Phoenix District Communications

Keep up with the latest district Scouting information by subscribing to the district newsletter and following the district on Facebook at facebook.com/PhoenixDistrictSHAC. The Phoenix District newsletter is sent about once a month and contains information about upcoming district and council events and activities. 

August 2022 Newsletter        Subscribe to District Newsletter

Phoenix District Roundtable 

October 13, 2022  |  7:00 - 8:30 pm

Stay Informed, Attend Roundtable graphicRoundtable is a district monthly meeting typically held the second Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm to help unit leaders plan and carry out their own program. Roundtable is held at Cypress Creek Christian Church  (6823 Cypresswood Dr, Spring, TX 77379). 

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. Roundtable breakouts are a great place for leaders and parents to come together to share so everyone can learn more about Scouting.

 
  • Cub Scout breakout focuses on the needs of leaders and volunteers in packs. Leaders are not on their own and don't have to reinvent the wheel. Learn about the resources available to help put together a top-notch program. 
  • Scouts BSA breakout focuses 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.  
  • Order of the Arrow breakout is for members of the Order of the Arrow.
  • Special interest focuses on a special topic each month. 

Webelos Woods

September 23-25, 2022

Webelos Woods is a campout designed to introduce 4th and 5th grade Webelos Scouts to the many outdoor adventures of Scouting. This awesome weekend event includes patrol-method camping and Scouting activities. Webelos Scouts will have an opportunity to: • Work with troops in a number of skills, activities, and games. • Experience a campfire program and interfaith worship service • Have fun and get a taste of camping with troops.

On Saturday morning, Webelos dens participate in a round-robin rotation visiting troops in 45-minute sessions to work on Webelos Scout skills, including first aid, fire building, camping, hiking, knots and games. Parents will meet with the adult leaders of each troop to learn about their annual program, membership, and some of their latest adventures. Webelos Scouts and parents will be able to visit campsites and ask questions to get to know their preferred troops better. The evening will finish off with an entertaining campfire program. After the campfire, Webelos Scouts and their parent/guardian are encouraged to camp overnight with a Phoenix District troop/crews/ships. The event is being held at Tellepsen Scout Camp (3450 County Road 317, Navasota, TX 77868 ).

Every unit needs to RSVP by the July roundtable to let the event staff if you are attending. Estimated numbers are provided to the council so the district can reserve the appropriate number of campsites and program areas for the event.

Learn More & Register

Learn more about Webelos-to-Scout transition and information to help assist Webelos Scouts as they make the important decision on which troop to join and questions to ask troops at www.shac.org/webelos. Find area troops at www.shac.org/join-troop.

Cub Scout Rocket Day and Adventure Day

October 29, 2022  |  9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Boys and girls who join Cub Scouts this year \will receive a rocket that they can design, build, and launch at Cub Scout Adventure Day. Youth in kindergarten through fifth grade who are interested in joining Scouting may also attend. We will help you find a pack near you and get signed up for Scouting. Returning Scouts and families are also invited to attend Adventure Day and can bring rockets from previous years to launch again. The event is being held at Strack Intermediate.

Learn More & Register

Outdoor Leader 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 Kevin Renfro.

What to Bring to Training            Council Training Schedule

Date Course
(click on title for course description)		 Location Time Cost Register
November 19-20, 2022 Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) Spring Creek Park
15012 Brown Rd,
Tomball, TX 77375		 8:00 am Sat - 
12:00 pm Sun		 $40 Register
November 18-20, 2022 Scoutmaster Position-Specific Training and
Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS)
(attend one or both)		 Spring Creek Park
15012 Brown Rd,
Tomball, TX 77375		 SM Specific: Fr at 6 pm - Sat morning
IOLS: Sat at 8 am - Sun at noon		 $40 Register
 

Scoutmaster Position-Specific Training is a 4.5-hour training course intended to provide troop leaders with the information and tools they need to lead successful troops. This course teaches practical ways to instill the Scouting methods into troop programs and covers the roles of the Scoutmasters and assistants in a Scout-led troop. This is a required training course for all Scoutmaster and assistant Scoutmasters and can be taken in a classroom setting or online.

Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS) is an overnight training with 16-hours of instructional time that gives adult leaders the practical knowledge they need to help Scouts to learn outdoor skills. The skills presented closely follow the Scout Handbook and rank advancement requirements. This is a required training course for all Scoutmaster and assistant Scoutmasters 

Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) is the Cub Scout leader training required for any Cub Scout den or pack outdoor event, including packing camping, overnighters, and Webelos den overnighters. BALOO training is comprised of two components – an online component, and a practical, hands-on component which includes an overnight with 16 hours of instruction time. One BALOO trained leader is required to be present on any pack family or Webelos den overnight camping.

Winter Camp

December 26-31, 2022

Winter camp is a wonderful opportunity for troops to camp and Scouts to earn merit badges. Merit badge classes are taught by Scouters with real-life experiences in the field. Winter camp is held at Camp Strake, a first-class and state-of-the-art facility for Scouts and their leaders. Over 80 merit badge classes are offered, including many merit badges that are not normally offered at summer camp.

Learn More & Register

Full Throttle

October 21-23, 2023

Full Throttle is a weekend event for troops, crews and ships. Units camping at Camp Strake can sign up their Scouts to participate in activities such as shooting sports (rifle, shotgun, archery), climbing, COPE (high-ropes course), zipline, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding or ATV riding. The camp staff provides the program leadership. 

Learn More and Register

Climbing Training

The council climbing committee is dedicated to providing quality training and activities above and beyond the basic camping experiences of the Boy Scouts of America. Climbing programs are operated within the BSA. Topping Out is a climbing tower instructor's course. Individuals who satisfactorily demonstrate the skills necessary to be an instructor will be able to run climbing programs in their unit. Topping Out is a climbing tower instructor's course for adults that spans two evenings and two weekends. Participants learn about climbing equipment such as cams, stoppers, hexs, and anchors. Participants also learn how to effectively supervise climbing and rappelling activities.  

Register       Learn More about Climbing

Shooting Sports Training

In Scouting events and activities, the BSA’s primary consideration is the safety of its youth and adult members. To achieve that goal, the BSA, in consultation with other organizations, has created specific guidelines for shooting sports. The shooting sports committee is providing archery, rifle, shotgun and pistol training and instructor certification to prepare those individuals who will serve in a leadership or supervisory role in the various shooting sports activities. These training courses allow leaders to run a shooting sports range at a troop, crew, ship, district, or council event and to teach the Shooting Sports Merit Badges. 

Register      Learn More about Shooting Sports

First Aid Training

The council offers are a variety of first aid training courses throughout the year including First Aid/CPR/AED, First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor Course, and Wilderness First Aid.

Learn More and Register

Summer Camp 2023

Summer camp is a week-long council-organized overnight camp for Scouts BSA that operates under council-retained leadership. The program provides opportunities for Scouts to earn merit badges along their advancement trail.

Summer camp is held at Camp Strake, a first-class and state-of-the-art facility for Scouts and their leaders. Program areas include shooting sports (rifle, shotgun, archery, sporting arrows), climbing, rappelling, boating (canoeing, kayaking, rowing, paddle boarding), swimming, ATV riding, ziplining, cycling, merit badge classes and more. Register by October 1, 2022, for an early bird discount.

Learn More and Register 

Apply for Summer Camp Staff

We are searching for motivated people that want to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with Scouts during summer camp! Great staff deliver a great camp experience! Available for motivated Scouts, Venturers, and Scouters. Serving as a summer camp staffer is an unforgettable experience. It is a chance to spend part of the summer working at a beautiful camp while teaching Scouts and having fun. Every day is fully rewarding to you as a staff member and to the campers in whose lives you have made a difference. Camp work is often demanding as there is a packed schedule serving campers, but the opportunities, rewards, and experiences available are endless. Serving on camp staff is a great way to spend a summer.

Apply

National Scout Jamboree

July 19-28, 2023  |  Bechtel Summit, West Virginia

Scouting’s flagship event is one-of-a-kind. Over the course of 10 summer days, once every four years, the Boy Scouts of America comes together for a gathering of approximately 40,000 Scouts, leaders, and staff that showcases everything that is great about the BSA and its members. The result is the national Scout jamboree. To keep up with the latest information, visit the Summit website. Scouts and Scouters will explore all kinds of adventures—stadium shows, pioneer village, Garden Ground hikes, adventure sports, patch trading, and more—in the heart of one of nature’s greatest playgrounds. With 10,000 acres at the Summit to explore, there’s no shortage of opportunities to build Scouting memories.

The council will take approximately 200 Scouts to the national jamboree as part of the council contingent. The contingent will head to the Summit for 10 days of activities ranging from shooting sports, mountain biking, zip-lining, rock climbing, white water rafting and more!  The jamboree is open to youth who meet the participant qualifications, are physically fit, and agree to the jamboree code of conduct on a first come first serve basis. All Scouts BSA youth must be currently registered in a troop and be a minimum of age 12. All Venturers must be currently registered in a Venturing crew and meeting Venturing age requirements.

Learn More & Register

#16 SHAC Communication for COVID-19 Response

The leadership of the Sam Houston Area Council would like to present this, our sixteenth update, on our response to the COVID-19 outbreak and protocols for Scouting operations going forward. We appreciate your continued patience as we navigate this situation.

  • Unit programming should be conducted under current guidelines from the State of Texas and the CDC with the approval of the unit’s chartered organization and subject to the current COVID-19 protocols of any meeting or activity facility.
  • Face coverings should follow the new CDC COVID-19 by County guidance.  In short, all US counties are classified as low-, medium-, or high-risk.  There are no mask recommendations for low-risk areas. For medium-risk areas, if you are at high risk for severe illness, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions.  In high-risk areas, wear a mask indoors in public when social distancing is not possible.
  • District and Council meetings and events may be conducted in person and will utilize the same face-covering policy, unless held at a facility that is not council-owned, as those facilities may have additional restrictions that should be followed.
  • We recommend that units utilize the updated pre-event medical checklist for activities. These forms are no longer required to be turned in when visiting council camps.
  • Social Distancing should be followed in all situations where it is feasible.
  • Overnight district and council activities and trainings are allowed for all Scouting programs. Districts are no longer required to submit activity plans to the Council ERM Committee. Districts should continue to have their District ERM Chair review program plans for district activities. 
  • If you were exposed to or test positive for COVID-19 then you should follow CDC Quarantine and Isolation guidance. 

Learn More

Website Feedback

We would love to hear from you! Please send us your feedback on our website.  Let us know about information that we need to update, broken links, or even typos.

Website Feedback

BSA Brand Guidance Training

To ensure that we promote our programs in a clear and Scout-like manner, it important to remind units to follow BSA Brand Guidelines and use approved materials from the BSA Brand Center in developing their recruiting materials. This includes following the requirements included in the Scouts BSA Branding Dos and Don’ts Guide and the associated Brand Training Guide.  

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 training should be shared with all volunteers to bring this understanding to all parts of our community.

BSA Brand Guidelines     BSA Brand Center    Scouts BSA Branding Dos and Don’ts Guide    Brand Training Guide

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.