At University of Scouting nineteen Scouters from four Wood Badge courses were awarded their beads during a lunchtime ceremony attended by two hundred Wood badgers and supporters.
training
Scouts BSA at Summer Camp Livestream
Thousands of girls registered in Scouts BSA will be participating in 2019 summer camps. To help you find out all you need to know to ensure you are ready for Family Scouting in the outdoors, BSA will be offering a livestream webinar on Monday, February 25th at 7pm CST (that’s 8 pm for those of us in the DMV). Best practices from around the country will be shared, as well as Q&A time with a panel of BSA professionals from the Scouts BSA program team, Youth Protection, and Outdoor Programs. Anyone serving in camp leadership this summer is invited to attend. Mark your calendar and save this link to join the livestream broadcast.
Scouting Is for Life – “The Ancient One” (aka, TAO) Continues to Serve as a Scouting Mentor for His 59-year-old Eldest Son
Dick Haas (affectionately known as “The Ancient One” or “TAO” to many throughout NCAC) and his son Mike have over 132 years of continuous BSA Scouting experience between them. They are also the only father/son team actively Staffing an NCAC Wood Badge training Course: a reflection of their unified and lifelong commitment to teaching other Scouters leadership skills to benefit all Scouts and Scouting Families.
TAO was a Scoutmaster for 15 years in New York State, and served as an Assistant Scoutmaster and in numerous BSA training and service positions that impacted hundreds of young men’s lives over multiple decades from the 1960s into the early 2000s. He remains an active Scouter in Stafford, VA, continuing to train and mentor adults in Scouting leadership skills. A World War II Navy veteran, TAO earned lifesaving awards for actions in 1964, rescuing 2 fellow passengers from a bus that crashed into the East River (they were the only 3 survivors). A 1966 Silver Beaver recipient and Scoutmaster of the Year in 1970 in Greater New York Council, in 1976 TAO created a Scouting junior leader training course in New York that trained hundreds of Scouts across almost three decades. Upon moving to Virginia, he energized a similar youth-led leadership training conference which has been running in Aquia District since 2007 thanks to his vision and initiative. Friends and loved ones chipped-in to honor TAO with a brick which was placed on the Camp Snyder dining facility flag patio in 2013 to commemorate his 76th anniversary of BSA service.
The elder 92-year old Haas, who lives with his wife of over 62 years, Rita, in Falls Run in southern Stafford, is a Life Scout who has been in Scouting for 82 years. TAO shook the hand of Scouting’s Founder, Lord Baden-Powell, while a member of BSA’s Scout contingent at the 1939 World’s Fair in Queens, NY. He earned his Wood Badge Beads in 1964, attending Wood Badge training at Schiff Scout Reservation in New Jersey, and was his sons’ (Mike and Alan) first Scoutmaster in Troop 712 in Manhattan, NY. His son Mike, also a Life Scout, retired from the Marine Corps in 2004, and lives with his wife of over 36 years, Lisa, in northern Stafford. Mike earned his Wood Badge Beads in 2006 and has had the privilege of Staffing multiple Wood Badge Courses.
So, when Mike was honored with selection as one of two Wood Badge Course Directors for 2019, a year which celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the original Wood Badge Course organized and led by Lord Baden-Powell at Gilwell Park in England, it’s no mystery that Mike chose his Dad to be one of his Course Mentors. Mike’s other Mentor is John Peloquin, a former NCAC Wood Badge Course Director. Mike and John both started their Scouting Trails together in Troop 26 (“26 Kicks!”) in Stafford with first John and then Mike taking the hand-off from John as Scoutmaster through the mid-2000s.
Any Scouter who will be fully trained in their BSA registered position by the first day of a Wood Badge training Course is eligible to register for the course. NCAC will be offering two 100th Anniversary Wood Badge Courses in 2019. To become the best trained adult Leader you can be for your Scouts and their Scouting Families, please visit: https://www.ncacbsa.org/training/wood-badge/ Register today. Your Scouts deserve it!
Get Wilderness First Aid Certified
NCAC is now offering a Wilderness First Aid Certification course!
Presented by the NCAC Camps, the Outdoor Preparedness Initiative (OPI) offers Wilderness First Aid certification with CPR/AED. OPI aims to prepare Scouts, Scouters, and outdoor enthusiasts for high adventure activities and other outdoor adventures. Certification is provided through the American Red Cross. Courses will be offered at Camp Snyder in Haymarket, VA in the Fall, Winter, and Spring. During the summer, OPI will move to Goshen Scout Reservation in Goshen, VA to offer courses to adult leaders attending one of the six Goshen camps.
When attending national and local high adventure bases, at least one member of the crew needs to be certified in Wilderness First Aid. As always, Scouters are encouraged to check out the information for the high adventure base you are attending to learn more about their specific requirements.
To attend, participants must be at least 14 years old and hold current adult CPR/AED certification. Because CPR/AED certification is required, you’ll need proof of that certification, should you decide to take the course. For those who are not certified and need it to complete the WFA cert, CPR/AED certification is also offered as an option during this course.
To accommodate the needs of those in the NCAC community, several convenient course dates have been established for Camp Snyder.
| Course Date |
|---|
| January 25-27, 2019 |
| February 22-24, 2019 |
| March 22-24, 2019 |
| April 26-28, 2019 |
| May 10-12, 2019 |
More information on the OPI courses offered at Goshen Scout Reservation is coming soon. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the Goshen website at www.gotogoshen.org.
OPI will also provide complimentary coffee, tea, and water during the course at Camp Snyder, as well as a continental breakfast and sandwiches for lunch. Unfortunately, at this time they will not be able to accommodate special dietary needs. Participants should make their own plans for dinner and are encouraged, but not required, to bring snacks, especially to share! Participants will be welcome to tent camp on the grounds near the instruction building. Hotels are also available nearby.
For more information, please contact Jonathan Bjorson, OPI Lead Instructor via email at jonathan.bjorson@gmail.com
University of Scouting Is February 23rd: Registration Closes February 17th
The “University of Scouting”, a supplemental training opportunity for all adult Scout leaders, returns to Hayfield High School on February 23. It is the one time during the year where you can find the widest variety of training opportunities in all program areas all in one place. The University offers interesting courses in Cub Scouting, ScoutsBSA, what we call “Adventuring” (a combination of Venturing and Sea Scout activities), District Operations, and an Electives College where the classes cover a broad range of areas of interest to scouting but not specific to any one scouting program. A key topic across all programs this year will Family Scouting. The University has a degree program where, over time, attendees can earn Bachelors, Masters, and PhD degrees in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Adventuring. Classes are taught by experienced scouters and scouting professionals, many in subject areas not otherwise covered in the usual adult leader training curriculum.
We will offer over 160 different courses from which to choose. In addition to the academic program, there is more… a midway where up to fifty vendors and council committees will have exhibits describing how their products and services can enhance your scouting program and a scout shop trading post where you can pick up needed items without having to drive to a Scoutshop. And finally, there will be a scouting museum where dedicated collectors will be displaying their extensive collections of scouting memorabilia. At the closing ceremony, we will be presenting the D. Andrew Grafton Exceptional Trainer Award. This annual award, presented by the NCAC Leadership Training Committee, recognizes a single NCAC scouter for sustained, dedicated and highly skilled service to scouting over the years by demonstrating a high commitment to quality adult leader training.
The University of Scouting provides all the above, along with great fellowship with dedicated scouters, making this a day to be remembered. Registration is $40 until February 17 after which it goes to $60. It includes morning refreshments, lunch, an event patch, course materials, a certificate, and a special recognition for PhD recipients. Whether you are new to scouting or a veteran of many years, the University is a place where you can learn from experienced Scouters from all over the council; it truly provides something for everyone.
Hayfield High School is close to the Beltway, just south of Alexandria, VA. Doors open at 7:15 AM. The opening ceremony starts at 8:15 AM with the closing ceremony ending by 4:30. In 2018 over 900 scouters were in attendance. Help us pass 1000 for 2019. Register now. Click here.
Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat
BSA’s Guide to Safe Scouting requires any BSA aquatic activity to be supervised by an adult who has completed Safe Swim Defense (for swimming activities) and Safety Afloat (for boating activities). Each of these training courses takes about 45 minutes to complete and are available online at my.scouting.org. These courses are also available in-person at the 2019 NCAC University of Scouting on February 23. The in-person version of the training allows you to ask questions of the experienced trainer. Sign up for these sessions today so you can be prepared to support safe and fun aquatics activities this year.