A district is a unit of a Boy Scout council organized to provide activities and support for Scouting units (Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops, Varsity teams, Venturing crews, Explorer posts, and Learning-for-Life units) in a prescribed geographical area. The Colonial District is one of 22 districts in the National Capital Area Council (NCAC).

The Colonial District consists of the entire city of Alexandria, Virginia, and southeastern Fairfax County, Virginia. Its boundaries follow a line that runs along the northern and western city limits of the city of Alexandria to the RF&P railroad tracks from just west of Van Dorn St. to Pohick Rd.; I-95 from Pohick Rd. to Occoquan Creek, Occoquan Creek from I-95 to its mouth; and the Potomac River from the mouth of Occoquan Creek to the northern city limits of Alexandria at the mouth of Four Mile Creek.

Colonial District activities are coordinated by the Colonial District Committee. The District Committee normally meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month, except in May, when the Annual District Meeting is held. Although formal business at District Committee meetings is conducted by members of the District Committee, all Scouts, adult leaders, and other interested people are welcome to attend.

The District Committee consists of the Chartered Organization Representatives (CORs) of all Scouting units in the district as well as a set District Committee Members-at-Large. CORs are appointed by their chartering organizations for terms designated by the chartering organizations. District Committee Members-at-Large serve one-year terms following their initial selection by a specially tasked Nominating Committee and their election at the Annual District Meeting in May.

Other members of the Colonial District Committee are the elected and appointed district officers:

• The District Chair is the chief executive officer of the district. The District Chair oversees the management of the district, and as a member of the Council Executive Board, provides direct interface between the Colonial District and the NCAC. The District Chair chairs the District Committee meetings as well as the "Key 3," "Key 6," and "Key 9" meetings. The District Chair appoints all Vice Chairs and recommends an individual to be appointed by the NCAC to serve as the Colonial District Commissioner. The District Chair serves a one-year term, having been nominated by the Nominating Committee and elected at the Annual District Meeting in May. The District Chair’s term official begins at a swearing-in ceremony at the NCAC Annual Meeting in early June.

• The District Chair may appoint an individual to serve as the Deputy District Chair. In addition to assisting in fulfillment of the general responsibilities of the position of District Chair, the Deputy District Chair may undertake other tasks as assigned by the Chair. In the absence of the District Chair, the Deputy District Chair will function as acting chair.

• The District Commissioner oversees the Commissioner Corps, a group of individuals who provide service and support for Scouting units in the Colonial District. The District Commissioner is appointed to a one-year term by the NCAC based upon the recommendation of the District Chair.

• The District Executive is a professional staff member employed by the National Capital Area Council to provide advice and assistance to the Colonial District’s volunteer leaders and workers. The District Executive is the advisor for all district committees, teams, and activities. The District Executive is appointed by the NCAC for one or more terms of duration determined by council executives.

The Colonial District is organized in accordance with the recommended district governance structure of the Boy Scouts of America and the National Capital Area Council. Its "key" leaders function in a hierarchical structure. The "Key 3" are the District Chair, the District Commissioner, and the District Executive. (At the request of the District Chair, the Deputy District Director may also be a member of the "Key 3," although the group’s name is not changed in order to be consistent with terminology used in other districts and councils.) The "Key 3" meet as needed to coordinate efforts and address issues.

Other officers of the Colonial District include the Vice Chairs, each of whom is appointed to a one-year term by the District Chair:

• The Vice Chair for Membership oversees activities designed to provide high-quality Scouting opportunities to all eligible youth in the District. (Details regarding these activities are found on Page 5.)
• The Vice Chair for Finance oversees activities that help raise the money necessary to carry out the Scouting program at the District and Council levels. (Details regarding these activities are found on Page 7.)
• The Vice Chair for Communications and Administration coordinates communication among the district and unit leaders, district awards and recognitions, and special functions that enhance the work of the Colonial District. (Details regarding these functions are found on Page 9.)
• The Vice Chair for Program oversees training, camping, activities, civic service, and advancement in the Colonial District. (Details regarding these functions are found on Page 11.)

The next leadership tier is the "Key 6", which includes "Key 3" members plus the district Vice Chairs. Based on the experience of the George Washington District, the Colonial District has a Vice Chair for Communications and Administration in addition to the three Vice Chairs recommended by BSA and NCAC, but the term "Key 6"is used to avoid confusion when communicating with those outside the district.

The final set of officers are Program Team Leaders, each of whom is appointed to a one-year term by the Vice Chair for Program:

• The Training Team Leader oversees district-level training for adult leaders and Scouts and coordinates district involvement in council-level training.
• The Camping and Outdoors Team Leader provides information, guidance, and programs that assist units in providing an active outdoors program for their Scouts.
• The Activities and Civic Service Team Leader oversees the special district-wide events as well as the district’s participation in council-wide events.
• The Advancement Team Leader oversees district efforts to assist unit leaders in promoting advancement within their units, including the operation of the board that provides guidance and approval for Eagle Scout requirements and procedures.

The next district leadership tier is the "Key 9", which includes "Key 6" members plus the Program Team Leaders. The name again reflects standard BSA and NCAC practice rather than the actual number of individuals involved at this level of Colonial District leadership.

The District Vice Chair for Membership oversees teams that ensure that the Scouting opportunity is provided to all interested youth in the district. This is accomplished by forming new units, helping strengthen existing units, recruiting new members, and strengthening relationships with sponsoring organizations and other community groups.

The District Vice Chair for Membership has recruited a committee that will participate in fulfilling all of the committee’s responsibilities. Those responsibilities are:

• The Catholic Religious Coordinator is Tom Libby, who can be reached at 703/780-4810 (home phone). The Episcopal Religious Coordinator is Reverend John Weatherly, who can be reached at 703/765-3949 (office phone) or 703/780-5139 (home phone). An overall Colonial District Religious Relationships Coordinator and religious coordinators for other denominations have not been identified as of early September 1998. (Check the Colonial District Web site for more current information.)

The District Vice Chair for Finance oversees committees that garner financial support necessary to provide high-quality Scouting opportunities to all interested youth in the district. This is accomplished through a number of focused fund-raising drives conducted as parts of council-wide campaigns.

The District Vice Chair for Finance chairs a Finance Committee that helps raise the funds necessary to offer quality Scouting programs at the district and council levels. Those responsibilities are:

• Friends of Scouting. The Friends of Scouting campaign is a set of related appeals to individuals and groups that support Scouting in the National Capital area. These campaigns run from December to May each year and are divided into three parts:
• Family Campaign. This campaign asks families of youth involved in Scouting programs to make tax-deductible contributions to NCAC. This campaign is unit based and seeks 100% participation by Scouting families.
• District Scouter Campaign. This campaign seeks contributions from adults working at the district level who are not otherwise associated with a specific unit.
• Community Campaign. This campaign seeks support from individuals, large and small businesses, and other groups in Alexandria and southeastern Fairfax County that are not formally associated with the Scouting program. Contributions over one- to three-year periods are sought for general program support as well as for specific purposes. "Named Gift" opportunities enable contributors to make donations that perpetuate the memory of loved ones, honor friends, and recognize contributions of individuals or organizations. Colonial District Scouters can help the Finance Committee by identifying individuals associated with their units or groups that are active in the community that might be willing to make major donations to support local Scouting programs.

The Finance Committee’s work is supported through the efforts of a District Finance Steering Committee, which includes all members of the Key 6 and FOS campaign chairs as well as selected community leaders and other friends of Scouting. The steering committee provides guidance and assistance to the Finance Committee and the campaign chairs, and its members help identify individuals, businesses, and other groups in the Colonial District who can support the Scouting program financially or through other means, such as in-kind contributions, identification of leaders, and identification of merit-badge counselors.

Scouting relies on the enormous contribution of time made by thousands of volunteers, but to be viable and successful, money also is required. Funding is necessary to acquire and maintain the real property and equipment at the NCAC’s camps (especially Goshen and Camp Snyder), to provide services at the NCAC’s Marriott Scout Service Center in Bethesda (where an enormous amount of record keeping is conducted for tasks like registration of members, tracking of advancement, and processing of Eagle Scout packages), and to hire professionals (like our own Colonial District Executive). Because everyone associated with Scouting in the National Capital area benefits from these and other services, everyone should assist in the fundraising campaigns. Past experience has shown that the most successful Scouting fund drives have been the ones with the broadest range of participation. In addition to making contributions to the Friends of Scouting campaign and to buying popcorn from participating units, individuals are asked to consider making contributions through the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign appeals each fall. (NCAC is listed as Donor Option Agency #8046.)

If selling Trails End popcorn is your unit’s mechanism for raising money, simply follow the procedures outlined by the district Popcorn Sales team and you’ll be on course. If you choose to use some other mechanism for raising money, be sure to follow proper procedures, including the submission of a Unit Money Earning Application (Number 34427) to the council office.

The District Vice Chair for Communications and Administration oversees teams that facilitate communications among individuals and units in the Colonial District, publicize district activities outside the district, communicate Scouting information to others in Alexandria and southeastern Fairfax County, coordinate district awards and recognitions, and conduct special projects.

The District Vice Chair for Communications and Administration coordinates teams that fulfill a number of major responsibilities, including:

The District Vice Chair for Program oversees teams that conduct training, promote camping and outdoor activities, conduct district activities and civic service, and promote advancement.

The District Vice Chair for Program oversees teams that fulfill a number of major responsibilities in four major areas.

The Training Team is responsible for a comprehensive district training program that addresses all training activities outside of units. The Colonial District Training Team also serves as the point-of-contact for council- and national-level training activities.

Following are major training activities planned by the Training Team:

• Cub Scout Training. The Cub Scout Training Team presents a complete set of training opportunities for leaders of Cub Scout packs, including the distribution of "Fast Start" training tapes and the conduct of specific training courses. The team also helps coordinate the involvement of unit and district leaders in council-level Cub Scout leader training courses.

Specific courses offered by the Cub Scout Training Team include:

• Cub Scout Leader Training. Cub Scout Leader Training is a one-day training course offered at least four times each year to provide current and future pack leaders (as well as parents and other interested adults) with an introduction to all aspects of working with Cub Scouts and Webelos.
• Tiger Cub Coach Training. Tiger Cub Coach Training is a special half-day training course that provides current and prospective Tiger Cub coaches with an introduction to the Tiger Cub program and to working with boys during their year as a Tiger Cub.

Current and prospective Cub Scout leaders should also be aware of training events sponsored by NCAC, including:

• Webelos Leader Training. Webelos Leaders Overnight Training is a two-day (one weekend) training course offered at least two times each year to provide current and future Webelos den leaders with an overview of principles and methods that can guide a successful outdoor program for Webelos Scouts.
• Cub Scout Pow Wow. The Cub Scout Pow Wow is a one-day event offered during a Saturday in the fall that allows Cub Scout leaders opportunities to take up to six one-hour-long courses on a broad range of topics.
• Cub Scout Wood Badge. Cub Scout Wood Badge is an advanced Cub leader training course offered annually by the NCAC. Participants meet learn about and apply fundamental leadership principles through first-hand participation.
• Boy Scout Training. The Boy Scout Training Team presents a complete set of training opportunities for both youth and adult leaders of Boy Scout troops, including the distribution of "Fast Start" training tapes and the conduct of specific training courses. The team also helps coordinate the involvement of unit and district leaders in council-level Boy Scout training courses.

Specific courses offered by the Boy Scout Training Team include:

• Scoutmastership Fundamentals. Scoutmastership Fundamentals is a course offered twice each year to provide current and future troop leaders (as well as parents and other interested adults) with an introduction to all aspects of working with Boy Scouts. The course meets for one three-hour session during a weekday evening, for an eight-hour session on a Saturday, and for a two-night, one-day weekend session, with participants learning first-hand how patrols and troops function.

• Junior Leader Training Workshop. The Junior Leader Training workshop is a one-day course offered twice each year as part of the program during Colonial District camporees. The workshop focuses on enhancing basic leadership skills in Scouts who have taken troop-level Junior Leader Training, and it prepares them for participation in council-level IMPEESA training.

• Camping 101. Camping 101 is a one-day course offered at least once each year as an introduction for unit leaders to basic outdoor Scoutcraft skills and equipment.

The Boy Scout Training Team also coordinates the involvement of Colonial District Scouts and leaders in multi-district and council-level courses, including:

• Wood Badge. Wood Badge is an advanced adult leader training course offered at least two times each year by the NCAC. Participants meet for three two- or three-day weekend sessions (or for a seven-day week-long session), learning about and applying fundamental leadership principles through first-hand participation in functioning patrols within a troop. The formal course is followed by a six-month to two-year application period during which participants "work their tickets," honing their skills through a personally crafted set of activities geared toward individual, troop, and community improvement.
• Venture Leader Training. Venture Leader Training is a multi-district course that offers Assistant Scoutmasters for Venture and other leaders of interested in working with older Scouts with advice and experience that will help them develop and support independent Venturing crews as well as successful Venture crews within Boy Scout troops. The course emphasizes how to work with older youth, how to plan and operate a successful Venture program, and low-impact camping skills.
• IMPEESA. IMPEESA is the NCAC-level junior leader training program for Scouts. Week-long sessions are held at least twice each year, with experienced Scouts guiding participants through a set of activities that introduce and apply basic leadership skills through first-hand application in a working troop context.
• Other Training Courses. The Colonial District Training Team also offers specialized courses for individuals with major responsibilities, including:
• Youth Protection Training. Youth Protection Training offers the Boy Scouts of America’s national program to both adults and youth. This course is offered both through separate offerings at least twice each year and in conjunction with Cub Scout Leader Training and Scoutmastership Fundamentals courses.
• Chartered Organization Representative Training. COR training is a two-hour course offered at least once each year to enable CORs to provide more effective oversight of the Scouting units that their chartered organization sponsors.
• Unit Committee Member Training. This course is a two-hour course designed to enable unit committee members be more effective contributors to the success of their units.

The Camping and Outdoors Team helps disseminate information and promotes programs that put the "OUTING" in Scouting.

Major activities overseen by the Camping and Outdoors Team are:

• Council Camp Promotion. The Camping and Outdoors Team provides information to units about the NCAC camps at Goshen and Camp Snyder in Haymarket. The team provides materials that facilitates units signing up for these camps as well as materials that encourage Scouts to participate in week-long and weekend camping experiences at these camps. (Both Webelos and Boy Scouts may participate in week-long summer camping at Goshen; any Scouting units may use Camp Snyder.)

• Cub Outdoor and Day Camps. The Cub Outdoor and Day Camp programs offer week-long summertime experiences for Cub Scouts. A range of age-specific programs are offered, with Camp Akela geared toward Cubs entering Wolf and Bear ranks and Webelos Adventure Camp geared toward those moving into the first-year Webelos program. (Those Scouts moving into their second year of Webelos are encouraged to participate in a week-long Webelos camp at Goshen.)

• High Adventure. The team encourages older Scouts and their units to participate in high-adventure activities, including backpacking along the Lenhok’sin Trail at Goshen and participation in BSA-run programs at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, the Florida Sea Base, the Northern Tier program in Minnesota and Ontario.

• Health and Safety. The Health and Safety Team is charged with ensuring the health and safety of all those participating in Scouting programs. The team makes Scouters aware of first-aid and CPR training. It promotes health and safety by publicizing BSA programs like Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat. The team also provides first-aid support and conducts site safety and health inspections at district camporees and other activities.

The Activities and Civic Service Team oversees the Colonial District’s special events and coordinates the involvement of Colonial District Scouts and adult leaders in council- or national-level activities.

The Colonial District Activities and Civic Service Team Leader is Bill Stewart. A computer specialist with the Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., Bill is Post Advisor of Explorer Post 80, which has provided radio support for many GW District camporees and other outdoor activities. Bill can be reached at 703/642-8942 (home phone), 202/452-4163 (work phone); ke4bae@crosslink.net (home e-mail), or bstewart@bna.com (work e-mail).

Major activities conducted by the Activities and Civic Service Team are:

• District Camporees. Colonial District camporees are held twice each year. The spring camporee in April is for Boy Scouts, while the fall camporee in October has programs for Webelos as well as Boy Scouts. Themes and programs of camporees vary, with emphasis placed on providing exciting opportunities for camping, friendship, and learning. The Boy Scout Junior Leader Training Workshop is conducted in conjunction with each camporee.

The Fall 1998 Colonial District Camporee Director is Jim Garamone, who can be reached at 703/360-5692 (home phone), 703/428-0610 (work phone); or jagaram@hq.afis.osd.mil (work e-mail). The Spring 1999 Colonial District Camporee Director has not been identified as of early September 1998. (Check the Colonial District Web site for more current information.) Those wanting to serve as heads or members of the teams that will conduct the Spring 1999 Camporee should contact Bill Stewart at 703/642-8942 (home phone), 202/452-4163 (work phone); ke4bae@crosslink.net (home e-mail), or bstewart@bna.com (work e-mail).

• Merit Badge Jamboree. The Colonial Merit Badge Jamboree is a one-day activity held on a Saturday in January at a local school. Boy Scouts pre-register for classes that permit them to earn merit badges offered by teams of counselors who have organized instruction in ways that should facilitate learning in an enjoyable environment.

• Pinewood Derby. The Pinewood Derby is held each winter, providing an opportunity to allow winners of Pinewood Derby competitions in Cub Scout packs to compete against each other with respect to both speed and design criteria in a public setting. In addition to being fun for the participants and spectators, this activity helps bring the Scouting message to the broader public.

The Winter 1999 Colonial District Pinewood Derby Director has not been identified as of early September 1998. (Check the Colonial District Web site for more current information.) Those wanting to serve as heads or members of the teams that will conduct the Pinewood Derby should contact Bill Stewart at 703/642-8942 (home phone), 202/452-4163 (work phone); ke4bae@crosslink.net (home e-mail), or bstewart@bna.com (work e-mail).

• Cub Spring Fling. The Cub Spring Fling is held in April, May, or early June, bringing together members of packs in the district for a half-day of fun and exciting experiences.

The 1999 Cub Spring Fling Director has not been identified as of early September 1998. (Check the Colonial District Web site for more current information.) Those wanting to serve as heads or members of the teams that will conduct the Cub Spring Fling should contact Bill Stewart at 703/642-8942 (home phone), 202/452-4163 (work phone); ke4bae@crosslink.net (home e-mail), or bstewart@bna.com (work e-mail).

• Scouting for Food. The Scouting for Food drive enables Scouts of all ages to participate in a nation-wide good turn. Bags are distributed by Scouting units to homes in designated areas on an early November weekend with the request that residents fill the bags with canned or packaged foods to help those in need. The bags are collected by the units the following Saturday and brought to central locations where they are sorted and distributed to neighborhood food banks.

• Anniversary Week. Scouting’s Anniversary Week commemorates the February 15 founding of the Boy Scouts of America. The Activities and Civic Service Team encourages units to commemorate the week and to publicize the Scouting program to the public through appropriate mechanisms. Among the ways units can celebrate this week are by participating as a unit in a worship service on Scout Sabbath or Scout Sunday, visiting a historic site (such as Mount Vernon, where units can lay a wreath on George Washington’s tomb), or mounting a display in a public place, such as a shopping center).

The 1999 Scouting Anniversary Week Coordinator is has not been identified as of early September 1998. (Check the Colonial District Web site for more current information.) Those wanting to serve as heads or members of the teams that will coordinate Anniversary week activities should contact Bill Stewart at 703/642-8942 (home phone), 202/452-4163 (work phone); ke4bae@crosslink.net (home e-mail), or bstewart@bna.com (work e-mail).

• Major Council Events. The Colonial District participates in major activities conducted by the NCAC, such as the Scouting on the Mall events held every other spring. The district undoubtedly will play a major role in a special council-wide camporee planned for November 5-7, 1999, at Mount Vernon to commemorate the 200th anniversary of George Washington’s death.
• International Activities. The Colonial District fosters interactions among Scouts in different nations through promotion of the involvement of Colonial Scouts and Scouters in Scouting events in other nations and the promotion of exchanges and other interactions between Colonial units and units in other nations.

The Advancement Team promotes individual Scout advancement in Scouting units at all levels, and in cooperation with the Commissioners Corps, the team tracks advancement as an indication of unit health.

The Colonial District Advancement Team Leader is Lang Fields, who can be reached at 703/768-6011 (home phone).

Major functions undertaken by the Advancement Team are:

• Eagle Board. The Eagle Board provides guidance to Scouts and adult leaders regarding requirements and procedures for attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. The chair of the board (and any designees) review and approve Eagle Scout service projects before the service work begins. A member of the board also reviews the completed Eagle application package prior to a Scout’s Eagle board of review and participates in the Eagle board or review.

The Colonial District Eagle Board Chair is John Tillery, who can be reached at 703/971-8367 (home phone) or jttillery@aol.com (home e-mail).

• Merit Badge Counselors. The Advancement Team maintains a list of merit badge counselors whose applications have been forwarded by Boy Scout troops for council-level approval. The list of counselors is distributed periodically to troop leaders and will be posted on the Colonial District Website.

The Colonial District Commissioner is appointed by the NCAC upon the recommendation of the District Chair. The Commissioner coordinates the work of a corps of commissioners whose primary purpose is to provide service and support to Scouting units and to assist Scout leaders delivering the promise of Scouting to individual Scouts.

Among the responsibilities of the Commissioners Corps are:

• Unit Commissioners. Each Scouting unit in the Colonial District is served by a Unit Commissioner (UC), who provides service to unit leaders through contact, support, and assistance. Unit Commissioners assist in the rechartering of units, recognition of Quality Units, and in the development and maintenance of programs that serve Scouts in the unit.
• Assistant District Commissioners. The Assistant District Commissioners (ADCs) supervise Unit Commissioners who serve a set of units defined geographically or by type of chartering organization. ADCs also help with the following tasks:
• New Unit Organization. ADCs work with the Membership Committee to start new units and recruit youth members and adult leaders for those units.
• Unit Health and Status. ADCs track performance of units in the district using specific criteria and provides reports to other commissioners and other district leaders regarding the strength of Scouting programs in the district.
• Training. ADCs work with commissioners to ensure that all commissioners are properly trained.
• Roundtables. ADCs work with Program Committee teams to coordinate the staffs that operate monthly Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing roundtables. The roundtables provide forums for dissemination of information and exchanges of ideas among unit and district leaders.
• Recognition. ADCs gather and disseminate information about unit leader and commissioners awards and helps process nominations for awards.
• Administration. ADCs provide administrative support to the Commissioners Corps.

Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing/Explorer roundtables usually are held on the second Wednesday of the month at 8:00 PM. The District Committee usually meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:30 PM. (*The Annual District Business Meeting substitutes for the District Committee meeting in May.) Commissioners usually meet on the second Thursday of each month.