Join us on Tuesday, April 14 at noon at the Farmington Country Club in Charlottesville for the annual VAHC Friends of Scouting Luncheon. This cornerstone fundraiser for the council will feature Todd DeSorbo, 2025 ASCA Coach of the Year, coach of the five-time back-to-back national champion UVA Swim Team, and USA Swimming Head Coach for the Paris 2024 Olympics, as the keynote speaker.

The FOS Luncheon is a chance to share the Scouting story with key supporters and community leaders, highlighting the direct impact Scouting has on youth development, character, and leadership. Plan to attend this fundraiser and hear Coach DeSorbo’s inspiring story of leadership lessons in and out of the pool!

RSVP for the Friends of Scouting Luncheon

Friends of Scouting (FOS) is our council’s annual giving campaign, providing the vital funding needed to deliver high-quality programs and services to the youth we serve. A cornerstone of these offerings is Camp Shenandoah, which plays a key role in the Scouting experience across our council. All units are asked to schedule a FOS visitation, during which a fellow Scouter will briefly share how your unit and its families can make a meaningful impact in supporting Camp Shenandoah. Please schedule this visitation to take place before June 1, 2026, during a unit meeting, event, or program where parents are present.

As a thank-you, every youth and leader in units where at least 50% of families submit a pledge card at their FOS visitation will receive a special Camp Shenandoah neckerchief. To schedule a FOS visitation for your unit, please contact Tom Greenwood.

We are proud to recognize and congratulate the council’s top three Popcorn and Peanuts (PNP) sellers for their outstanding efforts this year. Their dedication, enthusiasm, and hard work played a significant role in supporting Scouting programs across our council.

🥇 Brandon C., Troop 79, led the way with $6,781 in sales.
🥈 Marshall B., Troop 1028, followed closely with $6,012 in sales.
🥉 DJ C., Troop 12, rounded out the top three with $5,011 in sales.

Congratulations to Brandon, Marshall, and DJ on this remarkable achievement and thank you to all Scouts and families who participated in this year’s PNP sales campaign!

Congratulations to 2026 Silver Beaver Award recipients:

 John Athayde and Adam Sowers

The Silver Beaver Award is the highest recognition a Scout council can bestow. Introduced in 1931, it is awarded for distinguished service within a council by registered adult Scouters of exceptional character and is given to those who deliver the Scouting program and perform community service through hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication, and many years of service. Congratulations to this year’s Virginia Headwaters Council recipients of the Silver Beaver Award: John Athayde and Adam Sowers.

John and Adam will be presented with the Silver Beaver Award at the Council Recognition Dinner on February 21 at Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church in Fishersville.

John Athayde

It is with great pride that the Virginia Headwaters Council announces the selection of John Athayde as a 2026 recipient of the Silver Beaver Award.

John Athayde is an Eagle Scout whose service to Scouting has continued well into adulthood. He has served as Tiger Den Leader, Lion Den Leader, Assistant Cubmaster and Cubmaster. A Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow, John exemplifies the principles of servant leadership. On the district level, he has served as a Webelos Camp Staff and Cub Scout Day Camp Staff and has been recognized with the District Award of Merit. A member of the Council Executive Board, John serves as Vice President of Technology and Communication where he has led a complete overhaul and redesign of the council website, moving it to a more modern WordPress backend, deployed a shared Google Workspace for council officers, led the transition within the council to BlackPug, and was instrumental in deploying a reliable high-speed internet solution for Camp Shenandoah. As his nomination attests John “has propelled the Virginia Headwaters Council from the Stone Age to the Space Age … his reimagining and implementation of the council’s information technology systems and frameworks have transformed the council into a modern and agile enterprise.”

Adam Sowers

It is with great pride that the Virginia Headwaters Council announces the selection of J. Adam Sowers as a 2026 recipient of the Silver Beaver Award.

Adam Sowers is an Eagle Scout and a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow whose service to Scouting spans the unit, district, and council levels. Over the years, he has served as Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, Cubmaster, Assistant Cubmaster, and Den Leader, demonstrating unwavering dedication to youth leadership and development. At the district level, Adam has contributed as a member of the Monticello District Committee, the Apple Harvest Camporee Committee, and as staff for Cub Scout Fun Day. In recognition of his exceptional service, he has previously been honored with the District Award of Merit. At the council level, Adam has served the Order of the Arrow as an advisor in various capacities and currently serves on the Council Executive Board as Vice President of Finance and Fund Development. In this role, his leadership and creativity have supported vital initiatives such as the Friends of Scouting campaign, including the development of impactful videos and promotional materials that inspire engagement and strengthen community support. Adam’s nomination reads in part: “Adam has been a mentor, advocate, and champion for the next generation of leaders. His passion for Scouting’s mission makes him a deserving recipient of this distinguished honor.”