June 13, 2023  |  7:00 pm

Join us for a virtual meeting to learn about all the Cub Scout camping opportunities in the Sam Houston Area Council.

Register for Zoom Meeting

The Sam Houston Area Council is looking for volunteers with specialized skills who would be willing to be called upon to help provide service to our camps and facilities which includes buildings, the grounds, equipment, and other assets.

If you are interested in serving as a member of the maintenance team, please complete this survey.

Volunteer

Webelos Scout Adventure Camp

July 5-8, 2023

Webelos Scout Adventure Camp is a three-night campout at Camp Strake for Scouts entering fourth and fifth grade the following school year. Webelos Scouts will work on rank advancements, and shoot archery and air rifles. The camp is being held at Camp Strake
2020 (Camp Strake Rd., Coldspring, TX 77331).

Due to construction on the water treatment plant at Bovay Scout Ranch over the summer, there will not be a resident camp for 1^st - 3^rd graders. 

Learn More & Register

Program

Webelos Scouts will design their own program and can shoot BB guns, shoot air rifles, and work on several Adventures. Webelos Scouts will pick 10 activities (five on day 2 and five on day 3). There will be an evening program with fun activities. 

Adventure	Grade	Requirements*
First Responder - Session A	4th grade - Required	❏ 1. Explain what first aid is. Tell what you should do after an accident. ❏ 2. Show what to do for hurry cases of first aid: serious bleeding, heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest, stopped breathing, stroke, poisoning. ❏ 3. Show how to help a choking victim. ❏ 4. Show how to treat for shock. (Take both sessions A & B to earn the First Responder Adventure.)
First Responder - Session B	4th grade - Required	❏ 5. Demonstrate how to treat at least five of the following:     a. Cuts and scratches                                     b. Burns and scalds     c. Sunburn     d. Blisters on the hand or foot     h. Nosebleed ❏ 6. Put together a simple home first-aid kit. Explain what you included and how to use each item correctly. (Take both sessions A & B to earn the First Responder Adventure.)
Webelos Walkabout	4th grade - Required	❏ 1. Plan a hike or outdoor activity. ❏ 2. Assemble a first-aid kit suitable for your hike or activity. ❏ 3. Recite the Outdoor Code and the Leave No Trace Principles for Kids from memory. Talk about how you can demonstrate them on your Webelos adventures. ❏ 4. With your Webelos den or with a family member, hike 3 miles. Before your hike, plan and prepare a nutritious lunch or snack. Enjoy it on your hike, and clean up afterward. ❏ 6. Perform one of the following leadership roles during your hike: trail leader, first-aid leader, or lunch or snack leader. #4 will be done on evening 2 or 3; Scouts will earn the Webelos Walkabout Adventure by completing this session.)
Aquanaut (Swimming Pool)	4th & 5th grade - Elective	❏ 1. State the safety precautions you need to take before doing any water activity. ❏ 2. Discuss the importance of learning the skills you need to know before going boating. ❏ 3. Explain the meaning of “order of rescue” and demonstrate the reach and throw rescue techniques from land. ❏ 4. Attempt the BSA swimmer test. ❏ 5. Demonstrate the precautions you must take before attempting to dive headfirst into the water, and attempt a front surface dive. ❏ 6. Learn and demonstrate two of the following strokes: crawl, sidestroke, breaststroke, or elementary backstroke. (Scouts can choose to earn the Adventure at the pool or boating; Scouts will earn the Aquanaut Adventure by completing this session.)
Aquanaut (Boating)	4th & 5th grade - Elective	❏ 1. State the safety precautions you need to take before doing any water activity. ❏ 2. Discuss the importance of learning the skills you need to know before going boating. ❏ 3. Explain the meaning of “order of rescue” and demonstrate the reach and throw rescue techniques from land. ❏ 4. Attempt the BSA swimmer test. ❏ 8. Demonstrate how to correctly fasten a life jacket that is the right size for you. Jump into water over your head. Swim 25 feet wearing the life jacket. Get out of the water, remove the life jacket, and hang it where it will dry. ❏ 9. If you are a qualified swimmer, select a paddle of the proper size, and paddle a canoe with an adult’s supervision. Scouts can choose to earn the Adventure at the pool or boating; Scouts will earn the Aquanaut Adventure by completing this session)
Castaway - Session A	4th & 5th grade - Elective	❏ 1. Complete A and your choice of B or C.     a. On a campout or outdoor activity with your den or family, cook two different recipes that do not require pots and pans.     b With the help of an adult, demonstrate one way to light a fire without using matches. (Take both sessions A & B to earn the Castaway Adventure)
Castaway - Session B	4th & 5th grade - Elective	❏ 2. Do all of the following.     a. Learn what items should be in an outdoor survival kit that you can carry in a small bag or box in a day pack. Assemble your own small survival kit, and explain to your den leader why the items you chose are important for survival.     b. With your den, demonstrate two ways to treat drinking water to remove impurities.     c. Discuss what to do if you become lost in the woods. Tell what the letters “S-T-O-P” stand for. Tell what the universal emergency signal is. Describe three ways to signal for help. Demonstrate one of them. Describe what you can do to help rescuers find you.     d. Make a list of four qualities you think a leader should have in an emergency and why they are important to have. Pick two of them, and act them out for your den. Describe how each relates to a point of the Scout Law. Describe how working on this adventure gave you a better understanding of the Scout motto.   (Take both sessions A & B to earn the Castaway Adventure)
Scouting Adventure	5th grade- Required	❏ 5. Do the following:     a. Show how to tie a square knot, two half hitches, and a taut-line hitch. Explain how each knot is used.     b. Show the proper care of a rope by learning how to whip and fuse the ends of different kinds of rope. ❏ 6. Demonstrate your knowledge of the pocketknife safety rules and the pocketknife pledge. If you have not already done so, earn your Whittling Chip card. (Partial; Scouts will need to complete requirements #1-4 to earn the Scouting Adventure)
Earth Rocks (2 periods)	4th & 5th grade - Elective	❏ 1. Do the following:     a. Explain the meaning of the word “geology.”     b. Explain why this kind of science is an important part of your world. ❏ 2. Look for different kinds of rocks or minerals while on a rock hunt with your family or your den. ❏ 3. Do the following:     a. Identify the rocks you see on your rock hunt. Use the information in your handbook to determine which types of rocks you have collected.     b. With a magnifying glass, take a closer look at your collection. Determine any differences between your specimens.     c. Share what you see with your family or den. ❏ 4. Do the following:     a. With your family or den, make a mineral test kit, and test minerals according to the Mohs scale of mineral hardness.     b. Record the results in your handbook. ❏ 5. Identify on a map of your state some geological features in your area. ❏ 6. Do the following:     a. Identify some of the geological building materials used in building your home.     b. Identify some of the geological materials used around your community. (Scouts will earn the Earth Rocks Adventure by completing this session)
Game Design (2 periods)	4th & 5th grade - Elective	❏ 1. Decide on the elements for a game. ❏ 2. List at least five of the online safety rules that you put into practice while using the internet on your computer or smartphone. Skip this if your Cyber Chip is current. ❏ 3. Create your game. ❏ 4. Teach an adult or another Scout how to play your game. (Scouts will earn the Game Design Adventure by completing this session)
Into the Woods	4th & 5th grade - Elective	❏ 1. Identify two different groups of trees and the parts of a tree. ❏ 2. Identify four trees common to the area where you live. Tell whether they are native to your area. Tell how both wildlife and humans use them. ❏ 3. Identify four plants common to the area where you live. Tell which animals use them and for what purpose. ❏ 4. Develop a plan to care for and then plant at least one plant or tree, either indoors in a pot or outdoors. Tell how this plant or tree helps the environment in which it is planted and what the plant or tree will be used for. ❏ 5. Make a list of items in your home that are made from wood and share it with your den. Or with your den, take a walk and identify useful things made from wood. ❏ 6. Explain how the growth rings of a tree trunk tell its life story. Describe different types of tree bark and explain what the bark does for the tree. ❏ 7. Visit a nature center, nursery, tree farm, or park, and speak with someone knowledgeable about trees and plants that are native to your area. Explain how plants and trees are important to our ecosystem and how they improve our environment. (Partial; Scouts will need to complete requirement #5, 6 or 7 to earn the Into the Woods Adventure)
Build It	4th & 5th grade - Elective	❏ 1. Learn about some basic tools and the proper use of each tool. Learn about and understand the need for safety when you work with tools. ❏ 2. With the guidance of your Webelos den leader, parent, or guardian, select a carpentry project and build it. ❏ 3. List the tools that you use safely as you build your project; create a list of materials needed to build your project. Put a checkmark next to the tools on your list that you used for the first time. ❏ 4. Learn about a construction career. With your Webelos den leader, parent, or guardian, visit a construction site, and interview someone working in a construction career. (Partial; Scouts will need to complete requirement #4 to earn the Build It Adventure)
Archery	4th & 5th grade	N/A
Air Rifles	4th & 5th grade	N/A
Outdoor (complete on own during free time)	5th grade - Required	❏ 1. With the help of your den leader or family, plan and participate in a campout. ❏ 2. On arrival at the campout, with your den and den leader or family, determine where to set up your tent. Demonstrate knowledge of what makes a good tent site and what makes a bad one. Set up your tent without help from an adult. ❏ 3. Once your tents are set up, discuss with your den or family what actions you should take in the case of the following extreme weather events which could require you to evacuate:     a. Severe rainstorm causing flooding     b. Severe thunderstorm with lightning or tornadoes     c. Fire, earthquake, or other disaster that will require evacuation. Discuss what you have done to minimize as much danger as possible. ❏ 4. Show how to tie a bowline. Explain when this knot should be used and why. Teach it to another Scout who is not a Webelos Scout. ❏ 5. Recite the Outdoor Code and the Leave No Trace Principles for Kids from memory. Talk about how you can demonstrate them while you are working on your Arrow of Light. After one outing, list the things you did to follow the Outdoor Code and Leave No Trace. (Parents/guardians can work on these requirements during free time.)

Summer camp is a week-long council-organized overnight camp for Scouts BSA that operates under council-retained leadership. The program provides opportunities for Scouts to earn merit badges along their advancement trail.

Summer camp is held 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), climbing, rappelling, boating (canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding), swimming, ATV riding, ziplining, merit badge classes and more.

Learn More and Register

About Camp Strake

Camp Strake has 20 campsites with pavilions and an air-conditioned dining hall, a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) center, a 28-acre lake, an aquatics center with a swimming pool and pool house, extensive trail system, basketball court, sports fields, chapel and more. The camp has been designed and built to meet both ADA and Boy Scouts of America requirements. The program will be offered to both girl and boy units concurrently. 

Facilities and Program Areas

All facilities at Camp Strake are ADA compliant. Many of these facilities, including the dining hall, are air-conditioned.

Help Ensure Everyone Follows BSA Brand Standards as They Create Materials for Recruiting Season

To ensure that we promote our programs in a clear and Scout-like manner, it important to remind units to follow BSA Brand Guidelines and use approved materials from the BSA Brand Center in developing their recruiting materials. This includes following the requirements included in the Scouts BSA Branding Dos and Don’ts Guide and the associated Brand Training Guide.  

The Scouts BSA Brand Guidance Training is one of the efforts underway to be sure Scouters have a clear understanding of what they can do. This training should be shared with all volunteers to bring this understanding to all parts of our community.

BSA Brand Guidelines     BSA Brand Center    Scouts BSA Branding Dos and Don’ts Guide    Brand Training Guide

While our goal is to encourage youth to join our program, we must always be clear in our communications about the program they are joining.

• We are The Boy Scouts of America.
• The Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA are different organizations.
• We support all other youth organizations and do not disparage them.
• We encourage parents to enroll all youth in a character development program that meets their needs – and the BSA is certainly ready to welcome them.

(Source) While many Scout units have a desire to return to Scouting activities, they have questions about how to do so safely during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. During the recent webinar on how to hold meetings safely during COVID-19, attendees received tips on the key steps they can be taking right now to find a safe way to return to their meeting activities.

Step 1: Check your local requirements to see if you can meet. The safety requirements vary greatly around the nation, so it’s vital to check on what your local government requires and abide by those regulations. The BSA SAFE Restart Scouting Checklist has been specifically created to help you guide you through this as you build a framework for getting back to your Scouting activities. 

Step 2: Call the families in your Scout unit to see how they’re doing. Check in by phone to connect personally with these families. Listen to their responses and gauge their readiness to return to Scouting activities. If laws in your community permit meeting, and you’ve met the other requirements of the SAFE Restart Scouting Checklist, spend some time talking about your process and the intention to return to Scouting activities safely. 

Step 3: Connect with other leaders and families to find solutions for ways the unit can meet safely. Currently, some traditional meeting places for Scout units are not available because of the pandemic, but there may be other viable, safe options for meeting that can be discussed. Some of these options may be outdoors using social distancing. Other options may be virtual. Be sure to use the guidance for Digital Safety and Online Scouting Activities when meeting virtually.  

Step 4: Engage your chartered organization. Especially if you’re having difficulty finding a meeting place, talk with your chartered organization to see what other options they might be able to provide. While a meeting room might not be available, perhaps the parking lot, a field, or a park could be a safe alternative. Whatever the proposed location, the chartered organization should be made aware of the issue and brought into the discussion.

Step 5: Reach out to the school in your community. If you’re used to working with your local school for a recruiting night, meeting space or otherwise, connect with them to talk about ways your Scout unit could be of service and assist them during this time. 

Step 6: Make sure you’ve updated your BeAScout pin and are using all of the available easy-to-use online registration tools. As you get back to Scouting, help new families find and join your unit without ever needing any paper to change hands. 

Though the times remain uncertain, Scouts and Scouters are resilient, and following the above steps can help you to Be Prepared and ease the process of getting back to Scouting quickly and safely whenever local requirements allow it. 

Help promote Scouting on social media by adding a photo frame around your profile picture. Encourage families to Text Cub Scout, Scouts BSA or crew to 31996. They will be sent to www.shac.org/join, a website with all packs listed by school district and links to register online.

To find the frame, click on edit/update your profile picture (or go to www.facebook.com/profilepicframes), search for a frame by entering Sam Houston Area Council, then choose one of our four frames.

(Source) Now you can support Scouting without lifting a finger — or at least not more than one.

AmazonSmile, the simple and no-cost way to donate to the Sam Houston Area Council, now works on the Amazon Shopping app for iPhone and Android.

That means it’s easier than ever to support Scouting anytime, anywhere.

Through its AmazonSmile program, Amazon donates 0.5% of eligible purchases to the charity of your choice — at no cost to you. You’ll get the same prices, selection and service found on Amazon.com, but now Amazon gives 0.5% of its cut to a good cause.

The Sam Houston Area Council is an eligible AmazonSmile charity. Individual packs, troops, posts, ships and crews are not eligible.

Sam Houston Area Council, Boy Scouts of America

Why use AmazonSmile

Sure, I agree that 50 cents on a $100 tablet might not seem like a huge donation. And it’s not a substitute for the generous contributions you regularly make to local Scouting through campaigns like Friends of Scouting. But as any frequent Amazon shopper knows, your purchases add up.

What’s the news here?

Previously, AmazonSmile required the user to shop using their browser — either on a desktop computer or through the mobile browser on a smartphone.

That meant that when you shopped in the official Amazon app, you weren’t contributing to your chosen charity — even if you had already activated AmazonSmile.

By adding AmazonSmile to its official app, Amazon is making the program available anytime, anywhere. So now when you buy a blender from the back seat or a printer from the patio — our council still gets that 0.5%.

How to activate AmazonSmile on your iPhone or Android

Step 1: Join AmazonSmile

If you aren’t yet an AmazonSmile member, sign up at smile.amazon.com using a web browser (mobile or desktop). You’ll sign in with your Amazon credentials, and the site will walk you through the process.

Amazon will ask you to choose your favorite charity. This is where you search for “Sam Houston Area Council.”

Step 2: Open the Amazon Shopping app on your phone

If you don’t have the app already, download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Step 3: Open Settings within the app

Open Settings by tapping the three horizontal lines (aka the “hamburger”) at the top left and tapping “Settings.”

Step 4: Tap AmazonSmile

Step 5: Tap the button for “Turn on AmazonSmile”

You’ll need to follow the three-step setup process. Note that Amazon requires you to turn on notifications to be able to use AmazonSmile on your phone.

Step 6: Make note of your renewal date

Amazon asks that you renew your AmazonSmile donation every six months. This is easy but required. When six months are up, you’ll have to choose your favorite charity again. If you don’t, purchases made until you do will not count.

Step 7: Confirm that AmazonSmile is active before your next purchase

Look for AmazonSmile at the top of the app as you browse. You’ll also see your chosen charity on the confirmation screen.

Learn More

Dear Scouting Community,

Today, the national organization of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to achieve two key objectives: equitably compensate victims who were harmed during their time in Scouting and continue to carry out Scouting’s mission for years to come.

We want to highlight important points that are most relevant to the Sam Houston Area Council: 

• The Sam Houston Area Council has not filed for bankruptcy. Our Council is legally separate, distinct and financially independent from the national organization.
• Scouting programs will continue. This means that unit meetings and activities, district and council events, other Scouting adventures and countless service projects will take place as usual. In short, we expect no changes to the local Scouting experience in Southeast Texas. 
• Scouting is safer now than ever before. Over many years, we’ve developed some of the strongest expert-informed youth protection policies found in any youth-serving organization. We can also assure you that our volunteers and employees take youth protection extremely seriously and do their part to help keep kids safe.
• Restricted donations – past, present or future – can only be used for their designated purpose. In addition, Friends of Scouting (FOS) and other annual donations made to our Council will continue to fund necessary day-to-day expenses that are critical to local Scouting programs. 

While we do not anticipate the national organization’s bankruptcy filing will have any direct impact on the local Scouting experience or your involvement with our Council, we understand you may still have questions about these issues and things you will see in the news. To that end, the national organization has established a dedicated restructuring website, www.BSArestructuring.org. 

This site includes a helpful Resources page, where you will find a short video explaining what Chapter 11 means for Scouting, as well as a FAQ. The site’s Milestones page will be your best source for the latest updates throughout this process.  

If you have any questions about local Scouting, you can always feel free to reach out directly to our Deputy Scout Executive Thomas Franklin at Thomas.Franklin@Scouting.org.  

Through your engagement and dedication to Scouting, the Sam Houston Area Council will continue to bring adventures, values and lifelong benefits to youth and our communities for generations to come. Thank you for your trust and support as we continue this important mission. 

Yours in Scouting,

Clay C. Williams
Chair of the Board

Forrest J. Bjerkaas
Council Commissioner

Thomas O. Varnell 
CEO/Scout Executive