February 16-18, 2024
Camp Strake
2020 Camp Strake Rd.
Coldspring, TX 77331
Camporee is a weekend campout for troops around the district. Scouts in patrols compete in various competitions and are judged on leadership, teamwork, skill demonstration and Scout spirit.
Every troop must send a representative to the December and January roundtable to help plan the camporee. Every troop needs to provide volunteers to support the camporee (e.g., competition, facilities). This year’s camporee promises to challenge the youth leadership. These events cannot happen without each Scout’s competitive spirit and participation.
Registration
Registration is a two-step process. The unit leadership completes registration.
Step 1: RSVP: Every unit needs to RSVP by the December roundtable to let the event staff if you are attending. Estimated numbers are provided to the council so the district can reserve the appropriate number of campsites and program areas for the event.
Step 1: RSVP
Step 2: Payment: Payment is completed online; there is no onsite registration. Council Refund Policy
Part 2: PaymentStep 2: Payment
| Scouts: |
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| Early bird registration (before 1/19/24) |
$20 |
| Registration |
$25 |
| Late registration (paid online after 2/15/24) |
$30 |
| Adults |
$3 |
Tentative Program
Troops need to host a morning competition events and an afternoon field game and/or demonstration and support the Order of the Arrow call-out during campfire.
All camporee competitions will be based on the Wilderness Survival theme and will test Scout skills. Competitions will be scored by patrol only. Each patrol will be able to earn up to 25 points for each competition (15 for skills, 5 for teamwork, 5 for patrol spirit). The competitions will be held on Saturday morning.
In the afternoon, Scouts will participate in fun activities and will be able to earn raffle tickets to redeem prizes as individuals. Activities will include rifle shooting, archery, gagaball, and human foosball.
Tentative Schedule
| Check-in |
begins 6:00 pm, Friday evening |
| Check-out |
8:30 – 10:00 am, Sunday morning |
What to Bring
Personal (check with Scoutmaster):
- Field uniform (Scout uniform) and belt
- Clothing appropriate for weather
- Activity uniform (Scout t-shirt)
- Shoes (closed toe) or hiking boots
- Pajamas or sleeping clothes
(wool, polypropylene or polyester, never cotton!)
- Rain gear (pants and jacket)
- Winter coat
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Personal items (e.g., deodorant, comb, medications, toothpaste, toothbrush)
- Water bottle (or canteen) and cup
- Pocket knife and Totin' Chip
- Sleeping bag, blankets, sheet
- Pillow
- Cot or pad
- Personal first aid kit
Optional
- Thermal underwear (pants and shirt, if cold (synthetic, polyester, nylon, polypropylene or rayon, not cotton)
- Portable chair or camp stool
- Nontoxic, noncombustible, environmentally friendly hand warmers
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Patrol:
- Tents with ground cloth
- Water containers for hauling water
- Cooking gear and food: Saturday breakfast, non-cooking sack lunches, Sunday non-cooking breakfast
- Duty roster and menu
- First-aid kit
- Trash bags
- Patrol flag
- Items for campsite inspection
- Toilet paper
- Wash soap for restrooms
Troop
- BSA Annual Health and Medical Record (part A&B for all Scouting events) for every participant (in a binder, due at check-in)
- Roster (due Friday at the leaders meeting)
- Firewood, rakes and fire buckets; buckets and shovel to remove unused firewood
- List of Scouts elected into the Order of the Arrow for call-out
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Don’t Bring: Alcohol, Valuables, Electronics*, Fireworks, Sheath or hunting knives, Pets, Hammocks, Personal firearms and ammunition, Jewelry, Personal bows and arrows, Fuel-burning hand warmers.
Mark all items with name and troop number. *Electricity is very limited.
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Winter Camping Tips
Participants are expected to come to camp prepared for variable weather. Although temperatures average between 40 to 60 degrees during winter camp, temperatures have been known to dip as low as 19 degrees and rise as high as 80 degrees.
Sources - Scouting Magazine: Winter camping tips and tricks to help you enjoy the fourth season, Eight essentials for staying warm while cold-weather camping, Outdoor Smarts: How to Keep Warm in Camping's Fourth Season; How to Stay Warm With the Right Winter Gear
Dressing for the cold. When dressing for cold weather, focus on a layering system including the three Ws: wicking, warmth and wind. Your base layer should be wicking (like an athletic shirt), an insulating layer should be warming (like fleece or wool) and an exterior layer should block the wind. Use clothing you have, focusing on the right combination of fabrics.
Wicking Layer or Base. Also commonly known as long underwear, the base layer is worn closest to your skin. Its main job is to wick away sweat and moisture so your skin stays dry. Wear it relatively tight to the skin and use only wool or synthetic base layers. Never use cotton because it will not keep you warm once it’s wet, whether from sweat or precipitation. These base layers come in various weights, from heavy for frigid conditions to lightweight for warmer temps and activities that cause a lot of sweating, such as strenuous hiking and cross-country skiing. It’s a good idea to have one extra pair of base layers to change into every night at camp.
Warmth Layer or Insulation. The insulation layer is worn atop the base layer and is designed to provide the majority of your insulation. It should be made of fleece, wool, down or synthetic insulation and can be a pullover, zip-up jacket or vest, depending on how much insulation you need.
Windproofing Layer or Shell. The outermost layer, the shell jacket and pants protect you from wind and wet conditions. There are two types of shells: the hard shell is a lightweight layer that’s windproof and waterproof, capable of handling heavy rain and very wet conditions; a soft shell is made of a more flexible, soft-faced material that’s windproof yet highly breathable, and water-resistant enough to protect you against everything except a heavy downpour.
Mittens. Mittens are warmer than gloves. If insulated mittens get wet, they stay that way. Wool mitts worn inside leather or nylon shells are removable for faster drying. Wool gloves are needed for dexterity when cooking.
Sleeping. Be sure to change into dry clothes for sleeping — moisture retained in field clothes will cause chilling. For overnight warmth, wear wool, polypropylene or polyester (never cotton!) long johns, socks and a balaclava to bed. Place a scarf across your neck to seal drafts.
Sleeping bags. Two sleeping bags — one placed inside the other — should provide enough warmth down to about zero degrees. If you don’t have a closed-cell foam pad to use as a sleeping mat, try half-inch-thick foam carpet padding.
Ground cloth. In warmer months, a plastic ground cloth should be used inside your tent to stay dry. However, in winter, use the ground cloth beneath your tent to keep it from freezing to the ground.
Toes cold? Put on a hat. Your body loses up to half of its total heat in 40-degree temperatures. So, when it’s below freezing and your head is uncovered, you could be radiating more than three-fourths of your overall body heat from your head.
Baggy clothes are back in style at least in the freezing-cold wilderness. Your body heats itself most efficiently when it’s enveloped in a layer of warm air. If your clothes are too tight, you’re strangling the cold right out of your body. Dressing in loose layers helps aid this convection layer of air. Tight clothes or too-tight boots can also restrict blood-flow.
The three W’s. Every cold-weather camper needs to dress for the occasion. You’ll need a wicking layer (long underwear), a “warm” layer (fleece) and a “wind” layer (waterproof shell).
Stay hydrated. In winter, you may not be aware of how much you’re sweating. A gulp of ice-cold water is hardly appetizing, but it is important to keep drinking. Hot drinks and soup are a great way to replenish liquids, electrolytes, and heat. Keep extra tea bags on hand, as well as bouillon cubes, and hand out hot drinks liberally, especially at the end of the day when energy is low.
Medical Forms
The unit leader must have a BSA Annual Health and Medical Record (Part A & B) for every participant (youth and adult) in a binder. The binder will be turned in to the health and safety officer at check-in. All forms must be completed and signed by the parent or legal guardian.
About Camp Strake
Camp Strake is a first-class, state-of-the-art camp at a rural site near the Sam Houston National Forest, close to the community of Evergreen.
Camp Strake is surrounded on three sides by the Sam Houston National Forest and has the Lone Star Hiking Trail close to one corner of the property.
Google Map Map Camp Policies
Camp Strake has 20 campsites with pavilions; modern restrooms and shower houses; climbing and repelling tower; zipline; an aquatics center with a swimming pool, lake, canoes, and kayaks; a shooting sports complex with rifle, shotgun, and archery range, including a sporting arrows course; and more.
About Camp Strake
Camp Strake is located on 2,816 acres between New Waverly and Coldspring near the community of Evergreen, Tx. Lake Livingston is 10 miles east of the property. The camp is a 1.5-hour drive from downtown Houston and close to I-45 and the Grand Parkway. Camp Strake is located at 2020 Camp Strake Rd., Coldspring, TX 77331(latitude and longitude: 30.608901, -95.230270)
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Directions from Houston:
- Take I-45N to exit 94 (FM 1097) toward Willis
- Turn right onto Montgomery St. (.7 mi)
- Turn left onto Danville St. (360 ft)
- Turn right onto FM 1097 / Stewart St (9.6 mi.)
- Turn right onto TX-150E (8.8 mi)
- Turn left onto FM 945N (3.6 mi)
- Turn left into Camp Strake at the sign.
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Uniforms
The field uniform should be during all flag ceremonies, worship service, the Order of the Arrow ceremony on Saturday evening, and during general assembly Sunday morning. Activity uniforms (Scouting related t-shirt) can be worn during all other activities.
Interfaith Service
An interfaith service will be conducted for all participants on Sunday morning. An interfaith service is a brief worship or meditation, specifically designed for Scouting events where there may be members of more than one faith group. The intention of an interfaith service is to provide a spiritual focus during a camping experience that does not reflect the views of a particular denomination or faith. An interfaith service can be defined as a gathering of Scouts held to contribute to the development of their spirituality and to promote a fuller understanding of the Scout Oath and Law, with emphasis on one’s Duty to God.
Leaders Meeting
All senior patrol leaders and Scoutmasters (or their designee) from each troop should attend the leaders meeting on Friday night for final instructions and schedules. Please bring a chair and be prepared to take notes.
Order of the Arrow
The Order of the Arrow (OA) is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America. For over 100 years, the Order of the Arrow has recognized Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. The Order of the Arrow 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.
Learn More About the OA
First Aid
The first aid station will be located in the training center building and marked with a red cross sign and is available 24 hours per day. Please be sure to advise your patrol members of its location, which will be announced at the Friday evening leaders meeting. Volunteers are needed to staff the first aid station.
Equipment Drop-off / Parking
Park in area by your campsite. Due to safety concerns, all vehicles should remain in the designated parking area until Sunday morning. There will be no vehicles allowed on the activity areas. Please drive slowly through the camp.
Trash
Units are responsible for taking all trash to the dumpster located at the front entrance. Do not burn trash. All trash must be in a bag and inside the dumpster. If trash will not fit inside the dumpster, you MUST take it with you. Trash MAY NOT be stacked outside the dumpster or on top of the dumpster. Please remember to check restrooms and other areas you may have used, and remove all trash. Animals will make a mess of trash left in camp.
Fires
Campfires are permitted in the designated fire rings. If camp is under a fire ban, you will be informed in the email cover sheet. Gasoline, diesel fuel and other liquids are not to be used to start fires. Please keep fires low and reduce sparks in windy conditions. Have water available to extinguish fire. Fires should be monitored at all times and put out cold before leaving your campsite or going to bed.
Restrooms
Four latrines are located in the camping area. Event staff should provide toilet paper and hand wash soap. Please leave the latrines cleaner than you found them. A Scout is clean.
Late-Breaking Information
For late-breaking news and announcements, join our district Facebook page and sign up for our district e-mail list.
Photographs
Notice! Please be advised that promotional videotaping/photography may be in progress at any time at an event. Your entrance constitutes your agreement that the district has the right to reproduce your likeness in videography/photography for promotion (e.g., publications, internet, newspaper).
Scouting Safely
The BSA's Commitment to Safety is ongoing and we want you to know that the safety of our youth, volunteers, staff, and employees cannot be compromised. The Boy Scouts of America puts the utmost importance on the safe and healthy environments for its youth membership. The Sam Houston Area Council takes great strides to ensure the safety of its youth as well as the adult volunteer leadership that interacts with them.
BSA Guide to Safe Scouting policies must be followed. All participants must follow youth protection guidelines at all Scouting events. Highlights include:
- Two-deep leadership on all outings is required.
- One-on-one contact between adults and youth members is prohibited.
- The buddy system should be used at all times.
- Discipline must be constructive.
Health and safety must be integrated into everything we do, to the point that no injuries are acceptable beyond those that are readily treatable by Scout-rendered first aid. As an aid in the continuing effort to protect participants in Scout activities, the BSA National Health and Safety Committee and the Council Services Division of the BSA National Council has developed the SAFE Checklist of BSA safety procedures for physical activity. These points, which embody good judgment and common sense, are applicable to all activities.
Youth Protection Guidelines Guide to Safe Scouting SAFE Checklist Enterprise Risk Management
Contacts
For questions about registration, contact the San Jacinto District registrar; for questions about the event, contact the camporee chair or district activities chair.