Patuxent Post Feb. 2001 Patuxent Happenings Four months ahead MARCH 2001 : APRIL 2001 3 Cubscout Basic Leader 4 Venturing Roundtable Training, LDS, Bowie (NVVR), Centreville United : Methodist Church, 6400 Old Centreville Rd, Centreville, Va 7 Venturing Roundtable 7 13th Annual Potomac (NVVR), Centreville United Watershed Cleanup Methodist Church, 6400 Old : Centreville Rd, Centreville, Va 10-11Venturing Wilderness First 6-8 Scout Master Fundamentals Aid Course : Weekend Camping 12 OA Chapter Meeting, 9 OA Chapter Meeting, Riverdale Municipal Ctr : Riverdale Municipal Ctr 7:30 7:30 14 Roundtables, Glendale Fire 11 Roundtables, location ?, House 7:30 : 7:30 17 Scout Master Fundamentals, 9-16 Spring Break (PG County Session I, Cresthill Schools off) Baptist Church, Rt 197, : Bowie 17 Merit Badge Day at St. 20-22 Patuxent Spring Camporee, Mary's Laurel, First aid, Cedarville, MD Personal fitness, and : Emergency Preparedness 22 District Committee 21-22 Leave No Trace Workshop, Meeting, Holy Cross : Shenandoah National Park Lutheran Church 7:30 23 - Leave No Trace Train the 24 Commissioner's Meeting, New 25 Trainer, Shenandoah Nat'l : Carrollton Municipal Center Park 7:30 24 University of Scouting, 26 District Committee Meeting, Walter Johnson HS, : Holy Cross Lutheran Church Bethesda 7:30 24 OA Chapter Banquet : 27-29 Scout Religious Retreat 24 Counselor training for God 28 NCAC Annual CAP EVent and Country, Nichols Bethel United Methodist : Church, Odenton 27 Commissioner's Meeting, New Carrollton Municipal : Center 7:30 29 - In Service Day for PG 30 County (Schools off) : 31 Scout Master Fundamentals, Session 2 : 31 Pinewood Derby, Beltway Plaza : 3/31-WELOT at German Orphan 4/1 Home : May 2001 : June 2001 2 Venturing Roundtable 2 District Recognition (NVVR), Centreville United Dinner, Bowie Elks Club, Methodist Church, 6400 Old : 7:00 Centreville Rd, Centreville, Va 5-6 Woodbadge, Session 1 5 Council Annual Meeting and : Silver Beaver Awards 9 Roundtables, Glendale Fire 6 Venturing Roundtable House 7:30 (NVVR), Centreville United : Methodist Church, 6400 Old Centreville Rd, Centreville, Va 12 Council Program Launch, 9 Council Key Scouter Camp Snyder : Training 14 OA Chapter Meeting 10 OA Chapter Meeting, : Riverdale Municipal Ctr 7:30 18-20OA Spring Ordeal 13 Roundtables, Glendale Fire : House 7:30 18-20Spring Woodbadge, Session 24 Goshen Week 1 2 : 18-20Goshen Bears Workend : 25-7/8AO GOAT Program at Goshen 19-20Maryland Parent-Son 25 Cub Scout Day Camp in Weekend : Bowie 22 Commissionersı meeting, 26 No Commissioner's Meeting New Carrolton Municipal : this month Ctr 7:30 24 District Committee Meeting 28 District Committee Meeting and Annual Meeting (Holy : Holy Cross Lutheran Church Cross Lutheran Church) : 30 Goshen Week 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ District Larry (410) 721-3544 Chairman Proctor Lproctor@fdic.gov District Websites: District Elsie (301) 249-7305 CommissionerMetz elsiemetz@aol.com http://www.bsa.net/md/patuxent Scout Dave Droberts@boyscouts-ncac.org Executive Roberts http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org//district/patuxent/ (Acting) To Subscribe to The Patuxent Post e-mail edition simply send an e-mail to chris.schwartz@ieee.org with the words SUBSCRIBE PAX POST in the Subject Line. Pax Post is posted at http://www.angelfire.com/md2/bsapax/paxpost Commissioner's Corner Elsie Metz- District Commissioner elsiemetz@aol.com April Roundtable cannot be held at Glendale Firehouse. If anyone knows of a facility we could use, please contact Elsie Metz as soon as possible. It would be much appreciated. Elsie Metz 301-249-7305 or email: elsiemetz@aol.com Training Mar. 3 Cub Leader Basic and Youth Protection Training Cub Scout leader and Youth Protection training is scheduled March 3, at Bowie LDS, Rt. 3 & Silvan Drive. Both sessions are required to be fully trained. Youth protection training for all Scouters is offered at the beginning of the session. Preregister by calling Ginny Formel at 301-552-1576. The cost is $4.50 for Cub Leader Training which covers all materials. March 7, April 4 Norther Va Venturing Roundtable (NVVR) The Northern Virginia Venturing Roundtable (NVVR) is held on the first Wednesday of each month at the Centreville United Methodist Church, 6400 Old Centreville Road, near the intersection of New Braddock Road and Route 28 in Centreville, VA, from 8:00 to 9:00 pm. This month, Mr. John Garman of the Virginia Outdoor Center led a discussion on white water training. In April the topic will be Wilderness Survival followed by Cooking in May and planning a yearly program in June. While the goal of the NVVR will be to cover Ranger program activities and allow crew advisors to meet and discuss current issues, all adult leaders working with older youth are invited to attend. March 10-11 Venturing Wilderness First Aid Course U. S. Coast Guard Facility on Telegraph Rd. Pre-requisite will be current American Red Cross first-aid certification. Cost will be $90. Space is limited and rigistration will be handled on a first come, first served basis. Contact: Cooper Wright 703-424-8469 or email: coopwright@aol.com Mar. 17, 31 & Apr. 6 - 8 Scoutmaster Fundamentals Scoutmastership Fundamentals (SMF) is designed to quickly turn novice scouters and troop committee members into active participants in the program, and there are some new features in the training that experienced scouters will want to see and hear about. Mark Saturdays March 17 and 31, and the weekend of April 6-8 on your calendar and plan to attend. Sign-up sheets will be available at roundtables. Contact: Bob Herman 301-498-8407 Mar. 23 - 25 Leave No Trace (LNT) Train the Trainer The course is to train any individual (older scout or leader) who wants to teach Leave No Trace principles to others. The course will show how to set up a display for each skill and what to communicate. The next step in the program is a LNT Master's Program which takes several days of camping while training to earn The dates for the Leave no Trace (LNT) Train the Trainer Course have been locked in! The course will be held in Shenandoah National Park the weekend of MARCH 23-25, 2001. With a follow on LNT Workshop the weekend of April 21-22, 2001. The workshop will be staffed by those attending the LNT T the T course and will be manditory for completion of their Trainers Certification. The cost of the course will be $8.00 per person. If you intend to register for this course, please email me back soon... the course will be limited. I also ask as part of your registration that you team with a youth (age 14 years or older). My principle objective with this course is to get a number of youth trained as LNT Trainers with an adult backup as an advisor. When you contact me to register please provide the names of those registering with their email address and home phone number. Some of you have already contacted me ... I need to know the names of the youth you are teaming with. I look forward to hearing from each of you. Mark Kramer LNT Master Advisor Venturing Crew 1919 KramerMT@nswccd.navy.mil Mar. 24 University of Scouting Catalogs are out at Roundtables. Sign up now for the courses and degree you wish to pursue. If you would like to teach in the Commissionersı College, please see Elsie Metz. Contact: Elsie Metz Tele. 301-249-7305 or email: elsiemetz@aol.com Purpose of the University of Scouting Program: The University of Scouting is a supplemental training opportunity for all adult volunteer Scouters in the National Capital Area Council (NCAC). Four colleges support the program. The College of Commissioner Science is a primary vehicle for Commissioners to continually refresh and strengthen their knowledge in a concentrated, challenging, and systematic fashion. New Commissioners are provided challenging and progressive learning opportunities beyond basic training; more experienced Commissioners are offered advanced experiences with subject matter at several levels. The College of Adventure (Varsity, Venturing and Exploring), College of Boy Scouting and College of Cub Scouting offer Unit and District Scouters enhanced training opportunities beyond Basic Leader Training. Scout Leader Training Teams will find challenges among the courses offered. Download the complete University of Scouting course curriculum and general information at http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/training/pdfs/uos.pdf Basic Schedule Participant specific personal schedule to be provided at check-in. 7:30-8:15 Check-in/Registration a.m. 8:30-9:00 Opening Ceremony a.m. 9:10-4:00 University Courses p.m. (Check personal schedule for course times.) 4:10 p.m. Closing Ceremony Mar. 24 Counselor training for God and Country Program. Nichols Bethel United Methodist Church, 1239 Murray Rd, Odenton, MD (just off Rt. 175). A special training course for counselors mentors, and other adults for the God and Country Program series. Contact: David Williams 410-672-5190 995 Christmas Lane, Gambrills, MD 21054 March 29, Apr 5, 19, 21-22 V3 (Venturing, Varsity and Venture) Leader Outdoor Training (V3LOT) We are beginning to receive reservations for this year's V3LOT course, March 29, April 5, 19, 21-22. Don't miss out on this training is you are looking to put more adventure into your unit's program or if you are looking to brush up on your own backcountry skills in preparation for a high adventure trek this summer. For more information contact course director GK Cunningham, (703) 764-3021 (home) or e-mail at 100746.1727@compuserve.com. Mar. 31 - Apr. 1 WELOT Webelos Leaders Outdoor Training, German Orphan Home, Upper Marlboro. A weekend course that concentrates on the outdoor-related Activity badges for leaders of Webelos Scouts. Camp out Saturday night. Contact: Stu Stern 301-464-1678 or email: stuscout@erols.com June 2 District Recognition Dinner Bowie Elks Club, Rt. 450, Crofton at 6:30 PM. Highlight this date on your calendar. We will be honoring three scouters with the District Award of Merit and many others for their inspired work and leadership over the past year. Our own Elsie Metz will be the speaker. Since she soon will be moving to Pennsylvania, this banquet promises to be a very special event. The cost is the usual $10 per person. Invitations and flyers will be out soon. Contact: Nick Dunten scouternick@telocity.com June 9 Council training for all District Key Scouters and Committee Chairs. Training in the morning. Learn how to do your job. District meeting in the afternoon. Events Mar. 17 Merit Badge Day First aid, Personal fitness, and Emergency Preparedness Tim Looney, jtlooney@hotmail Date: Saturday March 17, 2001 Time: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Place: St. Mary of the Mills Catholic Church, The Breen Room (located below the church) 114 St. Mary's Place Laurel, MD 20707-4098 Uniforms: Scouts should wear their uniforms, Each Scout must provide a blue card signed by his Scoutmaster. Contact Tim Looney at jtlooney@hotmail.com or 301-805-1352 for an appointment and let him know what badges you are prepared to work on. Walk in appointments are welcomed, but scheduled appointments will be taken first. I will return your email or your call with the time of your appointment. To earn the merit badge all of the requirements need to be completed prior to the merit badge day. Here are some helpful workbooks. (adobe acrobat format) First Aid http://www.angelfire.com/md2/bsapax/mbreq/firstaid.pdf Personal Fitness http://www.angelfire.com/md2/bsapax/mbreq/persfit.pdf Emergency Preparedness http://www.angelfire.com/md2/bsapax/mbreq/emrgprep.pdf Mar. 31 2001 Patuxent District Pinewood Derby Time is approaching for the annual Patuxent District Pinewood Derby that will be held on Saturday, March 31, 2001. The location of this yearıs Derby will again be at Center Court Beltway Plaza, Greenbelt Maryland. First heats begin at 10:30 AM. Check in begins at 9:45 AM Website for rules and preregistration form http://www.angelfire.com/md2/bsapax/pinewood/ March Cub Scout Blue and Gold Dinner It's that time of year again for Blue and Gold Banquets planning. This is the yearly celebration to honor the success of your Pack. Your committee should be in high gear. Typical parts are the potluck dinner, inviting your commissioner and the local boyscout leader, decorations, skits, songs and awards. Sometimes this is combined with the pinewood derby or Webelos crossover. April 7 13th Annual Potomac Watershed Cleanup Is your unit looking for a service project? Why not join the thousands of other people on April 7th to help cleanup the Potomac watershed? Wear sturdy shoes or boots and bring work gloves. Come prepared to get a little wet and dirty. Trash bags will be provided at each site. The cleanup is a collaboration of private organizations, federal, state, county and city agencies and concerned citizens. To reserve a site, call (301) 292-6665 or visit the www.potomaccleanup.org. Apr 20-22 Patuxent Spring Camporee Spring is in the air!--at least it soon will be. And what is spring, without a district camporee? But there is no camporee, without you and me. April 20-21 District Camporee. Contact: Bob Killen, 301-336-7027 Email: rfkille@hotmail.com Apr. 27-29 Scout Religious Retreat Again this year there will be separate retreat programs for Catholic and Protestant Scouts on the same weekend, at the same site. In addition, there will be many joint activities for all Scouts to share. The Religious Retreat traditionally has been a highlight of many Troop's program year. Put it on your troop calendar, now. Bring all your Scouts. Let them camp and have fun together, and participate in either the Catholic or the Protestant Religious Program. The theme for the 2001 retreat will be "Walk with the Spirit". The Religious Retreat will again be held on the grounds of Our Lady of Mattaponi Youth Retreat Center in Croom Maryland. For information or advanced registration, call Don Sparlin at 301-262-5639 or Dottie Tamai at 301-773-1995 Apr. 28 NCAC's Annual CAP EVent Venturing Crews and Explorer Posts, be looking for your package inviting you to attend this year's CAP EVent at the US Naval Academy on Saturday, April 28. This year's program includes leadership exercises led by Eagle Scout midshipmen, GPS skills course, Marine range operations at the Naval Station, unit challenge course, flag ceremony including a color guard of midshipmen and participants, and closing vespers. Cost is anticipated to be $20 which includes a patch, two meals and all program materials. Space will be limited so get your registration in early. May 12 Council Program Launch Camp Snyder near Haymarket, VA . Units may pick up Program Launch kit, meet with a commissioner, see exhibits, see the facility, etc. Watch for more information on Program Launch. Jun 25-29, July 9-13 Cubscout Day Camp This year the theme is EXPLORING YOUR WORLD. and the plan is to make this an exciting Camp. The dates have been set: Allen Pond in Bowie - June 25 to 29 Greenbelt Park in Greenbelt - July 9 to 13 The fee this year is $75.00 if paid before 13 April and $85.00 if paid after that date. Although Elsie Metz will not be the Program Director this year, she will be available for camp promotions. Call her on 301-249-7305 or use e-mail . Pete Saderholm will be the Program Director this year and he is now putting together the staff. Pam Stehmer has agreed to help with Admin details and some other positions are filled but there is a significant need for people interested in helping at both or either camp. Please call Pete at 410-45104713 or e-mail or Pam at 301-262-4575 or if you interested in helping make this a successful Day Camp for our Cubs. There is no Webelos Camp with its usual overnight planned for this year. It appears that is against NCAC policy and so we have not programmed this activity. Webelos are welcome to join the Cubs in the Day Camp if they choose. June 11-23 & July 27-Aug. 8 Venturing Nature of Leadership Program National Venturing Division has announced a Nature of Leadership program for this summer. Three courses will be offered; two are Philmont treks and the third is a Yukon Rive float trip through the Yukon Charley National River Preserve. The programs are high adventure based, but are concentrated on teaching advanced leadership skills to Venturers. The Philmont treks are June 11-23 and July 27-August 8 and cost $395 not counting transportation. The Yukon River trip is July 6-15 and costs $500 not including air fare. There are 10 youth slots open for each trek. For more information, contact NCAC. July 6-14 10th Scouts Canada Jamboree Venturing Crew 1519 recently lost two Venturer so now we have 8 of the 12 crew slots (2 adults and6 youth) to go with us to the 10th Scouts Canada Jamboree at Prince Edward Island, July 6-14, 2001. We still need four more people. Join us as we camp with 10,000 scouts from all over the world. Activities will include an opening xtravaganza and closing celebration, Voyageur canoeing, overnight rafting, kayaking, dory sailing, hi-tech orienteering, climbing wall, pioneering, and search and rescue. Total cost of the jamboree is about $800.00 depending on transportation costs. For more information, please call Cooper Wright at (703) 971-0044 or e-mail at coopwright@aol.com. June 24 - July 8 Goat Program Amangamek-Wipit Lodge approved the Goshen Order of the Arrow Trail Crew Program for 2001. This program is based out of the Goshen Scout Reservation, (June 24 through July 8) for only $100 per participant. A new adventure starts this summer at Goshen for older OA members which includes a week of service and learning serious outdoor skills (such as fire fighting techniques, trail building, and a Leave No Trace instructors program, plus a good dose of Order of the Arrow and Native American history; followed by a week of on the trail Lenhok'sin fun. For details, see http://mars.umd.edu/oa/2001GoshenTrail/2001GoshenTrail.html or contact Nick Dunten at 301 927-0501 scouternick@telecity.com . July 28 - August 4 Jamboree Cymru 2001 Welsh Themes & Legends Glanusk Park, Wales United Kingdom / Royaume-Uni The Scouts of Wales welcomes all Scouts and Guides to join Jamboree Cymru 2001. This 14th Welsh Jamboree will be held at Glanusk Park, a beautiful greenfield site which is on the approach to the magnificent Brecon Beacons National Park. Featured activities include abseiling, archery, canoeing, caving, climbing, dragon boat racing, gliding, grass skiing, hiking, mountain biking, cyber café, pony trekking This event is expected to draw a total of 2,500 participants. The camp fee for members will be £80.00 and £40.00 for Leaders. This fee will include a camp badge, handbook, activities and all camp facilities but excludes the cost of food, travel and camping equipment. Contact: Mr. Denis Hunt, RER Scout House, Plasnewydd Road, Roath, Cardiff, Wales CF24 3EN E-mail: robert.angus@ntlworld.com Visit their web site at www.jamboree-cymru.org.uk To book Troops and Units, the completed Booking Form must be returned by March 16, 2001 with a non-returnable deposit of £15.00 per person. All checks must be payable to "Jamboree Cymru". Booking forms and deposits will be acknowledged. The balance of the camp fee must be paid by 4 May 2001. Booking forms together with the deposit and a large addressed envelope (C5) with stamps to the value of 50p (or an International reply coupon) should be sent to: Mr. Denis Hunt, Deputy Administrator/Troop Bookings, RER Scout House, Plasnewydd Road, Roath, Cardiff, CF24 3GP. Home hospitality will be available to International participants. NEWS District Nominating Committee for 2001-2002 Named Larry Proctor Lproctor@fdic.gov For the District Nominating Committee put in this months news the following: The Patuxent Distict 2001 Nominating Committee held its first meeting in Bowie on Tuesday, February 20. Larry Proctor, District Chairman, Elsie Metz, District Commissioner, and Dave Roberts, Field Director, met with the committee to orient them on their duties and the nominatnons process. The committee consists of Reed Slack, Glen Henderson, and Susan Kelley, all registered scouters in Patuxent District, as well as Boyd Campbell, of Bowie, and Hankin, Mayor of New Carrollton. Their next meeting will be March 6, at the New Carrollton City Hall. District scouters are invited to contact any member of the nominating committee to provide suggestions to them for people to serve on the distict level. This committee will be recruiting and recommending A new district chairman, chairmen for membership, finance, and program, as well as recommeding district members-at-large to serve on the various district committees. The District's New Webpages My name is Bill Haynes and I have volunteered to maintain the district webpages. I am Cubmaster of Pack 224 at St. Jerome's church in Hyattsville. I have been with the pack five years this spring. I am here to support the NCAC website so that you can have up to date information available to you from anywhere that you have access to the Web. The more complete that information is, the less searching we will have to do when we need to put our hands on it. Therefore, I look forward to your input and advice. Feel free to submit entries to my Email address below and consider putting the same information in the Patuxent News by contacting Chris Schwartz (address also below). Please use PAXPOST in the 'Subject:' field to keep it from getting mixed up with my spam. I will do minimal editing. And please contact me with any editing that needs fixing in my postings. Sometimes we don't have access to a proof reader beefor wee need two get thee infomotion owt. Those of you who do newsletters, websites, etc. know it is often difficult to keep up with the current status of the news. I will do the best I can! One last thing, there is a Scouter Contact List in the site which you (as an adult Scouter) need an id and password to enter. Contact me if you want to be in it or get access to it. Thanks and Good Scouting! Bill Haynes (HaynesW@aol.com subject: PAXPOST) and Chris Schwartz's Email address is chris.schwartz@ieee.org Boy Led Units - Barry Runnels, SM, Oklahoma Boys learn most of their behavior (80% or more) by the actions of others. Ever listen to who they respect and follow? Ever watch them talk and mimic someone they respect? Boys (and girls) of Scouting age don't want to hear someone else's life experience; they want to live it. Experts tell us that we learn far more by the struggles of our actions than by the instructions of someone else. Boys (and girls) are excited to get up and live, but they get bored easily and need to be stimulated quickly. Adults want to give wisdom, but are lazy and would rather sit and lecture. Boys want to taste the juices of life; adults want to limit the flavors. Boys (and girls) have no fear of life; experienced adults fear life and want boys to live within the limits of their fears. Role models in a ³boy run² troop have to be active in the Scout Oath and Law. Because the scouts are watching, you can yak trustworthy all day, but their ears are broken. We adult role models have to act trustworthy for them to learn trustworthy. I can give examples of ³boy run² troops running all over adult run troops, but the reality is ³boy run² is a state of mind. ³Boy run² is the freedom adults give the boys to test the waters of life. ³Boy run² is a matter of perspective. Experience had shown me that ³boy run² to a nurturing mother is different than to an adventurous father. ³Boy run² is simply the limits that we can comfortably give our sons. So, I want to give a few exercises that might help you learn ³boy run²; exercises I learned through trial and error. You see, if your unit is to be a successful ³boy run² unit, then the unit has to come together on what ³boy run² means. First, a few rules for the adults. Get in your mind that adults have to learn more and faster than the boys. I find many troops are adult run because the adults are simply to lazy to help boys as individuals. It's far easier to order a troop to wear full uniforms than to advise and find the motivation of each individual boy. Also, as the scouts learn to lead, things will change fast and adults have to learn to keep up and stay out of the way. When our PLC finally started running good PLC meetings, I had to change the way I had helped the meetings along. I had to let them go and look for something else to fix. Resist thinking your idea is better than theirs. I have seen more scouts loose their trust in adults by the simple words, ³no son, that won't work². Just get it in your mind that it might work, no matter how ridiculous it sounds or looks, it might work. Don't be afraid of change. I was once asked why our troop is always progressing. It's because we aren't afraid of change. In the last eight years, we have tried nine different new boy programs, six different Troop guide programs and two dozen JLTs. If something is simply not working, don't waste time hammering on it, change. This especially works for Cub Pack. FOS update We have about 40% of the units with Presentations done or in progress and have raised about 30% of our goal. Lets all get out there and do our part for Scouting: Set up your presentation and then support your presentor. OA NEWS Goshen Update Nick Dunten scouternick@telocity.com The new COPE Course should be ready this summer and Council is looking for staff. The course will be located close to the Health Lodge and is to be one of the best in the country. Shower houses are being power cleaned, painted and refitted with all new fixtures. All new canvas is coming and plans are being make to build internal frames for the tents. Bids are being let for all new cots. If your unit hasn't been to Goshen in a few years, it's time to go back. The program is great as are the facilities. Emphasis is being placed on staff training this year at all staff age levels so merit badge instruction should be stronger than ever. Contact Nick Dunten (district camping chair) at 301 927-0501 or scouternick@telocity.com for answers to your questions or a short presentation at your unit meeting. Also, visit the Goshen web site at http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/goshen/index.html.