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| A Century of Service |  |
On April 11, 1914, the Sam Houston Area Council received its first charter to give boys the benefits of the Scouting Movement in accordance with the official handbook of the National Council. Now the Sam Houston Area Council, through its chartered partner organizations, serves nearly 50,000 youth and 20,000 volunteers in the Scouting programs.
To celebrate our Century of Service, we invite you to design the Council Strip Patch and special 5-piece commemorative patch that will serve as a featured recognition for participating in the 100th Anniversary activities. Make your mark on our shared history and submit a patch design by July 31st. More
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For Our Leaders, Parents, Volunteers...
Membership Policy Update
On May 23rd at the BSA's National Annual Business Meeting, the approximately 1,400 volunteer delegates representing every BSA Council and corner of our Scouting family convened in North Texas to vote on a proposed resolution that was presented by the BSA National Executive Committee. The resolution stated that "No youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone." This resolution maintains the current membership standards for adult leaders, which does not proactively inquire about the sexual orientation of employees, volunteers, or members, but does not grant membership to individuals who are open or avowed homosexuals or who engage in behavior that would become a distraction to the mission of the Boy Scouts of America. Please click HERE to view the full resolution. The vote was taken and the resolution passed. MORE
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| Leader's News | |
Celebrating a Century of Service
2014 is a very special year as the Sam Houston Area Council will be celebrating 100 years of serving youth. Several special events will be a part of our celebration. Mark these dates and check out the patch contest. Your design could be chosen for the commemorative patch
·Scouting for Food: January 25, 2014 & February 1, 2014
·Scout Fair: April 12, 2014
·Sam Houston Area Council Camp Participation: Day Camp, Cub Scout & Boy Scout Resident Camp, or Winter Camp
·Community Service Project (in your local community) : Nov. 15, 2014
Eagle Recognition
Members of the newly emerged C. Travis Traylor, Jr. Eagle Class of 2012 gathered on Sunday, May 19th, at Crowne Plaza Hotel near Reliant Park for the annual Gathering of Eagles Reception hosted by the Eagle Scout Association of the Boy Scouts of America's - Sam Houston Area Council (SHAC). With record attendance, over 264 Scouts, the newest class of Eagles were honored along with eight current Eagle Scouts who received the National Outstanding Eagle Award for their outstanding achievement at the local, state or regional level. The prestigious National Distinguished Eagle Scout Award was presented to Charles J. Jacobus, Sr.
 Eagle Scout Dalton Owen, Troop 93, accepted the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams Sam Houston Area Council Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award for building an amphitheater and butterfly garden for Cedar Bayou United Methodist Church. Fox 26 news anchor and Eagle Scout, Jose Griňan, presented the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) Outstanding Eagle Scout Award to eight outstanding Eagles who have demonstrated outstanding achievement at the local, state or regional level. A special thank you to the many patrons for their generosity and support, for without them this event would not be possible. Mark your calendar for May 18, 2014 for the next New Eagle Scout Reception - 2014.
Popcorn
Coming soon to a Scout near you.. Increase your unit and council income - 70% stays local.-Pay for your entire Scouting program. Scouts learn life lessons by "earning their own way." Prize Reward Program including $600 Club & College Scholarships.Sales materials provided at Council Popcorn Kick-offs scheduled for September. More
FOS Campaign Recognition, June 27
Congratulations to volunteers and staff in the following District's which have achieved 100% of their FOS goal: Aldine Pathfinder 103%; Phoenix 104%; Antares 106%; Mustang 112%; Tatanka 131%. Our Campaign Celebration will be held on June 27 beginning at 6:30 p.m.at the Cockrell Scout Center. All FOS volunteers in attendance will be recognized, including volunteers and Districts who achieve at 100% by June 20. RSVP
Nominate Hornaday Gold Badge for Adults
Scouting is an enthusiastic supporter of conservation efforts and programs. The Hornaday Awards for youth (Unit Award, Badge, Bronze Medal, and Silver Medal) recognize significant contributions to conservation and to conservation-related education by Scouts.There are also adult Hornaday recognitions that commemorate the contributions of leaders to conservation. One of these, the Hornaday Gold Badge, is presented in recognition of the influence the nominee has had on youth and educational programs emphasizing sound stewardship of our nation's natural resources and environmental improvement a period of at least three years. The Council Conservation Committee wants to recognize the champions of conservation in the Sam Houston Area Council. We ask that you nominate deserving individuals. Nominations should be sent to Paul Roberts at proberts@alumni.rice.edu no later than August 1, 2013. Forms can be found here
 Tour Plans
The new online tour and activity plan has been developed and is active. Please go to www.myscouting.org. You do not need a tour plan for Council sponsored activities or camping at Council camps. For the Council's Guidelines on when to file a tour plan, Click Here. The new plan no longer requires signatures or approvals. Rather, as the plan is completed online, the required prerequisites for that type of trip or activity will be displayed. Before being allowed to submit the form, the person completing the form will have to certify that all prerequisites will be met prior to conducting the trip or activity. Once submitted, an email notification will be sent to your council, chartered organization, committee chair, unit leader, and emergency contact to let them know that a plan has been submitted. Receivers of this notification can log in to MyScouting and review the plan. It is important to maintain current leadership information including email addresses in the system. Links will also be provided to current program-required training and education.
NRA Rifle and Shotgun Training
Sam Houston Area Council needs more trained adults in the shooting sports.The SHAC Shooting Sports Committee will be gearing up for adult classes in many shooting disciplines. The Basic Instructor Training, BIT, is a prerequisite for the other courses. After BIT, other Instructor training include Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Muzzle Loading and Range Safety Officer.
NRA Training will be offered. For questions or additional information, contact Council Shooting Sports Committee Chairman, Bob Schrewsberry shrewsir@yahoo.com  Houston Food Bank Seeks Volunteers for Hurricane Preparedness, June 15 The Houston Food Bank needs volunteers for its hurricane preparedness drill on Saturday June 15th, 2013 from 12p-4p. Volunteers ages 8 and older will help produce boxes of non-perishable food to be stored in our warehouse and distributed to families in need in the event of a hurricane or other emergency. To volunteer please visit our website or call 713-547-8604."
Your Emergency Preparedness Plan
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is pleased to partner with the Boy Scouts of America to increase the level of citizen preparedness across the country. DHS has asked the Boy Scouts of America to build upon the foundation of the Ready campaign and to help citizens across the country prepare for emergencies of all kinds. Links for Emergency Preparedness: ONE, TWO THREE, FOUR
 Wood Badge Adult Leadership Course
Wood Badge is a six-day advanced leadership course for Scout Leaders involved in all program levels- Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing. Participants will learn techniques to become better leaders. registration for our 2013 Fall courses The dates for our fall Wood Badge courses are SHAC 13-3: September 12-14 and October 10-12 (Thursday to Saturday course) and SHAC 13-4: October 25-27 and November 22-24 (Friday to Sunday course). Registration is now open for SHAC 13-3 and 13-4.
Powder Horn this fall!
2 weekends: September 20 - 22 and October 18 - 20, 2013
Powder Horn is an action-packed, hands-on, six day course to expose adult and older youth leaders to resources available in southeast Texas. Powder Horn Training brings in many experts, or "consultants," to teach sessions. Participants will be exposed to high adventure ACTIVITIES, RESOURCES, NEW IDEAS AND EXCITEMENT to support youth in Troops, Crews, Ships and Teams! Ultimately this will support them to operate a successful high adventure program in their home units. Click here
STEM- Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics
STEM is part of an initiative the Boy Scouts of America has developed to encourage the natural curiosity of youth members and their sense of wonder about these fields through existing programs. From archery to welding, Scouts can't help but enjoy the wide range of STEM-related activities. Nova Awards program provides youth recognition for their efforts. The hope is that the requirements and activities for these awards stimulate interest in STEM-related fields and shows how science, technology, engineering and mathematics apply to everyday living and the world around us. Counselors and mentors help bring this engaging, contemporary, and fun program to life for Scouts. more or email stemnova@shac.org
 Youth Protection Training
Youth Protection Training is required for all leaders to be registered with the BSA every two years. The classroom version (per Texas law) is required within the past 2 years for all adults participating in along-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 web sites of neighboring districts. Check here for our current Youth Protection Training Dates for Facilitators and BSA Classroom Facilitated Youth Protection Trainings.
Enterprise Risk Management Guide For Units
The purpose of this guide is to prepare adult leaders to conduct Scouting activities in a safe and prudent manner. Policies and guidelines have been established because of the need to protect members from risk and hazards that have been identified through one hundred-plus years of Scouting experience. Communicate the importance of incident and near-miss reporting and hold staff members accountable for implementing reporting procedures at unit, district, and council levels. More
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| Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturing, Exploring | | Cub Scout Day Camp
Put on your sunglasses and sunscreen for a Day Camp down by the sea at Cub Scout Island. Camps will be full of fun and excitement. Scouts entering 1st - 5th grade for the 2013-2014 school year may attend. Each camper will receive a t-shirt and patch. You can attend any camp...Locations/more info. Check out the Day Camp Advancement opportunities.
 Tiger Cubs to Attend Resident Camp
The following change to NCAP and Guide to Safe Scouting allows Tiger Cubs to attend resident camp with their adult partner or guardian. This change takes effect immediately. read more .
Destination BOVAY...New Cub Scout Packs, save 25%
If you are a newly chartered Cub Scout Pack in the Sam Houston Area Council, we have an amazing DEAL for you. Sign up to attend the 2013 Bovay Scout Ranch Summer Resident Camp and receive a 25% discount if you register by June 3rd. Please contact Geno Aguilar (713) 756-3304 geno.aguilar@sahc.org for further details New Leader's Guide More
 Bovay Scout Ranch Cub Scout Resident Camp
Join a three-night camp out for Scouts entering 2nd - 5th grade the following school year. From Scout skills to rank advancements, these camps are full of fun and learning. Scouts attending resident camp are also encouraged to register for District Day Camp as the advancements offered at Resident Camp add to those offered at Day Camp. All (8) Sessions are now open for registration on-line, register early!
Adventure Camp at Bovay
Join a weekend camp out 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. Packs, Dens and individual families may register.
Weekend Unit Camping at Bovay
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. register
Northern Tier National High Adventure Programs
Since 1923 Scouts have been going to Ely, MN to paddle in North America's Canoe Country. 90 years later, Northern Tier National High Adventure Programs are still offering wilderness adventures with top notch staff and state of the art equipment. Northern Tier now offers wilderness canoeing expeditions in Northern Minnesota, Northwestern Ontario and Northeastern Manitoba through three canoe bases. Reservations are open for Northern Tier's 2014 season visit here for more information/register
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Scout Days, Scout Nights
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 Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Brought to you locally by Chick-fil-A
DRAGONS! July 17 / 7:30 $27, $20, and $13 (service fees may apply) Reliant Stadium For information or to order groups of ten or more, please contact Christina at 281-367-9717 or email at christina@texasgrouptickets.com OR purchase individual tickets online by clicking here:
Use the password SCOUT. Note that service and handling fees will apply for online purchases MORE
 Astros vs Mariners
Games start at 1:05 p.m. RECEIVE A FREE 2012 SCOUT DAY PATCH for the first 2000 ticket purchasers. Also save on service charges and handling fees when you order for a group of 20 or more, contact Brent Broussard at 713.259.8316 purchases of less than 20 tickets...Log on and use code Scout MORE
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| Support Scouting | |
It's a Match Gift!
Many corporations match employee contributions made to the Boy Scouts - these gifts are known as "Matching Gifts". Additionally, some companies will make contributions on behalf of volunteer time given to Scouting. MORE
Get Your Medical Power of Attorney
Many times, we need a little encouragement to start the process of planning. At this workshop you will meet with a qualified professional for a free one hour consultation and leave with a Medical Power of Attorney/Physician's Directive document. RSVP and get more details
Wills & Trust Seminar, Clear Lake
Save the Date: BE PREPARED, the motto of the Boy Scouts of America. In an effort to help Scouting families and supporters prepare for the future, the Endowment Committee of the Sam Houston Area Council is offering a free Wills & Trusts Seminar. This free seminar will be held Tuesday, September 17, 2013 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Clear Lake City Library. For information
Reflecting on Tomorrow...The Heritage Society
Have you left Scouting in your Will? Do you intent to or need help in doing so? We can help. Be sure to share your intent by joining the Scouting Heritage Society. We will not solicit you, but will invite you to two Heritage Society events a year. If you're interested in learning more, attend one of our Seminars or Workshops.
Sign up for our monthly educational e-news. Whether you are single, married, raising a family, or planning for retirement years, your future and the future of those you care most about will be a reflection of the plans you make today. To help you reach your personal goals, we offer a monthly article that will provide brief outlines of nine different planning opportunities. Please contact Devin D. Koehler, CFRE at devin.koehler@shac.org or (713) 839-5885 if you have questions or would like additional information for you and your advisers. Revocable Living Trusts If you have chosen to rely on a revocable living trust to pass your property to loved ones while minimizing probate costs, consider how you might add a charitable dimension to this plan as well. You can provide that at the termination of your revocable living trust, a portion of the assets in the trust be used for charitable purposes you direct. Much like a charitable bequest through a will, such a gift is deductible from estate taxes and can be delayed until all family members have first been provided for. Get more details about wills & trust seminars
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Order of the Arrow
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 Vigil Nomination
The time has come upon us again to begin the process of nominating those Arrowmen who are deemed worthy for consideration for our Order's highest recognition, the Vigil Honor. We encourage you to look closely at the Scouts and Scouters in your chapter or committee who have devoted themselves to the ideals and purpose of the Order in their actions, and in turn warrant the cheerful spirit and devotion to service that is inherent in the character of a brother in the Vigil Honor. Nomination form and moreDue: August 1, 2013
It is very important to attach a photograph to the nomination form, and please include a recommended Vigil name and a short explanation for the Vigil name. The explanation will make it easier for the Cherokee translation. Questions... contact Colonneh Vigil Advisor, Bob Christopher
Ordeals
Congratulations if you have been elected into the Order of the Arrow in Fall 2012. You can now register to attend your Ordeal. Each candidate must complete their Ordeal in 2013. Register OA Dues
It is now time to renew your dues for 2013. Remember that you must be dues paid in order to wear you Lodge flap and also be a registered member of BSA. You can now also order extra lodge flaps when paying your dues online that will be shipped to you along with your membership card. Pay your 2013 dues online
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