Winter Camp
December 26 - 31, 2018
Be a part of
Winter Camp
at Bovay Scout Ranch. Registration is now open! Space is very limited and will fill up extremely fast. We will offer Merit Badges that are hard to find at Resident Camp. To register please click
here
. Also, click
here
to apply to be on Winter Camp Staff.
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Register now for NYLT!
National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) is an action-packed leadership course designed for Boy Scouts and Venturers. During the six days of NYLT, youth are challenged to develop leadership skills through team building activities, games, and practical application. Graduates return to their home units to continue their growth and deliver the promise of the youth-led unit. Registration is now open for Winter NYLT, to be held at Bovay Scout Ranch on December 26-31. To learn requirements and more about NYLT, please click
here
. To register for the 2018 Winter NYLT course, click
here
.
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Recharter
Renewing Your Scouting Membership - Unit Recharters Due December 15th
Every December, all units (packs, troops, crews, and posts) are required to renew their affiliation with Scouting. The Boy Scouts of America issues charters to community organizations to enable them to use the Scouting program under their own leadership as a service to their youth and families. “Rechartering” is the process of renewing the charter agreement between the BSA and the organization, and renewing the registration of youth and adult members.
Rechartering on time is critical. It is required for your Unit’s Journey to Excellence submission. It is required for units to continue registration without interruption. It is required to ensure Scouts are registered, critical for receiving rank advancement and other awards, and for insurance coverage.
A representative of each unit completes the paperwork for renewing a charter online. Through the process, information on the chartered organization, youth members and adult leaders is updated as well as registration fees and Boys' Life subscriptions are collected/paid.
If this is your first time to be involved with recharter, or if you need to brush up on how recharter is done, please click
here
to learn more. Or contact your District professional or Unit Commissioner.
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Scout Fair 2019 - Score a Goal with Scouting
Scout Fair 2019 will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2019 at NRG Arena. This year's theme is "Score a Goal with Scouting." The Sam Houston Area Council is excited to announce our partnership with the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash. Houston Dynamo/Dash will be providing our weekly drawing bonus as well as the 219 Bonus Level prize. Scout Fair is an event where scouts from all over the Council unite in one place to display Scouting fun!
Scout Fair Coupon Books help your Scouts earn their own way!
The 2019 Scout Fair Coupon Book offers great savings to the buyer while Scouts earn commissions for every $10 Coupon Book purchased. Buyers receive $100's in valuable savings from partners such as: Dick's Sporting Goods, Luby's, Fuddruckers, Kroger, the Houston Dynamo/Dashs and more.
Click
here
to register your unit to sell Coupon Books.
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STAY CONNECTED, LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
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Scouts BSA
The Scouts BSA launch happens February 1
st
and with-it girls will be able to join in on the adventure! Scouts BSA Troops for girls will be able to register with the Sam Houston Area Council on February 1
st
, 2019, but you shouldn’t wait until then to get started! There are leaders to recruit, trainings to complete, and adventures to plan, all before February 1
st
, 2019! Let our Council Onboarding Team help guide you through this exciting process to start your very own Scouts BSA Troop for girls. Now is the time to start!
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3 Places to get answers to your questions about Family Scouting
After the historic 2017 decision to offer our iconic programs to both to boys and girls in 2018, many people have had questions about what that means and how to introduce those expanded program offerings in their communities.
The
three key places
where you can find answers to your questions about Family Scouting, including Cub Scouts and the Scouting program for older girls, are as follows:
The Marketing and Membership
Hub
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Top Leader Basic Training Day
Saturday, December 8, 2018
Cockrell Scout Center
Top Leader Training Day is the last opportunity for leaders (Cubmasters, Scoutmasters*, and Venturing Crew Advisors) to receive basic training prior to recharter. All trainings will begin at 8:00 a.m. and will end at varying times depending on which training is being taken. Click
here
for more information.
Online registration will be closing Tuesday, December 04, 2018 at 4:30 p.m., online registration is $5.00. Walk-ins will be accepted on Saturday morning for a fee of $10.00
Please note: December recharters require that all top unit leaders MUST be trained. Top leaders are Cubmasters, Scoutmasters, and Advisors.
Lunch will be available for purchase for pre-registration.
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Souper Bowl of Caring - Scouting For Food
One of Scouting's founding principles is "doing a good turn daily." We encourage all of our Scouts to participate in this tradition of service by joining our annual Scouting for Food Drive in conjunction with the Souper Bowl of Caring. Let's show our community the Scouting value of being HELPFUL by fighting hunger in our area. Scouts will go out on one weekend (Saturday, January 26), place hangers on the doors of their neighbors, and come back the next week (Saturday, February 2) to pick up the food and take it to a local food bank. Door hangers will be available at the Sam Houston Area Council Cockrell Scout Center and Roundtables in early January. Scouting for Food is the leading service program for Boy Scouts of America and is a part of the national BSA program - Good Turn for America. Make sure your Scouts are a part of it and register now to receive important updates, information and resources. Click
here
for more information.
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First Aid Meet
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Houston Fire Department Training Center
8030 Braniff St.
Houston, TX 77061
Please make plans to attend the Sam Houston Area Council First Aid Meet. Each district is allowed three representative patrols from Boy Scout Troops within their districts. Patrols will compete for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. The cost for the 2019 First Aid Meet is $25.00 per patrol. The participation fee must be paid in advance by Tuesday, February 4, 2019. This may be the only opportunity for some Scouts to participate because not all districts have a District First Aid Meet. No fees will be accepted at the meet. For more information, please click
here
or call Monica Cotten at 713-756-3322.
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Youth Protection Training
In order for a registered leader to recharter this year that leader must have completed Youth Protection Training (YPT) on or after February 1
st
of 2018. There is now only one YPT course (Y01) for all programs and it must be completed on or after February 1, 2018. All Venturing YPT and Exploring YPT have been set to have an expiration date of September 30, 2018 so Venturing and Exploring leaders will need to take Youth Protection Training if they have not already. Finally, any Venturing or Sea Scout youth who are over the age of 18 but not yet 21 will need to have taken YPT with a date on or after February 1
st
of 2018.
You can find out more information about YPT
here
and you can go to
my.scouting.org
to take online YPT.
ScoutsFirst for Help with Questions, Concerns and Reporting:
The ScoutsFirst Helpline also makes it easier for volunteers and families to address dangerous situations. If a leader or parent has a question about a situation, or something they've seen or if they want to report a possible incident, they can contact the Helpline for assistance. In cases of abuse, they should also notify the local authorities. ScoutsFirst Helpline (844)-Scouts1 or (844)726-8871.
ScoutsFirst for Counseling and Support:
The Boy Scouts of America is committed to providing ongoing support to victims and their families, including counseling. We want to help victims heal, on their own terms, with a professional counselor of their choice. Through the ScoutsFirst Helpline, the Boy Scouts of America offers assistance with counseling to any youth member, former youth member, or the family of any youth member who suffered abuse during their time in Scouting. To reach the ScoutsFirst Helpline, call (844)-Scouts1 or (844)726-8871, or email
scouts1st@scouting.org
. Support is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
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Grow Scouting!
The weather has cooled off and that means Scouting season is in full swing! Hopefully all of your newly recruited scouts have had an opportunity to go camping and spend some time in the great outdoors. Now is also the time to focus on processing our recharters and making sure that all of the scouts that have signed up to be in our Packs during fall recruiting are in the recharter system. If you find that you are missing a scout on your recharter, contact your District Executive or Commissioner and see if they can tell you why the Scout is not in the online recharter system. Once your DE or Commissioner is aware there is a problem, they can help you find a solution, ensuring that all scouts who signed up in the fall are registered with the BSA. And if you have a new Scout sign up after your recharter has been started, don’t worry; DE’s and Commissioners can help you with that process too!
Thank you for helping us reach year end growth, but we still have room to grow.
Let’s all be a part of making the Sam Houston Area Council win the Gold this year in Journey To Excellence!
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Houston Philmont Crew
Trek Date: June 15-29, 2019
Experience the ultimate high-adventure trek at Philmont Scout Ranch. Long considered the ultimate in high-adventure for Scouting, now available to Scouts who are nominated, qualify and make the commitment.
Houston Philmont Crews is a program established for Scouts in the Sam Houston Area Council that would like the unique opportunity to experience the most celebrated of high-adventure and backpacking in a Boy Scout environment. The Philmont experience can be a life changing event and this program is being offered to Boy Scouts that meet certain requirements and would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend because of financial challenges. For eligible Scout youth all fees, use of ultra-light equipment, backpacking clothes, food and transportation will be provided. A Philmont trek is nothing to be taken lightly and a strict discipline focused on proper training and boy leadership balanced with teaching and mentorship from adult advisors with exceptional backpacking and Philmont experience is the foundation of the program. A personal commitment to participate in all meetings and training activities from Scouts chosen is mandatory. A financial commitment of $100 is required to participate.
To apply, or nominate a Scout:Contact Sam Houston Area Council Michael Moore at Michael.Moore@scouting.org or (713) 865-9154
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The Sam Houston Area Council is Now Hiring!
We continually search for potential career employees who would like to work in a profession that has a meaningful, rewarding purpose. Bring to the BSA your varied life experiences, education, and perspective, and in return you will have an opportunity to combine those skills and experiences in a career that values and respects others. Scouting is a profession with a purpose!
Check out our current openings
here
.
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Be A ScoutReach Volunteer
ScoutReach is the Sam Houston Area Council's program to build Scouting in traditionally under served communities. 7,000 Scouts participate in this program, which are primarily led by paid employees. Most unit activities are held in elementary and middle schools throughout Houston. The goal of the Scoutreach program is for all participants to have the same experiences and opportunities as those in traditional, volunteer led, programs. Scoutreach parents are not typically available to provide the support enjoyed by traditional volunteer units. Experienced Scout Volunteers are needed to bring the skill components to the Scout's experience. For more information, please contact Lionel Jellins at
lionel@jellins.net.
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Enterprise Risk Management Committee
The purpose of the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) committee is to prepare adult leaders to conduct Scouting activities in a safe and prudent manner.
Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Committee has scheduled training for Saturday, March 2nd, Sunday,
March 17th and Sunday, May 19th.
Wilderness First Aid –
2019 Dates: Saturday, April 20th & Saturday, April 27th
Please register by clicking
here
.
All classes will be held at the Cockrell Scout Center, 2225 North Loop West, Houston, Texas 77008. Please register on Double Knot. Space is limited. Lunch is provided
Click
here
to view recent Safety Alerts.
Click
here
for Incident reporting information.
Click
here
for Safety moment topics.
Click
here f
or Emergency Preparedness Resources.
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Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturing, and Exploring
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Bovay Scout Ranch
Enjoy all the wonder and beauty of the central Texas rolling hills and lakes at Bovay Scout Ranch. Bovay Scout Ranch has a variety of camping opportunities for Cub Scouts, Boy Scout Troops and Venturers. Bovay Scout Ranch has year round camping program opportunities for all levels of Cub Scouts including Weekend Adventure Camps.
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McNair Cub Adventure Camp at Bovay Scout Ranch
Please reserve your attendance now for the 2019 Spring dates at McNair Cub Adventure Camp at Bovay Scout Ranch.
You are invited to explore and enjoy all the wonder and beauty of the east Texas rolling hills and lakes at McNair Cub Adventure Camp at Bovay Scout Ranch. McNair Cub Adventure Camp has a variety of camping opportunities for everyone from Cub Scouts to Boy Scout Troops and Venture Crews. With year round camping program opportunities for all levels of Cub Scouts including Weekend Adventure Camps and the new Webelos Coyote Trail Xtreme Adventure Camp. McNair Cub Adventure Camp has a great swimming pool and an air conditioned dining hall (closed on Weekend Camping dates). The Trading Post will be open on Adventure Camp dates.
McNair Cub Adventure Camp at Bovay Scout Ranch is an overnight, full program camp for all family members. Tigers, Wolves, Bears and Webelos and their families will enjoy an exciting variety of activities at several program areas that is subject to change and food service in the camp's air-conditioned dining hall (The kitchen offers a Vegetarian patty
substitute
as requested during your registration). All the program activities are open every session during Cub Resident Camp. A staff member in each area will provide program supplies and support the parents who will be invited to assist in leading the activities. Pack, Dens, and individual families may register. For more information click
here
.
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Weekend Unit Camping
Units that plan to schedule Shooting Sports Activities need to read the new Shooting Sport Manual. Troops, Teams, Crews, Packs, or Webelos Dens can enjoy the amazing beauty of Bovay Scout Ranch rolling hills, trails and vast open spaces. Clean campsites, restrooms and showers are available; units may design their own program activities and provide their own meals during this type of weekends.
The Trading Post will be open on some Weekend Camping dates.
For more information click
here
.
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World Scout Jamboree
July 22 - August 9, 2019
The 24th
World Scout Jamboree
is an educational event that brings together the world's young people to promote peace and mutual understanding and to develop leadership and life skills. The jamboree will feature the hallmarks of past world jamboree programs, such as the Global Development Village, the World Scout Centre, a special sustainability initiative, and the socialization elements that allow participants to make lifelong friends from around the world. To learn more, please click
here
.
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Venturing
Click
here
to find all the Venturing news including, Venturing Forums, upcoming events calendars, and Crew Committee Challenge Training.
Kodiak Challenge at Winter Camp December 26 - 31 at Bovay Scout Ranch
The next Venturing Meeting is January 9, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cockrell Scout Center.
The next Venturing Forum is January 22, at 7:00 p.m. at the Cockrell Scout Center.
Want to Know More?
Follow the SHAC VOA on Twitter @shacventuring
Instagram @shacventuring
Or FaceBook @ SHACVenturing
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Sea Scouts Fleet
The next Sea Scout Committee is December 19, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.
Scoutmasters, please click
here
for a better understanding of Sea Scouts and activities and how you may tap into some expertise for water activities.
Bay Area Park facility is now open. Requests for space or storage can be sent to Bennett, Barton
bbennettclaims@yahoo.com.
Contact Royal B. Freas,
rbfreas@UTMB.EDU
for more information regarding Sea Scouts.
For resources, events, activities and more information please click
here
.
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United Way of Greater Houston's 211 Helpline and THRIVE
2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE
If you need help finding child care, food stamps, care for an aging parent or a haven from domestic violence, 2-1-1 is the number to call when you don't know who to call. The United Way of Greater Houston's trained HELPLINE specialists are good listeners, blending understanding and expertise to provide information and referrals drawn from a comprehensive database of social services. Annually, the 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE answers over 957,600 calls for help. Basic needs, like food, utilities and health care, topped the list of requests last year, followed by rent assistance and help finding shelter.
Additionally, other resources such as United Way THRIVES's workforce development offerings, financial coaching and education opportunities and financial products and services can be accessed through 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE.
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Scout Days at the Houston Museum of Natural Science
The Houston Museum of Natural Science offers a variety of classes for Scouts. Tigers, Wolves, Bears and Webelos can work towards Adventures in two-hour classes. Up to two classes can be taken in one day and entrance to the general exhibits is included for the scout and one parent/chaperone. Classes are offered throughout the school year on Saturdays.
19 merit badges are available during the school year HMNS, including five Eagle Scout required badges: Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Family Life and Personal Management.
Spring break classes will be held at our Sugar Land location March 11
th
– 13
th
. On March 12
th
, we will be offering Webelos First Responders class from 9:30 – 12:00 or 12:30 – 3.
Summer Scout Classes, are week-long classes, held during the summer for Scouts BSA, Webelos, Bears, Wolves and Tigers. A total of 42 different merit badge class are being taught at HMNS. (6 are Eagle require and 12 are STEM NOVA) Registration for these classes will start January 17
th
for members and on the 24
th
for non-members. For more information, check out our Scouts@HMNS
Facebook page
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Donate your vehicle or boat
To donate a car, truck, RV, trailer, boat or motor to the Sam Houston Area Council, please visit One Car One Difference, found
here
. For more information about One Car One Difference, the Boy Scouts of America's Vehicle donation program, please click
here
.
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The Order of the Arrow is the Scouting National Honor Society. For 101 years, the Order of the Arrow (OA) has recognized Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. This recognition provides encouragement for others to live these ideals as well. Arrowmen are known for maintaining camping traditions and spirit, promoting year-round and long-term resident camping, developing leaders, and providing cheerful service to others. OA service, activities, adventures, and training for youth and adults are models of quality leadership development and programming that enrich, support, and help to extend Scouting to America's youth. For more information, contact your
OA chapter
.
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