We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Venturing

Venturing Officers Association Holds Court of Honor

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The local Venturing Officers Association (VOA) held a Court of Honor on Saturday, May 18. Congratulations to the 9 recipients of the Council’s Venturing Leadership Award! 

Youth recipients were Thomas Howard (incoming VOA President), Johana Marroquin, Melissa Mader, and Elana Taylor.

Adult recipients were Pam Chu (incoming VOA Advisor), Katie Kahkonen, Stanley Kwok, Ken Barret, and Arrie Heck. 

Kudos to the VOA officers hosting the event — it was a great turnout and fun to see so many familiar faces!

Gone Home: NCAC Celebrates the Life of John Leonard Wolfgang, Jr.

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It is with great sadness that the NCAC family acknowledges the loss of John Leonard Wolfgang, Jr. John was Chairman of the NCAC Shooting Sports Committee and led a significant quality improvement effort in BSA Shooting Sports training and safety at both the Council and National level. He was also a leader in many other committees and teams within our Council, in our Region, and for the BSA nationally.

A longtime member of BSA National Training Committee, Exploring Committee, Learning for Life Committee, Venturing Program Committee, and Safety Committee, John authored of a number of high-quality training materials, primarily in Exploring and Venturing, and was one of the Founders of the Powder Horn course. Within his 71 plus years of involvement and service in Scouting, John earned the rank of Eagle, as well as the Exploring Silver Award, Silver Antelope, Silver Beaver, a Fox in Wood Badge and as Course Director, Vigil honor in the OA, Venturing Leadership Award, Spurgeon Award, and the District Award of Merit. He directed multiple courses at Philmont, served 15 years as a Scoutmaster, and served 33 years as an Explorer Post and Venturing Crew Advisor to Post & Crew 1275. John remarkably staffed 9 National Jamborees, including as National Exhibits and Displays Chairman, and also staffed 2 World Jamborees.

We are fortunate that his entire Scouting experience happened here in the National Capital Area Council. Leaders of his caliber are rare, and we are not only proud to have had him as a part of our programs, but cherish all that he shared with us. He has gone home.

In celebration of John’s life and accomplishments, we invite you to a memorial service in his honor at Camp William B. Snyder. The service will take place on Sunday, May 19th from 5 pm until 8 pm. Light refreshments will follow. To help us plan, please register to attend at https://scoutingevent.com/082-wolfgang. For more information, please contact Phillip.Barbash@Scouting.org.

2019 Akela Chess Classic

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On Saturday, February 2 and Saturday, February 9 scouts from all over the National Capital Area Council competed in the Council’s five-round chess tournament, the Akela Chess Classic. The February 2nd event, held at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Herndon, VA, was the Scouts BSA tournament, open to all scouts in troops, crews and ships. Seventeen scouts competed in two brackets: age 10-12 and age 13 and up. In the younger-scout bracket, one scout took first-place honors, with one scout finishing second, and three scouts finishing third. In the older-scout bracket one scout took first-place honors, with three scouts finishing second and three scouts finishing third. The first-place winner in each bracket finished with a perfect 5-0 score.

The February 9th event, held at St. Raphael School in Rockville, MD, was the Cub Scout tournament, open to all scouts in Cub Scout packs. Twenty-seven scouts competed in two brackets: Lion/Tiger/Wolf and Bear/Webelos/Arrow of Light, with awards given for first, second, or third by rank. One Tiger took part, winning first place for his rank. There were one first-place, two second-place, and one third-place finishers in the Wolf rank. For the Bear rank, one scout finished first, one finished second, and two finished third. The Webelos rank had five first-place finishers, three second-place finishers, and one in third place. Rounding out the tournament were one first-place Arrow of Light scout, one in second place, and three in third place. The first-place Wolf and Bear each had a perfect 5-0 score.

Each round of the Akela Chess Classic is limited to one hour, with touch-move rules in effect; under these rules if a player touches a piece he is obligated to move it. All participating scouts must know, in advance of the tournament, the rules of chess and how to play. The 2019 Cub Scout tournament was the 14th annual tournament, and the 2019 Scouts BSA tournament was the 8th annual tournament.

A fun and exciting time was had by all participating scouts. All are looking forward to the Akela Chess Classic next year!