Iron Horse District

We want to reach out to each potential Scout with a personal invitation to join Scouting, where they will learn positive values, new skills, and have fun with friends.

Get the word out about your Scout unit, with peer-to-peer cards.

Print on paper or card stock and cut them out,  It's that easy.

Print one-sided or two-sided. The two-sided cards can be customized with information about your unit.

Pass them out during Halloween or let your Scouts hand them out to friends.

SHAC Recruiting Site      BSA Brand Center     BSA Marketing and Membership Hub

December 26-31, 2020

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 will be held at the new Camp Strake in (Hines Lake Rd, Coldspring, TX 77331). Over 60 merit badge classes are offered, including many merit badges that are not normally offered at summer camp.

Learn More

November 9-12, 2020 (online classes) and November 14, 2020  at Camp Strake

University of Scouting is a semi-annual training event for leaders of all program levels, district and council leaders and parents. For 2020, participants can take virtual and/or in-person classes at the new Camp Strake. 

Sessions are led by experienced volunteers who will help you enhance your ability to deliver a fun and exciting program to the Scouts. This unique day of seminars provides information, techniques, and best practices on how to improve your Scout program. Whether you are new to the program or a veteran of many years, the University of Scouting has something for you. Participants can take up to 3 virtual classes per night. The Saturday in-person will include a walking tour of the new Camp Strake. Participants can choose from one of eight training tracks.

Learn More and Register

Many units and families are discovering creative ways to have fun Scouting at home. When using digital and online resources, there are some important guidelines from the National Council about youth protection, safeguarding personal information and recording online meetings.

Across the nation, Scouters are finding ways to help keep their youth members engaged and Scouting. These out-of-the-box, in-home activities are centered around providing advancement-related content to help keep kids safe, engaged and to help them make the best of home time.

Digital Safety       Scouting at Home       COVID-19 Updates       Advancement Update

November 14, 2020

Webelos Coyote Trail Xtreme (WCTX) is an annual event for 4^th and 5^th grade Webelos Scouts at Bovay Scout Ranch. This year, WTCX will be a one-day event. During this fast-paced, event Webelos Scouts will work on advancements and be introduced to the patrol method. Webelos Scouts will learn the importance of teamwork and other skills they will need for their first camp out with a troop, such as basic knots, first aid, camping skills and more. Bovay Scout Ranch (3450 County 317, Navasota, TX 77868). 

Webelos Scouts and their parent(s)/guardian(s) can register. The fee for Webelos Coyote Xtreme is $65 per Webelos Scout and includes a patch, t-shirt, water bottle and program supplies. Space is limited, so register early. 

Learn More and Register

Help promote Scouting on social media by adding a photo frame around your profile picture. Encourage families to Text Cub Scout, Scouts BSA or crew to 31996. They will be sent to www.shac.org/join, a website with all packs listed by school district and links to register online.

To find the frame, click on edit/update your profile picture (or go to www.facebook.com/profilepicframes), search for a frame by entering Sam Houston Area Council, then choose one of our four frames.

Recruiting Website

For the fall of 2020, Adventure Camp will be a half-day event at Bovay Scout Ranch in Navasota, Tx. Cub Scouts (accompanied by a parent or guardian) can participate in an exciting variety of activities such as archery, BB guns, fishing, and sports (or a haunted hike in October). 

Trained staffers will provide program supplies and will lead the activities. The most recent State of Texas and the Center for Disease Control requirements will be followed and spots will be limited. Groups will rotate together during the event will not mix with other groups. Individual families can register.

Learn More and Register

November 21, 2020

Scouts in troops can participate in merit badge classes held at the new Camp Strake. Classes will be held from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.  State of Texas and Center for Disease Control requirements will be followed and class sizes will be limited. Classes will stay together for the day and will not mix with other groups. Parents will drop off and pick up their Scout at the merit badge class. Scouts will go through a medical screening up arrival.

Learn More and Register

While many Scout units have a desire to return to Scouting activities, they have questions about how to do so safely during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Learn the steps your unit can take to help return to Scouting activities. During the recent webinar on how to hold meetings safely during COVID-19, attendees received tips on the key steps they can be taking right now to find a safe way to return to their meeting activities.

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The leadership of the Sam Houston Area Council would like to present this, our eleventh 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 as best we can.

Any units wishing to conduct small-scale meetings or activities should do so only if able to meet specific preventative guidance from the State of Texas and the Center for Disease Control and upon consultation with and approval from their chartered organization.

• All in-person council meetings through October 31^st are cancelled or postponed unless conducted over teleconference or online.
  • Council Coordinated Meeting, scheduled for October 15^th, will be conducted virtually. Please visit here to register in advance (required).
  • The Council Board of Directors Meeting, scheduled for October 19^th, will be conducted virtually.
• District meetings (ex: Roundtables, District Committee Meetings, Commissioner Staff Meetings) may be conducted in person only if standards from the State of Texas and CDC for can be met. Otherwise these meetings should be conducted over teleconference or online.
• No overnight district or council activities may be conducted through October 31^st.
• Day-only activities by a district or the council may be conducted, with prior approval of the council’s Enterprise Risk Management committee. Only approved activities will appear on the council and district official websites. All events must meet strict social distancing protocols that have been shared with District Key-3 leadership.
  • Merit Badge Days will continue to be held at Camp Strake through the fall. More information, including how to register, may be found here and will updated as more days are added.
• Weekend camping for Cub Scouts at Bovay Scout Ranch is cancelled through December 31^st.
  • Additional “Outdoor Sports Days” will be conducted at Bovay Scout Ranch during the fall as a replacement for Adventure Camp overnight programs. More information, including registration, is available here.
• Weekend camping for Scouts BSA at Tellepsen Scout Camp and Camp Strake will be opening for limited registration beginning Monday, October 12^th. Participating troops must follow council policies regarding social distancing and COVID-19 prevention measures, along with State of Texas protocols for camps.
• The Cockrell Scout Center remains open for drop off only with hours of 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday.
  • Any interaction needed with staff members must be conducted through phone and email. If you need assistance determining the appropriate person to contact, please refer to our updated “who to call directory,” or contact the receptionist at (713) 659-8111 during our office hours to be directed to the appropriate person.
  • Field-based staff (District Executives) will be working remotely during this time and are available by phone and email.
• The 5 Scout Shop locations are open to limited retail traffic. Please visit here for more store information, including updated store hours.
• University of Scouting will be conducted in both online and in-person formats during the week of November 9-14^th. More information can be found here.
• Colonneh Lodge has established plans to conduct Order of the Arrow Ordeals during COVID-19. Please visit here for more information.
• Our council program team is currently looking at planning and potential alternate planning for other upcoming major events – including Winter Camp and Scout Fair. More information regarding those events will be made available as the situation evolves.

Our Enterprise Risk Management Team is working regularly and diligently to determine our plans going forward. If you have any questions regarding the COVID-19 response for the Sam Houston Area Council, please contact Thomas Franklin, Deputy Scout Executive, at thomas.franklin@scouting.org. The council remains committed to keeping our constituents updated regularly with new information as we have it. We will continue to communicate through three main mechanisms – Facebook, Email, and Council Website. Please consult these regularly for updates.

Learn More

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: October 2020

Cub Scouting / Scouts BSA / Venturing / Sea Scouting Rank Advancement and the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Questions regarding advancement have arisen as we deal with closures, cancellations, or other issues caused by the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Although there are difficulties and constraints, advancement can continue. Youth, parents, and leaders should work together to implement creative, common sense ways to facilitate advancement while adhering to the Guide to Safe Scouting and following the rules of youth protection.

Learn More (link update frequently)

Now you can support Scouting without lifting a finger — or at least not more than one. AmazonSmile, the simple and no-cost way to donate to the Sam Houston Area Council, now works on the Amazon Shopping app for iPhone and Android.

That means it’s easier than ever to support Scouting anytime, anywhere. Through its AmazonSmile program, Amazon donates 0.5% of eligible purchases to the charity of your choice — at no cost to you. You’ll get the same prices, selection and service found on Amazon.com, but now Amazon gives 0.5% of its cut to a good cause.

The Sam Houston Area Council is an eligible AmazonSmile charity. Individual packs, troops, posts, ships and crews are not eligible.

Previously, AmazonSmile required the user to shop using their browser — either on a desktop computer or through the mobile browser on a smartphone. That meant that when you shopped in the official Amazon app, you weren’t contributing to your chosen charity — even if you had already activated AmazonSmile. By adding AmazonSmile to its official app, Amazon is making the program available anytime, anywhere. So now when you buy a blender from the back seat or a printer from the patio — our council still gets that 0.5%.

If you aren’t yet an AmazonSmile member, sign up at smile.amazon.com using a web browser (mobile or desktop). You’ll sign in with your Amazon credentials, and the site will walk you through the process. Amazon will ask you to choose your favorite charity. This is where you search for “Sam Houston Area Council.”

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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.

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