oath and Law.

The virtual Eagle Scout Court of Honor was conducted in Clay’s backyard using three internet connected devices on an internet video conference coordinated by the Troop Administrator.  The Troop Committee arranged contactless-delivery for the American and Troop flags, a special Eagle Scout podium, and the Eagle Scout medal set provided by the National Capital Area Council.  Clay’s brother, also an Eagle Scout, and his sister, a Star Scout and Girl Troop Senior Patrol Leader were the Masters of Ceremony.  Clay’s parents, both Assistant Scoutmasters for the Troop 1347 Boys and Girls Troops, helped the Scoutmaster and Committee Chair, who were on the video conference, make their presentations.

Clay’s Assistant Scoutmasters Mom and Dad

The majority of boy and girl Troops 1347 logged on to participate in the virtual Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Clay Dellinger.  Dozens of friends and family from Texas, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Colorado, and Japan who might not have been able to attend a traditional in-person Court of Honor were able to view the ceremony over the internet.

 

Troop 1347 proved that Scouts are resilient and innovative by making the best of any situation.  Clay’s “virtual” Eagle Scout Court of Honor, and the Troop’s creative ideas to conduct the ceremony over the internet, is sure to be a unique memory for all.