Coastal Plains District Roundtable

April 13, 2023    |   7:30 pm  |  In-Person and Virtually

Roundtable is a district monthly meeting typically held the second Thursday of the month at 7:30 pm at Calvary Episcopal Church (806 Thompson Rd, Richmond TX 77469) to help unit leaders plan and carry out their own program. Roundtable is a form of supplemental training for volunteers. The objective of roundtable is to give leaders program ideas; information on policy, events, and training opportunities; and an opportunity to share experiences and enjoy fun and fellowship with other Scouting leaders. As a result of the roundtable experience, unit leaders will be inspired, motivated, informed, and able to provide a stronger program for their Scouts. Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/CoastalPlainsDistrict.

 

Pinewood Derby

April 22, 2023

The pinewood derby is one of the most popular and successful family activities in Cub Scouting. Pinewood derby cars are small wooden models that Cub Scouts make with help from their families. Then they race the cars in a competition. The cars are powered by gravity and run down a track.

Cub Scouts can design and build their own car to enter in the race. Win or lose, Cub Scouts will take pride in having done their best. Cub Scouts learn craft skills, the rules of fair play, and good sportsmanship—things they will remember for life. Scouts must make a new car each year. There is no onsite registration.

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Twilight Camp

June 6-9, 2023  |  2:00 - 8:30 pm

 

Grab your safari hat as twilight camp goes to the jungle. Cub Scouts will have a roaring good time! Cub Scouts and their families will learn new skills and make new friends. Twilight camp is a council camp organized by districts and conducted by volunteers from the local area for Cub Scouts entering 1st through 5th grade for the next school year. Twilight camp is a week of fun with awesome programs and activities such as BB guns, archery, sports, STEM, games and crafts, rank advancements, Scout skills, fun and more.  

Many volunteers are needed to make camp a success, so please consider volunteering. Adult volunteers can also register their non-Scouting siblings ages 3-5 (potty trained). Scouts in troops, crews and ships can also volunteer. An adult/guardian must register with a Tiger (going into 1st grade). The camp is being held at Long Acres Ranch (2335 Richmond Pkwy., Richmond, TX 77469). Registration closes May 23, 2023.

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University of Scouting

April 1, 2023  |  Lone Star College - Tomball campus

University of Scouting is a semi-annual supplemental training program. Sessions are led by experienced volunteers who will help leaders and parents enhance their ability to deliver a fun and exciting program to the Scouts. Courses include a variety of classes for leaders and parents focusing on Cub Scouts, Webelos Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouts, outdoors, high adventure, conservation, advancement, and STEM/NOVA that will provide information, techniques, and best practices on how to enhance the Scouting program. Full-day classes include Trainer's Edge, Short-Term Camp Administrator Training, and Den Chief and Chaplain's Aid Training.

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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). 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. 

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Summer Camp 2023

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, rowing, paddle boarding), swimming, ATV riding, ziplining, cycling, merit badge classes and more. 

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Individual Scouts who can't attend summer camp with their unit, or want to attend a second week of camp can register individually for Super Troop. Super Troop is a temporary troop made up of Scouts from troops around the council.

National Special Needs and Disabilities Conference

April 21-22, 2023  |  Cockrell Scout Center

Understanding and Navigating Behaviors and Mental Health in Scouting

BSA's National Special Needs and Disabilities Committee is hosting a two-day conference on Understanding Behaviors and Mental Health in Scouting. The conference is designed for Scouters in leadership positions at all levels (pack, troop, crew, ship, district, council, camp staff), BSA professionals, parents/guardians, caregivers, and anyone interested in learning more about supporting Scouts with special needs or disabilities.  Several knowledgeable guest speakers are scheduled to present on various topics: • Ages and Stages • Scout Transitions • Scout Transitions • Anxiety & Depression • Managing Behaviors • Mental Health First Aid • Success Through Failure 

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Full Throttle

April 28-30, 2023

Full Throttle is a weekend event for troops, crews and ships. Units camping at Camp Strake can sign up their Scouts to participate in activities such as shooting sports (rifle, shotgun, archery), climbing, COPE (high-ropes course), zipline, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding or ATV riding. The camp staff provides the program leadership. 

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Powder Horn

April 28-30 & May 5-7, 2023 

Powder Horn is an action-packed, hands-on course held over two weekends that helps Scouts and Scouters learn how to implement high adventure activities into their troop, crew or ship.

Scouting leaders often face the dilemma of having a strong desire to provide challenging and fun outdoor programs to meet the needs of their older youth, while lacking the knowledge and/or resources to do so. Powder Horn responds to this quandary by exposing Scouts BSA and Venturing leaders to a wide range of outdoor/high-adventure activities. More importantly, Powder Horn provides participants with valuable resources and contacts to assist them in delivering the promise of Scouting’s high adventure. 

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Leave No Trace Trainer Course

April 28-30, 2023

The 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.  The training is being held at Camp Brosig in Sealy, TX.

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Range Master Training

BSA requires all Cub Scout shooting sports to be supervised by a BSA-certified range master. Range master training covers setting up a range, safety, handling equipment, using a bow stringer, care and operation of BB guns, range etiquette and safety, and instructing Scouts. Cub Scouts can shoot BB-gun rifles, slingshots, and archery in a council or district event only and is not approved as a unit event. Certified range masters are needed for day camp and district events. 

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Wood Badge

Wood Badge is the Boy Scouts of America's ultimate leadership training designed to meet the advanced leadership needs of Scouters in all aspects of the BSA, whether unit, district, or council level – from assistant den leaders to Scoutmasters, from Cubmasters to Venturing Advisors, from committee members to commissioners. It is a fun, energetic and inspiring course guaranteed to infuse your unit with fun and meaning – all designed to fulfill the mission of the BSA, and ensure our youth is getting everything they are promised from the program.

Reflecting the best of nearly a century of Scouting experience, Wood Badge draws upon the most current leadership models used by corporate America, academic circles and successful organizations throughout the country. Participants can expect to develop skills in many areas, including leadership theory, team building, problem-solving, communication, project planning and more.  These skills can be taken back to packs, troops, crews and ships to help leaders guide youth in dynamic Scouting programs.  Scouters will find these skills invaluable in their business and personal lives as well.

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Support Scouting with Amazon Smile

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.

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%.

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.”

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