Big Cypress District

October 10, 2020

For 2020, Fun with Family is half-day event for newly registered Cub Scouts and their adult partner and families at Bovay Scout Ranch (3450 County Rd 317, Navasota, TX 77868). Lions, Tigers, Wolves, Bears and Webelos Scouts (accompanied by a parent or guardian) can participate in an exciting variety of activities such as archery, BB guns, disc golf and more.

Trained staffers will provide program supplies and will lead the activities. The registration fee is $25 per Scout and includes an event patch and program supplies.

Learn More and Register

Wednesday, September 30, 2020  |  7:00 pm

Communities across the nation are working to manage the spread of Covid-19. As a result, many packs are challenged with meeting safely, as well as finding locations to meet. During the Cub Scout Meetings During Covid-19 webinar, the following topics will be discussed:

• Best Practices for Virtual Meetings
• Making In-Person Meetings Fun and Safe
• Ideas on Where to Meet
• Best Practices for Recruiting

All this, plus lots of other updates! After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Register

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.

Recruiting Website

For the fall of 2020, Adventure Camp will be a half-day event at Bovay Scout Ranch in Navasota, Tx. Cub Scouts (accompanied by a parent or guardian) can participate in an exciting variety of activities such as archery, BB guns, fishing, and sports (or a haunted hike in October). 

Trained staffers will provide program supplies and will lead the activities. The most recent State of Texas and the Center for Disease Control requirements will be followed and spots will be limited. Groups will rotate together during the event will not mix with other groups. Individual families can register.

Learn More and Register

Due October 15, 2020

We want to reach out to each potential Cub Scout and their family with a personal invitation to join a pack within our council, where they will learn positive values, new skills and have fun with friends.

Get creative and promote Scouting and your pack could win a family camping weekend at Bovay Scout Ranch.

The top pack from each district will win a free weekend of family camping during the spring of 2021 at Bovay Scout Ranch. During family camping, the pack leadership plans the camping program and food. For more information about recruiting, visit shac.org/recruiting.Official Rules:

• Decorate with the colors blue and gold/yellow
• Include the words “Join Cub Scouts” or “Join Cub Scouting.”
• Include “Text ‘Cub Scout’ to 31996” and go to shac.org/join for more information.
• Consider decorating homes, vehicles, yards, community centers, HOA buildings or businesses.
• Post on personal Facebook pages and tag the council (@shac.bsa).
• Most importantly, have fun, be creative, and get the entire pack involved.
• Submit entries by 10/15/2020 to tami.kinn@scouting.org.

Sept 26, Oct 17, Nov 21

Scouts in troops can participate in merit badge classes held at the new Camp Strake. Classes will be held from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.  State of Texas and Center for Disease Control requirements will be followed and class sizes will be limited. Classes will stay together for the day and will not mix with other groups. Parents will drop off and pick up their Scout at the merit badge class. Scouts will go through a medical screening up arrival.

Learn More and Register

October 17, 2020  |  10:00 am - 3:00 pm  |  Virtual

Jamboree-on-the-Internet (JOTI) is an annual Scouting event sponsored by the World Organization of the Scout Movement and is held the 3rd weekend of October. This event utilizes the internet and the numerous devices that are used to get online, from your home computer to iPad tablets, to link Scouts from around the world.

JOTI@Scout is holding a training to introduce leaders to JOTI. Sessions start each our on the hour beginning at 10:00 am. Each session last less than one hour and help prepare Scout leaders to lead a JOTI session with their unit. A live JOTI IRC/Webchat (text chat) will be part of the demonstration. After registering, an email will be sent with information about how to join the online Zoom meeting.

Register

(7/27/20) The leadership of the Sam Houston Area Council would like to present this, our tenth update, on our response to the COVID-19 outbreak and protocols for Scouting operations going forward. We appreciate your continued patience as we navigate this situation as best we can. 

• Any units wishing to conduct small-scale meetings or activities should do so only if able to meet specific preventative guidance from the State of Texas and the Center for Disease Control and upon consultation with and approval from their chartered organization.
• All in-person district and council meetings through September 30^th are cancelled or postponed unless conducted over teleconference or online. This includes district committee meetings, district roundtables, and council committee meetings.
  • Council Coordinated Meeting, scheduled for August 20^th, will be conducted virtually. Please visit here to register in advance (required).
• No overnight district or council activities may be conducted through September 30^th.
• Day-only activities by a district or the council may be conducted, with prior approval of the council’s Enterprise Risk Management committee. Only approved activities will appear on the council and district official websites. All events must meet strict social distancing protocols that have been shared with District Key-3 leadership.
  • Merit Badge Days will continue to be held at Tellepsen Scout Camp on Saturdays in August and in September, they will extend to Camp Strake. More information, including how to register, may be found here and will be updated as more days are added.
• Weekend camping for Cub Scouts at Bovay Scout Ranch is cancelled through December 31^st. This cancellation includes, but is not limited to, Cub Scout Adventure Camp, Fun with Family, and Webelos Coyote Extreme.
  • All packs registered for weekend camping for the Fall at Bovay Scout Ranch will receive a full refund.
  • Additional “Outdoor Sports Days” will be conducted at Bovay Scout Ranch during the fall. Activities will include BB guns, archery, water activities, fishing and a closing ceremony. More information, including registration, will be available in August.
• The Cockrell Scout Center remains open for drop off only with hours of 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday.
  • Any interaction needed with staff members must be conducted through phone and email. If you need assistance determining the appropriate person to contact, please refer to our updated “who to call directory,” or contact the receptionist at (713) 659-8111 during our office hours to be directed to the appropriate person.
  • Field-based staff (District Executives) will be working remotely during this time and are available by phone and email.
• The 5 Scout Shop locations are open to limited retail traffic. Please visit here for more store information, including updated store hours.
• Our council program team is currently looking at alternative planning for major council events later in the Fall - including University of Scouting, Order of the Arrow Events, and Winter Camp. More information regarding those events will be made available as the situation evolves.

Learn More

The Scouting Trail is a monthly handout provided to units at roundtable describing upcoming council events for the next quarter. This is a great resource for Scouters and parents.

The Scouting Trail: October 2020

Cub Scouting / Scouts BSA / Venturing / Sea Scouting Rank Advancement and the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Questions regarding advancement have arisen as we deal with closures, cancellations, or other issues caused by the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Although there are difficulties and constraints, advancement can continue. Youth, parents, and leaders should work together to implement creative, common sense ways to facilitate advancement while adhering to the Guide to Safe Scouting and following the rules of youth protection.

Learn More (link update frequently)

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.”

Learn More

As the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) welcomes girls into Cub Scouts and older girls into the Scouts BSA program starting on February 1, it is important that families understand the program or organization they are joining.

There have been some instances where our volunteers may have inadvertently used the name or trademarks of the Girl Scout of the USA (GSUSA) brand in spreading the word that girls are or will soon be part of all BSA programs. GSUSA recently have filed a lawsuit asserting that these instances have caused confusion. While we don’t believe there has been any such confusion, we respect and support the GSUSA and their rights to their brand.

To ensure that we promote our programs in a clear and Scout-like manner, we have developed resources to make sure our leaders are aware of the do’s and don’ts in promoting BSA programs.

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 builds on the infographic, and the guidance provided to councils in April.

Scouts BSA Brand Guidance Training     Infographic 

This training should be shared with all volunteers to bring this understanding to all parts of our community. 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.

To aid you in this effort, councils and volunteers are encouraged to use these intro talking points as you host info sessions and launch efforts for Scouts BSA. Additionally, please use this resource to help address any questions you might get in the community about this matter.

Learn More