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eScouter Newsletter February 2018
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Scout Fair 2018 - Cleared for Launch
Scout Fair 2018 will be held on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at NRG Arena. This year's theme is "Cleared for Launch." The Sam Houston Area Council is excited to announce our partnership with Space Center Houston. Space Center Houston will be providing our weekly drawing bonus as well as the 218 Bonus Level prize. Scout Fair is an event where scouts from all over the Council unite in one place to display Scouting fun for all ages!
Scout Fair Coupon Books help your Scouts earn their own way!
The 2018 Scout Fair Coupon Book offers great savings to the buyer while Scouts earn commissions for every $10 Coupon Book purchased. Buyers receive $100's in valuable savings from partners such as: Kroger, Buffalo Wild Wings, Luby's, Fuddruckers, the Houston Astros and more.
Scouts receive one Space Buck for every Coupon Book sold. Scouts can redeem Space Bucks for great prizes at Scout Fair and at Houston Area Scout Shops.
Click
here
to register your unit to sell Coupon Books.
University of Scouting is designed for ALL adult leaders in the Boy Scouts of America regardless of function or program area. Learn from these sessions and add quality to your program - guaranteed! Discover the opportunities available for meetings and outings. Learn about Council activities to support your program. Visit the Scout Shop for your supplies. Learn more about Scouting's origins and the legacy of learning by c
licking
here
for more information.
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Leader's News
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Family Friends of Scouting
As we begin 2018, we are asking for your continued support of the Friends of Scouting campaign. Friends of Scouting is our annual appeal to all Scouting families in which we offer them the opportunity to support the character education and leadership programs that their children participate in. Your gifts to Scouting are very important to our success as one of the largest and most successful Boy Scout councils. The Sam Houston Area Council will spend $250 per youth member in 2018 to provide world-class programming. Please consider a gift at this level to support one Scout. If you can give more, please do. A gift of any amount is appreciated. As always, your contributions are 100% tax deductible and may be matched by your company. Click
here for more information about company matching gifts.
A district volunteer will be contacting your unit to schedule a Friends of Scouting presentation. We appreciate your help in ensuring there is a time for someone from the district to come out and share the Scouting story and enroll your unit's families as Friends of Scouting supporters.
Grow Scouting!
It's everybody's business to grow Scouting. Scouts, leaders and parents all have a role in growing membership. We should be sharing with our families, friends and colleagues the fun and exciting experience our members have every week and every month in Scouting. Now is a great time to invite youth and families to join Scouting and enjoy the great adventures that your unit has planned.
Here some ways you can promote Scouting membership in your community:
School and Neighborhood Newsletters
Write an article for your school and neighborhood newsletters, spotlighting Scouting and all the activities and good things your unit is doing to make an impact in your local community and at your school...include pictures!
School Open House/PTA Meeting
This is a great time to have a booth set up to show off Scouting and explain what your unit does best.
Peer-to-Peer Cards
Give these cards to your Scouts so they can distribute them to their friends with the date, time and location of your next meeting. These cards are available for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturing.
Email Invitations (parent to parent)
Ask the families in your unit to send an email invitation to all of their friends that have Scout-age boys. People like to join organizations where they know other people. An email message helps them understand their friends are involved, too.
Social Networking
Ask parents who are on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. to update their status to talk about your unit's website and the activities your Scouts are planning or have completed.
Remember a successful fall recruitment is not just about growing your unit, it is also about giving every youth a chance to be in the Scouting Program! Let's make a difference in our community!
Click
here for the
Family Scouting update.
40th Annual Sam Houston Area Council First Aid Meet
Please make plans to attend the Sam Houston Area Council First Aid Meet on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at the Houston Fire Department Training Center, 8030 Braniff St, Houston, TX 77061. Each district is allowed THREE representative teams from Boy Scout Troops within their districts. Patrols will compete for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. The cost for the 2018 Sam Houston Area Council First Aid Meet is $25.00 per patrol. The participation fee must be paid in advance by Tuesday, February 6, 2018. This may be the only opportunity for some Scouts to participate because not all districts have a District First Aid Meet. No fees will be accepted at the meet. For more information please click
here or call Monica Cotten at 713-756-3322.
Powder Horn
SEEK THE ADVENTURE! Powder Horn is an action-packed, hands-on, six-day course which helps Scouts and Scouters learn how to implement high adventure activities into their troop, crew or ship.
Do you have young adults in Venturing who are looking to breathe underwater because they have already learned how to filter it? What about Boy Scouts who are ready to maximize their shooting skills? Or Sea Scouts wanting to sail in a different country? Would you like to expose your troop, crew or ship to rock climbing, Dutch oven cooking, geocaching, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding, firefighting, search and rescue, trekking in a different countries, mountain biking, fly fishing, canoeing, wilderness first aid, astronomy, shooting sport (e.g., rifle, shotgun, handgun, archery), equestrian, 1860 baseball, wilderness survival, NYLT, Sea Scouts, the Kodiak Challenge, the Hornaday award, Messenger of Peace, living history, Leave No Trace, vendors, Jamboree, event planning, tying flies, scuba diving, and more?
The course spans two, three-day weekends:
Weekend #1 is April 6-8, 2018 (Tellepsen Scout Ranch)
Weekend #2 is April 20-22, 2018 (Galveston)
For more information and to register, click here.
Learn Scoutbook Day
On February 10, the first council-wide opportunity to learn Scoutbook will be conducted at the Cockrell Scout Center from 8:00 - noon for basic users, and from 1:00 - 2:00 for those interested in Merit Badge Counselor related features (intended for Boy Scout users). The training will begin with a general session, followed by breakouts specializing in the following user areas:
1. Parental use of Scoutbook to help track the advancement of Scouts.
2. Unit Leader use of Scoutbook to accomplish the following:
a. Approve advancement requirement completions
b. Assign Merit Badge Counselors to Scouts (Boy Scouts only)
c. Manage unit events calendar
d. Manage synchronization of member data with ScoutNET
e. Track adult leader training status
f. Manage the unit organization (dens, patrols)
g. Track attendance at unit activities
h. Develop customized unit reports
3. Advancement Chair use of Scoutbook for advancement tracking and reporting includes:
a. Synchronization with ScoutNET
b. Developing advancement reports
c. Tracking scout progress on advancement
Following a lunch break (bring your own), the training will continue with an orientation on how to use the Merit Badge Counselor functions in Scoutbook (for Boy Scout troops).
This training is free, and open to any registered adults in the council and parents of scouts. Please register
here for the appropriate breakout session so we can plan work spaces accordingly. We look forward to seeing you on February 10th.
The Sam Houston Area Council is Now Hiring!
We continually search for potential career employees who would like to work in a profession that has a meaningful, rewarding purpose. Bring to the BSA your varied life experiences, education, and perspective, and in return you will have an opportunity to combine those skills and experiences in a career that values and respects others. Scouting is a profession with a purpose!
Check out our current openings
here
.
Be A Scoutreach Volunteer
-Use your experience to help Scouting's neediest youth
-Help expand Scouting into new parts of Southeast Texas
-Volunteer according to your schedule and availability
Scoutreach is the Sam Houston Area Council's program to build Scouting in traditionally under served communities. 7,000 Scouts participate in this program, which are primarily led by paid employees. Most unit activities are held in elementary and middle schools throughout Houston. The goal of the Scoutreach program is for all participants to have the same experiences and opportunities as those in traditional, volunteer led, programs. Scoutreach parents are not typically available to provide the support enjoyed by traditional volunteer units. Experienced Scout Volunteers are needed to bring the skill components to the Scout's experience.
SHAC's new Scoutreach Volunteer program will fill this gap and ensure a high quality program is delivered to these Scouts. Volunteers are needed to help in ScoutReach Boy Scout Camping and Merit Badge Classes, and Cub Scout Day Experiences. Campout assistance is generally needed for day only classes, although leaders that can stay over night are needed from time to time.
Volunteers must be registered Scouters and have completed youth protection training. Please contact Lionel Jellins at
[email protected]
t to volunteer to let us know your areas of interest and knowledge. Scoutreach will develop a calendar of events where volunteers are most needed and we will be happy to match you with an opportunity to serve.
Opportunities will include:
-Spring and Fall Overnight Camping - Teach Tenderfoot through 1st Class Skills
-Spring and Fall Merit Badge Event - Conduct a One Day Merit Badge program
-Pinewood Build and Race Derby - Assist Scouts in building a Pinewood Derby Car, assist in conducting a ScoutReach Wide Pinewood Derby
-Training and Roundtable Events for Program Specialists - Help teach our Program Specialists the skills they need to implement a high quality program.
Eagle Class of 2017
The deadline to turn in Eagle paperwork for an Eagle Scout Board of Review conducted in 2017 is February 28th at 4:30 PM. This is in order to ensure that a youth is included in the 2017 Eagle Class for the Eagle Scout reception and Eagle Wall. Any paperwork received after that date for an Eagle Scout Board of Review that took place in 2017 will be a part of the 2018 Eagle Scout class. Note that this does not effect the date the youth earned Eagle Scout but only effects where that youth will be recognized on the council's Eagle Wall and whether or not he gets an invite to be a part of the 2017 Eagle Scout reception.
Join the Eagle Scout Hunt! 
The SHAC Eagle Scout Association is looking for all Eagle Scouts in our area - active or not. Please encourage any Eagle you know, particularly those not currently active in Scouting, to register at
www.iamaneagle.org
to receive more information as plans progress.
A new year can present some different challenges for Scouts with disabilities.
With changes in schedules and routines it is important for both parents and leaders to be prepared for camping experience. To help ensure that both parents and leaders are as prepared as possible the Sam Houston Area Council has a portion of its website dedicated to helping Scouts with Special Needs. Please visit
here
for FAQs, resources, other information to ensure that Scouting is accessible and enjoyable to all Scouts.
For specific questions, please do not hesitate to contact
Janet Kelly with the Disabilities Awareness Committee.
Youth Protection Training
Youth Protection Training every two years is a requirement for all leaders to be registered with the BSA. The classroom version (per Texas law) is required within the past 2 years for all adults participating in a long-term camping experience in the State of Texas. (This includes day camp scheduled over consecutive days, Cub Scout/Webelos Scout resident camp, summer camp, and winter camp.) Adults must complete the test with a score of 70% or higher to be considered trained and will receive a training card. A copy of each test will be on file for two years.
Classroom Facilitated Youth Protection Training will be available in districts leading up to summer camp and day camp. You may also check websites of neighboring districts and click
here for more information.
Effective September 1, 2017, Youth Protection Training will be required for all adult leaders at the time of registration. Paper applications from new leaders must be accompanied by a Youth Protection Training completion certificate, which must be filed with the application.
Enterprise Risk Management Committee
The purpose of the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) committee is to prepare adult leaders to conduct Scouting activities in a safe and prudent manner.
Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Committee has scheduled training for 2018:
Adult & Youth First Aid/CPR/AED d
ates: Feb. 3rd, March 17th and May 19th
Wilderness First Aid d
ates: April 21st & 28th, click here to register
All classes will be held at the Cockrell Scout Center. Please register
here space is limited. Lunch is provided.
For information regarding Emergency Preparedness, click
here.
For more information about Enterprise Risk Management, including First Aid/CPR/AED trainings, please click
here. For Emergency Preparedness Resources, click
here.
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| Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturing, Exploring |
Enjoy all the wonder and beauty of the central Texas rolling hills and lakes at Bovay Scout Ranch. Bovay Scout Ranch has a variety of camping opportunities for Cub Scouts, Boy Scout Troops and Venturers. Bovay Scout Ranch has year round camping program opportunities for all levels of Cub Scouts including Weekend Adventure Camps.
Weekend Unit Camping
Troops, Teams, Crews, Packs, or Webelos Dens can enjoy the amazing beauty of Bovay Scout Ranch rolling hills, trails and vast open spaces. Clean campsites, restrooms and showers are available; units may design their own program activities and provide their own meals during this type of weekends. For more information, please click
here.
McNair Cub Adventure Camp
McNair Cub Adventure Camp at Bovay Scout Camp is a weekend campout for Cub Scouts and their families. Admission covers three meals in the air conditioned dining hall, the Scout's activity supplies and a camp patch for the Scouts. Activities typically include BB guns, archery, BMX bikes, dino dig, lost mine, nature center, and more. McNair Cub Adventure Camp certified trained staff members provide the program supplies and lead the activities. Packs, Dens and individual families may register. For more information, please click
here.
Summer Camp 2018 - Lost Pines Scout Reservation
We cordial invite all Sam Houston Area Council Troops to come spend their summer with us at the beautiful Lost Pines Scout Reservation on Lake Bastrop! We have an exciting summer planned with fun for all. Here are just a few of our camp highlights:
Set on 500 beautiful acres of loblolly pines on the north shore of Lake Bastrop
Friendly, experienced staff.
Scuba Open Water Dive Certification Program
Our Silver Pines program combines both on and off camp adventures for older scouts
Unique extra programs such as Action Archery, Bikathlon and the LPSR Triathlon
Living History Program night with branding, tomahawk throwing and many more fun opportunities
Adult leader trainings offered daily
NEW - Aquatics focus week July 8-12 with special programs and opportunities for Sea Scouts too!
We are offering seven weeks of camp this year from June 10 through July 28. For more information, click
here. or you can register today by contacting
[email protected].
2018 Philmont Trek
Philmont Scout Ranch is the Boy Scouts of America's largest national High Adventure Base. Its 34 staffed camps and 55 trail camps provide an unforgettable adventure.
The Sam Houston Area Council will have 3 2018 Philmont contingents. The 2018 dates are:
Contingent #1: June 17, 2018 - June 29, 2018
Contingent #2: June 29, 2018 - July 11, 2018
Contingent #3: July 11, 2018 - July 23, 2018
Northern Tier
Winter 2018-19 & Summer 2019 Lottery
Are you looking for something exciting summer 2019? Mark your calendars for our online lottery open beginning at
9:00 a.m.
T
uesday, January 2nd, 2018 until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, January 9th, 2018.
More details about Northern Tier can be found
here.
July 22 - August 9, 2019
The 24th
World Scout Jamboree is an educational event that brings together the world's young people to promote peace and mutual understanding and to develop leadership and life skills. The jamboree will feature the hallmarks of past world jamboree programs, such as the Global Development Village, the World Scout Centre, a special sustainability initiative, and the socialization elements that allow participants to make lifelong friends from around the world. To learn more, please click
here.
Venturing
Click
here to find all the Venturing news including, Venturing Forums, upcoming events calendars, and Crew Committee Challenge Training.
Venturing Challenge - February 23-25, 2018, click
here for more information and to register.
Next Venturing Committee meeting is March 28, 2018 at the Cockrell Scout Center.
Want to Know More?
Follow the SHAC VOA on Twitter @shacventuring
Instagram @shacventuring
Or FaceBook @ SHACVenturing
Sea Scouts Fleet
Next Sea Scouts Fleet Meeting: February 21, 2018 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Cockrell Scout Center
For resources, events, activities and more information please click
here.
 United Way of Greater Houston's 211 Helpline and THRIVE
2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE
If you need help finding child care, food stamps, care for an aging parent or a haven from domestic violence, 2-1-1 is the number to call when you don't know who to call. The United Way of Greater Houston's trained HELPLINE specialists are good listeners, blending understanding and expertise to provide information and referrals drawn from a comprehensive database of social services. Annually, the 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE answers over 957,600 calls for help. Basic needs, like food, utilities and health care, topped the list of requests last year, followed by rent assistance and help finding shelter.
Additionally, other resources such as United Way THRIVES's workforce development offerings, financial coaching and education opportunities and financial products and services can be accessed through 2-1-1 Texas/United Way HELPLINE.
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Scout Days, Scout Nights
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Scout Nights at Monster Jam
Saturday, February 10 at 7:00pm
Sunday, February 11 at 3:00pm
NRG Stadium
Exclusive Scout Offer
SAVE up to $10 on tickets plus FREE Monster Jam Scout Patch and FREE Pit Party PASS!
Scout ticket prices are $27 to $11 based on seating location.
Monster Jam® brings motorsport fans to the edge of their seats with adrenaline-charged, high-flying, four-wheel excitement that is fun for the entire family. Unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable, Monster Jam takes center stage in the world's most iconic venues, sporting meticulously manicured dirt tracks created with the sole purpose of pushing these perfectly engineered, larger-than-life trucks to the limit. Monster Jam is one of the only sports where male and female world-class drivers, some generational rivals, are equals competing for the same championship on the same track. Following racing, new in 2018 across all Monster Jam events, fans in every city will have the chance to vote for the truck winner in the two-wheel and freestyle competitions by real-time, in-stadium fan voting on their smartphones.
Free Pre-event Pit Party Pass with your ticket:
The Pit Party is your opportunity to get an up close look at the amazing trucks of Monster Jam and receive autographs from your favorite Monster Jam drivers. The Monster Jam Pit Party will take place from 2:30 pm-5:30 pm. No Pit Party admission after 5:00 pm.
Order Your Tickets Today:
For information or to order groups of ten or more, contact Christina at 281-367-9717 or email at
[email protected].
Or purchase tickets online by clicking
here
use the password TXGRP2 under "Offer Code".
Note that service and handling fees will apply for online purchases. After purchasing tickets online, call Christina at 281-367-9717 or email at [email protected] to request patches.
Not available with any other offer. Deadline to order tickets is one week prior to event date.
Scout Days at the Houston Museum of Natural Science
Need plans for the summer for your scouts? Check out the week-long Summer Scout Classes at The Houston Museum of Natural Science. Boy Scouts, Webelos, Bears, and Wolves can earn merit badges or adventures while enjoying the environment of the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Saturday scout classes for Tigers, Wolves, Bears and Webelos can work towards Adventures in two-hour classes. Up to two classes can be taken in one day and entrance to the general exhibits is included for the scout and one parent/chaperone.
There are 19 merit badges available during the school year for Boy Scouts at HMNS, including five Eagle Scout required badges: Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Family Life and Personal Management.
Check out our Scouts@HMNS
Facebook page.
Rice Baseball
Scout Day
Saturday, April 7
2:00 p.m.
Rice Vs. Old Dominion
$13 General Admission
Uniformed Scouts receive a commemorative Rice Scout Day Patch. Plus participate in a poster making station, knot tying station, and other Scout Activities.
For tickets, click
here. PROMO code: Scouts or call Adriana Amaya at 713-348-8254
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| Support Scouting |
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Topgolf Challenge
March 8th
Topgolf - Katy
The Topgolf Challenge is a new fundraiser to support the council. The challenge will be played in a scramble format with prizes awarded to the top three threesomes. Prizes will also be given for the longest drive and hole in one. For more information and to register, please click here.
Sporting Clays Tournament
April 26, 2018
Westside Sporting Grounds
10120 Pattison Rd, Katy, TX
The Sporting Clays Tournament is an annual event to support the Sam Houston Area Council's programs for at-risk youth. Up to one hundred four-person teams can compete in the shotgun shooting game. Prizes are awarded to the top teams in several categories. Participants can bid on live and silent auction items. For more information, please click here.
Donate your vehicle or boat 
To donate a car, truck, RV, trailer, boat or motor to the Sam Houston Area Council, please visit One Car One Difference, found
here. For more information about One Car One Difference, the Boy Scouts of America's Vehicle donation program, please click
here.
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| Order of the Arrow |
Arrowman Bash 2018
Mark your calendars! Arrowman Bash is April 6-8, 2018. This is a fun weekend for ALL Boy Scouts with activities like shooting sports, archery, tomahawk throwing, climbing, games, great food, and much more. For the third year, Colonneh Lodge is opening this entire event to all Boy Scout troops in SHAC. On Saturday, scouts will have the opportunity to participate in the Trail to First Class program where they can complete Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class requirements. All troops are encouraged to take advantage of this great opportunity! More information will be available in 2018.
The Order of the Arrow is the Scouting National Honor Society. For 101 years, the Order of the Arrow (OA) has recognized Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. This recognition 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. For more information, contact your
OA chapter
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