It's not too late to sign up for University of Scouting. It's happening this coming Saturday, January 21, at ACC's Eastview Campus:

• General registration closes this Thursday, January 19
• Lunch registration (fajitas!) closes at midnight this Tuesday, January 17
• New Unit Committee College - designed specifically for Unit Committee members to earn the TRAINED patch and take a bunch of other useful tips back to their committees
• Our council's first-ever Outdoor Ethics Orientation Training
• Many, many more classes and training available, CLICK HERE for the list
• CLICK HERE to register for the event (you choose classes the day of)

Here are courses in the next ~60 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:

January 20-21 - Muzzleloading Rifle Instructor Course
January 21 - University of Scouting
January 27-28 - Intro to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) (North Shore District hosts)
January 27-28 - Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training (North Shore District hosts)
February 24-26 - IOLS (Colorado River District hosts)
February 25 - Trainer's EDGE
March 2 - Merit Badge Counselor Orientation
March 3-5, 24-26 - WoodBadge

There is a picture of a Scout on a rope in just about every BSA brochure. You can facilitate that!
 
The Climbing and C.O.P.E. Committee is holding an open house at DOK's Tower at Lost Pines Scout Reservation starting at 5:00pm this Friday, January 20. This is for adults who may be interested in instructor training to enable their units to use our council's climbing & C.O.P.E. facilities. You can climb and rappel, learn about training opportunities as well as check out some cool gizmos and advanced techniques. We'll be open until 9:00pm. For more information, email Jim Miller at jim@bsaclimbing.org.

Attend the 2017 Report to State Parade on Saturday, February 4! The deadline to sign up your unit is TOMORROW, Monday, January 16. Our theme is "Deep in the Heart of Texas". Plans include:

• Scout Spirit Rally on the Capitol steps
• A Scout Band leading the parade
• Eagle Scout re-dedication ceremony
• Report received by State Secretary of State Rolando Pablos

CLICK HERE to learn more and register your unit

Registration for Hornaday Weekend Spring 2017 opens February 1. The event takes place the weekend of April 5-7 at Lost Pines Scout Reservation.  

Learn about natural resources and conservation by studying some of the 22 offered merit badges taught by professionals in each field. Participants can also sign up to learn how to complete a Hornaday Award, Scouting's highest conservation award, at the Hornaday Academy. More information at www.hornadaybsa.org.

Congratulations to our council's 2017 Silver Beaver Award recipients:

Heather Ball
Dave Read
Judith Carroll
Liz Shelby
John Culpepper
Gene Shepherd
Rosalie Galliver
Eric Swenson
Jim Graves                    
Richard Wahl
Toni Malone
Sam West
Dr. Richard Rhodes

Please help honor these terrific volunteers by attending the Silver Beaver reception on Saturday, March 25, from 2:30pm-4:30pm at the Fickett Center. CLICK HERE to register.

All 2016 Capitol Area Council Eagle Scouts, their families, their Scoutmasters, mentors, troop friends and Eagle Scout alumni are invited to attend the Eagle Reception on Saturday, February 25, at the Fickett Center. There will be a morning and an afternoon reception to accommodate the more than 400 Eagle Scouts from 2016. An invitation letter will be mailed to all 2016 Eagle Scouts later this month with information as to which reception to attend.

Each 2016 Capitol Area Council Eagle Scout will be individually recognized and receive a special 2016 Eagle Scout commemorative coin at the reception. CLICK HERE for more information or contact Teresa.Northcutt@Scouting.org.

Blackland Prairie District invites all leaders and parents in the Pflugerville, Taylor and Hutto areas to attend the District Banquet on February 9 at 7:00pm at the Fickett Center. $10 a person for a barbecue dinner; CLICK HERE to register.

There are still available openings for individuals and small groups for the 2017 Philmont Council Contingent. The fee is $1285 per person. The contingent leaves Austin July 2 and returns July 15.
 
If you have interested "financially challenged" or "at risk" Scouts and adult leaders interested in being a part of the Philmont Opportunity Crew, there will be a presentation and interviews at the Frank Fickett
Scout Training and Service Center in December 2016 and January 2017. For more information, contact Mark McDermott, Philmont Contingent Advisor, at mcdermot@ece.utexas.edu.

It's not too soon to start planning our council's 2018 Philmont Contingent. It will depart Austin Sunday, June 24, 2018, and will return Saturday, July 7, 2018. You must commit to the estimated financial cost of $1,330 per person ($15,960 per crew) and contingent's payment schedule. CLICK HERE for more information.

Doing service projects together is one way that Scouts can keep their promise "to help other people." While giving service, Scouts learn to work together with others to do something that's good for their community. Here are some service opportunities in the Austin area that have been carefully vetted through our service partner, JustServe.org:

Serve in community gardens - Pflugerville
Clean up parks, plant seeds and more at Hutto's Big Event
Help load/unload trees at Tree Givewaway events
Participate in "Keep Austin Beautiful" Projects
Share musical talent at a senior care center
Serve food to the less fortunate
Sing for or play games with senior citizens
Pack food for underprivileged children
Bake a birthday cake for an underprivileged child

When searching for projects suitable for Scout-age boys, be sure to click on "suitable for all ages" in the advanced search area of JustServe.org.

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


In memory of Harrison McClure
Karen Tellepsen

In memory of Mark Welty
Ann Harwood

In memory of Israel Gonzalez
Jon C. Yates

In memory of Frank Barr
Paul Baude
Bruce and Lori Griffs

In memory of Grant Wishard
Texas Eclipse 16 Black

In memory of Lee Prentice
Karl and Janice Holdaway

In honor of John and Nancy Horton
Renee Butler

In honor of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Scofield
Martha McAdams Vertrees

In honor of Mr. and Mrs. Ewing Evans
Martha McAdams Vertrees

In honor of Mr. and Mrs. Ron Mueller
Martha McAdams Vertrees

In honor of Marietta Scott
James Wynne

In honor of Jackson Phillips
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Phillips

Is your troop welcoming new Scouts from Webelos Crossover? Do you need neckerchiefs and slides, Boy Scout handbooks and field covers, and green shoulder loops? We have everything you need.

Remember that we have all pieces of Scout uniforms in stock as you plan for the 68th annual Report to State parade, Jamboree 2017, NYLT, and Courts of Honor.

Do you need merit badges sewn onto your sash? We offer a sewing service at the Scout Shop. Come see what's new in your Scout Shop!

Please note the Matthews Scout Shop will be closed on Monday, January 16, in observance of Martin Luther King Day.

Scout Shop regular business hours: M-F, 9am-5:30pm and Sat, 10am-2:30pm.! Contact us at CACshop@scouting.org.

February 18, 2017 - UT men's basketball vs. Kansas State

• Frank Erwin Center
• Tip off at 1:00pm
• $10 tickets offered to Scouts and their families
• Must use discount code MBSCOUT
• CLICK HERE to purchase tickets