Recently, Troop 581 traveled to Great Falls, VA for a winter cabin camping adventure. Tucked away near Great Falls National Park, the troop stayed at scenic Camp Frasier which is hosted by Calvary Baptist Church. After a leader-provided evening meal Friday night, we settled in to rest up for the next day. The troop was going to Washington D.C.
On Saturday, the Scouts enjoyed a quick breakfast before we made our way to Washington D.C. This trip would be unlike any previous campout. Our first stop was the U.S. Capitol Building. Arriving early before the lines set in, we went through security and entered the Capitol for our tour. First we watched a short orientation film in the visitor center theater, “Out of Many, One.” It described the history of the Capitol Building and how we come together as a nation to govern ourselves. After the film, we met our tour guide, got our headsets on, and set off to explore the Capitol. The first stop was the Crypt. We learned how the stone in the center marks the center point for the quadrants of Washington D.C. We also learned that an empty tomb for George Washington is under the floor, a relic of an unsuccessful effort by Congress to move George Washington’s remains to the Capitol. Next, we went to the Rotunda, the area under the main dome of the Capitol. We learned about several of the famous paintings on display and how some of our most important public servants may lie in state there after their deaths. Our final stop was Statuary Hall. Originally used as the chamber for the House of Representatives after the War of 1812, it now serves as the main exhibition space for the National Statuary Hall Collection which includes statues of prominent citizens from several of the states. After our tour we grabbed lunch at the Capitol Café.
Next stop on our trip to Washington D.C. was Ford’s Theater. Famous for being the site where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, it is still a working theater and plays are performed year round. We were lucky enough to get tickets for all our Scouts to view the production of Twelve Angry Men, a story about a jury deliberating on the verdict in a young man’s trial for murder. The story examines prejudice, preconception and the struggle for justice. It was a great play and more than one Scout said it was the best they ever saw. For many it was the first time seeing a professional production and everyone gave it the thumbs up
Once we returned to Camp Frasier, the patrols began cooking dinner and enjoyed some downtime socializing in the main hall. Most slept inside but a few brave Scouts slept outdoors in a quest for the annual Nanook Award given for camping outside during the winter months. After a good night’s sleep, it was up early for breakfast and a Scout’s Own service before the return trip home. With another great adventure behind us, we look forward to our next outing!
Submitted by Erik Weaver, Assistant Scoutmaster