Scouting: It All Starts Here

We are excited to unveil the theme for the 2025 fall recruitment campaign: “Scouting: It All Starts Here.”

From adventure and creativity to community and teamwork—it all starts here! This fall, we are inviting families to discover how Scouting lays the foundation for a lifetime of fun, values, and unforgettable experiences.

Fall Recruitment Training

Cub Scout leaders – want to grow your pack with excited new families this fall? Register now for Part 2 of our Fall Recruitment Training session!

Part 1 of the Cub Scout Fall Recruiting Training was held May 14. If you missed it or want to view it again or share with other leaders, click here to view a video recording of the training session.

This training will cover everything you need for a successful fall recruiting season, including:

• How to host an effective Sign-Up Night
• Marketing and promotion tools
• School talk best practices
• Parent orientation - what to cover and why it matters

Every pack should have at least one representative attend. Registration is now open. To register, please click here.

July 9, 2025

7:00 p.m.

Please be advised that we will no longer be utilizing the "Text To Join" feature in our Fall Recruitment Campaign promotion. Please return all collateral with the "Text to Join" information to you District Membership Chair.

Strake Odyssey

Embark on an extraordinary journey with Strake Odyssey, Camp Strake’s new space-focused camp. Dive into the wonders of astronomy, rocketry, and cosmic exploration, igniting young minds with hands-on activities and captivating simulations that bring the universe to life. Strake Odyssey includes an exciting trip to NASA for behind-the-scenes experiences! Join us for an unforgettable adventure beyond the stars. July 13-19, 2025

Be The Spark

Have you ever considered the power of a single spark? How it can ignite a flame, bringing warmth, energy, and a sense of purpose? That's the core of our new campaign, "Be the Spark: Ignite a Future Leader," and we invite you to be that spark for the next generation. We believe that every individual has the potential to inspire and empower young people. Just as a spark can ignite a roaring flame, one dedicated leader can transform the lives of countless youth. 

Volunteers are needed throughout our area. Please sign up today!

Aquatics Safety

Take Scouts near any body of water and they have a natural desire to go swimming. Once Scouts have learned how to swim, they naturally want to progress into other aquatics activities, including sailing, rowing, canoeing, and rafting.

But before that swim or row, we want everyone to have a plan and be on the same page when it comes to aquatics safety in the Scouting America program. The two key training prerequisites are Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat.

These are not learn-to-swim or learn-to-paddle courses; they are the Scouting America way to conduct a safe and fun aquatics program. Both courses can be found on my.Scouting.org and taken online anytime. All leaders are encouraged to take the training and at least one adult needs the training when unit aquatics activities are conducted. 

Medal of Merit Awarded

Using his Scout training to recognize a potentially life-threatening situation, Arrow of Light Scout Thomas E. acted quickly and decisively to protect his family.

When smoke began entering his home from the backyard, Thomas immediately suspected a fire. Investigating further, he discovered flames coming from a window-mounted air conditioning unit. Recalling his Scout training—“If you see or smell smoke, get to safety and alert others”—he sprang into action.

With urgency, Thomas notified his parents, reminded them to grab the family pet, and led the evacuation. Once outside, he approached a bystander and asked them to call 911.

Thomas responded with maturity and presence of mind—prioritizing the safety of his family and securing help.

Although the fire department arrived within ten minutes, the blaze had already spread rapidly. Even though the home was ultimately lost, Thomas’s quick thinking and brave actions ensured that his parents and their pet escaped unharmed. His initiative and calm response likely prevented a tragedy.

Congratulations to Thomas E. on being awarded Scouting America’s Medal of Merit for his courage, leadership, and exemplary use of his Scout training.

SHAC on Great Day Houston

Sam Houston Area Council Scout Executive/CEO, Marvin Smith and Scout Rithik A. were highlighted on Great Day Houston with Deborah Duncan! The discussion revolved around Scouting, mentorship, volunteerism, and the Be The Spark Campaign. To view the video, please click here.

Silver Beaver Award

The Silver Beaver Award is the highest form of recognition that a local council can bestow on a volunteer.

Nominations for the Silver Beaver Award are due August 1, 2025.

For more information, including lists of prior recipients, please visit here.

Our council selects a few volunteers each year to receive the Silver Beaver. Send nominations to silverbeaver@shac.org.

Webelos Arrow of Light Quest (WAQ)

Webelos Arrow of Light Quest is a three-night overnight camping experience at Camp Strake for Scouts entering 4th and 5th grade the following school year and their parent or guardian. Activities include the cool zone, canoeing, swimming, working on advancements, designing their own leather belt to take home and being introduced to many outdoor Scouting skills! July 20-23, 2025

Aquatics Adventure Weekend

Camp Strake is here to offer you some end of summer fun at our Aquatics Adventure Weekend!!!

If a Scout needs to earn the Swimming or Lifesaving merit badge or is looking for more fun stuff to do before school starts,

Camp Strake is offering an awesome opportunity to earn aquatics themed merit badge requirements, enjoy some time in the water, or participate in your favorite aquatics activities. 

We plan to offer swimming, canoeing, kayaking, rowing, climbing, shooting and more! 

Mark your calendars. Registration will open soon.

August 8 - 10, 2025

Campership

The council is dedicated to ensuring all Scouts can attend camp. The campership program seeks to increase the number of Scouts enjoying outdoor experiences at our council camps and programs by providing financial assistance for deserving Scouts who otherwise would not be able to meet the fee requirements. 

Wood Badge

Wood Badge is the ultimate leadership training designed to meet the advanced leadership needs of all types of Scouters in all aspects of Scouting America. This fun and energetic course will help create better leaders, and draws upon the most current leadership models used by corporate America, academic circles, and successful organizations throughout the country.

Wood Badge consists of five full days of group training held over two weekends, and participants to apply the skills they learned by completing a five-part plan.

For more information and to register, please click here.

October 10-12 and 25-26, 2025

Camp Strake

Venturing Banquet

The Venturing Banquet is an opportunity for Venturers and leaders to celebrate their successes, to honor recent leaders, and inaugurate new leaders. 

For more information and registration, please visit here.

August 3, 2025

Minto Rendezvous Skills Competition

Minto Rendezvous is an annual event that brings together Sea Scout Shops from SHAC and the surrounding region. In this competition, a Ship’s teamwork, knowledge and skills are tested in events from navigation to blindfolded canoe race to first aid challenges (and more). The highlight of the weekend is the annual Flotsam Flotilla race of homemade vessels made from a variety of materials.  Registration opens in July 2025.  For more information please visit here.

September 19 - 21, 2025

Camp Strake

Scout Days

Scout Days are awesome opportunities to get your Scouts, friends, and family together for exciting experiences around the area with other Scouting families at discounted rates.

Vehicle Donations 

Scouting America partners with CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services) for turnkey vehicle donations. This third-party service will work directly with councils and donors to facilitate title transfers, vehicle pick-up, and delivery in all 50 states.  

Now Hiring

We are continually searching for potential employees who would like to work in a profession that has a meaningful, rewarding purpose. Learn more about our job opportunities.

International Scouting Day

One day. One location. A world of Scouting experiences. 

Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity to connect with the global Scouting movement—right here in Houston!

JOTA-JOTI (Jamboree-on-the-Air and Internet) is the world’s largest digital Scout event, uniting millions of young people across the globe for a weekend of online fun, learning, and international friendship. And this year, you can be part of it—in person! For more information, please click here.

October 18, 2025

National Jamboree 2026-Contingent registration is Open!

The National Jamboree is Scouting’s flagship event. There’s no shortage of opportunities at the Bechtel Summit in West Virginia to build Scouting memories. Over 10 days, join 40,000 Scouts, leaders and staff, showcasing everything great about Scouting, stadium shows, pioneer villages, Garden Ground hikes, adventure sports, patch trading, and more. Registration is OPEN for our council contingent, visit this page.

July 20 - August 2, 2026

Join our local contingent leadership for a Jamboree Information Session via ZOOM (choose one). Visit www.shacbsa.org/jamboree for more information.

Option 1 - July 15, 2025

Option 2 - July 22, 2025

Option 3 - July 29, 2025