Author: Dave Schneeman

June 28, 2021 by Dave Schneeman

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This spring, the Aquatics Committee hosted its first paddlemaking class in Michael’s Woodshop at Camp Snyder. Two Scouts and two adults from Troop 191F and a shop volunteer all crafted their own paddles in this initial class. The process began with each student receiving a milled Ash “blank” approximately 1 1/8” thick, 6” wide and 6’ long and ended with everyone having created their own individually sized, properly balanced and beautifully shaped flatwater canoe paddle which they will treasure for a lifetime!

The class was taught by Steve Park, a highly experienced paddlemaker who specializes in flatwater canoe paddles. He generously shared his knowledge, educating students about the key components of a paddle and instructing them about the proper tools and their use. With his guidance and assistance, students were able to properly size, shape and balance their paddles. The class was not about making a single canoe paddle, but was rather an investment in learning a valuable skill. The students gave the course high marks and are looking forward to taking an advanced class where they can further refine their skills. Definitely a couple of days very well spent!

Going forward, the paddlemaking class will be formally organized into an Introductory Class and an Advanced Class. The Introductory Class will teach a number of valuable skills and will use several custom jigs and processes to enable completion of the paddle during the class. The Advanced Class will introduce additional skills students will need to start their own journey of becoming a paddlemaker!

Michael’s Woodshop at Camp William B. Snyder is a great place for Scouts to create and learn. Paddlemaking is just one of many activities available in the wood shop. For more information about upcoming Paddlemaking Classes and other shop programs or for information about reserving the shop, please visit the Michael’s Woodshop webpage or email any questions and requests to the volunteer team at MichaelsWoodshop.CWBS@gmail.com

March 5, 2021 by Dave Schneeman

In February, Bears from Pack 1601 had a great time completing their Baloo the Builder Adventure in Michael’s Woodshop. This activity was specifically developed for Bear Dens and provided the Bears with the opportunity to complete all of the requirements of the adventure:

The Bears actively participated in a discussion about shop and tool safety. They also learned about many useful tools to have in their tool box. They were given the opportunity to practice using a number of tools including a clamp, sanding block, hammer and nail punch and then applied these skills while working on their projects. In addition to their newfound skills and knowledge, each Bear left the woodshop with a fun Golf Tee Tic-Tac-Toe Board and their very own Cub Scout Tool Box. It was definitely a fun and memorable adventure in Michael’s Woodshop!

Michael’s Woodshop at Camp William B. Snyder is a great place for Scouts to create and learn. The Baloo the Builder Workshop is just one of many activities available in the wood shop. All programs in Michael’s Woodshop are run by a group of dedicated volunteers. With increasing demand for use of the shop, we are currently seeking to expand our roster of volunteers. In particular, we are seeking to add registered female adult leaders to the team to help support the increasing number of female youth participating in activities in Michael’s Woodshop.

For more information about the Baloo the Builder Workshop and other shop activities or to learn more about volunteer roles available, please visit the Michael’s Woodshop webpage or email any questions and requests to the volunteer team at MichaelsWoodshop.CWBS@gmail.com

If you have ever wondered about the power of volunteering and donations, we invite you to view this short series of slideshows that chronicle the creation of Michael’s Woodshop at Camp William B. Snyder.

The slideshows capture the development of underutilized storage space from bare steel walls to the incredible facility which exists today.  As you view the slideshows, please keep in mind that everything you see was created ENTIRELY through the skills and efforts of volunteers.  In addition, substantially all of the equipment and tooling in the shop has been acquired through generous donations from individuals and units within the NCAC Scouting community.  Please enjoy our slideshows and remember how much of a difference you can make!

Michael’s Woodshop is operated and maintained by a group of dedicated Volunteer Shop Stewards.  The Shop Stewards take great pride in the shop and are committed to providing high-quality program offerings to all NCAC youth.  We invite you to visit Michael’s Woodshop Webpage which has information about upcoming events, scheduling a unit activity, volunteering, our shop calendar, and more.

There are also many other ways to support Camp Snyder.  Individuals, small teams and large groups can participate in Service Days or schedule a Service Project.  If you have specialized skills or training, you can register these skills with the Camp Ranger to assist at camp as needs arise.

Please visit the Volunteering Webpage for information about how you can get involved.           

Come out and enjoy Michael’s Woodshop at Camp William B. Snyder!

Original article published by Colleen Harrington on The Scouter Digest (weownadventure.com).

weownadventure.com/eagle-project-helps-local-plant-nursery/

For my Eagle project, I built a work table and three planting beds for a local nursery called Earth Sangha. The Wild Plant Nursery is a resource for ecological restoration in the greater Washington, DC area. I chose this project because taking care of the environment is important to me. I had volunteered here before and wanted to help them out.

For the first part of my project, I built a work table. I got help from Michael’s Woodshop and Mr. Dave Schneeman to finalize blueprints. Scouts from Troops 1533G & 1533B came out to Camp Snyder and Michael’s Woodshop to help build it. The Wood Shop has a lot of tools, and Mr. Schneeman’s guidance was very helpful. The building because we had plenty of volunteers (18) and my blueprints worked great.

On our second weekend, we went to Earth Sangha. First, we cleared out the old work table and installed the new one. We removed the old planting beds and installed new ones. There were many volunteers (29), so our seven-hour workday became a five hour day, and we were able to install an extra planting bed.

My project taught me a lot about leadership. I used some of the skills I learned as my troop’s instructor and Troop Guide. I also had to learn how to recruit people and how to keep everyone busy. Now that my project is done, I am glad it went so well… it was also a lot of fun.

Michael’s Woodshop at Camp William B. Snyder is pleased to welcome its first two Youth Apprentices to the Woodshop Team. Brian Staton and Alexander Alvarez have recently completed training with their assigned mentor and are looking forward to providing assistance to the volunteer Shop Stewards during upcoming events. In particular, Brian and Alexander will be providing assistance during our upcoming PWD Days events where they will guide and assist Cub Scouts and parents through the car building process. In addition, they will be assisting during other shop activities such as Den activities, merit badge classes, and Eagle Scout projects.

The Youth Apprentice Program was designed to provide youth who have an interest in woodworking with the opportunity to further develop their woodworking and leadership skills. Youth will be trained on the setup, operation, and maintenance of many shop tools. In addition, they will have opportunities during shop activities to lead and assist youth and adults during projects and other shop events. The Youth Apprentice Program is open to all BSA registered youth who are 14 years old or older.

Michael’s Woodshop is maintained and operated by our volunteer Shop Stewards, Shop Assistants and now of course, our Youth Apprentices! As shop use and shop offerings expand, we are always looking to add more BSA registered adult leaders to our ranks. In addition, as female youth membership within NCAC grows, an increasing number of female youth are participating in our shop activities. As such, we are specifically seeking to add female adult leaders to our Team. Please assist us in this effort by sharing this request with those who may be interested.
For more information about the Youth Apprentice Program and other volunteer positions, please see the Volunteering section of the Michael’s Woodshop webpage or email the volunteer shop steward team at MichaelsWoodshop.CWBS@gmail.com

As a part of their work to earn the Mammal Study merit badge, Scouts from GT582 came out to Michael’s Woodshop at Camp William B. Snyder to build two Johnson Bat Houses. The Troop was very well prepared and arrived with all of the materials and supplies needed to construct, paint and install the bat houses. With guidance from a volunteer Shop Steward, the Scouts were able to learn and apply many useful woodworking skills; measuring & marking, drilling, gluing and clamping. They were focused, demonstrated great teamwork and were able to complete, paint and install a set of great looking bat houses in approximately 6 hours. Not only did they complete a requirement for their merit badge, they had a great time working in the shop and made a very impressive addition to Camp Snyder. It was a day very well spent!

Camp Snyder is the perfect venue for conservation projects and other service projects. It is conveniently located and many conservation projects are readily available. Camp Snyder is resuming its monthly Volunteer Service Day schedule and other work dates can be arranged upon request. If you would like to learn more about available conservation and other service projects at Camp Snyder, upcoming Volunteer Service Days or to arrange for your own group project, please email us at CWBS.Volunteers@gmail.com.

Whether you are working on a service project, advancement activities or simply want to learn some new skills, Michael’s Woodshop is a great place for building memorable experiences. Michael’s Woodshop is a well-outfitted shop with the tools, equipment and work space for Scouts to create and learn. The shop may be reserved for Unit events (all age groups), Eagle Scout projects and many other Scouting activities. Our volunteer Shop Stewards are all experienced woodworkers and are available to assist you in planning and carrying out a successful event.

For information about shop capabilities, upcoming events or reserving the shop, please visit the Michael’s Woodshop page on the Camp Snyder website or email questions and requests to MichaelsWoodshop.CWBS@gmail.com.

The Summer Family Camping Program at Camp Snyder was a great success! This weekend program gave families an opportunity to visit Michael’s Woodshop. Four projects of varying skill levels were offered, providing opportunities for youth of all ages to enjoy a hands-on experience in the shop. The projects included a Golf Tee Tic-Tac-Toe Board (all ages), a Small Tool Box (Cub Scouts), a Wren House (Webelos & older youth) and a Standard Tool Box (older youth). The projects were designed to allow for both independent youth work as well as parent assisted work. All youth participants had the chance to learn some new skills and use a wide variety of tools. With some focus and a little effort, everyone walked away with a completed project!

Michael’s Woodshop has reopened and is currently available for unit use. The projects offered during the Family Camping event can be adapted for unit activities. Normal monthly offerings of Woodwork Merit Badge and Woodworking 101 sessions will resume in the coming weeks. As a part of the new safety protocols, attendance will be limited, face coverings are required and tools and other surfaces will be sanitized regularly. Volunteer Shop Stewards are available to help plan and carry out your event. For more information about upcoming events or reserving the shop, please visit the Michael’s Woodshop page on the Camp Snyder website or contact us via email at MichaelsWoodshop.CWBS@gmail.com.

On February 9, Two Dens from Pack 1601, Powhatan District, attended their own Pack session in Michael’s Woodshop to work on a tool box project. During the process, the Cub Scouts received a shop safety briefing and were able to learn and apply many basic woodworking skills. They were instructed and guided in the use of a tape measure, hand saw, drill press, hammer, nail punch and sanding block. Parents in attendance were able to assist during the process making this an excellent parent/Cub Scout experience. At the end of their session, each Cub Scout had completed the project and went home with a sense of accomplishment and their very own tool box!

Michael’s Woodshop is the perfect place to work on Baloo the Builder or Webelos Build-It activities or to organize a great hands-on Pack or Den activity. Units may reserve the wood shop to hold their events. The experienced group of volunteer Shop Stewards in Michael’s Woodshop can assist you with selecting or designing an activity that is tailored to meet the needs of your group. They will also attend your session to help ensure you have a successful wood shop event.

Michael’s Woodshop was designed to be a hands-on work space for use by Scouts of all ages to learn and create. For information about shop capabilities, upcoming events or reserving the shop, please visit the Camp Snyder website. For shop information, just click on the Michael’s Woodshop link located on the Camp Snyder main page.

Michael’s Woodshop at Camp William B. Snyder just completed its second annual series of Pinewood Derby Days. During the 2019-20 season, Michael’s Woodshop held 13 Pack Sessions, 3 Den Sessions and 5 Open Registration Sessions during which Cub Scouts, Siblings (and a few parents) built 376 cars!

For those who have never attended one of these events, they are certainly a great experience. Pinewood Derby Days are supervised shop sessions that use a well-defined process to walk Cub Scouts through each step to build their car. The sessions begin with a safety briefing which is then followed by a series of work stations; re-drilling axel holes (if permitted), designing/design templates, cutting, sanding and adjusting the car weight. All necessary tools are provided and the work is supervised by a group of volunteer Shop Stewards. At the end of their work session, Cub Scouts leave the shop with paint-ready cars, axel polishing kits and huge smiles!

To get a better understanding of this event, please see the “View our Process” link on the Pinewood Derby Days webpage which has many good photos of Cub Scouts in action. As you will see, these sessions are engaging and are great fun for Cub Scouts, parents (and volunteers). We are already looking forward to the 2020-21 season!

While the Pinewood Derby Days series is the largest program hosted by Michael’s Woodshop, there are many other ways to use the shop. Michael’s Woodshop holds monthly Woodwork Merit Badge Sessions and a monthly Woodworking 101 Class, which is now open up to both Scouts and adults. The shop may also be reserved for Unit activities, District events, Eagle Scout projects and many other Scouting activities. The volunteer Shop Stewards are experienced woodworkers and are available to help you plan and carry out a successful event. For information about shop capabilities, upcoming events, reserving the shop or to learn more about volunteering, please visit the Camp Snyder website or email us at MichaelsWoodshop.CWBS@gmail.com

Where to find information
Camp Snyder website: https://www.gotosnyder.org/
The Michael’s Woodshop page can be found in the Year-Round Events section

In  preparation for their first Klondike Derby competition, Scouts from Troop 893G came out to Michael’s Woodshop to construct their sled. The Scouts received a safety briefing and were provided instruction and guidance from a volunteer Shop Steward as well as from fellow Scouts with prior woodworking experience. The Scouts were able to learn and apply many useful woodworking skills; measuring & marking, drilling, gluing and clamping. They demonstrated that “a Scout is Thrifty” by using reclaimed redwood from an old swing set to build their sled. They also displayed great teamwork and were able to work from their concept drawing and raw materials to a substantially completed sled in just a few hours.

On January 18, the Troop competed in the Sully Distict Klondike Derby held at Camp Snyder. They had an impressive performance, taking second place in their first Klondike Derby competition. What an awesome team! Let their fellow competitors beware – Troop 893G already has their sights set on coming in first at next year’s event.

Looking for a great place to hold your own team building event? Michael’s Woodshop is a well-outfitted shop with the tools, equipment and plenty of work space for Scouts to create and learn. The shop may be reserved for Unit activities (all age groups), District events, Eagle Scout projects and other Scouting activities. Our volunteer Shop Stewards are all experienced woodworkers and are available to assist you in planning and carrying out a successful event.

For information about shop capabilities, upcoming events or reserving the shop, please visit the Michael’s Woodshop page on the Camp Snyder website. You may also email questions and requests to MichaelsWoodshop.CWBS@gmail.com