Iron District Newsletter

The Iron District newsletter is a monthly newsletter that contains information about upcoming district and council events and activities that is distributed at roundtable. Soon, the newsletter will be sent electronically. Sign up below. After you sign up for the newsletter, you will receive a confirmation email. You must respond to the email in order to complete the subscription. If you don't respond to the confirmation email, you will be deleted from the system after 90 days,         

January Newsletter        Sign-up for Electronic Newsletter

Iron Horse District Roundtable

June 14, 2018

Roundtable is a district monthly meeting typically held the second Thursday of the month at the LDS Church (16331 Hafer Rd, Houston, 77090) 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 policy, events, and training opportunities; 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 new Facebook page. 

Cub Scout Shooting Sports Day

May 19, 2018  |  10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Cub Scouts Shooting Sports Day is an opportunity for Tigers, Wolves, Bears and Webelos Scouts (1st - 5thgraders) to participate in shooting sports such as BB gun shooting and archery. Cub Scouts can work on the Cub Scout Shooting Sports Awards. Cub Scout shooting activities are only allowed at sanctioned district and council events. Each participant will receive a safety briefing before shooting. Scouts can participate in additional activities such as Smashball; a concession stand will be open. The event is being held at Bammel Church of Christ (2700 Cypress Creek Parkway, Houston, TX 77068). There is no cost to attend the event, but registration is required.

Learn More and Register

Day Camp

June 11 - 15, 2018  |  3:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Excitement is waiting as Cub Scouts travel the world on a passport to adventure as they learn new skills, and make new friends. Day camp is a council camp hosted by districts for Scouts entering 1st through 5th grade for the 2018-2019 school year. An awesome program is being planned with activities such as BB guns, archery, sports, 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) or girls ages 6-13. Boy Scouts and youth ages 14-17 can also volunteer. An adult/guardian must register with a Tiger (1st grader). Camp is being held at Northside Christian Church (20250 Kuykendahl Rd, Spring, 77389).

The registration fee is $61.50 for the first Scout and $60 for each additional Scout. Adult volunteers are free. The registration fee includes a t-shirt, patch, and program supplies. A registered parent/guardian must be onsite at all times when tot-lots, siblings and Tigers are at camp. Registration closes 5/28/18.

Learn More and Register

District Calendar

Download the Iron Horse District calendar for July 2018 to June 2019. The council calendar and council toolkit provide additional information on upcoming council events.

District Calendar: July 2018 to June 2019

Annual Planning: A common element of strong units is they all have a good annual program planned a year in advance. The plan is then shared with all families in the form of an annual program calendar. Two other key elements of successful units are trained leaders and having the right leaders.

   Leader Resources       Unit Program Planning Tools

 Cub Scout Planning       Boy Scout Planning       Venturing Planning     

Update your unit information on the web

Calling all unit leaders! Now is the perfect time to make it easy for Scouting families to find your unit.

Step 1: BeAScout.org has a Google pin for every unit! Update your unit information by signing into MyScouting, under Unit Tools select BeAScout, the click on Unit Pin Management. If you are the current unit leader and are unable to update your unit pin, please contact your district executive and ensure that you are currently registered as the unit leader or committee chair.

Step 2: Verify the information on the district website. Send corrections to the webmaster.

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: April 2018

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.

Learn More About Resident Camp

Youth Protection Training 2

The BSA has announced bold, wide-ranging updates to its Youth Protection program as part of an ongoing effort to protect young people from child abuse. An enhanced Youth Protection Training course debuted in February; all Scouters who took Youth Protection Training prior to February 2018 need to complete the updated course by Oct. 1, 2018.

The updated course will take about an hour to complete. It includes cutting-edge research from the top experts in the field of child abuse prevention. It covers topics like bullying, neglect, exposure to violence, physical and emotional abuse, and child sexual abuse.

Finally, beginning June 1, 2018, all adults who will be present at a Scouting activity for 72 hours or more must register as volunteers and complete a background check and Youth Protection Training. This includes parents, merit badge counselors and any other adult who will be there for an extended time.

The BSA is serious about fighting child abuse, and you’re an important part of that fight. Thanks for your vigilance and dedication. To take the new online Youth Protection Training, please visit www.my.scouting.org.

YPT Updates     Take YPT     Learn More about Youth Protection

Day camp, resident camp, Boy Scout summer camp: Classroom Facilitated YPT or the new online YPT (after 3/13/18) must be taken by adults attending or staffing a long-term camping program in a camp licensed by the State of Texas. The new online Youth Protection Training will satisfy state law regarding all licensed youth camps. This means if you have completed the new BSA online Youth Protection Training course on or after March 13, 2018, you no longer need to take a classroom-facilitated version of the course in order to camp with your unit at a licensed camp (camps of four or more days). 

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