Troop 840’s Court of Honor was on March 13th. Scouts and their families also decided to celebrate Pi day early.
Inspiration, STEM, and delicious desserts: Scout us in.
Scouts BSA
First Campout – First Bridging!
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.
Troop 987 girls advance!
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!
Visit to the National Museum of the Marine Corps
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.”
Ashburn Scout’s Eagle Project Is For the Birds
Mallard ducks and other waterfowl lay their nests on the ground near the edge of water, making them very vulnerable to predators like fox or raccoons. Some estimate nesting success as low as 10 percent for ground nests. Eagle Scout candidate Tapp Rhoads wanted to increase those odds, so he and his fellow Scouts from Ashburn’s Troop 997 spent a weekend building and installing mallard duck nesting tubes all around the Ashburn Farm area, helping protect eggs and ducklings until they’re able to fend for themselves. Nesting tubes of the design Tapp and his Troop have built are generally thought to increase nesting success by up to 80%. The tubes can be repaired and refurbished every year, making the project both near-term impactful and long-term sustainable.
With over 70% of Troop 997’s Scouts participating in the project and an ongoing outreach and education program, the Troop may also be eligible for the prestigious Hornaday Unit Award, one of the most coveted of environmental and conservation awards of the Boy Scouts of America.
From Tapp Rhoads:
My Name is Tapp Rhoads. I am a Stone Bridge High School sophomore and Eagle Scout candidate leading Scouts BSA Troop 997 in a conservation effort benefiting the Ashburn Virginia area. A crew of over 30 Troop 997 Scouts and I recently participated in a project to build and place mallard nesting tubes throughout the Ashburn Farm community.
The Hornaday medals are named to honor William T. Hornaday, noted conservationist who founded the National Zoo in Washington DC, and whose wildlife efforts are widely viewed to have helped saved the American Bison from extinction. Hornaday medals are given only to individuals who perform projects of significance in the areas of conservation and environmental awareness. The Hornaday Unit Award can only be earned by a Scouts BSA Troop when a high proportion of the Troop’s Scouts participate in an environmental project of substance that sustainably addresses an environmental or conservation issue, including educational elements for both the Scouts and the public at large.
After Troop youth leaders reviewed the legacy of William T. Hornaday and his awards at a recent Troop meeting, I outlined the project, including reviewing the conservation problems being addressed, the design and construction plans for the nesting tubes, and the planned installation locations. Mallard ducks and other waterfowl generally lay their eggs on the ground near water, making the eggs and later the hatchlings susceptible to predators. Nesting tubes provide a safe shelter to protect the young ducklings until they can fend for themselves.
I have worked closely with Chip Matthews of the Ashburn Farm HOA on the design of the mallard nesting tubes and mapping out the placement locations. While the initial project was completed in early March, I plan on leading annual maintenance and repair efforts, providing Troop 997 with conservation service opportunities for years to come.
Terry Kolb, Scouts BSA Troop 997’s Scout Master, and Paul Lynch, the Troop’s Senior Patrol Leader, are working with me to integrate the Hornaday Unit Award requirements with his Eagle project.
“We are excited about helping Tapp see his Eagle project to its conclusion, and about his willingness to combine his efforts with the attempt by our Troop to earn the Hornaday Unit Award,” said Scout Master Kolb.
“This has been a rare undertaking, and I’m proud of the massive support we’ve seen by Troop 997 Scouts,” added SPL Paul Lynch.
Scouts BSA Troop 997 is chartered by St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Ashburn, Virginia, and meets there on Thursday nights at 7 PM. For more information, please contact Scout Master Terry Kolb at tkolb118@gmail.com.
This story has been updated from its original post with the addition of Tap Rhoads’ personal account.
Troop 50 Celebrates 25 Years
On January 5th, 2019, a Patriot District Scouts BSA Troop celebrated a major milestone. Troop 50, chartered by Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Annandale, has been continuously chartered and active for more than a quarter of a century. The chartering in May 1993 launched a vibrant Troop known for producing 142 Eagle Scouts, for high-impact Eagle Projects throughout the local area, and for frequent high-adventure trips.
Their celebration featured a large display of historic photos, patrol flags, mementos, excerpts from past newsletters, and a slideshow. More than 230 current and former scouts and leaders and their families were in attendance, and the night was very lively. The event included a full dinner showcasing Dutch oven cobblers for dessert. Our current Scoutmaster and Committee Chair both welcomed the crowd and shared their reflections. The program paid special tribute to the founders who launched the Troop in 1993, and wrapped-up with the “Original Scoutmaster’s Minute” from founding Scoutmaster Dennis McFaden. He recalled both the principles that have shaped the Troop ever since, and some of the humorous moments from the early years. Of course, Scouts had a major role in the evening. The current SPL MC’d the program, and Troop historians presented the “Top Ten Moments” in Troop 50’s history. Five of our former Senior Patrol Leaders, and our current SPL organized a tribute to the Troop’s Scoutmasters. Of the ten Scoutmasters in Troop 50’s history, we were proud to have eight with us for this celebration. All the Troop 50 Eagle Scouts in attendance had the chance to re-connect, and lots of old friendships were re-kindled.
Troop 50 is going strong into its 26th year, and looks forward to celebrating more milestones, and more impacts on our scouts and our community, in the years ahead.