We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

michaels woodshop

Tic-Tac-WOW!

by

Cub Scouts and Webelos made 453 Tic-Tac-Toe boards while attending Day Camp and Resident Weekends at Camp Snyder this summer. That’s a lot of games!!! The process started with a short safety briefing and then each youth selected and marked their “blank” using our custom templates. The Cub Scouts then entered the shop and were guided through three work stations where they cut, drilled and sanded to create their very own game boards. Upon completion, youth were able to brand their game boards with the coveted “Handcrafted in Michael’s Woodshop” image.

This was a great hands-on activity that was enjoyed by all youth who attended camp. To see more great photos from the activity, please check out our slideshow: Summer Camp in Michael’s Woodshop. This was the first summer that Michael’s Woodshop was fully integrated into the camp activity program and camp staff and volunteers are looking forward to making this a regular summer camp offering.

Michael’s Woodshop operates year-round and is a great venue for Scouts to create and learn. We offer a number of regular and seasonal activities such as merit badge classes, woodworking skills classes and of course our annual Pinewood Derby Days! The shop may also be reserved for Den activities like our Baloo the Builder and Webelos Build It Workshops and for many other events such as Troop merit badge sessions, conservation projects and Eagle Scout Projects.

Please visit the Michael’s Woodshop webpage for more information about the shop capabilities and upcoming events or for information about reserving the shop. If you have questions or would like additional information, please email the volunteer team at MichaelsWoodshop.CWBS@gmail.com

 

 

Meet the Newest Volunteers in Michael’s Woodshop

by

Michael’s Woodshop is pleased to introduce five new members of the Team. Michael’s Woodshop is run entirely through the time, effort and talents of its volunteers and we welcome these latest additions to our Team!

Adult Volunteers

Kirk Vetter is married with two teenaged children and has a passion for millwork. He is the Executive Vice President / General Manager of Gaithersburg Architectural Millwork which specializes in manufacturing Commercial Interior Architectural Millwork in Warrenton VA. (We toured his facility – it is a very impressive operation!) He is volunteering his time in an effort to get youth as excited about millwork as he is.

Ryan Fisher is an experienced woodworker and has been actively engaged in Scouting since his youth. He is an Eagle Scout, OA member (Vigil Honor), has attended Philmont twice, two National Jamborees and NOAC and after a series of adult leadership positions currently serves as ASM, Troop 1372-G. Interestingly, during his service career, he willingly jumped out of perfectly fine aircraft on 52 occasions.

Elena Ziu discovered Michael’s Woodshop while her son was working on his Woodworking MB. The shop reminded her of her days at the University of Virginia where as an experimental physicist she often modified or built parts for her experimental apparatus in a machine shop. Elena has been active in Scouting since 2016 and currently serves as NCAC STEM Counselor and Powhatan Crew 160 Advisor.

Youth Volunteers

Ayaan A. is an Eagle Scout with Troop 1548.  While working on his Eagle Scout Project in Michael’s Woodshop, he was “bitten” by the woodworking bug (we would apologize, but it would not be sincere…).  Ayaan has a goal of earning a Gold Congressional Service Award (requires 400 service hours) and has decided to combine his new interest in woodworking with his desire to serve others.

Mihai Z. is a First Class Scout with Troop 160.  He loves playing trumpet and serves as bugler for his Troop. Mihai completed the Woodworking MB Spring 2021 and now has three hobbies he loves: woodworking, model rocketry, and 3D model design and printing. Mihai is already excited to try out our newly donated CNC machine. (And the adult volunteers are happy to have a teenager around to teach us how to use it!)

If you are interested in volunteering, please see  Join the Michael’s Woodshop Team on our webpage, or email any questions to MichaelsWoodshop.CWBS@gmail.com. Interested female adults and youth are also invited to attend one of our Ladies Nights in the Woodshop sessions which provide potential volunteers with a chance to learn more about the shop – and to make some sawdust!

Announcing Ladies Nights in the Woodshop

by

Michael’s Woodshop at Camp Snyder has become a very popular venue, hosting fun, hands-on activities for Scouts of all ages. As female youth membership in the National Capital Area Council continues to grow, we are hosting more and more female youth for activities ranging from Pinewood Derby Days to Eagle Scout Projects. As a result, we would like to add female adult and youth volunteers to our Team. The feeling of satisfaction derived from completing a project or coaching youth as they complete their own is difficult to describe. Rather than trying to convey this feeling with mere words, we decided to invite potential volunteers out to the shop to experience it first-hand!

While experienced woodworkers would be ideal, we have volunteer opportunities available for a variety of skill levels and ages, including our Youth Shop Assistant Program for BSA registered youth who are 14 and older. Volunteers are expected to be role models for visiting youth and adults. They should enjoy coaching and guiding youth during activities and a focus on safety is a must. All adult and youth volunteers must be (or become) BSA registered.

We have planned a variety of project sessions including bird houses, a cheese board and a sure to be favorite “Mom’s Tool Box”. These projects will be hands-on, sawdust-making sessions with participants having the opportunity to use a number of shop tools. The sessions are open to female adults and youth 14 and older. Time will be allotted during the activity for a shop tour as well as sharing information and answering questions about our programs and volunteer opportunities. A series of events will be held over the coming months. Please visit the Registration Page for the schedule and additional information about the projects. There is no registration fee for these events and materials will be provided free of cost. However, space is limited so make your reservation soon.

If you are interested in volunteering, we hope you will be able to join us for one of these events. If you are unable to attend a session but are interested in learning more, please visit the Volunteering Page on the website or email us at MichaelsWoodshop.CWBS@gmail.com.

Scouts Learn the Craft (and Art) of Paddlemaking

by

This spring, the Aquatics Committee hosted its first paddlemaking class in Michael’s Woodshop at Camp Snyder. Two Scouts and two adults from Troop 191F and a shop volunteer all crafted their own paddles in this initial class. The process began with each student receiving a milled Ash “blank” approximately 1 1/8” thick, 6” wide and 6’ long and ended with everyone having created their own individually sized, properly balanced and beautifully shaped flatwater canoe paddle which they will treasure for a lifetime!

The class was taught by Steve Park, a highly experienced paddlemaker who specializes in flatwater canoe paddles. He generously shared his knowledge, educating students about the key components of a paddle and instructing them about the proper tools and their use. With his guidance and assistance, students were able to properly size, shape and balance their paddles. The class was not about making a single canoe paddle, but was rather an investment in learning a valuable skill. The students gave the course high marks and are looking forward to taking an advanced class where they can further refine their skills. Definitely a couple of days very well spent!

Going forward, the paddlemaking class will be formally organized into an Introductory Class and an Advanced Class. The Introductory Class will teach a number of valuable skills and will use several custom jigs and processes to enable completion of the paddle during the class. The Advanced Class will introduce additional skills students will need to start their own journey of becoming a paddlemaker!

Michael’s Woodshop at Camp William B. Snyder is a great place for Scouts to create and learn. Paddlemaking is just one of many activities available in the wood shop. For more information about upcoming Paddlemaking Classes and other shop programs or for information about reserving the shop, please visit the Michael’s Woodshop webpage or email any questions and requests to the volunteer team at MichaelsWoodshop.CWBS@gmail.com

                 

Bears Enjoy Their Baloo the Builder Adventure

by

In February, Bears from Pack 1601 had a great time completing their Baloo the Builder Adventure in Michael’s Woodshop. This activity was specifically developed for Bear Dens and provided the Bears with the opportunity to complete all of the requirements of the adventure:

The Bears actively participated in a discussion about shop and tool safety. They also learned about many useful tools to have in their tool box. They were given the opportunity to practice using a number of tools including a clamp, sanding block, hammer and nail punch and then applied these skills while working on their projects. In addition to their newfound skills and knowledge, each Bear left the woodshop with a fun Golf Tee Tic-Tac-Toe Board and their very own Cub Scout Tool Box. It was definitely a fun and memorable adventure in Michael’s Woodshop!

Michael’s Woodshop at Camp William B. Snyder is a great place for Scouts to create and learn. The Baloo the Builder Workshop is just one of many activities available in the wood shop. All programs in Michael’s Woodshop are run by a group of dedicated volunteers. With increasing demand for use of the shop, we are currently seeking to expand our roster of volunteers. In particular, we are seeking to add registered female adult leaders to the team to help support the increasing number of female youth participating in activities in Michael’s Woodshop.

For more information about the Baloo the Builder Workshop and other shop activities or to learn more about volunteer roles available, please visit the Michael’s Woodshop webpage or email any questions and requests to the volunteer team at MichaelsWoodshop.CWBS@gmail.com

An Impressive Bat House Conservation Project

by

As a part of their work to earn the Mammal Study merit badge, Scouts from GT582 came out to Michael’s Woodshop at Camp William B. Snyder to build two Johnson Bat Houses. The Troop was very well prepared and arrived with all of the materials and supplies needed to construct, paint and install the bat houses. With guidance from a volunteer Shop Steward, the Scouts were able to learn and apply many useful woodworking skills; measuring & marking, drilling, gluing and clamping. They were focused, demonstrated great teamwork and were able to complete, paint and install a set of great looking bat houses in approximately 6 hours. Not only did they complete a requirement for their merit badge, they had a great time working in the shop and made a very impressive addition to Camp Snyder. It was a day very well spent!

Camp Snyder is the perfect venue for conservation projects and other service projects. It is conveniently located and many conservation projects are readily available. Camp Snyder is resuming its monthly Volunteer Service Day schedule and other work dates can be arranged upon request. If you would like to learn more about available conservation and other service projects at Camp Snyder, upcoming Volunteer Service Days or to arrange for your own group project, please email us at CWBS.Volunteers@gmail.com.

Whether you are working on a service project, advancement activities or simply want to learn some new skills, Michael’s Woodshop is a great place for building memorable experiences. Michael’s Woodshop is a well-outfitted shop with the tools, equipment and work space for Scouts to create and learn. The shop may be reserved for Unit events (all age groups), Eagle Scout projects and many other Scouting activities. Our volunteer Shop Stewards are all experienced woodworkers and are available to assist you in planning and carrying out a successful event.

For information about shop capabilities, upcoming events or reserving the shop, please visit the Michael’s Woodshop page on the Camp Snyder website or email questions and requests to MichaelsWoodshop.CWBS@gmail.com.