SHAC Communication for COVID-19 Response
The leadership of the Sam Houston Area Council would like to present our responses to the COVID-19 outbreak and protocols for Scouting operations going forward. For more information, please click here.
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Membership
As fall begins to cool down the weather, Join Scouting season is heating up! More and more, Scouting activities are gearing up and families are looking for great adventures in the outdoors. NOW is the time to double down our recruiting and advertising efforts at the local level. Put out those yard signs, posters, & flyers! Post to your facebook pages, Nextdoor community groups and even HOA discussion groups: Now is a great time to Join Scouting! You can easily promote joining at the grassroots level by sharing with new families to text “Cub Scout” to 31996, or visit www.shac.org/join to locate a unit in their community. As Scouting’s greatest ambassadors, its on use to ensure that families are informed, excited to join and welcomed to their new Scouting home. Need more ideas or help in your district? Visit www.shac.org/recruiting, contact your District Membership Chair or your District Executive today! And as always, Happy Recruiting out there!
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Merit Badge Days
Camp Strake
We have enjoyed two Merit Badge Days at the new Camp Strake. There are still openings for our last two events. The dates are October 17 and November 21. Register online by clicking here.
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Safety moment
Camping is a long-honored tradition for many families, including the BSA family. Timing, supplies, and location should be determined ahead of time so you can make the most of your camping experience. For more information, please click here.
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STAY CONNECTED, LIKE US ON FACEBOOK |
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Popcorn
The community is supporting us! Units across the council have been having great success with the Show N Sell Campaign. This year Pack 60 sold for the first time and has sold over $8,500 in Show N Sell, selling over $15,000 total and the sale isn’t over yet! Scouts can sell product door to door, at store fronts like at Lowes’ or other hardware stores, local restaurants, craft stores, and event community parks.
The online Popcorn sale is the EASIEST way to raise funds for you Scout and unit. Scouts can sell online and be 100% contact free. By participating in Popcorn your Scouts earn points towards their Trail’s End Rewards for Amazon e-Gift Cards while helping to support your unit and the council.
It’s not too late to sign up to sell, if you would like to order Show N Sell product to have on hand to sell directly to customers contact your District Popcorn Kernel, District Executive, or Mary Welch at the council office.
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Recharter
November 1st marks the opening of the Online Recharter Renewal System, but there is no reason you cannot take steps to get prepared today. Here are some action items that you can do in October to ensure that your Recharter process is quick, easy and headache free:
- Designate a specific person to handle recharter. Ensure that this person receives the access code from the District Executive or District Commissioner
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Make sure your specific recharter person takes the recharter training found at www.shac.org/recharter
- Ensure that each of your existing adult members has a current YPT that DOES NOT EXPIRE before April 1st, 2021. If it will expire April 1st, 2021, have them take recharter now!
- All new adults must submit applications accompanied by a current YPT certificate, as well as the background check and additional background disclosure form
- All new youth must submit an application to join with the recharter. (you can frontload this by ensuring all applications are submitted in October, so they are on the recharter Nov 1st)
- Ensure all new Scouts have been notified of the new National registration fee of $66 annually, as well as $4 for insurance and the one time $25 join fee (paid at time of registration).
- Ensure all rechartering Scouts have been notified of the new National registration of $66 annually, as well as $4 for insurance
- If your charter organization has gone radio silent during COVID-19, DO NOT WAIT! Contact your District Executive today to get help
- If you need help, ask for it! Your Commissioner and District Executive are here to help ensure you are successful.
Recharter can be a lot of work, but with a little bit or front loading on the preparations end, and asking for help where you need it, you will be able to breeze through an error free recharter and into a great year of Scouting in 2021!
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Summer Camp 2021
It’s time to start planning for next summer! Summer camp is held at Tsuru Scout Camp at Camp Strake, a first-class and state-of-the-art facility for Scouts and their leaders. Program areas include shooting sports (rifle, shotgun, archery, sporting arrows), Wild Hex (aerial adventure tower), zip lines, climbing, rappelling, COPE, swimming, biking, merit badge classes and more. Registration will open for all SHAC troops starting October 15. Come be part of this historic first summer. To learn more about Camp Strake and registration information, please click here.
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Campmasters
We are looking for volunteers to be part of the Camp Strake campmaster corps. Campmasters serve at council weekend camps whenever Scouting units/families are using any part of the camp property. Campmasters select their own time and frequency of service, but they usually serve two to four times a year. Anyone interested in serving as a Campmaster should contact Erick Simmons at erick.simmons@scouting.org or Trey Jackson at trey.jackson@scouting.org.
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National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) - November and December 2020
National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) is an exciting, action-packed six-day council-level program designed to provide Scouts in troops, crews and ships with leadership skills and experience they can use in their home units and in other situations demanding leadership of self and others. Please monitor the NYLT page on the council website for further information about winter 2020 NYLT courses.
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University of Scouting- Fall 2020 online (early November) and in person classes November 14, 2020
University of Scouting is a semi-annual training event for leaders of all program levels, district and council leaders and parents. Registration opens October 1, consult this page for more information.
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Council Recognition Reception
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Winter Camp
Winter camp is a wonderful opportunity for troops to camp and Scouts to earn merit badges. Merit badge classes are taught by Scouters with real-life experiences in the field. Winter camp will be held at the new Camp Strake. Over 60 merit badge classes are offered, including many merit badges that are not normally offered at summer camp. Registration opens October 5. To register, please click here.
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Member Care
Member Care concerns for Scoutbook, Internet Advancement and My.Scouting shifted from National Council to SHAC September 1, 2020.
If you need a password reset, please call the council switchboard at 713-659-8111. If you have other problems with these programs, please look here first for the answer, and then if need be send an email to 576volunteersupport@scouting.org. Your concern will be addressed quickly, usually the same day. Please be patient with our office staff as we are learning the software and methods for making corrections and helping volunteers with online account concerns.
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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.
SHAC Communication for COVID-19 Response- For more information, please click here.
For fall 2020 First Aid/AED/CPR, Wilderness Remote First Aid, and First Aid/AED/CPR Instructor Classes, please click here.
Visit the Enterprise Risk Management page by clicking here.
Click here for Safety moment topics.
Click here for a listing of resent Safety alerts.
Click here for Incident reporting information.
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Youth Protection Training
Youth Protection Training (YPT) is designed to help keep youth safe from abuse. During YPT, participants learn the Boy Scouts of America’s Youth Protection Guidelines, signs of abuse, and how to report suspected abuse. This course must be completed by all registered leaders, and is highly recommended for parents and other adults working with youth. For 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. 2-1-1 can also be a needed resource for hurricane season.
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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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 and has year-round camping program opportunities for all levels of Cub Scouts including Adventure Day. For more information, please click here.
McNair Cub Adventure Day at Bovay Scout Ranch
Please reserve your attendance now for McNair Cub Adventure Day, Fun With Family Day, and Webelos Coyote Trail Xtreme Day at Bovay Scout Ranch. please click here.
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Cub Scout Sports Days
This fall we will be conduction several one day cub scout events. More information is coming soon.
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Merit Badge Days
Camp Strake
We have enjoyed two Merit Badge Days at the new Camp Strake. There are still openings for our last two events. The dates are October 17 and November 21. Register online by clicking here.
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Winter Camp
Winter camp is a wonderful opportunity for troops to camp and Scouts to earn merit badges. Merit badge classes are taught by Scouters with real-life experiences in the field. Winter camp will be held at the new Camp Strake. Over 60 merit badge classes are offered, including many merit badges that are not normally offered at summer camp. Registration opens October 5. To register, please click here.
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Summer Camp 2021
It’s time to start planning for next summer! Summer camp is held at Tsuru Scout Camp at Camp Strake, a first-class and state-of-the-art facility for Scouts and their leaders. Program areas include shooting sports (rifle, shotgun, archery, sporting arrows), Wild Hex (aerial adventure tower), zip lines, climbing, rappelling, COPE, swimming, biking, merit badge classes and more. Registration will open for all SHAC troops starting October 15. Come be part of this historic first summer. To learn more about Camp Strake and registration information, please click here.
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Merit Badge Days
Camp Strake
We have enjoyed two Merit Badge Days at the new Camp Strake. There are still openings for our last two events. The dates are October 17 and November 21. Register online by clicking here.
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SHAC Venturing
Venturing Forums – Venturing forum is to provide training, information, and motivation to Venturing adult leaders and crew officers. The Forum should be considered supplemental training to Venturing Leader Specific Training, and is an outstanding opportunity to continue the Venturing leader training and education. Full calendar can be found here.
Venturing Forum – October 13, 2020
Save the Date for Venturing Challenge – February 19-21, 2021
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Winter Camp
Winter camp is a wonderful opportunity for troops to camp and Scouts to earn merit badges. Merit badge classes are taught by Scouters with real-life experiences in the field. Winter camp will be held at the new Camp Strake. Over 60 merit badge classes are offered, including many merit badges that are not normally offered at summer camp. Registration opens October 5. To register, please click here.
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Summer Camp 2021
It’s time to start planning for next summer! Summer camp is held at Tsuru Scout Camp at Camp Strake, a first-class and state-of-the-art facility for Scouts and their leaders. Program areas include shooting sports (rifle, shotgun, archery, sporting arrows), Wild Hex (aerial adventure tower), zip lines, climbing, rappelling, COPE, swimming, biking, merit badge classes and more. Registration will open for all SHAC crews and ships starting October 15. Come be part of this historic first summer. To learn more about Camp Strake and registration information, please click here.
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Sea Scouts Fleet
The Sea Scout Fleet Committee Zoom meeting, Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at 7 p.m. Contact: Tony Scharp shaccommodore@gmail.com for Zoom meeting information.
Ahoy SHAC Sea Scouters,
Due to the pandemic, this year’s Minto Rendezvous Skills Competition will be on-line October 9-10, 2020. The event will be based in Austin, but youth and adults can participate anywhere in the country – or the world. Here are the Virtual Minto Rendezvous Boarding Manual and Registration links.
Sea Scouting builds character through high adventure. Join for the water, stay for the fun
Resources, Events and Activities. Learn more by clicking here.
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Houston Museum of Natural Science Scout Programs
Join us for a free virtual informational session where we’ll talk about the Scouts@HMNS program, generously supported by Occidental, and all the resources HMNS has to offer scouts! Register in advance for this webinar by clicking here.
Scouts classes at HMNS. For more information on our in-person or virtual classes click here!
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Amazon Smile
Activate AmazonSmile on Your Mobile Phone to Support Scouting. With a few simple steps, adding this no-cost feature can help support Scouting with every eligible purchase. To learn more, please click here.
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Sporting Clays Tournament
October 8, 2020
Greater Houston Sports Club
6700 McHard Rd.
Houston, TX 77053
Help support Scouting by participating in the Annual Sporting Clays Event. This exciting and challenging shotgun clay shooting event is a great team competition that supports the Scouting program. For more information, please click here.
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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 over 100 years, the Order of the Arrow (OA) has recognized Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. For more information, contact your OA chapter.
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