Promptly at 6:30 A.M., the first wave of Scouts set out from Alexandria toward National Harbor as part of Colonial’s Carpe Adventure Trek, or CAT. The 40 and 20 kilometer distances challenged Scouts to seize the (early) call for adventure during a day with a brisk wind and a high temperature of 47. In its second year, the CAT challenge was answered by 29 more hikers than in 2018 and included 14 units from four districts in the Council.
At support stops at Fort Hunt Park, Belle Haven Park, and at National Harbor, enthusiasm was high among Colonial’s hiking Scouts as they ticked off milestones and achieved greater distances. The smiles and laughs were plentiful (as were a few sock changes, blister treatments, and water breaks).
The first group of Scouts returned to Alexandria just shortly before 3PM to receive the coveted CAT Claw challenge coin for completing the 40km distance (akin to hiking a marathon).
Congratulations to all our CAT hikers who completed the trek. In addition, special thanks to Colonial’s Order of the Arrow chapter for managing the support stop at Belle Haven Park and to our many parent volunteers who helped at Good Shepherd Parish (host for the hike), Fort Hunt Park, Belle Haven and at National Harbor as well as the numerous volunteers who helped behind the scenes make this year’s CAT Trek successful.
The CAT awaits you in 2020….answer its challenge! “Many Are Called, Few Will Triumph.”
Submitted from Troop 1906, Chartered by Bethlehem Baptist Church
Troop 840’s Court of Honor was on March 13th. Scouts and their families also decided to celebrate Pi day early.
Troop 1920 had their first campout and first bridging this weekend. The weather was cold, but the Scouts didn’t complain one bit. We arrived to snow and made peachy french toast in the dutch oven for breakfast and then went on a 5 mile very muddy hike. Lunch on the trail was followed by dinner and another night camping, this time in the rain. While we were doing that, representatives of our troop went to their first Webelos bridging. We had a really busy weekend, and although we’re tired, we had our first Scout make Scout rank.
Annalise S., Abby E, and Katie H are the first members of Girls Troop 987 to reach the rank of Tenderfoot, with more right on their heels! The Scouts said the second campout was the highlight of their adventure so far!
AQUIA DISTRICT – Scouts of Troop 1717, sponsored by Hartwood Presbyterian Church, decided to do something special this year in recognition of Veterans’ Day. They scheduled a campout at Prince William Forest Park in Triangle, VA so that they could spend the day touring the nearby National Museum of the Marine Corps. While there, Scouts were given a personal perspective on a veteran’s service with a guided tour of the Vietnam War gallery and other galleries by Vietnam War Veteran and Museum Docent, Major William (“Bill”) Peters, USMC (ret.). Scouts also received a special sneak peak of the new museum wing, still under construction, which is slated to open sometime in 2020 and will depict Marines in action from 1976 through the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Before leaving, the Scouts participated in a remembrance and honor ceremony in the Semper Fidelis Memorial Park behind the museum where they presented a wreath in recognition of all veterans, past and present, “who risked or gave their lives for our country and the cause of freedom.”