The council conservation committee provides expertise in matters of ecology, conservation, and resource management. Their purpose is to guide policy-making and operational decisions regarding the management of the council's natural and cultural resources, promotion of conservation-related training, and advancement of conservation programs.
Service Projects Training Resources Awards
Conservation Activities
Public Lands Day is celebrated annually at public lands in the United States on a Saturday in late September. A signature event of the National Environmental Education Foundation, it promotes both popular enjoyment and volunteer conservation of public lands. Learn more about the Day of Service hosted by Colonneh Lodge, Order of the Arrow.
Trash Bash is typically held the last weekend in March.
Thousands of volunteers gather along the Texas waterways to do their part in cleaning up the environment. The project is the largest statewide event to educate the public about the importance of our water resources.
Texas Wildlife & Woodland Expo
Texas Wildlife & Woodland Expo is held in March at Lone Star College-Montgomery, and is designed to help families learn a little about the land on which they live — and how to best take care of it — through hands-on clinics, live demonstrations, and children’s activities.
The Port Authority offers an unforgettably spectacular waterborne boat tour (free of charge) of one of the busiest ports in the world aboard the Port of Houston Authority's public charter tour boat!
Houston WaterWorks Education Center is located near the shores of Lake Houston at the City of Houston’s Northeast Water Purification Plant. WaterWorks Education Center is a one-of-a-kind water destination, whose mission is to promote water education, conservation and stewardship.
The City of Houston’s WaterWorks Education Center welcomes all educational groups to explore the wonders of water during a field trip designed to imbue them with a sense of wonderment and discovery about one of earth’s most precious resources.
Reporting Service Hours
Units are encouraged to report their conservation projects through the Activity Logs in Internet Advancement. This helps provide the community an accurate report on the great service and dedication our Scouts are showing throughout the Sam Houston Area Council.
Conservation Awards
BSA has a variety of conservation awards:
- BSA Distinguished Conservation Service Award (troops, crews) encourages and recognizes truly outstanding efforts undertaken by Scouting units, Scouts and Venturers, Scouters, and other individuals, corporations, and institutions that have contributed significantly to natural resource conservation and environmental protection.
DCSA Advisors SHAC award recipients
- Outdoor Ethics Award (troops, crews)
- World Conservation Award (packs, troops, crews)
- Take Care of Texas Award (packs, troops)
- Conservation Good Turn Award (packs, troops, crews)
- Adult awards
Conservation Training
“The Boy Scouts of America has adopted the principles of Leave No Trace, which are easy to learn and apply. Every outing and activity should be conducted with Leave No Trace in mind. As young people mature, we will enjoy an increasingly beautiful environment because of the impact of their training in Leave No Trace. As members of the Boy Scouts of America, we should be good stewards of our environment through the knowledgeable use of resources.
"We all must take responsibility for our decisions when we use the outdoors, and we should treat the environment with respect so future generations can enjoy the outdoors as we do today.” -Teaching Leave No Trace (BSA No. 21-117). Conservation courses are taught at the University of Scouting.
BSA Leave No Trace Trainer Course is a 16-hour, overnight course for individuals, ages 14 and up who wish to guide units in developing a culture that effectively demonstrates responsible outdoor choices that reduce impacts of Scouting activities. Leave No Trace Trainers, outdoor ethics guides, and outdoor ethics advisors are the backbone of Scouting’s outdoor ethics program, providing instruction to individuals and units wishing to adopt cutting-edge outdoor ethics into their unit programs. Trainers are specially commissioned to teach the BSA Leave No Trace 101 Course. Each BSA Trainer course is taught by a recognized Leave No Trace Master Educator, so your Trainer standing is recognized nationally by BSA’s partner, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. Participants receive a Leave No Trace Trainer card from BSA, BSA Leave No Trace 101 Course Guide and Leave No Trace Trainer certificate from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. Find a course near you.
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About the Conservation Committee
Council Conservation Committee
The council conservation committee provides the council with all available expertise regarding matters of ecology, conservation, and resource management so as to guide policymaking and operational decisions regarding the management of the councils’ natural and cultural resources, promotion of conservation-related training, and advancement of conservation programs.
The council conservation committee typically meets eight times per year on the second Thursday of each month, except during the summer and December. Check the council calendar for specific dates.
Why Conservation and the BSA?
- Duty to God - Most people of faith share a common ethic of respect for, and harmony with, the natural world.
- Sound Citizenship - Responsible and thoughtful stewardship of resources, whether viewed as abundant or scarce, is a critical issue for all of us—today and into the future.
- Physical Fitness - Naturally associated with outdoor activity, education, and service.
Mission: Council Conservation Committee
- Promote conservation awareness and responsible/ethical action among Scouts, Scouters, and the broader community.
- Foster community awareness and appreciation of the Sam Houston Area Council as a leader in supporting conservation.
- Ensure that council camps are managed according to sound conservation practices.
Methods
Awareness
- Emphasize Scouting participation in significant community conservation activities such as Rivers, Lakes, Bayous and Bays Trash Bash, and/or Environment Week.
- Organize environmental/conservation-oriented demonstrations for weekend camping, summer camps, and other summer programs (e.g., Ecodin).
- Promote the conservation ethic at the council events.
- Promote conservation-oriented awards.
Training:
- Develop and implement courses for University of Scouting.
- Develop Project Wild facilitators throughout the council and offer at least one annual council-wide workshop.
- Encourage conservation programs at roundtables to review awards as well as educational and project opportunities.
- Encourage training utilizing BSA resources/offerings, as well as resources outside the BSA.
- Offer Outdoor Ethics training.
Practice
- Aggressively encourage Scout participation in conservation-related projects in our area (such as conservation needs of Texas Watch Partner, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Texas Forest Service, and area parks).
- Camp Conservation Plans: For each of the council camps, prepare and steward conservation plans that can be used as a source of projects and information for program staff.
- Camp Nature Center: Survey needs and opportunities for an educational center at the council's camps.
- Encourage Leave No Trace camping and outdoor ethics.
Contact
For more information, contact the council conservation committee.