BSA's online membership registration is here. For your unit to use this feature, have Scoutmaster, Coach, Advisor, or Skipper turn it on through www.My.Scouting.org. Your District Membership Chair or Executive can help.

Want to introduce high adventure activities to your unit, but don't have the skills? Texas Powder Horn participants learn-by-doing with 30+ fun and engaging outdoor activities taught by local experts over two 3-day weekends (September 8-10 and 22-24). Powder Horn provides participants with valuable knowledge and local resources to assist them in bringing challenging and fun outdoor program elements to their units. Powder Horn is for Venturing, Boy Scout, and older youth leaders.

"Like drinking from a fire hose of information!" "Summer camp for adults!"

CLICK HERE to register

All Scouts who are high school seniors interested in a maritime career are invited to attend the July 26 Sea Scout Roundtable (7pm at the Fickett Center). Amy Arrowood, the Director of Maritime Credit Program at San Jacinto College's Maritime Technology and Training Center, will be a guest speaker. Please RSVP to Sea Scout Commodore Jim Graves at jimgraves2144@gmail.com.

Blackland Prairie District congratulates Troop 12 from Hutto for winning the BSA Blanco Canoe Race for the fourth year in a row! This one-mile race is open to all Boy Scout and Venturing units; the winning team receives a brand new canoe. The next race (run by Troop 497) is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, April 28, 2018. Anyone want to challenge Troop 12?

Make plans now to attend Venturing is Happening, September 16 at Lost Pines! It's a weekend that's fun for those who are already in Venturing and Sea Scouting... but also a great opportunity to introduce potential new members to our exciting outdoor program. Bring a friend and take part in pistol shooting, tomahawk throwing, stand up paddleboarding, climbing, archery, rifle and shotgun shooting, and more!.

CLICK HERE to register
CLICK HERE to learn more

There is an opening for a Provisional Crew on our council's 2018 Philmont Contingent. A Provisional Crew consists of small groups of scouts and adults, making up a crew of 12 participants. We will also accept Scouts needing financial assistance to take part. The Philmont Council Contingent departs Austin on June 24, 2018, and returns July 7, 2018. The cost for the Contingent trek is currently estimated to be $1330 per person.

CLICK HERE for more information

Questions? Contact Mark McDermott at mcdermot@ece.utexas.edu or Frank Davol at fdavol@thegateway.net.

Here are courses in the next ~30 days that cover the basics of your volunteer leadership position or specific outdoor skills. The links below will either take you to an online course registration or send an email to the course director:

July 22 - Unit Commissioner Basic Training
September 8-10, 22-24 - Powder Horn
September 15-16 - Scoutmaster Specific and IOLS Training
October 13-15 and November 3-5 - Wood Badge
December 27-January 1 - National Youth Leadership Training

Nominate a Scouting volunteer who you believe has gone above and beyond to support Scouting across our council for the Silver Beaver Award! This is the highest honor presented to a Scouting volunteer at the local council level. The awards will be presented to the new class of these elite volunteers on March 24, 2018, at the Fickett Center.

CLICK HERE to get the nomination form

Scouting's Journey to Excellence (JTE) is an assessment tool you may use to measure how your unit compares with national "expectations" on various program elements in delivering the Scouting program to its youth. CLICK HERE to find tracking charts and information. Your unit leadership can perform the mid-year review themselves, or better yet, contact your Unit Commissioner and go through the form with him/her. If you have any area(s) that you feel like you're falling short, your Unit Commissioner will very likely have some suggestions to help you increase your rating.

Questions? Contact David Walshak, Division Commissioner, at dwalshak.bsa@gmail.com.

We know - feels like you just finished recharter. But our council commissioner corps says there's a little work you can do NOW that will make the next recharter easier. CLICK HERE to learn more. 

Have questions? Ask your Unit Commissioner. Don't know who your Unit Commissioner? Contact your area's District Commissioner for further information. Each District Commissioner is listed on our district contacts page.

The following individuals have made generous contributions to Scouting in memory or in honor of members of the Scouting family:

In memory of Harrison McClure
Victoria Strickland

In memory of Travis D Johnson
Morris and Dana Noren
Charles Gresham
Bobby and Laverne Eulenfeld

In memory of Thomas J Waggoner
Radford Freel

In honor of Everett Deschner
Mr. and Mrs. Randy Nettles

Exciting news: a total solar eclipse is slated to occur on Monday, August 21, and your Scout can earn the BSA 2017 Solar Eclipse patch! Visit www.scouting.org/eclipse2017.aspx for requirements and additional information. 

If your Scout grew over the summer - no worries - the Scout Shop has everything he or she might need to complete a new uniform. 

Summer hours continue, Tuesday-Saturday 10am-4 pm, until August 12. If you have questions please feel free to contact us via email at cacshop@scouting.org or by phone at 512-617-8630.

Planning a summertime trip to Schlitterbahn? Buy your tickets at the Scout Shop and save a few bucks. You can pay for them using your Scout Shop unit account. Here are the discounted prices we're able to offer:

• Scout Days at Schlitterbahn (June 4-30; Saturdays excluded) - $35.99 Adult and Child
• 1 Day Adult General Admission - $47.59 (reg $50.99) - valid all season, no blackout dates
• 1 Day Child/Senior Admission - $37.39 (reg $38.99) - valid all season, no blackout dates

If you have questions please feel free to contact us via email at cacshop@scouting.org or by phone at 512-617-8630.