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Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

outdoor ethics

Outdoor Ethics Newsletter

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The July newsletter featured an interview with Paul Schimke, NCAC scouter, LNT Master Educator, LNT State Advocate (MD)…

As we know, outdoor ethics is a critically important aspect of scouting. It is central to everything we do in BSA, how we live the outdoor code/law/oath/motto, how we use resources wisely & how we live as humans on planet Earth. Sara Holtz, Chair of the NCAC Outdoor Ethics Committee & Leave No Trace Master Educator, created an Outdoor Ethics newsletter that includes upcoming courses, best practices, interviews with members, news from our community, awards, project ideas, etc

In the June newsletter, we recognized Dan Ambrose, Brent Peate, Carol Brown, and Griffin Roblyer – new NCAC Leave No Trace Master Educators!

Complete this form if you’d like to subscribe: https://forms.gle/bWfZwwZduhFXQSvA6

You do not need to be an Leave No Trace Trainer/Master Educator, Tread Trainer, Master Tread Trainer, or in NCAC to subscribe, so please subscribe and please share this with scouters interested in outdoor ethics, Leave No Trace, Tread Lightly, the Land Ethic, environmental issues, conservation practices. There are currently subscribers from 12 councils!

Evelyn Bruno led the OE Orientation and OE Guide courses in June in Brandywine. 
In the June newsletter, we get a glimpse of the Outdoor Ethics Guide course held in Oakton – scouts are seen here straining the dishwasher.

 

Scouts and Scouters at the Oakton Outdoor Ethics Guide course demonstrate the thumb trick. 

Virtual Leave No Trace Trainer Course

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Written by: Scout Louis

The Leave No Trace Trainer course teaches Scouts and Scouters the 7 principles of Leave No Trace (LNT) at more than a basic level. This next step on learning outdoor ethics gives each of its participants and teachers a new and refreshing view that goes more in depth than the simpler, half day session that is available on a high adventure trip. The class helps its students better understand why LNT is important, how they can implement its teachings, and how to pass on the knowledge that they have learned to their home Units, Crews, Ships, and communities.

The course is traditionally taught in an outdoor environment, over the course of a weekend. However, due to restrictions with the current COVID-19 pandemic, a different approach was offered: an online Trainer course. The course was completed over the course of a week, from the homes of the participants and instructors over Zoom calls. This way, each of the participants could safely learn the material and still be trained in a timely manner.

While the experience lacked the luster of an outdoor setting, I still enjoyed the course. The spread of the information over several days allowed the messages to really sink in with me, and with the reduced group size I felt a close connection to both my fellow participants and the instructors that taught us. With this class I was able to broaden and strengthen my knowledge of LNT and its importance for protecting the natural environment.

LNT is an important part of Scouting that can be easily overlooked or forgotten. Learning to take care of the environment, for both ourselves and those who come after us, helps preserve the beauty and experiences people seek in the outdoors. With the new information acquired from this class, I am confident in bringing the material to my unit as an older Scout, to my OA Chapter as the Camping Promotions Chairman, and to everyone that I continue to meet in the future as a Leave No Trace Trainer. I continue to aim to protect the outdoors and improve the enjoyment of people- Scouts, Scouters, and the general public- while in nature.

UPDATED – NCAC Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award for Cubs

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The PEAK Online course to learn the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace.

The requirements for the NCAC Outdoor Ethics Awareness award for Cubs have been updated to include a new online Leave No Trace awareness course for kids ages 7-12 called PEAK Online. It includes videos and activities to help kids understand the Seven Principles and how Leave No Trace skills and ethics can help protect the outdoor places we love. This online PEAK course replaces the Leave No Trace online course.

Updated requirements to earn the NCAC Outdoor Ethics Awareness award for Cubs:
1. Learn the BSA Outdoor Code
2. Watch the National Park Service Leave No Trace (LNT) video
3. Take the LNT online course
4. Participate in an Outdoor Ethics activity with a person who has taken the Outdoor Ethics Orientation, the LNT Skills course, the LNT Level 1 course, or the LNT Level 2 course.

The NCAC Outdoor Ethics Committee created this patch program to recognize Cub Scout youth and adults who are active Leave No Trace practitioners and to encourage & promote ethical outdoor behavior beginning at a young age. Outdoor Ethics is needed today more than ever before when millions of scouts regularly recreate in parks and public lands. The impact of this use cannot be ignored but can be minimized by teaching and practicing Outdoor Ethics as Cub Scouts and continuing as Boy Scouts and adults.

 

The NCAC Outdoor Ethics Awareness award for Cubs.

 

Cub Scouts and Leave No Trace During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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During the 2019-2020 Scouting year, Pack 18 (for Girls & Boys) worked diligently to fulfill the four requirements for the National Capital Area Council’s (NCAC) Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award. Then in March 2020; the COVID-19 pandemic became the focus of our lives, the Governors of Virginia and Maryland issued stay at home orders and schools were canceled for the remainder of the year. The once uncommon term called social distancing became a term that everyone quickly understood. Then the question became, “To Scout or not to Scout” and then “What is the best way to connect with our Scouts and their Caring Guardians”.

Instead of waiting, Pack 18 (for Girls and Boys) decided to complete their Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award requirements. They worked with Council to modify any outdoor events for the new reality of indoor activities as well as to comply with social distancing guidelines.

This decision to proceed with Scouting added some normalcy into the lives of the Scouts and allowed them to complete a goal that they worked so hard to achieve. The Scouts in Pack 18 (for Girls & Boys) really liked using Zoom video technology because they could see the presenter’s videos and slide show as well as the ability to socialize with each other.

For the 2019-2020 Scouting year Pack 18 (for Girls & Boys) had nine Scouts complete the four requirements for the NCAC Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award. Of those Scouts, they all completed at least three requirements and some Scouts completed all four requirements with online video conferencing technology and indoor events.

Despite having to adapt to life in a COVID-19 environment, Pack 18’s Scouts pivoted and are now able to wear the NCAC Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award on their chests. When the Scouts realized that they had completed this achievement, the Scouts cheered and clapped very loudly – – it certainly made the decision to continue Scouting very worthwhile for them and their community!!!

Brent C. Purcell
Cubmaster Pack 18 (for Girls & Boys)
Leave No Trace Instructor
Wood Badge N6-82-18-2
Mattaponi District, National Capital Area Council

Pack 1859’s Journey to Earn the NCAC Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award

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Cubs in Pack 1859 from Sully District are earning the NCAC Outdoor Ethics Awareness award for Cubs. Before the recommendations to suspend all in-person Scouting events, they dedicated their last pack meeting to Outdoor Ethics and Leave No Trace!

Pack 1859 holding Leave No Trace reference cards.

The NCAC Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award has 4 requirements.
1. Cubs and Scouters recited the Outdoor Code together as a pack. The Outdoor Code captures the essence of the Scouting Outdoor Ethic and establishes our aspirations and commitment.

2. They viewed the Leave No Trace video, produced by the National Park Service and the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. This video introduces the 7 principles of Leave No Trace.

3. Cubs and Scouters learned some of the principles by playing interactive games with a person who has taken the Outdoor Ethics Orientation, the Leave No Trace Trainer course, or the Leave No Trace Master Educator course. They played the trash timeline, the durable surface game, a wildlife habitat matching game, the animal vault game, and the thumb trick.

Cub Scouts determining whether surfaces are durable for hiking.
Learning the Thumb Trick to respect wildlife by keeping a safe distance.

4. At home with an adult they will take the Leave No Trace online awareness course. This online course can be tricky, even for adults, so do your best.

The NCAC Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award for Cub Scouts .

To learn more about LNT check out their online awareness course!

Register for the Outdoor Ethics Leave No Trace Trainer Course!

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What is the purpose of this class?

The Cub Scout, Scouts BSA, Varsity Scout, Venturing, and Sea Scout programs all include outdoor stewardship, care for the environment, and Leave No Trace as part of their programs. This course is offered to train adults as Leave No Trace Trainers and youth aged 14+ to serve their units as Outdoor Ethics Guides. Every Cub Scout, Scouts BSA, Varsity Scout, Venturing, and Sea Scout unit should have at least one individual fully trained in Leave No Trace.  

We recommend that youth complete this course before serving as in the troop Outdoor Ethics Guide position.

Who should attend?

Venturers, Sea Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Scouts BSA aged 14+; adult Cub Scout, Scouts BSA, Varsity, Venturing, and Sea Scout leaders; and District and Council leaders and trainers.

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What will I learn?

This course is designed to enhance your understanding of Leave No Trace practices and outdoor ethics, and to increase your level of expertise and confidence in teaching Leave No Trace skills. This class is both active and highly interactive. You will be introduced to concepts and methods that will advance your knowledge of Leave No Trace issues in both developed and high adventure environments, expand your repertoire of low-impact skills, and increase your effectiveness in teaching these important skills to others. You will be qualified to lead a unit in completing the last requirement for the BSA Outdoor Ethics Awareness award and the NCAC Outdoor Ethics Awareness award for Cubs.

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On completion of this course, participants will be registered as Leave No Trace Trainers with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and with the BSA. Students will receive Leave No Trace teaching materials, a certificate of course completion, a Leave No Trace Trainer lapel pin and patch, and a BSA Leave No Trace Trainer card.

This course is instructed by nationally designated Leave No Trace Master Educators and Trainers. Attendance for the entire duration of the training is required.

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(Campsite location, equipment list, and other course details will be emailed to participants a few weeks prior to the course. Each participant will have an assignment to prepare for the training.) Please remember this course is taught entirely in the outdoors and we will camp out Saturday evening.

To register for March 28-29, 2020 at Camp Snyder visit https://scoutingevent.com/082-NV1, for April 18-19, 2020 at Izaak Walton League in Gaithersburg please visit https://scoutingevent.com/082-MD1# or June 6-7, 2020 in Southern Maryland visit https://scoutingevent.com/082-SMD.