Alamo Area Council

 
Boy Scouts of America

Unified Focus On Youth

Linda Dieguez

Service Projects Available and Casita Building Help Requested This Fall

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Does your Scout or Unit need Service Projects or Conservation Projects?  Our Camps can help you with this.  If you would like to coordinate small group service projects at our camps this fall please reach out to Adventure@AlamoAreaBSA.org . Include what you are thinking about doing, dates of availability, how many people will be involved, and if any special skills or equipment is required.  If you are looking for suggestions, just send the dates and number of people in and we will send you projects to choose from.  If you have a specific camp that you would like to work at, be specific, and we will connect you directly with a representative from that camp to coordinate with.  All projects will be socially distanced in small groups (limit of 10 per group) with masks required.

 

Mays Family Scout Ranch has begun to build the Casitas.  These will be built in an assembly line fashion and initially all the work will be very repetitive.  Our Ranger, Adam, is looking for volunteers with certain skill sets who are available and interested in helping to prepare and build these casitas with him.  This will all be coordinated directly with Adam and if you are interested in being on his list of Casita Volunteers, please email Adam.Arntson@Scouting.org. Adam is already working on this project so volunteers are needed immediately to assist with the Casitas.

 

 

2021 Bear Creek Scouts BSA Summer Camp Reservations are Open! Early Bird Ends September 30!

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Did you miss summer camp this year?  Really looking forward to getting back out there in 2021?

Register now to attend Bear Creek Scouts BSA Summer Camp 2021.  Our Early Bird rate is available for any Unit that registers between now and September 30th.  You only have to make a deposit to hold your spot.

Since 1957, Bear Creek Scout Reservation has been a summer home to thousands of Scouts. Providing unforgettable camping memories, Bear Creek has afforded many boys their first opportunity to experience self reliance in a beautiful natural setting in the Texas Hill Country.

The Ranger Program is designed for first year campers, teaching basic skills, while allowing the camper to get off and running on the requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class ranks.

Merit Badges cover aquatics, ecology, field sports, handicrafts, and Scout skills. Some preparation is recommended and best done before camp to ensure the ability to complete certain merit badges.

Older Scout Program: Bear Creek is famous for offering challenging programs for older Scouts. The C.O.P.E. (Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience) course is a well-rounded, fun program with low and high element activities (confidence building and group dynamic team challenges). Also available are mountain biking, rappelling, rock climbing, black powder rifle and canoeing on the Guadalupe River. An additional fee will be charged for some of these programs.

Calling all Webelos and Troops! How do you plan to meet each other Fall 2020?

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The Webelos Trail to Eagle is for Webelos to learn what Scouts BSA is all about, while meeting and interacting with Troops in preparation to cross over into Scouts BSA.  The overall goal of this event is introducing Webelos to activities using the Patrol Method while placing emphasis on the parent’s role in a Scouts BSA Troop environment.  We include a wide variety of presentations encompassing many points of the Webelos Requirements counting toward Webelos and Arrow of Light rank advancement.

This is a formal Scout Activity that is being planned virtually for November 21, 2020.  Registration is open online and only the Webelos need to register (there is an opportunity inside the registration to enter the name of the parent that will be present with the Scout online). CLICK HERE TO REGISTER A WEBELOS

 

As stated, this event is hosted by Troops and gives those Troops the opportunity to offer program and demonstrate how their unit works.  It is a great way for WEBELOS to find local Troops that they may be interested in visiting and crossing into.  If your Troop is interested in running a demonstration or class in the Webelos Trail to Eagle 2020 Virtual event CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP YOUR TROOP TO VOLUNTEER.

2020 Spook O Ree – The Haunted Forest of McGimsey Scout Park!

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This year we are hosting a drive through event at McGimsey Scout Park for our annual Spook O Ree!

To keep the spirit of Halloween alive and remain safe during COVID, we are offering a contact-free event.  You purchase your tickets ahead of time, and then come out to McGimsey on November 7th, 2020, between the hours of 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm.  You will enter by the ranger’s house on Wedgewood and exit through the NW Military gate after driving the campsite loop and viewing our spooky scenes and creations.

Each scene will be adjustable based on age of your Scouts, so if your Scouts want something less spooky, just turn on your flashers and we will adjust to you.  If you are ready to see all the fun and creativity of Halloween, leave your flashers off and BEWARE!

In order to create a really exciting event we are opening this up to Patrols and Units to sign up to help.  We Challenge you to be the most creative within the theme limitations we have set.  All areas with live action will be spaced out and limited to 10 people or less.  You will have all day on November 7th to come out and set up your creations…and then you will be there in the evening to ensure the scene is exactly what you want to show off.  We know we have some really creative Scouts out there who would love to make an unforgettable evening for our Scout Families…sign up here and select the haunted area you would like to be in charge of

For anyone who wants to attend the event – Purchase your ticket here

More details will be shared as we get closer to THE HAUNTED FOREST OF MCGIMSEY SCOUT PARK!

Cub Scout Shooting Sports Days – August and December, 2020

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Looking for an opportunity for your Scouts to earn their Cub Scout Shooting Badges?

Outside of Summer Camps, this is the event you need to register for to do just that.

Due to COVID these events are limited as we have to keep the groups smaller.  We will work in sessions of 16 Scouts; breaking those 16 Scouts up into 2 separate groups 8 Scouts each. That means that while 8 Scouts are learning the history, parts of the bow (for example), and the other educational part of the training, the other 8 Scouts will be getting the safety brief and practice time on the range.  Then we will rotate.  Each session lasts 90 minutes and that is plenty of time to rotate 2 groups of 8 through all that is required to earn the badges.

Everyone present will have to sign a waiver and wear a mask while on property. Our equipment will be cleaned in between each group rotating through the ranges and hand sanitizer will be used upon entry and leaving the range.

Parents are required to be present at the event, though they may be asked to stay outside the range for social distancing if their Scouts are able to participate without direct assistance from a parent.  Lions and Tigers must have a parent partner present on each range. Lions may only participate in archery and sling shots.

At the end of each session you will be given a card, signed by your instructor to take back to your Cub Scout Pack leadership to show proof that you completed the requirements.

For this event you must sign up for each individual activity session separately. BB, ARCHERY and SLINGSHOT are offered.   Each one takes 90 minutes to complete, so if you sign up to attend BB and SLINGSHOT you are committing to being at camp for 3 hours.

You must register to attend this event, space is limited and walk-ins will not be accepted due to COVID Precautions.

Click on the date you choose to attend, once you add your activities the cost will be added to your cart.  Each activity is $15 so your total will depend upon how many activities you register for.

August 22 – Cub Scout Shooting Sports Day

December 5 – Cub Scout Shooting Sports Day

If you have any questions about these events, please email Adventure@AlamoAreaBSA.org 

 

Swim Test Offered at McGimsey Scout Park to Support Scout Advancement – Fall 2020

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It was brought to our attention that many of our Scouts were unable to complete their annual Swim Test this summer.  Scouts take the swim test in preparation for attending summer camp or they complete it at summer camp each year and this test counts when they are moving towards advancing to the next rank. This year, with many of our Scouts not attending camp due to cancellations or COVID restrictions many have realized that they need a swim test in order to advance or complete a Cub Scout Elective.

For this reason, we are adding three opportunities for swim tests to be completed at McGimsey Scout Park Pool.

These are open to the first 50 Scouts that sign up to attend and are not open to walk ins due to the precautions we must take during COVID. You will arrive at 4:30 pm for your session, park outside the pool, and check in.  All attending are required to wear a mask (except while swimming) and practice social distancing.  You will come dressed to swim as changing rooms are not open at this time.  You will then be asked to wait in your vehicles until you are called up to take your test as we are only allowed to let so many into the pool area at one time.  We will move everyone through as quickly as possible and appreciate your patience.

Register by clicking on the date that works best with your schedule:

August 15, 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm

September 12, 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm

September 26, 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm

These will be the only opportunities to complete a swim test at McGimsey Scout Park this Fall as the pool closes at the end of September.  We will reopen the pool in May 2021.

If you have any questions about the swim test please email Adventure@AlamoAreaBSA.org

 

Scouting Adventures