camporee patchMarch 1-3, 2024

Camp Strake
2020 Camp Strake Rd.
Coldspring, TX 77331

Camporee is a weekend camp out for troops. Scouts in patrols compete in various competitions and are judged on leadership, teamwork, skill demonstration and Scout spirit. This is a great event for new Scouts who recently joined the troop.

Registration

Registration is a two-step process. Registration is completed by the unit leadership.

Part 1: RSVP:  Every unit needs to RSVP by 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 

Part 2: Payment: The registration fee is $35 per person. Pay online with credit card or electronic check before check-in with your final headcount. There is no onsite registration. A camp roster listing all participants will need to be submitted during check-in. Refund policy.

Step 2: Payment        

To update registration, go to https://samhoustonbsa.doubleknot.com/signon/2562. Logging in will bring you to the Summary tab showing your current registrations. Click on the desired action button to update the registration. 

Details

Every troop must send a representative to the February roundtable to help plan the camporee. Every troop needs run a part of the camporee (e.g., competition, facilities). This year’s camporee promises to challenge the youth leadership, as well as stretching everyone else’s comfort zones. These events cannot happen without each Scout’s competitive spirit and participation.

The goal of the planning committee is to host a highly structured and entertaining camporee with lots of fast-paced competitions and unique attractions. There will be something for everyone, from the newest Scout to the oldest Eagle Scout. Interactions between Scouts from different troops will be a priority so the more troops, the better.

Program

Morning Patrol Competitions:  These competitions will use a round-robin format. Each competition lasts 25 minutes and then every patrol has 10 minutes to rotate to a new event. Patrols will earn competition points and the highest performing patrol in each skill will be recognized at the Saturday evening campfire.

The competitions will consist of many of the Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class required skills, including orienteering, knots, lashings, basic and advanced first aid, fire building, and Dutch oven cooking.

Afternoon Adventure Festival:   After lunch, patrols will have Camp Strake adventure facilities all to themselves. These events are not scored, but are an opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities, including canoeing, climbing, archery, rifle & shotgun shooting.

Campfire:  Everyone is invited to the district wide campfire. Skits, songs, and more. Each unit is expected to perform at least one skit, one song. All skits, songs, and jokes must be approved during the free time by the host troop.

Meals: All meals will be prepared at the individual unit campsites. Troops need to be prepared to cook Saturday and Sunday morning. Because there is only one hour for lunch on Saturday, a non-cooking meal is recommended, (e.g., sandwiches). There will be a district wide catered dinner on Saturday evening of BBQ; vegetarian option - vegetarian lasagna;  gluten free option - baked potato with BBQ meat

What to Bring

Personal (check with Scoutmaster):

  • Field uniform (Scout uniform) and belt 
  • Activity uniform (Scout t-shirt)
  • Clothing appropriate for the weather
  • Shoes (closed-toe)
  • Water shoes, optional
  • Extra clothes and shoes (in case canoe gets capsized)
  • Towel
  • Pajamas or sleeping clothes
  • Rain gear (pants and jacket) 
  • 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 
  • Portable chair or camp stool, optional
  • Eight full sheets of newspaper in a baggie to dry wet shoes, optional
Mark all items with name and troop number.

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

Don’t Bring: 

  • Alcohol
  • Valuables
  • Electronics (e.g.,  iPod, iPad)*
  • Fireworks 
  • Sheath or hunting knives 
  • Pets 
  • Hammocks 
  • Personal firearms and ammunition 
  • Jewelry 
  • Personal bows and arrows 
  • Fuel-burning hand warmers 

*Electricity is very limited. 

Did you know? Newspaper can be used to dry soaking wet shoes inside and out. Stuff two sheets of newspaper in each shoe. After an hour, replace the sheets of newspaper and leave overnight. The outsides of the shoes can also be wrapped. It works fast and won't harm shoes. 

 

Sample Schedule

Friday 

5:00 pm       Check-in begins for troops
9:00 pm Cracker barrel meeting at the covered pavilion for Scoutmasters, senior patrol leaders
10:30 pm Lights out

Saturday

7:00 am Reveille and breakfast by troop
8:00 am  Opening Ceremony
9:00-12:00 pm Scout Skills Competition: round-robin of skills activities
12:00-1:00 pm Lunch by troop (cold lunch recommended)
12:30 - 1:00 pm All unit Greenbar check-in (senior patrol leaders only)
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Adventure Festival (Canoe, Archery, Rifle, and Climbing tower open)
5:00 pm Casual Time
6:00 pm All District Catered Dinner
7:00 pm All unit Greenbar Meeting (senior patrol leaders only)
8:30 pm Campfire & Awards Ceremony
9:30 pm Dutch Oven Skills
11:00 pm Taps & Lights out
   

Sunday

7:30 am Reveille and cold breakfast by troop
8:30 am Assembly at the flag pole and interfaith worship service
9:30 am Check out / break camp / depart

Competitions 

Every troop needs run a part of the camporee (e.g., competitions, facilities, facilities). Typical program events include:

                          

Orienteering: Demonstrate how to use a compass and maps

  • Show how to read a map
  • Show how to use a compass with a map
  • Patrols do a short orienteering course

Knots: Have a display of various knots

  • Show how to tie basic knots
  • Make rope and/or whip rope ends
  • Patrols show recommended knots for various uses

Lashings: Have a display of various lashings

  •  Build camp structures using correct lashings
  • Have patrols use lashings to erect tent, tarp or similar structure

Basic First Aid: Basic first aid skills 

  • Show basic first aid skills for minor ailments (e.g., snakebite, ankle sprain, puncture wounds)
  • Patrols diagnose ailment and demonstrate basic first aid skills

Advanced First Aid: Realistic first aid scenarios. 

  • advanced first aid skills for more serious ailments (e.g., broken leg in wilderness, transportation of victims)
  • Patrols come to the scene and solve the first aid situation using Second Class and First Class first aid skills.

Fire Building: show different fire lays, including a Leave No Trace (LNT) mound fire.

  • Show types of fire starters and types of fuel (size of wood)
  • Show how to start a fire without matches
  • Patrols build and light a fire

Dutch Oven Cooking: Show proper set up and camp cooking with dutch ovens

  • Set up cooking area, discuss proper safety
  • Show how to plan and cook a dessert
  • Patrols make a dessert

Interfaith Worship Service

An interfaith worship service will be conducted for all participants on Sunday morning. An interfaith worship 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.

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).

Late-Breaking Information

For late-breaking news and announcements, join our district Facebook page and sign up for our district e-mail list

Scouting Safely

Safety is Your Responsibility posterThe 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 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 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 a Scout activity, the BSA National Health and Safety Committee and the Council Services Division of the BSA National Council have developed the "Sweet Sixteen" of BSA safety procedures for physical activity. These 16 points, which embody good judgment and common sense, are applicable to all activities.

Youth Protection Guidelines     Guide to Safe Scouting      Sweet Sixteen      Enterprise Risk Management

Contacts

For questions, contact the camporee chair or district activities chair.