• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
We Own Adventure

We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

  • Home
  • Newsletters
  • Sponsorship Opportunities
  • Sport Adventures
  • Submit Your News
  • Be an Influencer!
  • Scouting America National Capital Area Council Main website

order of the arrow

Join the GOAT Crew: A Scout’s Perspective

February 19, 2021 by James Warren, Troop 433, Order of the Arrow Amangamek-Wipit Lodge #470

In summer of 2019, I participated in the Goshen Order of the Arrow Trail Crew (GOAT). Based out of Lenhok’sin High Adventure at the Goshen Scout Reservation, GOAT offers a two-week program, where one week is filled with trail work and skill building, and is followed by a week of backpacking and fun activities through the Lenhok’sin Program. Through the GOAT program, I was able to experience all of the amazing outposts at Lenhok’sin High Adventure while still performing acts of service and fulfilling my commitment as a member of the Order of the Arrow. The GOAT Crew was composed of several scouts from the Amangamek-Wipit Order of the Arrow Lodge, furthering the goal of cheerful service and the brotherhood of scouting.

While working on the many trails around Goshen, I learned how to interpret trail blazes, repair wooden bridges, and use several tools that I had never even heard of before. This trail work helped to ensure that the many miles of trail system were cleared after a long off season, and ready to host the scouts that would come adventuring during the next few weeks. I was also able to see behind the scenes action of what it takes to set up and operate a high adventure camp while creating friendships with staff members.

After a week of hard work restoring trails, the GOAT crew took a well-earned rest and traveled into Lexington where we ordered burgers and shakes, hung out at a local pet shop to play with puppies, and watched Men in Black: International.

The next week was spent backpacking along the newly restored trails throughout Goshen, climbing the five mountain peaks and visiting the various outposts that were part of the Lenhok’sin program. The first part of our weeklong journey was spent climbing Viewing Rock and Jump Rock, two of the five peaks required to earn the Five Peaks Award. Following the long and strenuous hike, we hiked to the Caving Outpost, where we ate dinner before spending three hours crawling through a part of the three miles of extensive caves beneath a cow pasture near Goshen. On day two, we packed up our gear and hiked to The Knob, which was the third peak at Goshen. At the end of our hike, we traveled on to Mountain Man, where we learned about fur trapping and trading in the 18th century. At Mountain Man, the GOAT crew engaged in a shooting competition with black-powder rifles, threw hatchets at oak logs, and shared potatoes with the Irish immigrant who helped run the outpost. On the third day, we completed a primitive night in the backcountry woods of Goshen, away from the safety of Outposts. The GOAT crew finished the trek at Foxfire, an 18th century Appalachian blacksmith’s forge, where we learned the trade of blade making and forged a legendary butterknife worthy of King Arthur himself.

GOAT is an amazing program that I feel every scout who is able should take advantage of. A week of high adventure programs and service at a discounted rate? There’s really no better way to spend two weeks of your summer.

Find out more on how to join the GOAT Crew at http://wipit470.org/goat.html or by emailing GOAT@wipit470.org.

Filed Under: At Camp Tagged With: GOAT, Goshen Scout Reservation, order of the arrow, summer camp

NCAC Eagle Scout Earns Dr. Bernard Harris Supernova Award

May 8, 2020 by Tyler Schroder

Eagle Scout Tyler Schroder, of Troop 577 in Clifton, VA, has been awarded with the Dr. Bernard Harris Bronze Supernova Award. Schroder becomes one of less than twelve scouts in all of NCAC to have earned this award.

The Boy Scouts of America developed the STEM Nova Awards program to excite and expand a sense of wonder about STEM in scouts. By working with an adult counselor or mentor, the various modules allow scouts to explore the basic principles of STEM and discover the fun and fascinating world of STEM. There are three levels to the Supernova program: Bronze, Silver, and Gold.

Tyler Schroder is a junior at Centreville High School. He is a junior assistant scoutmaster to Troop 577, a member of Amangamek-Wipit Lodge, Order of the Arrow, and a member of Venture Crew 893.

Schroder’s Supernova journey started in 2019 with his mentor by working on three Nova activities. These covered topics such as programming, water conservation, and rocketry. He also earned merit badges touching on STEM topics such as composite materials. Earning the STEM merit badges is the first step toward earning this award as four STEM merit badges are required. To complete the requirements, Schroder helped teach Cub Scouts Can Code and hosted a lunchtime talk about the Supernova at the first NCAC STEM at home event.

What makes the Supernova program stand out from the regular Nova awards are the research requirements. A part of that requirement is the Supernova activities. These are deep dives into the four different STEM (Science, Technology, Mathematics, & Engineering) areas. Schroder chose Mathematics and Science for his two. When asked what his favorite activity was, “Mathematics was by far my favorite and proved to be a great area for a real-world experiment on voting methods”[1]. Schroder also participated in his regional science fair in engineering mechanics, and shadowed a Cybersecurity professional as part of this requirement.

Learn more about the Nova and Supernova awards program from Tyler himself at the NCAC Capital Camp-In on May 23rd.

[1] You can view a copy of Schroder’s Supernova report, A Paradox of Counting: Voting Methods and Fair Decisions, online at https://www.rts2.us/assets/SupernovaReport1.pdf.

Filed Under: Leaders Tagged With: leader, order of the arrow, STEM, STEM Scouts, Supernova

Temporary Camping Night Policy Due to COVID-19

May 1, 2020 by The Scouter Digest Staff

In light of the extended period of camping restrictions attributable to COVID-19, the following temporary modification is being made to the camping requirements for OA eligibility:

Virtual camping (i.e., backyard or solo camping) may be counted toward the required nights of camping for OA election eligibility if all the following stipulations are met:

– To be counted, all virtual camping nights should be a direct result of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and be part of a BSA unit-organized unit camping event (i.e., multiple members of the unit are involved and camping simultaneously at remote locations).

– Some form of unit-organized communications should occur either during or immediately following the event.

– All existing youth protection policies and digital safety guidelines should be followed.

– No more than 3 nights of virtual camping are to be credited in any month in which government- or council-imposed COVID-19 restrictions are in place.

This change is in effect until September 1, 2020.

Units which have already held an election between March 1, 2020 and April 30, 2020 are authorized to hold one additional election for any individuals who were ineligible at the time of the election due to the camping requirement, but would have been considered eligible at the time if this temporary policy had then been in effect.  This second election must be completed no later than July 1, 2020.  Those who were previously considered for election in the first election may not be reconsidered on this second ballot (i.e., no one can be considered for election more than once in a year).

If you have any questions, please reach out to membership@oa-bsa.org.

Orginial post from: https://oa-bsa.org/coronavirus/temporary-camping-night-policy-due-covid-19?fbclid=IwAR3BonFJhT1k9G5i3QulAPiiKU9ivOUbNcTlq5VQTkpH-s5qGTuCTTm0k4w

Filed Under: Scouting At Home Tagged With: order of the arrow, scouting at home, virtual camping

Primary Sidebar

NCAC Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Latest Issue

TSD Summer '18 is on Issuu

Archives

  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • October 2018
  • July 2018
  • May 2018

Follow Us!

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

You Might Also Like…

  • Director David Henrie Invites NCAC to Digital Movie Premiere

    August 26, 2020

  • Missing Summer Day Camp or Resident Camp?

    June 25, 2020

  • Microscope + Camping = FUN !!!

    June 15, 2020

  • Family – Fun – Flag – FOURTH!

    June 14, 2020

  • Guidance on Resuming In-Person Scouting Activities

    June 12, 2020

  • NCAC Scouting at Home 2020 Award for Unit Scouters!

    May 29, 2020

  • Introducing the NCAC Scouting at Home 2020 Award!

    May 11, 2020

  • NCAC Response to COVID-19

    April 4, 2020

  • Scouting At Home Challenge!

    March 19, 2020

  • Scout Service Center Closing

    March 17, 2020

  • Help Celebrate NCAC Camping Centennial at Camp Snyder’s Work Days for All

    March 5, 2020

  • General David L. Goldfein Receives the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award

    February 25, 2020

  • TUSKEGEE AIRMAN RECEIVES NCAC LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

    February 14, 2020

  • Join the GOAT Crew: A Scout’s Perspective

    February 19, 2021

  • NCAC Eagle Scout Earns Dr. Bernard Harris Supernova Award

    May 8, 2020

  • Temporary Camping Night Policy Due to COVID-19

    May 1, 2020

Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Elk on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in