Leader Updates

Pop'tober begins October 1st - November 29th

Units not signed up to sell, please email contact data to popcorn@shac.org . It's not too late to sell!!! Selling gourmet Trail's End popcorn allows units to earn funds to support their entire year of Scouting. Units earn 30% commissions and Scouts earn gift card prize incentives reaching different levels. New this year...Scouts that sell $100 in Military Sales earn a special patch. Join the $600 Club!

Sell $600 in popcorn and earn the Zyclone

 Leader's Tools, Important Dates, Mission Possible, Trail's-End Log-In, SHAC Popcorn Site

Additional Popcorn Sales Brochures available at council, your District Executives or District Popcorn Chairman.  Have you created your on-line selling account?  

Your SECOND Rally 

Why set up that second rally? You will increase the opportunity to provide Scouting to all of the youth in our communities. You'll also grow the pack both in youth members and adult leaders. Second rallies can be shaped to the pack's needs. Some packs hold a second rally just like the first, others hold a special event, and many invite interested families to a pack meeting where the prospective members attend 30 minutes in advance to hear a message on Scouting and the activities to come. For creative ideas, talk with your district membership committee and/or with your district executive. Get Boy Scout troops to get involved! They can help out at rallies, or early pack meetings, and it gives great exposure for the troop from new boys entering the program, and returning Cub Scouts, reminding them that in a few short years they will be able to cross over to Boy Scouts. Be sure to follow-up with any families that attended a rally but have not completed an application.

Ensure the new Cub Scouts (and their families!) are active in their new dens and packs! Check den attendance rosters against pack roster to see that every new Cub Scout is registered by Nov. 1

Scouting for Food

In the Law of the Pack, a Cub Scout gives good will and in the Boy Scout Promise, a Boy Scout promises to help other people at all times. By participating in the Scouting for Food drive in association with Souper Bowl of Caring, Scouts are able to fulfill those words. Last year we collected 175K pounds of food, the largest amount by a single organization.  Papa Johns is generously providing door hangers designed to hang on doors. Help fight hunger in your neighborhood. The Scouting for Food kick-off for will be on Thursday, October 27 at the Cockrell Scout Center at 7:00 PM for all Scouting for Food District leaders. more information/sign up your unit to participate

Council Coordinated Meeting Oct. 27, Please register

Please register for the upcoming Council Coordinated meeting and let us know what break out sesssions you will attend. To help you run a strong District Committee meeting, we will present a mock meeting in the general session. Help us plan the room size necessary for each break-out.  Register Here

Cub Scout Leaders Pow Wow, Nov. 5

Join in for a Cub Scout leader's learning extravaganza - a big fun-filled experience where Cub Scout leaders and parents can increase their knowledge, improve their skills, and gain enthusiastic attitudes about Cub Scouting. Offered only once per year, you get to choose from a wide variety of activity and learning sessions. Walk away with useful resources and tons of ideas! Click here for more information  

Boy Scouts of America offers leaders with a progression of training opportunities to give adult volunteers the skills they need to provide leadership for Scouting and leadership for America.  Wood Badge is BSA's ultimate leadership training for adults, where participants are immersed in a six-day course covering the theory, practice, and experience of appropriate skills for leading others within Scouting and in many environments beyond the BSA.  SHAC-115, Oct. 27 through 29 and Nov. 17 through 19, 2011 For your registration form and other information 

Journey to Excellence Resources 

 You'll find the Journey to Excellence page for Districts to use to see how they are measuring month to month towards the end of year GOLD qualification.  District Journey to Excellence criteria is in the final phase. The most critical item on the form is item #1; unit participation in Journey to Excellence. All Unit Commissioners and District Committee members are encouraged to mention this every opportunity you have at the unit level.  October 27, 2011 is the next Council Coordinated Meeting, 7PM at the Cockrell Scout Center. We will be demonstrating a formal district committee meeting for all to see. Everyone will participate in this during the general session.  Please encourage your committee to attend.

College of Commissioner Science, Dec. 3

 "Graduating with Honors" is the theme for SHAC's second year of Commissioner College. The college dean and his highly acclaimed staff of educators and instructors are preparing an outstanding catalog of accredited sessions aimed at assisting Commissioners and Scouting adults in earning Bachelor, Masters or Doctoral degrees of Commissioner Science. "Cockrell Hall" will set the stage for a day of higher education. A course schedule and complete catalog of courses can be found on the council website. For information and registration 

Cut Scout / Boy Scout / Venturing / Explorer Updates

Fun with Son 

Fun with Son is an overnight campout for NEW Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Scouts and their adult partner at Camp Strake or Camp Bovay.  Sessions run from October 21 - 23.  Scouts will enjoy BB guns, archery, sling shots, crafts, sports, games, campfire, and more.  This fall we will be hosting 4 sessions of exciting Cub Scouting activities on October 21-23 at Camp Strake and Bovay Scout Ranch. Click here for more.

New Director at Bovay Scout Ranch 

Please welcome Dr. Carmalita (Carmie) McCallum who has joined our staff at Bovay to serve as Camp Director. Dr. McCallum is a retired educator. She has been a teacher from grades K thru 5th grade and also has been an assistant school principal, a principal and a professor at Texas A & M University. Dr. McCallum is no stranger to Scouting either, after graduating from college she served as an Aquatics Director for El Rancho Cima - Horseshoe Bend, River Camp and Camp Strake for 6 years. A BSA Head Wrangler and Boots & Saddle Director at El Rancho Cima for 2 years, she has also served on National Camp Training Staff.

NO COOK MEALS

Don't let the burn ban affect your next campout or Scouting activitiy! There are still lots of fun and excitement to be had in spite of the weather conditions and fire bans.  If you plan ahead for "no-cook meals" and bring high-calorie power foods, you can make sure your body receives the  sustenance it needs. Remember to drink plenty of water with every meal.

Day Camp Meetings

Lot's to know about setting up your District Day Camp.  We'll meet the third wednesday of the month at 6:30 to discuss plans and actions.  Join us at the Cockrell Scout Center for these informative sessions October 19 and November 16 (no mtg in December).  Camp and Program directors are strongly encouraged to attend.

Pack Outing Weekends 

On designated weekends, a pack will allowed to camp at Bovay Scout Ranch with all program planned and meals cooked and carried out by their own pack. Campsites, restrooms and showers will available. This will allow the packs to have use of the facility, but without the cost of food, staff and program. Call 713 756 9123

Weekend Camping

Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, Webelos Scouts, and family members who come to Cub Adventure Camp will have their day filled with an exciting variety of activities. Advancement is the ticket.  Hold a place

Eagles, Eagles on the Wall

Next time you visit the Cockrell Scout Center, check out our newest Eagles on the wall.  Congratulations to our 2010 class. see full list 

Veterinary Medicine Merit Badge at Texas A&M

The Boy Scouts Veterinary Medicine Merit Badge event at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine will take place April 14, 2012.  You must register Nov. 14-18.  Frequently Asked Questions

New Conservation Class starts Oct. 22

 The SHAC Conservation Committee will host a Ranger Conservation program at the Spring Creek Nature Center - it is a three session event.  Starting Oct 22, the class will cover Ecology, selected local species, and how to measure our world.  Dec 17 will cover how to design, develop and execute a conservation project.  Feb 18 will cover International Conservation efforts and site investigation.  The event is free, but please pre-register so that instructional materials will be available in the correct quantity. 

National Leadership Training (NYLT), Dec. 26-31

National Youth Leadership Training is an exciting, action-packed program designed to provide Scouts with the leadership skills and experience they can use in their home troops/crews and in other situations demanding leadership of self and others.  Every troop/crew should have at least one representative at NYLT 2011, space is limited to forty-eight (48) participants. Next course Dec. 26 - 31 at Bovay Scout Ranch. More 

Troop and Staff applications are being accepted for Winter Camp at Camp Strake beginning Dec. 26th. Limited number of positions available...900 Scouts and 300 adults.Troop registraion  Staff application. More on Winter Camp 

National Jamboree

The next BSA National Jamboree will be held in August 2013 at the new Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in the mountains of West Virginia.  This Jamboree will be the first at this premier new facility.  If you want to be part of breaking in the new site adjacent to the New River Gorge National River as part of the Sam Houston Area Council contingent, now is the time to register. Parents can register their scouts by completing the online registration forms.  The application will require a small registration fee.  Once applications are completed online, they must be printed out, approved and signed by the scout's Scoutmaster, and returned to the Sam Houston Area Council.More 

World Affairs Forum

All High School Students are Invited to Attend World Affairs Council Houston's Young Leaders Forum, Monday, October 17 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Hear Andrew J. Tabler, expert on US-Syria relations talk about Syria Youth Today. Free for students. Registration required. Click here for details. At this event, get more details on the new World Affairs Council Exploring Post after Forum. www.learningforlife.org/exploring

SHERIFF GARCIA PARTNERS WITH POLICE EXPLORERS PROGRAM

Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia will soon launch the Harris County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) Police Explorers program, a career and value-oriented initiative that will give young adults the opportunity to explore a career in law enforcement by working with deputies of the HCSO.

 Order of the Arrow