NCAC Welcomes Sixteen Hornaday Conservation Awards Advisers.
By Will Rodger, NCAC Hornaday Committee Chair
The NCAC Hornaday Subcommittee graduated 13 newly minted Hornaday advisers Aug. 5 at Camp Snyder, bringing the Council-wide total to 16. Their job is straightforward: to help Scouts, Venturers and Scouters to properly conceive of and execute large-scale conservation projects.
The Hornaday certificates, badges and medals are among the most prestigious awards in the Scouting program. Despite their 100-year history, the BSA Hornaday Awards for conservation are among the least recognized of all Scouting awards.
That’s going to change, advisers say.
Scouts and Venturers willing to put in the time to plan a project equal or larger than the typical Eagle project can earn the Hornaday Badge. Multiple projects may qualify for the Silver or bronze medals. Awards are also available for Units, adults and outside organizations that have made significant contributions to environmental conservation.
Getting the details right is crucial to earning an award, so counselors warn candidates not to make a move without consulting one of them first.
Want more information? See NCAC’s Hornaday page: https://www.ncacbsa.org/advancement/awards-and-recognition/hornaday/
NCAC Hornaday Advisers
Kneeling (left to right): Don Rossi, Chain Bridge; Phil Ventura, Colonial; Carol Brown, Old Dominion; Sara Holtz, Powhatan; Josh Lamothe, Course Director
Standing (left to right): ; Brian McDougal, Bull Run District; Danielle Bernstein, Chain Bridge; Arden Dugan, NCAC VP for Program Impact; Gautam Advani, Chain Bridge; John Nelson, Patriot; Rebecca Hoover, Patuxent; Matt Burns , George Mason; Aaron Marrs, Wash DC; Andy Fuller, Old Dominion; Will Rodger, NCAC Hornaday Committee Chair; John Selstrom, Course Coordinator
Andrew Brown Awarded the William T. Hornaday Badge
By John Selstrom
At Troop 1853’s meeting on August 9th, Scoutmaster Tom Evans presented Andrew Brown with the Hornaday Badge. The award recognizes Andrew’s significant achievement in resource conservation and education. Andrew researched and developed a drought-resistant, native plant pollinator garden for Lynbrook Elementary School in Springfield, VA. The construction of the garden was also Andrew’s Eagle Project. For the Hornaday Award, he did research on the area’s biodiversity and population, soil analysis and reclamation proposal, and plant and environmental research before starting the garden construction. After construction, Andrew conducted population surveys and provided recommendations for garden maintenance and possible expansion. A post-project survey showed a 150% increase in the number of different bird and insect species present in the garden area. The project also included a field guide for the teachers and students of Lynbrook. It includes not only a map, but a seasonal schedule of plant flowering and fruit-bearing. Andrew’s project not only enhanced the local environment, but also created an outdoor education space.
Zach McCoy Awarded the William T. Hornaday Badge
By John Selstrom
At Troop 1145’s meeting on February 27th, Scoutmaster Dave LeRoy (left) and John Selstrom, Old Dominion District Advancement & Recognition Chair, presented Zach McCoy with the Hornaday Badge. The award recognizes Zach’s significant achievement in resource conservation and education. The award recognizes Zach’s significant achievement in resource conservation and education. Zach researched and developed a habitat restoration project at Hidden Pond Nature Center in Springfield, VA. For the Hornaday Award, he did research on the decline in Monarch butterfly populations as a result of the loss of milkweed. His project included potting ~6000 locally-collected milkweed seeds, which produced ~2600 viable milkweed seedlings, with 2000 seedlings planted at Hidden Pond and ~600 seedlings distributed to interested individuals ranging across the NCAC from Fairfax to Howard counties. After work was complete, Zach conducted monthly plant surveys at Hidden Pond and two e-mail surveys of the distributed plants, providing recommendations to increase Monarch butterfly habitat. A post-project survey showed that ~400 milkweed plants have taken hold in ~12 areas across the NCAC. Zach’s work was featured in the Pollinator Partnership Action Plan issued by the Obama Administration White House in June, 2016. Zach’s project continues to serve the Hidden Pond Nature Center. He is currently a Freshman at Edison High School, with interests in technology and biology that he hopes to pursue in college.
Pack 1156 Awarded the William T. Hornaday Unit Award
By Sara Holtz
Cub Scouts from Pack 1156, with the aid of leaders and members of Troop 970, completed a complex service project consistent with the goals of the William T. Hornaday Unit Award and William T. Hornaday’s conservations principles at the Claude Moore Park in Loudoun County. This conservation project principally focused on helping CMP to control five invasive species that were introduced into CMP several decades ago to help nurture and feed wildlife. Pack 1156 invested in understanding the invasive species issues and educated many in the natural resource conservation issues. While the Pack routinely participates in community service projects during the course of its program year, this was the most involved project that this unit has conducted in the 40 year history of the Pack. Guided by the Cub Scout Motto of “Do Your Best”, the Cub Scouts of Pack 1156 were recognized for their accomplishment in pursuit of the William T. Hornaday Award Unit Award.