Silver Beaver 2025: Chris Axford
It is with great pleasure that the Virginia Headwaters Council is announcing the selection of Chris Axford as a recipient for the Silver Beaver Award in 2025.
In his nomination, it was stated that he is clearly not a “one and done” sort of Scouter. He has been both an Assistant Scoutmaster and a Scoutmaster for one of our female units. He is a member of several Council level committees and has been a swim instructor as well as Wilderness & Remote First Aid Instructor. He is also an Aquatics Merit Badge Instructor. He has been the lead advisor for trips to Sea Base and to Philmont. In his “spare time”, he has also served as our Camp Shenandoah Aquatics Director when needed. Community service has included many years as a Little League Coach and Basketball Coach at the local YMCA.
The Silver Beaver Award is the council-level distinguished service award of the Scouting program. Upon nomination by their local Scout council, and with the approval of the National Court of Honor, only registered adult leaders are eligible recipients of this award. Those leaders must have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given to the council. The Silver Beaver is an award given to those who implement the Scouting program and perform community service through hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication, and many years of service. It is given to those who do not seek it.
The Virginia Headwaters Council is only allowed to present two Silver Beaver awards this year. The number is based on the number of Scouting units within the Council. It will be awarded at our council’s recognition dinner taking place on March 1st, 2025.
Silver Beaver 2025: Kyle Enfield
It is with great pleasure that the Virginia Headwaters Council is announcing the selection of Kyle Enfield as a recipient for the Silver Beaver Award in 2025.
In his nomination he was given credit as being instrumental to ensuring a safe and an enriching experience for everyone involved in a time when human contact between our Scouts was sorely needed during the COVID-19 pandemic. His protocols also allowed the Council to safely host a Wood Badge course in 2021. He has served as a Committee Chair and Charter Organization Representative. He has been a Cubmaster and a Webelos Den Leader, and several other positions. He has been on several committees at UVA Health and has led several summer internship type courses for high school to college age youth interested in medicine. He serves in the Vestry of the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
The Silver Beaver Award is the council-level distinguished service award of the Scouting program. Upon nomination by their local Scout council, and with the approval of the National Court of Honor, only registered adult leaders are eligible recipients of this award. Those leaders must have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given to the council. The Silver Beaver is an award given to those who implement the Scouting program and perform community service through hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication, and many years of service. It is given to those who do not seek it.
The Virginia Headwaters Council is only allowed to present two Silver Beaver awards this year. The number is based on the number of Scouting units within the Council. It will be awarded at our council’s recognition dinner taking place on March 1st, 2025.
It’s Time to Plan for Jamboree 2026!
Time is fast approaching to get our contingent registered for the Jamboree. While we are still working out some details on cost – we want to hear from you if you are interested in going as a participant. Please indicate your interest at – https://forms.gle/
The 2026 National Scout Jamboree will be held at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve. We’ll call it the “Summit” from here on out. The 2026 Jamboree will be the 4th National Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in West Virginia’s New River Gorge region. The 10,000-acre Summit Bechtel Reserve is adjacent to 70,000 acres of a federally protected national river area, one of the most amazing outdoor recreation centers on earth. Thousands of Scouts and Scouters will explore all kinds of adventures—stadium shows, merit badge work, adventure sports, patch trading, and more—in the heart of one of nature’s greatest playgrounds. Every few years, the national Jamboree brings generations together through Scouting’s biggest showcase. You won’t want to miss this amazing experience. As the Jamboree happens only every few years a Scout typically only has one opportunity to experience the Jamboree as a youth during their time in Scouts BSA. The next one is not until 2029.
The jamboree is the best of Scouting rolled into 10 days of fun, friends, and adventure, and you can be there to be a part of it!
The theme of the 2026 Jamboree, “Elevate” which will focus on how we can elevate the Scouting experience for each of the participants and Jamboree Service Team (staff) at the Jamboree. The goal of the Jamboree is to help each person who attends the Jamboree in any way to Elevate their view of Scouting and have an experience that will help Elevate them to continue to grow in Scouting.
We plan to:
- Elevate your network through programs in the camp areas
- Elevate your adrenaline though high octane activities
- Elevate your leadership through opportunities to learn leadership skills and put them into practice
- Elevate your service through a service project to benefit the local community
It also reinforces one of the Summit Bechtel Reserve’s purposes of helping to redefine Scouting’s adventure for the next century. Participants of the 2026 National Jamboree will experience that difference every day.
Our tradition of the Jamboree delves deeply into what it means to be a Scout. For over 75 years, the national Jamboree has brought members from all over the country and the world together to share the bond that is Scouting. Each Jamboree grows in numbers and in adventure, adding more and more activities for Scouts to turn into memories.
There are tons of exciting activities that you can only experience at Jamboree. It is a fantastic experience that you don’t want to miss out on. So head on over to our Google Form to show your interest!
