We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

scouting

2026 Supernova STEM Event Hosted by Piedmont District

by

Warrenton, VA — Cub Scout Pack 1161 and Pack 1166 enjoyed a Saturday afternoon at Rady Park learning all about our Solar System, Circuitry, Geocaching, preforming Rocket Nozzle Experiments and so much more! Thank you to Phil McBride for hosting such a wonderful event – the Scouts had a BLAST!

STEM learning is an essential part of Scouting because it encourages curiosity, creativity, and hands‑on problem‑solving — skills that help young people understand the world around them. Activities like exploring our solar system, experimenting with circuitry, and practicing navigation through geocaching give Scouts the chance to see science, technology, engineering, and math come alive in memorable ways. These experiences don’t just teach concepts; they help Scouts build confidence as they test ideas, try new methods, and learn through discovery.

Each Cub Scout rank now includes at least one STEM Elective Adventure, ensuring that every young Scout has opportunities to dive into science, technology, engineering, and math at an age‑appropriate level. Whether they’re wiring simple circuits, learning how GPS technology works, studying the planets, or experimenting like real engineers, these adventures lay the foundation for future interest in STEM fields. More importantly, they spark excitement — showing Scouts that learning can be active, imaginative, and fun. Opportunities like our Piedmont District event at Rady Park reinforce that spirit of exploration and inspire our Scouts to keep asking questions, building things, and looking toward the stars!

 

        

Cub Scout Earns Medal of Merit for Helping Rescue Child from Drowning

by

In 2025 Nate, a Cub Scout in Pack 107, used what he learned from Scouting to recognize and help a young child from drowning. Because of his heroic efforts, Nate was just recently honored with the prestigious Medal of Merit. Read his full story given to us by his dad, an Eagle Scout, who recollected what happened while they were on vacation in Texas.

“During spring break last year, our family was vacationing in Galveston, Texas. While at the hotel pool, Nate was swimming in the deep end when a younger child—approximately four to five years old—jumped into the pool while his family was not nearby. Almost immediately, it became clear that the child was unable to swim and could not touch the bottom. He began struggling to stay afloat and was having difficulty keeping his head above water.

Nate immediately recognized what was happening and swam over to help without hesitation. Although Nate himself could not touch the bottom and the water was above his head, he positioned himself next to the child and began treading water while lifting the child up repeatedly to keep his head above the surface. Nate’s own head went under the water several times as he continued supporting the child until the child’s older brother arrived. Together, they were able to help the child to safely reach the side of the pool and get out of danger.

As you can imagine, the child’s family was extremely grateful and relieved. Nate was proud that he knew what to do and had the confidence to act in a difficult and unexpected situation. As an Eagle Scout, what stood out most to me afterward was how quickly he connected the experience to the values he is learning through scouting. Nate talked about stories he had read in Scout’s Life that describe scouts helping others during emergencies, and he shared how this experience reminded him of the Scout Oath and Law—particularly the importance of helping others at all times. He was able to reflect on the moment not just as an event, but as a real-life example of putting those values into action.

We were incredibly proud of Nate, and the experience further strengthened both his—and our—enthusiasm for scouting and its values. We are excited to share this story with more families and to highlight for our community the positive impact scouting has on those involved, as well as the meaningful difference scouts can make through service to others.”

 

Canoeing Trip Turns Into Heroic Mission as Scouts Rescue Hope

by

 What began as a summer wilderness adventure for Troop 648 became an unforgettable rescue mission. In July, during a self-organized canoe trek (planned and led by young Scout, Paul M.) through the Adirondacks, the Scouts encountered an unexpected visitor—a lost dog named Hope. Her owner had nearly given up hope of finding her, but thanks to quick thinking and teamwork, the troop made a difference.
Hope in the canoe with Liam and Ben on their way to reuniting her with her family.

When Hope wandered into the Scouts’ campsite and stayed overnight, the troop sprang into action. Using a satellite phone, they contacted her relieved owner. Two Scouts, Liam and Ben, volunteered to paddle several miles with Hope to meet a park ranger and ensure her safe return home.

United by their commitment to help others and do a good turn daily, the entire crew rallied behind the effort, demonstrating that even in the wilderness, kindness and determination can make all the difference

And if the rescue wasn’t heartwarming enough, just wait until you read the thank-you letter that followed. Way to go Troop 648!

 

From the thank you letter from Hope’s owners, Fred & Danielle:

“On Sunday, July 20th, 2025 while hiking in Robin Wood Park in Sabattis, NY our pets for vet rescue hound Hope decided to chase wildlife through the forest.
After seven fruitless days we had all but given up hope for finding Hope in the Adirondack wilderness.
Luckily for Hope the Scouts of Troop 648 were camped on the shores of Lowes Lake and Hope was hungry. Your troop didn’t hesitate to care for her. One eagle eyed scout found the contact tag on her collar and hope was saved.
On the Northern shores of Lowes Lake is the Sabattis Scout reservation. The Sabattis Scout camp raised me from a cub to an eagle. In October, Sabattis Scout camp closed for the final time, its mountain and lakes returned to the wilderness. It’s comforting to know that nothing lasts forever with the exception of the values and ideals that embody the scouting tradition.
The members of Troop 648 embody the scouting ideals to always be prepared to do a good turn. We wish to thank the rescue rangers of troop 648 for their selfless service in this rescue and recovery of our lost blue tick hound.”

 

Troop 648 and Hope, the lost blue tick hound.

Troop 1775 Honors Veterans in Brunswick Parade

by

Brunswick, MD — November 9, 2025

Members of Scouts BSA Troop 1775 proudly marched in the Brunswick Veterans Day Parade this year, joining the community in honoring the brave men and women who have served our nation.

This year, the troop had the distinct honor of carrying the colors alongside the Sargent Lawrence Everheart Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard. The partnership gave the Scouts an opportunity to take part in a meaningful tradition—presenting the flags that symbolize our nation’s history, sacrifice, and unity.

The crowd’s applause and cheers as the Scouts passed by showed deep appreciation for the presence of Scouting in the parade. “It was a powerful reminder that citizenship and service—two cornerstones of Scouting—are living values,” said Talisha Kellogg, the Scoutmaster for Troop 1775.

Beyond marching, the Scouts took time to learn about the origins of Veterans Day and the historical connections between America’s founding in 1775 and the values their troop strives to uphold. The year 1775 marks both the founding of the United States Army and the beginning of the American Revolution, events that reflect courage, service, and dedication—principles that continue to guide the Scouts today.

Troop 1775’s participation was both a tribute to veterans and a living lesson in history, patriotism, and community service.

Troop 1094 Conducts Cold Weather Training in Minnesota

by

By Holden Pierce, Historian, Troop 1094

An image of the sunset at Northern Tier
[An image of the sunset taken by Ryan D., Life Scout of Troop 1094]
This past winter, Troop 1094 of Darnestown sent two full crews to Scouting America’s Northern Tier High Adventure Base in Ely, Minnesota to participate in a rugged cold weather high adventure experience. Scouting America has four national level high adventure bases in the United States where Scouts can excel in their outdoor skills while having a bunch of fun. In summer, the Northern Tier High Adventure Base allows Scouts the opportunity to conduct amazing canoeing treks in the boundary waters of Canada and upper Minnesota. In winter, the Northern Tier High Adventure Base allows Scouts the opportunity to participate in amazing cold weather activities during their “Okpik” (means Snowy Owl in the Inuit language) program in which Scouts learn how to thrive in subzero temperatures, travel across frozen wilderness lakes, and construct their own sleeping structures out of snow.

After flying into Minneapolis / St. Paul International Airport, the Troop 1094’s two crews then had a 5-hour bus ride north to Ely, which is right next to the Canadian border. Once we arrived at the Northern Tier High Adventure Base, we were busy from the very start. First, we were broken into two separate crews of 8 Scouts and three adults each and then introduced to our “Interpreters” (crew guides). We then conducted detailed planning for our cold-weather activities for the week and then got issued all of our cold weather gear before staying in cabins for the night. The next morning, our cold weather adventures began.

An image of our crew hiking across Flash Lake.
[An image of our crew hiking across Flash Lake taken by Matthew M., Life Scout of Troop 1094]
During our time in the wilderness, our two crews had an amazing time. Some of our awesome activities included snow shoeing, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, ice skating, ice fishing, playing broom ball, and curling. Everywhere we went, each crew member had to pull their own sled with all their own gear along with some crew gear. Each night, our crews usually slept in established campsites right next to the edge of the lake, but one night, our crews actually slept out on the ice in the middle of the lake. That was really cool. None of us had ever done that before. During the trek, we never used tents. Instead, we built windbreak structures while sleeping under the stars. A windbreak structure is made out of snow and has four walls about three feet tall on all sides where the scouts sleep in the middle to keep the wind from hitting them.

While we were there, we all earned several cool awards. One of the awards was the Duty to God Patch. To earn that patch, we had to say the Northern Tier grace before every meal and hold a brief daily devotion. Another award that we earned was the Okpik Winter Trek Patch. To earn that patch, we had to camp out in the wilderness for at least two nights and hike at least seven miles.

I interviewed one of our Star Scouts, Ryan H., about his experience at Northern Tier, and he said: “The experience was a 10 out of 10 and many memories were made!” Overall, the Scouts and adults that went to the Northern Tier High Adventure Base this past winter had a great time and made many memories along the way.

During 2025, Troop 1094 will be participating in two more awesome high adventure trips. In June, our Troop is sending one crew back to Northern Tier in Minnesota to participate in a 10-day canoeing trek in the Canadian boundary waters. And in December, our Troop is sending a crew to Sea Base in Florida to participate in a 7-day Coral Reef sailing adventure. We love high adventure trips!

Sibling Eagle Scouts from Troop 1131 Earn All 137 BSA Merit Badges

by

Pablo and Gabriel Sejas-Fernandez, brothers and Eagle Scouts in Troop 1131, have earned all 137 merit badge currently offered by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), an accomplishment achieved by only about 450 scouts in the 110-year history of the Boy Scouts. Troop 1131 is sponsored by St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church, in Burke, Virginia, and is part of the Patriot District of the National Capital Area Council, BSA. The boys’ inspiration to earn all the merit badges came early in their Scouting career when Pablo and Gabriel learned about an older Scout who had accomplished the feat. So, after several years of hard work, Pablo and Gabriel accomplished their goal. A small ceremony to celebrate their achievement was held on October 18, 2020, when they received the last merit badge they needed, Backpacking.

Pablo Sejas-Fernandez is a Senior at Lake Braddock H.S. in Fairfax County, Virginia. He joined Scouting in September 2014 and became an Eagle Scout on April 2, 2019. His Eagle Scout project was restoring the Indian Spring Community sign, removing the massive overgrowth, and landscaping the public area around the entry sign. Pablo’s leadership positions have included Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Bugler, Den Chief, and Troop Order of the Arrow Representative. His accomplishment includes earning the Ad Altare Dei Award in 2016, the Servus Dei Award in 2018, Service to Youth Outstanding Leadership in 2019, and the Pope Pius XII Award in 2020. He has over 150 days camping, earning the Alben Struble Award for Perfect Camping in 2016 and 2017, as a member of his earlier Troop 61 in the National Capital Area Council. He also has over 140 miles backpacking and hiking experience to his credit. Pablo attended the Kandersteg International Scout Center, in Switzerland in 2016, the National Order of the Arrow Conference in 2018, and the 2019 World Scout Jamboree at the Summit in West Virginia.

Gabriel Sejas-Fernandez is a Sophomore at Lake Braddock H.S. Gabriel earned the Arrow of Light as a Cub Scout and bridged over to Boy Scouts in September 2016. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout on October 18, 2020, at the same time he earned the last merit badge he needed, Backpacking. His Eagle Scout project was a landscaping project similar to Pablo’s. He cleaned up and removed abundant weeds and overgrowth. The planted 80 individual native Virginia species alongside the newly paved sidewalk at Hidden Oaks Nature Center, in Annandale, Virginia. Gabriel’s leadership positions have included Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, Troop Guide, and Bugler. Gabriel earned the Servus Dei Award in 2018, Service to Youth Award in 2019, and the Ad Altare Dei Award in 2020. He also has over 150 days camping, earning the Alben Struble Award for Perfect Camping in 2017 as a member of his earlier Troop 61. He also has over 140 miles backpacking and hiking. Gabriel attended the National Order of the Arrow Conference in 2018, and the 2019 World Scout Jamboree Jamboree at the Summit in West Virginia.