Unit leaders, as you know every Scout deserves a "trained" leader. Units that have trained leaders offer higher quality programming, have increased advancement, better retention, and higher recruitment. Those are just some of the direct benefits of having trained leaders.

Our council wants to make you successful by getting all your direct contact unit leaders trained. In considering ideas that would encourage units to have 100% of their direct contact leaders take position specific training, the Council Training Committee would like to know which incentives below would inspire you to have all your volunteer leaders in your unit complete the position-specific training for their registered positions.

Visit this page to provide your opinion to our Council Training Committee.

Join us for an evening of S.T.E.M. at Lost Pines Scout Reservation Dining Hall. The event is on Saturday, September 23, from 5:00pm (5-6 check-in, 6pm dinner, 7pm guest speaker, 8pm start of Star Party and Maker Event) to 10:00pm. Come enjoy a great dinner, an amazing speaker (he sends cameras into space!), a maker event and Star Party.  Cost $10 per person. Open to anyone within the Scouting Family. CLICK HERE to register.

There's still time to sign up for Cub Adventure Day - Medieval Adventure on Saturday, October 28, at Smilin V Scout Ranch. This event gets your new and returning Cub Scouts outside for a first outing of the new program year! Launch model rockets, test your knight's skills in "jousting", MAKE YOUR OWN FIDGET SPINNER, and more. CLICK HERE to register.

We also need volunteers to run booths; half day shifts and you get a discount on admission! Contact Teresa Northcutt for more information at teresa.northcutt@scouting.org.

Our 2017 popcorn sale officially started Friday! In the past month, so many of us in the greater Austin area have shown the world how our communities support each other. Continue that spirit and let all our residents and visitors see how strong Scouting is in our council. Don't forget to wear your Scouting uniform and remind your customers that military donations will send popcorn to all the active duty military, reservists and National Guardsman that are helping those affected by recent hurricanes.

CLICK HERE to see one Scout's story about what the popcorn sale has meant to him

Send your Tigers and their Adult Partners to a fun day outdoors at Cub World at Camp Tom Wooten on Saturday, November 4. Scouts will be able to earn their "Tiger Tales" Adventure, get their first "shot" at the BB and archery ranges, and enjoy a campfire with songs and kits. Families can choose from a morning session (9am-Noon) or and afternoon session (1pm-4pm).

CLICK HERE to register

Honor a fellow volunteer leader by nominating them for one of these special awards: ¡Scouting...Vale la Pena!, Silver Beaver, William H. Spurgeon III, and Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Awards. Nominations are due December 1. Make plans to attend the special reception honoring this award recipients, taking place on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the Frank Fickett Scout Training and Service Center. Find nomination forms and more information about the reception at www.bsacac.org/awardsreception.

(Links are either registration links or to email the course leader)

Den Leader Specific Training (Bee Cave Road) - September 23
BALOO Training (CE-BAR Fire Dept) - September 23
Pack Committee Challenge Training (Bee Cave Road) - September 23
Youth Protection Training (Classroom course) - September 23
Cubmaster Specific Training (Bee Cave Road) - September 23
Leave No Trace Awareness - September 23
 
Wood Badge Training - October 13-15, November 3-5
Den Leader Specific Training (NW Hills UMC) - October 16
Den Leader Specific Training (NW Hills UMC) - October 17
Den Leader Specific Training (NW Hills UMC) - October 18
Den Leader Specific Training (NW Hills UMC) - October 19
Den Leader Specific Training (NW Hills UMC) - October 23
Den Leader Specific Training (NW Hills UMC) - October 24
Den Leader Specific Training (NW Hills UMC) - October 25

The Boy Scouts of America has announced it is increasing its membership fee to $33 for all registered youth and adult leaders, effective December 1, 2017. BSA made this decision with volunteer and staff input after first cutting costs where possible. Visit this page for more background information and FAQs.

Get ready for recharter by verifying your leader training records (all trainings). Accurate online training records helps you replace lost training cards and helps our council training committee track progress toward goals and focus on the right training activities. The best way to do this is to check with your unit or district training chair that their records match your expectations. By doing this you can verify if your my.scouting account is properly connected with the official online record system.  

The unit or district training chairs (and commissioners) can update your training records as well. If you are not sure whom to ask, check with your unit or district key 3. If you're still not sure, send an email request to training.cac@scouting.org with as much of the following information as possible so we can get you connected or help you review your records:

• First name and Last name
• Unit type and number (i.e. Troop 1234, Pack 555, etc.)
• District name (i.e. Blackland Prairie)
• Position (i.e. Den Leader, Assistant Cubmaster, etc.)

• CLICK HERE for a Tiger uniform checklist
• CLICK HERE for a Wolf/Bear uniform checklist
• CLICK HERE for a Webelos uniform checklist

World-Class professional illusionist Billy Riggs is available to do shows for scout functions at a 96% discount! Billy is an Eagle Scout, former Cubmaster and Scoutmaster in Thunderbird District, the father of an Eagle Scout, and does this as a way of giving back to Scouting. He normally charges companies $7,500 for the show he'll bring to your pack meeting, troop meeting, day camp or banquet for just a gift certificate to a local restaurant or movie theater of $200 to $300. See this flyer for more information or to access a video link, or go to www.billyriggs.com.