Our council's STEM Committee congratulates Noah Smith of Troop 256 for becoming the first Scout in our council to earn the BSA's Thomas Edison Supernova Award! The award is the highest STEM Award a Boy Scout or Varsity Scout may earn. CLICK HERE to see the requirements.

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:

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
March 4 - Range Safety Officer Training
March 25 - Scoutmaster/Asst Scoutmaster Specific (at Camp Alma McHenry near Giddings)
March 25 - Troop Committee Challenge (at Camp Alma McHenry near Giddings)
April 21-13 - Scoutmaster/Asst Scoutmaster Specific + IOLS
May 5-7 - IOLS (in Wimberley)
May 19-21 - Rifle Instructor Training

Join our Scout Executive Jon C. Yates in running the Cap10K on April 23! There is a council "team" you can join for the run. For instructions on how to sign up for the race, our council's team, and even buy a special team shirt, CLICK HERE.

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.
Each 2016 Capitol Area Council Eagle Scout will be individually recognized and receive a special 2016 Eagle Scout commemorative coin at the reception.

There are 2 receptions; CLICK HERE to see when your district should attend

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.

As we cerebrate the Silver Beaver Class of 2017, we also want to keep up with other Silver Beaver recipients. Please contact gary.wyatt@scouting.org to update your information.

Summer Camp at Lost Pines is filling quickly (Weeks 1-3 are full)! We are working to make your summer the most memorable yet with the best staff and new programs including an overnight canoe trip, LDS 11-year-old specific program and more! To register for camp, please contact Keri Smeaton at keri.smeaton@scouting.org.

Want to be part of our camp family? Come spend your summer staffing Lost Pines. CLICK HERE for more information.

Our best in class STEAM Day Camp asks your Scout to study what it takes to survive in the rainforest. How would explorers set up for an expedition? How do they get there? What do they study and how? Your young scientist will have a great time finding out at our camp at Austin ISD's Applied Technology Center at Anderson High School. There are five week-long sessions in June and July.

CLICK HERE to learn more and register

Registration now for the Spring Hornaday Award Weekend, April 5-7, at Lost Pines Scout Reservation. You'll 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.

CLICK HERE to register
CLICK HERE to learn more

Venturing Extreme Summer Camp is happening this year at Lost Pines! Registration is now open for the June 26-30 camp. Have fun, sleep later, get your First Aid certification, take a canoe trip, float the river, practice camp skills, conduct "Night Ops", and much more!

CLICK HERE to register
CLICK HERE to learn more

Heads up: new spring and fall climbing and cope training dates on the bsaclimbing.org website under the training link. CLICK HERE to see the dates.

Texas Powder Horn participants learn-by-doing with 30+ fun and engaging outdoor activities taught by local experts over two 3-day weekend in September (8-10 and 22-24). This is the course that introduces you to all of the really fun high-adventure-type outdoor activities your Scouts have always wanted to do!

CLICK HERE to register
CLICK HERE to learn more

NYLT is a week-long course that gives Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts and Venturers methods, skills and experiences to become better leaders in their unit. The course centers around the concepts of what a leader must be, what he/she must know, and what he/she must do - with a clear focus on how to accomplish all this. NYLT courses are limited to 48 participants.

CLICK HERE to register for the June 5-10 course
CLICK HERE to register for the June June 11-16 course
CLICK HERE to learn more

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. CLICK HERE for more information.

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. CLICK HERE for more information.

Our Commissioner teams are looking for Scouters who want to make a difference! They will provide free training and great benefits (you get to see Scouting in action, network with others, help a unit in need, or learn neat ideas to share from units that are doing everything right) You are a connection for the unit to its district and our council. Contact Council Commissioner Jack Gindler TODAY if you can help out: jgindler@gcmcpa.com

Dude, where is our troop trailer? That gut wrenching question was just uttered by Troop 519 in Ft. Worth. Our council's Health and Safety Committee Chair Dwight Thompson urges you to evaluate the security of your troop's equipment and take reasonable precautions to secure it.

CLICK HERE to see all Scouting Health and Safety resources

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

In memory of Lee Prentice
David Parkhill
Lois Swanson

In memory of Frank Barr
Susan Blois
Doug Bursch

In memory of Ken Haddox
Jon C. Yates

In memory of Jack Eddins
Bill and Celia Mange

In memory of Ellen Dapper
John Dapper

The Frank Fickett Center is not just a great building for all of your Scouting events; we also take reservations for groups outside of Scouting. It is a
wonderful place for meetings, trainings, corporate retreats, holiday parties, or any other need your company might have. We can accommodate groups up to 300 people, have in house A/V, and very competitive rates - including a special rate for nonprofit and government groups. If you would like more information, please email our Facility Sales Manager Andra Allen at facilitysales@scouting.org.

Join us Thursday February 23 at Noon for an open house and demo of our brand new A/V system. Let us know you will be attending by RSVPing to facilitysales@scouting.org by Wednesday February 22.

March 15-19, 2017 - Cirque du Soleil OVO

• HEB Center at Cedar Park
• Save 10% on premium seat and 25% on price levels 3 & 4
• CLICK HERE to learn more
• CLICK HERE to buy tickets