An Enhanced BeAScout Experience Starts Soon

Starting August 3, BeAScout is launching a refreshed look designed to make finding and joining local units easier than ever for prospective families.

To help families find the right fit, Unit Leaders can now fill out several new fields in their Unit Pin via Organization Manager on My.Scouting.org:

Meeting Details: Days, start/end times, and frequency

Cost Transparency: Unit fees and whether fundraising helps cover costs

Trial Visits: Option to mark if prospective families are encouraged to visit a meeting

Any updates made now will automatically go live when the new experience launches on August 3. Take a few minutes to update your unit's pin today!

Update your BeAScout Pin today – logon to My.Scouting.org -> Organization Manager -> Unit Pin

Join our team!

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 current job opportunities, including Membership Onboarding Specialists and Entry Level District Executives, by clicking here.

Safety Moment - Mental, Emotional, And Social Health

A person’s mental, emotional, and social health (MESH) can change quickly, including during Scouting activities such as a campout or unit meeting. Consequently, we must Be Prepared for MESH challenges in our youth and adults, just as we prepare for other medical concerns. Scouting America uses the U-S-A Model—a simple, practical approach to help everyone respond when a person may need some help. 

U – Understand the behaviors to watch for. 

S – Speak to them and support them. 

A – Advocate and act 

For more details of the U-S-A Model, please click here.

Scout Leader Charles V. "Junior" Raimond receives the Heroism Award

Scout leader Charles V. "Junior" Raimond, Jr. demonstrated exceptional bravery when he witnessed a vehicle roll into the median along Interstate 10. Without hesitation, he rushed to the scene, where he discovered a leaking gasoline hazard. After assessing the situation, directing a bystander to call 911, and puncturing a deployed airbag to reach the trapped driver, Junior and another bystander forced open a door and safely extracted the injured teenage driver. He then provided first aid and comforted the victim until emergency responders arrived. For his courageous actions and willingness to place himself at personal risk to save another, Charles V. "Junior" Raimond, Jr. was awarded the Heroism Award.

Congratulations to eight exceptional Scouts from Troop 242 as they earned the rank of Eagle Scout at a recent Court of Honor!

Congratulations to Logan B., Gabriel H., Samuel H., Robert W., Landin S., Joshua W., Sean M., Blake J. from Troop 242

Military Family Fee Waivers

Effective today, Scouting America is waiving the national registration fee for children of active-duty, National Guard, and Reserve families. For more information about this opportunity, please click here.

New Process for Eagle Scout Board of Review

Eagle Scout applications are now processed electronically both before and after the Eagle Scout Board of Review (EBOR). This streamlined process eliminates the need to travel to the Cockrell Scout Center for pre-EBOR application verification or to submit paperwork after the board of review. Once approved, Eagle Scout credentials may be picked up at your selected Scout Shop or mailed for a nominal fee. For more information, please click here.

Updated Online Merit Badge Policy

Online merit badges emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic to allow Scouts to continue advancing while group gatherings and in-person interactions were restricted. While the post-pandemic demand for online options has significantly decreased, online badges remain a valuable alternative in specific situations, such as when a Scout is ill. For a full update of all merit badge policies, please click here.

Popcorn

Every Scout should learn the value of hard work and earning their own way. Selling popcorn is the perfect opportunity to teach this life lesson while funding the most exciting year of Scouting yet! To make it easy, the council handles the heavy lifting—eliminating the need for units to vet vendors, calculate returns, or design promotional materials. Ultimately, the popcorn sale isn't just about fundraising... it's about promoting Scouting in our community! For more information, please click here.

Unit Money-Earning Projects and Applications

Does your unit want to conduct a fundraiser? Here is what you need to know.

Popcorn Sales are great opportunities for money-earning projects. This project provides an almost risk-free opportunity for units to raise funds and they are the only money-earning projects pre-approved by the Sam Houston Area Council. If additional funds are needed after Popcorn Sales, a unit must submit a Unit Money-Earning Application.

When deciding on a money-earning project, refer to the Guidelines For Unit Money-Earning Projects. Understanding the guidelines will help you with your project selection. All fundraising projects (except Popcorn Sales) must be approved by submitting the online Unit Money-Earning Application.

Lifeguard Certification

An American Red Cross lifeguard class teaches participants to recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies through hands-on training in skills like water rescue, First Aid, CPR, and AED use. The program includes a prerequisite swim test and ends with final skills assessments, resulting in a nationally recognized certification that satisfies workplace requirements. For more information and to register, please click below.

August 14-16, 2026 Training

August 28-30, 2026 Training

Jamboree patches are still available

Our 100 youth and 16 leaders have just returned from a fantastic adventure at the 2026 National Jamboree in West Virginia! If you missed out, patch sets from both the 2026 and 2023 Jamborees are still available for purchase. Best of all, proceeds from every sale help offset expenses for the Scouts and leaders who represented our council.

Order 2026 Jamboree Patches here

Eagle Wall Corrections

The names of the 2025 class of Eagle Scouts are due to be etched on the wall in front of the Cockrell Scout Center around Thanksgiving of 2026.

Make sure that your Eagle is recognized correctly. Look at this page for how your Scout’s name is scheduled to be recorded on the wall. Name corrections are due here by September 1. 

Save the Date:

International Scouting Day

October 17, 2026

As you plan your unit's fall calendar, be sure to save October 17 for an exciting international adventure right here in Houston! Through JOTA-JOTI (Jamboree-on-the-Air and Jamboree-on-the-Internet), Scouts can connect with millions of youth worldwide, explore new cultures, and experience the global Scouting movement—all without leaving home. For more information, please click here.

Fall Adventure Camp

We are thrilled to be celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Bovay Scout Ranch. Bring your pack out for the ultimate Adventure Camp being held this fall. Register now

October 2-4, 2026     

October 16-18, 2026 - FULL

October 23-25, 2026 - FULL

October 30 - November 1, 2026

November 20-22, 2026

December 11-13, 2026 - Limited Spot Remain

Full Throttle

Relive the excitement of Camp Strake and join us for one of the fall Full Throttle weekends! Scouts spend a half-day participating in program areas such as shooting sports, climbing, and ziplining, and a half-day working on a merit badge. Individual Scouts can attend on Saturday; troops can camp for the weekend. Campership opportunities are still available. Sign up here.

September 18-20, 2026

December 4-6, 2026

Campsgiving

Sign up now to be a part of our second ever Campsgiving at Camp Strake!!! From outdoor activities and program showcases to fellowship around camp and opportunities to earn merit badges, Campsgiving is the perfect opportunity for this! Campership opportunities are available. Sign up here.

November 21-24, 2026

Winter Camp

It’s never too early to start thinking about Winter Camp. Join us at Camp Strake for another amazing opportunity to have some fun. Earn merit badges, enjoy our high adventure experience,and participate in some fun themed evening programs! This year’s theme will be revealed SOON… Campership and Super Troop opportunities are available. Sign up here. 

December 26-31, 2026

Summer Camp 2027

Join us at Camp Strake Summer Camp in 2027 for a week of high-energy fun, skill-building, and unforgettable memories! From swimming and shooting sports to climbing, merit badges, and evening campfires, Camp Strake offers Scouts an action-packed experience in the heart of the Texas pines. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the adventure. Click here to register for Summer Camp 2027!

June 6-12, 2027

June 13-19, 2027

June 20-26, 2027

and June 27- July 3, 2027

National Youth Leadership Training

National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) is an action-packed six-day council-level program that provides Scouts in troops, crews, and ships with leadership skills and experience they can use in their units and throughout life.  

For registration details please visit here. 

December 26-31, 2026

Scout Day with Houston Texans

The Houston Texans are excited to welcome Scouting America to Reliant Stadium for the Texans vs. the Chargers on August 13th!

Through this special offer, all Scouting America Scouts, families, and friends will have access to a preferred ticket rate and the opportunity to sit together as a group. This is a great chance to show your Scout spirit while enjoying a Houston Texans game!

For more information and to purchase tickets, please click here.

Thursday, August 13

Two Scout Days with Texas A&M Aggies

The 12th Man Foundation and Aggie Football invite Scouts and their families to Kyle Field to yell for the Aggies! The Texas A&M football team will be defending their home field.

September 5, 2026: Aggie Football Scout Day 2026 vs. Missouri State | 6:00 PM

September 19, 2026: Aggie Football Scout Day 2026 vs. Kentucky | 2:30 PM

If you have any questions or require ADA seating, please contact Pierce Bradley. Gig' Em!

Order tickets by clicking here. Use Promo Code - AFSD26

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. Click here for more details.