scouting

2020 D.C. United Scout Day

March 3, 2020 by Tristan Atterbury

Attention NCAC Scouts, Scouters and families, are you ready for an awesome and exciting experience with D.C. United? Then join us on March 7th for the 2020 D.C. United Scout Day as we takes on Inter Miami!!

Each Scout with the purchase of a ticket will receive a Scout Patch from D.C. United. And the first 100 Scouts will receive an exclusive invite to the Scout Clinic on March 20th at Audi Field to participate in drills and meet D.C. United Players and Coaches! Don’t miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity!

To register please visit: https://fevo.me/dcuscouts

For additional questions please contact Tristan Atterbury from D.C. United at (202) 655-2854.

Aquia District’s 12th Annual Bear Claw Leadership Conference is Gearing Up!

February 20, 2020 by Mike Haas

The 12th Annual Aquia District Bear Claw Leadership Conference registration page is now open! Bear Claw will be held on March 28, 2020 in Stafford, VA and is a day-long leadership conference run entirely by our Youth Staff who’s Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) is busy getting the Staff ready through a series of four Staff Development sessions. Bear Claw is open to Troops, Crews and Ships. Scouts & Adults can register at https://scoutingevent.com/082-27302

For those unfamiliar with the program, Bear Claw is an exciting, action-packed program designed to offer Scouts training on leadership skills and provide Scouts practical experience and ideas to take back and use in their home units and in other situations demanding leadership of self and others. Bear Claw is a one-day interactive leadership training event designed by Scouts for Scouts. It is a District-level leadership workshop and is intended to bridge the leadership training gap between Introduction to Leadership Skills (ILSx) offered by Scout units and the National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) program offered at the Council level.

There is also an adult breakout session designed to share ideas and help adults gain a better understanding of how running a Scout program using the Youth-led Patrol Method benefits their Scouts and Scout unit. This session is open to all registered adults and parents too, including Webelos II parents. Come take a deep dive into the Patrol Method – as Baden-Powell said: “The patrol system is not one method in which Scouting for [Youth] can be carried on. It is the only method.”

Content is delivered in a Troop and Patrol setting by trained Youth Staffers who are experienced Scouts. Participants, with their Scoutmaster’s/Crew Adviser’s/Skipper’s approval, may choose between the Patrol Leader or Senior Patrol Leader track. Throughout the Bear Claw training day all participants will learn how to more effectively lead their Scout units using the Patrol Method. They will see how a Scout program can achieve results with minimal adult oversight through proper planning, communication and team development.

By offering a training track for adults who want to better understand the Youth-led/Adult-mentored Patrol Method concepts, Bear Claw provides an excellent opportunity to get Scouts, Scouters and Parents on the same page and to share best practices and cross-pollinate ideas for what’s working and not in their home units. Again, going back to the words of our founder, Baden-Powell: “The object of the Patrol Method is not so much saving the Scoutmaster trouble as to give responsibility to the [Scout].”

WHY BEAR CLAW?

Every Scout deserves well-trained leaders. Regardless of a Scout’s program affiliation, Bear Claw provides exposure to leadership skills that hopefully reinforce and expand upon lessons learned through their unit’s ILSx training and provides a bridge to promote attending NYLT. Bear Claw offers Scouts a leadership training environment with Scouts from other units across the District – this opportunity to meet and talk about Scout leadership challenges with Scouts from other units is an invaluable part of the experience and hopefully encourages Bear Claw graduates to continue their Scout leadership training through NYLT. The Bear Claw Youth Staff also demonstrates that the Youth-led Patrol Method can work quite well with minimal adult supervision. As The Ancient One (TAO) has been known to say: “Adults are meant to be seen, not heard!”

Over the course of the Bear Claw leadership conference, participants are exposed to six of the eleven leadership skills or competencies, originally offered in BSA’s Junior Leader Training (JLT) program, using Buzz Groups and practical application – including a SPL-led Patrol Leader Council (PLC) meeting, a PLC-planned/executed Troop meeting and PLC-planned/executed closing campfire where Patrols and Staff have fun putting on skits, songs and cheers before the closing ceremony.

This course is built around the BE-KNOW-DO of leadership:

What a leader must BE

What a leader must KNOW

What a leader must DO

Registration is only $25 per participant until March 1, 2020 and $30 after March 1st. Registration normally fills up quickly so don’t delay. Did we mention your registration also includes lunch? You can register at https://scoutingevent.com/082-27302

If you are not a member of an Aquia District Scout unit and would like to attend or learn more about Bear Claw leadership training, please contact our Aquia Bear Claw Coordinator, Ken Buszta at ken.buszta@gmail.com. Our 2020 Bear Claw Course Director & Scoutmaster is Aleska Buszta and she can be reached at aquia.bearclaw@gmail.com

Ashburn’s Troop 58 Carries the Olympic Torch!

December 9, 2019 by Jill McClelland

With the lighting of the Olympic flame, Troop 58’s 2019 Patrol Challenge campout was opened at the Northern Virginia Lions Youth Camp in Boyce, VA! Twenty-nine Scouts in four patrols participated in several Scout skills-based challenges throughout the weekend of Oct 25-27.

In past years, our Patrol Challenge outing has had a Scottish Highland Games or other exotic theme; the challenges this year were based on the Olympic Games including long jump, relay race, shot put, volleyball and soccer. Additional challenges included best dinner/dessert, best campfire skit/song, highest patrol attendance and patrol wearing the most togas! All challenges were scored by the PLC and this year’s winning patrol – the Eagles – had its name inscribed on the back of Troop 58’s totem (affectionately known as “Jim”).

The Eagles Patrol have also earned bragging rights for a full year until the 2020 Patrol Challenge campout! Additional excitement over the weekend included a bear sighting in the early evening Saturday as the Scouts were preparing dinner. This gave the Scouts an opportunity to review bear safety including locking up all food, trash and anything else scented and to be sure to follow the buddy system very closely. The Patrol Challenge Campout is always well attended and is one of the troop’s favorite outings.

Chesapeake Bay Yacht Clubs Open to Sea Scouts

December 3, 2019 by Todd Skiles

The Chesapeake Bay Yacht Clubs Association (CBYCA), a network of 100 yacht clubs and associations around the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding waters, has granted Partner status to Sea Scout Ships who operate in those waters. The designation, essentially a gift to the Sea Scouts, opens up marinas and other resources to Sea Scouts who are out and about exploring the beautiful waters of the Bay. The designation allows Sea Scouts Ships to request support, including overnight docking, as available, from CBYCA affiliated yacht clubs and associations. Sea Scouts may also be granted access to showers, restrooms, laundry, restaurants, andespecially SWIMMING pools at the often exquisite venues all around the Bay. Specific support available and related fees will be at the discretion of the hosting yacht club or association.

The Commodores of the BSA Areas and Councils surrounding the Chesapeake are drafting specific behavioral rules governing unit interactions with the clubs. Until then, Adult Leaders should carry a laminated copy of their current, unexpired BSA membership card (available through my.scouting.org if needed) to show the manager as needed. Boatswains should call the respective club in advance to ensure availability of slip space and support. Otherwise – go and explore! (And obey the Scout Oath and Law at all times!)

Hornaday Project Earns Eagle Scout the County’s Most Prestigious Environmental Award

November 27, 2019 by Sara Holtz

Scout John Foong of Troop 159 in Powhatan District received the prestigious Sally Ormsby Environmental Stewardship Award from Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) for his outstanding environmental leadership while working toward his Hornaday Badge/Eagle project. He single-handedly orchestrated 9 work days over a two-year period during which approximately 310 volunteers worked more than 540 hours to pull about 250 bags of invasive plant Japanese stiltgrass from Frying Pan Farm Park. He also planted over 100 native plants in their place.

His volunteers came from 10 Fairfax County Public Schools, BSA, Girl Scouts, and Fairfax and Loudoun counties, and ranged in age from 5 to 80. He also educated the public at 13 public events including the park’s annual Farm Day, the county’s annual SpringFest, farmers markets, and his town’s monthly art events. These efforts earned him a BSA Hornaday Badge. Hornaday Awards were created to recognize those that have made significant contributions to conservation.

US Congressman Gerry Connolly presented the award to John at a ceremony attended by several Fairfax County Supervisors, members of the FCPA Board, members of the Fairfax County Park Foundation board, FCPA staff, local conservationists and environmentalists, and FCPA volunteers.

John’s project by the numbers:
13 education events
9 work days
~250 bags of stiltgrass
~310 volunteers
~540 service hours

John partnered with Fairfax County Park Authority’s Invasive Management Area (IMA) program, a community-based project designed to reduce invasive plants on our parklands. This program gives volunteers an opportunity to connect with like-minded people while taking care of natural resources.

The Sally Ormsby Environmental Stewardship Award was established by the Park Authority Board on November 14, 2007, in recognition of Sally B. Ormsby’s many years of service as a citizen steward. Her actions promoted the responsible and sustainable management of natural resources. These precious assets are entrusted to the Park Authority’s care by the residents of this community. Through stewardship we protect these treasures now and for generations to come. This award recognizes individuals and organizations whose actions embody the spirit and values of stewardship and result in tangible environmental benefits. The Sally Ormsby Environmental Stewardship Award is open to individuals and groups whose actions embody the spirit of environmental stewardship and provide tangible environmental benefits to Fairfax County parks.

Congratulations to John for this incredible achievement!

Photographer- Sara Holtz

Leave No Trace Trainer Course

November 20, 2019 by Quinton Waddy

My name is Quinton Waddy, I am the Outdoor Ethics Guide for Troop 1188 in Manassas, VA. I am a Life Scout working on my Eagle Scout rank. During a weekend in October my father and I took the Leave No Trace Trainer course, which is recognized by Scouts BSA, and the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. The Cub Scout, Scouts BSA, 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 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.

My experience taking the LNT Trainer course was amazing. You can take the course in a car-camping setting or as a backpacking trip, I chose the backpacking trip for a more hands-on experience. I met many wonderful people and made new friends. There are seven parts to LNT: Plan Ahead and Prepare; Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces; Dispose of Waste Properly; Leave What You Find; Minimize Campfire Impacts; Respect Wildlife; and Be Considerate of Other Visitors.

I enjoyed my time learning about the different parts of LNT from keeping our environment clean to digging cat holes. I went in thinking it was going to be an awkward and boring weekend, but I enjoyed every second of it because of the fun and games each trainee had planned for their subjects they had to teach. I taught Pack it in Pack it out. I had my fellow trainees play a matching game with the time it takes an item to be processed back into the earth and the chronological order of them to degrade. They had a fun time figuring it out and it worked on their communication, leadership, and teambuilding skills. The program gets everyone in attendance involved, anyone participating will teach a subject and play the games that are created by the teacher of each subject.

This program has helped me and my Troop out so much already. I had the Scouts in my Troop and in the Cub Scouts practice Leave No Trace while they were doing Scouting for Food. Leave No Trace is a great program and I recommend that all Scouts take it because it goes more in depth to the meaning of our Outdoor Code.

Here is a website on LNT and Tread Lightly where you can take online quizzes and earn awards. https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/outdoor-ethics/awards/scouts-bsa/