Phoenix Newsletter

The Phoenix roundtable newsletter is a monthly newsletter that contains information about upcoming district and council events and activities and becomes available the first Thursday of the month. The electronic newsletter is sent on a weekly basis and is in addition to the roundtable newsletter.       

  Phoenix District Calendar for June 2018 - July 2019

June 2019 - July 2020      Roundtable Newsletter    Sign up for our newsletter

Phoenix District Roundtable

April 4, 2019   |   7:00 pm

Stay Informed, Attend Roundtable graphic Roundtable is a district monthly meeting typically held the first Thursday of the month at Klein LDS Center (16535 Kleinwood Dr, Spring, 77379) at 7:00 pm to help unit leaders plan and carry out their own program. Roundtable is a form of supplemental training for volunteers. The objective of Roundtable is to give leaders program ideas, information on upcoming events and trainings, and an opportunity to share experiences and enjoy fun and fellowship with other Scouting leaders. As a result of the Roundtable experience, unit leaders will be inspired, motivated, informed, and able to provide a stronger program for their Scouts. Follow our Facebook page.

Roundtable breakouts are a great place for leaders and parents to come together to share what you know so we can all learn more about Scouting. Interactive and interesting… it’s designed for you. Units will be all the better for your time spent… promise! 

Cub Scout breakouts are focused on the needs of leaders and volunteers in packs. You're not on your own out there and you don't have to reinvent the wheel. Come to a meeting to find out how much work has already been done for you. There are tons of resources available to help you put together a top-notch program. 

Scouts BSA breakouts are focused on leaders and volunteers in troops, crew, ships to share quality resources, knowledge, and skills that enable and motivate leaders to deliver an outstanding program. Parents and leaders of Webelos Scouts crossing over into troops are also invited to explore Scouting.  

  • Retaining your Scouts through the summer
  • Roundtable Scouts BSA breakout session cookout

Merit Badge University

May 4, 2019

Merit Badge University (MBU) is an opportunity for Scouts in troops or crews to work on several merit badges. All Scouts are required to bring signed blue cards in order to work on merit badges. These are not give-away merit badges, and this is not a merit badge factory. Each Scout is expected to fulfill all the requirements by reading the merit badge book ahead of time, attending classes and doing prerequisites. Scouts are expected to participate fully during the class in order to receive full credit for the requirements completed.

NOTE: All troops are required to send at least one adult for every five Scouts registered to be a merit badge counselor or room volunteer and one merit badge counselor for each 10 Scouts. If there is just one Scout attending, at least one adult needs to volunteer and be onsite all day. The first 40 adults to register as a room volunteer will get a free lunch.  Parents attending all day, but not volunteering can order a lunch. The event is being held at Lone Star College - Tomball (30555 Tomball Parkway, Tomball, TX 77375).

The registration fee is $26.50 and covers an event patch and lunch. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Merit badge class sizes are limited. Registration is typically completed by parents, but can also be completed by the troop leadership. Before registering, check your Scout's school and troop calendar for conflicts. Each Scout is to discuss which merit badges they should register for with their Scoutmaster or troop advancement chair. Check which merit badges the Scout has already completed.

Learn More and Register

Camporee

March 29 - 31, 2019

Camporee is a weekend camp out for troops full of competition to test Scouting skills. Patrols compete in various competitions and are judged on leadership, teamwork, skill demonstration and Scout spirit.  The Iron Horse and Phoenix District Chapters of the Order of the Arrow will be hosting a joint camporee. The event is being held at Camp Brosig (1893 Trenckmann Road, Sealy, TX 77474).

Patrols will compete in rank specific contests in archery, tomahawk throwing, fire building, first aid, pioneering, orienteering, and nature study.  Troops will be competing in the grand skills relay. Scoutmasters will demonstrate their skills in a specialized cook-off. Saturday night will end the night at a wonderful campfire full of awards, songs, and skits. 

Every troop must send a representative to the February and March roundtables to help plan the camporee. Every troop needs run a part of the camporee (e.g., competition, facilities). This year’s camporee promises to challenge the youth leadership, as well as stretching everyone else’s comfort zones. These events cannot happen without each Scout’s competitive spirit and participation.

The registration fee is $10 per Scout and $5 per adult. Registration is completed by the unit leadership. Members of the Order of the Arrow who are volunteering to run stations can attend free of charge; contact the chapter chief to volunteer to help.

Registration is a two-step process. Troops need to RSVP with an approximate head count for planning purposes by February roundtable. Additional Scouts and adults can be added before payment is made. 

Learn More and Register

Nature Study Hints                Patrol Sign Ups  

Day Camp Den Walker Orientation

Day camp is a council camp organized by districts and conducted by volunteers from the local area for Cub Scouts entering 1st through 5th grade for the 2019-2020 school year. Day camp is a week of fun with awesome programs and activities such as BB guns, archery, sports, STEM, games and crafts, rank advancements, Scout skills, fun and more. Each pack is required to provide a minimum of one adult register for every three youth register per pack. If the pack does not meet this ratio, then the pack will not be able to attend camp.  Please consider volunteering. Registration will open soon.

The state of Texas requires all adults attending camp to take online Youth Protection Training (YPT) online at my.scouting.org and attend an orientation training. Volunteers can choose from one of the following sessions:

March 28, 2019    CANCELLED 11 am Barbara Bush Library
6817 Cypresswood Dr.
Robin Bush Room
April 8, 2019 7 pm
April 16, 2019 7 pm
May 8, 2019 2-4 pm Barbara Bush Library

Training

Training is an important part of learning to become an effective leader. Trained leaders impact the quality of programs, leader tenure, youth tenure, and a whole lot more. A trained leader is better prepared to make the Scouting program all it can be! Every Scout deserves a trained leader. See the council training schedule for a list of additional trainings offered around the council. For more information about training, contact Tamela De Maranville.

What to Bring to Training            Council Training Schedule

Date Course
(click on title for course description)		 Location Time Cost Register
April 26-27, 2019 Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) Spring Creek Park
15012 Brown Road
Tomball, TX 77375		 Fr at 6:30 pm - 
Sat at 9:00 pm		 $31.50 Register
April 26-27, 2019 Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) Spring Creek Park
15012 Brown Road
Tomball, TX 77375		 Fr at 6:30 pm - 
Sat at 9:00 pm		 $31.50 Register

Day Camp

June 17-21, 2019   |   7:45 am - 3:15 pm  

2017-day-camp-patch-no-loop.pngday camp signGrab your sunglass, sunscreen and beach towel for an island adventure. Cub Scouts and their families will learn new skills and make new friends. Day camp is a council camp organized by districts and conducted by volunteers from the local area for Cub Scouts entering 1st through 5th grade for the 2019-2020 school year. Day camp is a week of fun with awesome programs and activities such as BB guns, archery, sports, STEM, games and crafts, rank advancements, Scout skills, fun and more.  

Many volunteers are needed to make camp a success, so please consider volunteering. Adult volunteers can also register their non-Scouting children ages 3-5 (potty trained). Scouts in troops, crews and ships can also volunteer. An adult/guardian must register with a Tiger (1st grader). The camp is being held at Burrough’s Park (9738 Huffsmith Rd. Tomball TX 77375).

The registration fee is $66.50 for the first Scout and $65 for each additional Scout. The fee for adult volunteers is $15. The registration fee includes a t-shirt, patch, program supplies, and a water bottle. 

Learn More and Register

Promotional Placemats

Free two-sided placemats are available to use at blue and gold banquets, den meetings or pack meetings to help promote twilight camp and resident camp. 

Promotional Placemat

 

The Scouting Trail

The Scouting Trail is a monthly handout provided to units at roundtable describing upcoming council events for the next quarter. This is a great resource for Scouters and parents.

The Scouting Trail: March 2019

Powder Horn

April 12-14 and 26-28, 2019

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 Scouts who are ready to maximize their shooting skills?  Would you like to expose Scouts in 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, National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT), Sea Scouts, the Kodiak Challenge, the Hornaday award, Messenger of Peace, living history, Leave No Trace, vendors, the National Scout Jamboree, event planning, scuba diving, and more?

Learn More and Register

Scout Fair Coupon Books

Scout Fair coupon books are a brilliant way for units to raise money and prepare Scouts to earn their own way! The Scout Fair coupon book offers great savings for the buyer, while Scouts earn commissions for every $10 coupon book purchased. Buyers support the Scouting program while receiving hundreds of dollars in valuable savings from partners. All units receive a 30% base commission for each $10 Scout Fair coupon book sold, for funds turned in on or before April 6, 2019. Participate at Scout Fair with a booth and earn an additional 10% commission. Units can also take advantage of early bird turn-in dates offering 5%, 3% and 1% additional bonus commissions. In addition, your Scouts will qualify for prizes once they sell 15 coupon books. Please refer to the Scout Fair prize brochure for prizes and sales levels. 

Scouts and the entire family will enjoy visiting hundreds of booths with fun activities and crafts, learning Scout skills, meeting new friends and tasting the delicious outdoor cooking. Meet leaders and Scouts from your neighborhood. Sample the amazing dutch oven creations and other delicacies in the outdoor cooking area. Watch demonstrations, interact with participating booths from our community partners and pick up free offers. The unit leader should sign-up the unit to sell Coupon Books.  

 Learn More      Sign Up to Sell Coupon Books

Scout Fair Booths: Every pack, troop, crew, ship, and post is encouraged to participate in Scout Fair on April 6, 2019. Units that participate at Scout Fair with a booth earn an additional 10% commission on Scout Fair coupon book sales. Every unit is encouraged to sponsor a booth at the fair. This is your opportunity to show our community what Scouting is all about and to share your Scouting skills with fellow Scouts and Scout leaders. In the past, booths have included craft stations (Cub Scouts), rope making (Scouts), orienteering (Venturing), and law enforcement (Exploring). Keep it simple and fun. By involving all the Scouts and parents in your unit, booth preparation and set-up, manning and take down can be shared to keep it simple and make it fun. Each unit hosting a booth will receive a ribbon. The unit leader needs to register the booth by March 31st. 

Unit Booth Registration

New Scouts BSA Brand Guidance Training

As the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) welcomes girls into Cub Scouts and older girls into the Scouts BSA program starting on February 1, it is important that families understand the program or organization they are joining.

There have been some instances where our volunteers may have inadvertently used the name or trademarks of the Girl Scout of the USA (GSUSA) brand in spreading the word that girls are or will soon be part of all BSA programs. GSUSA recently have filed a lawsuit asserting that these instances have caused confusion. While we don’t believe there has been any such confusion, we respect and support the GSUSA and their rights to their brand.

To ensure that we promote our programs in a clear and Scout-like manner, we have developed resources to make sure our leaders are aware of the do’s and don’ts in promoting BSA programs.

The Scouts BSA Brand Guidance Training is one of the efforts underway to be sure Scouters have a clear understanding of what they can do. This builds on the infographic, and the guidance provided to councils in April.

Scouts BSA Brand Guidance Training     Infographic 

This training should be shared with all volunteers to bring this understanding to all parts of our community. While our goal is to encourage youth to join our program, we must always be clear in our communications about the program they are joining.

  • We are The Boy Scouts of America.
  • The Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA are different organizations.
  • We support all other youth organizations and do not disparage them.
  • We encourage parents to enroll all youth in a character development program that meets their needs – and the BSA is certainly ready to welcome them.

To aid you in this effort, councils and volunteers are encouraged to use these intro talking points as you host info sessions and launch efforts for Scouts BSA. Additionally, please use this resource to help address any questions you might get in the community about this matter.

Learn More

Resident Camp

Resident camp is a three-night campout at Bovay Scout Ranch for Cub Scouts entering the first through fifth grade the following school year. From Cub Scout skills to rank advancements, these camps are full of fun and learning. Cub Scouts attending resident camp are also encouraged to register for day camp, as the advancements offered at resident camp add to those offered at day camp. Resident camp includes activities such as riding BMX bikes, shooting archery and BB guns, playing sports, canoeing, fishing, making crafts, learning about STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), exploring nature, stargazing, branding, and splashing in the pool. In addition, the resident camp program will focus on the program electives:

Learn More and Register

New Eagle Scout Reception

Sunday, May 5, 2019   |  2:00 pm

The New Eagle Scout Reception recognizes the previous year’s Eagle Scout class. The council continues its tradition of providing this reception free of charge for new Eagle Scouts and their guests. Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Eagle Scout alumni, Scouters, Scoutmasters and Cubmasters are all encouraged to attend this special program to recognize the 2018 Eagle Scout class, the Adams Project of the Year Award, and NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Award recipients. Eagle Scouts and their families will not want to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to be recognized by accomplished Eagle Scouts. The evening is underwritten with generous sponsorships by many Eagle Scout alumni, charter members and patrons. The event is being held at Crowne Plaza (8686 Kirby Dr., Houston, TX 77054).

Learn More and RSVP

Scout Days

Scout Days are awesome opportunities to get your Scouts, friends and family together for some exciting experiences around the area with other Scouting families. All Scout Days are offered at a discounted price of admission. Also, many of our partners offer merit badge classes and advancement workshops for Cub Scouts and Webelos.

Learn more about Scout Days

Donate to Scouting

SHAC CSP with car keysHelp ensure the success of Scouting in the Sam Houston Area Council with meaningful gifts including donating cars, trucks, RVs, trailers, boats, motors, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, securities, uniforms, camping equipment, memorials and tributes, planned giving and yes, even services.

Many corporations match employee contributions made to the Boy Scouts. Some companies even make financial contributions for volunteering time to Scouting. Numerous local companies recognize volunteer time through the donation of cash grants to non-profits in which their employees volunteer. This means that for each hour of volunteer time, employers donate funds to support the Sam Houston Area Council, Boy Scouts of America. Volunteer time is money with volunteer grants.

Employment Opportunities

The Sam Houston Area Council is continually searching 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, have an opportunity to combine those skills and experiences in a career that values and respects others. Scouting is a profession with a purpose!  

Job Openings

 

Help us Promote Scouting

SHAC FacebookThe Sam Houston Area Council is focusing on leveraging the power of social media through Facebook.  The more Scouters share and repost, the more powerful our marketing can be.

We are compiling a list of unit social media sites so we can work together to spread the word about Scouting by tagging, liking commenting and sharing each other posts. 

Learn More          Take our Social Media Survey