Alamo Area Council

 
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Alamo Area Council Response to Coronavirus COVID-19

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Alamo Area Council UPDATED Response to Coronavirus COVID-19 as of
Thursday, July 9, 2020

Council Covid-19 Response Guidelines as of 6-23-2020Download

Dear Scouting family,

Under the updated developments regarding COVID-19 through the State of Texas Governor’s Office, Bexar County in coordination with San Antonio Mayor Nirenberg’s Emergency Declaration and Orders, and nationally through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Alamo Area Council strives to safely and strategically support local Scouting activities in our 13-county service area.

Scouting Adventure is a balance of Scouting at Home, Family Camp, and safe in-person meetings and activities. 

With safety protocols that include social distancing and with required face masks, the Alamo Area Council Service Centers are open normal business hours – Monday through Thursday 8:30 am – 6 pm, Friday 8:30 am – 3:30 pm, and the first Saturday of every month 10 am – 1 pm.

UPDATE: Governor Greg Abbott has issued Executive Order 29 requiring all Texans to wear a face-covering over the nose and mouth in public spaces, with few exceptions, in counties with 20 or more positive COVID-19 cases. Open Texas checklists are now updated consistent with this order. The Governor also issued a proclamation giving mayors and county judges the ability to impose restrictions on some outdoor gatherings of over 10.

~ Executive Order No. GA-29, July 2, 2020, https://open.texas.gov/

The Musselman Scout Shop is open 10 am – 5 pm Tuesday through Friday and 9 am – 3 pm on Saturdays (closed on Mondays).

All units can have in-person meetings and any Scouting activity, provided they follow all guidelines as set forth using the ReStart Scouting Checklist AND by The Governor’s Strike Force to Open Texas and your local authorities. 

If indoors, meetings and activities must be in groups of ten or less, cloth face coverings must be worn and all individuals must maintain social distancing of six feet or more. People over the age of 65 are encouraged to stay home as much as possible. 

Outdoor meetings and activities must follow the Governor’s “Open Texas” Checklists which set minimum standard health protocols for Youth Clubs and Youth Club Participants (revised June 3, 2020):

Please check with your sponsoring organization’s guidance if you plan on utilizing their meeting spaces. Unit meeting facility rental opportunities within Alamo Area Council properties are available.

Patrol meetings over the phone or video conferencing, merit badges delivered online, webinar training for leaders, and virtual Roundtables and District meetings continue to be an effective and encouraged part of Scouting.

Scouting at Home www.AlamoAreaBSA.org/ScoutingatHome will continue successful programming and Scout TV News will grow as a resource – www.AlamoAreaBSA.org/ScoutTV.

A complete listing of event changes will be published on our Council calendar, within our Digital Adventure Guide magazine, and posted to our social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Youtube.

Should you have any questions or concerns about a specific upcoming event or activity, please reach out to your local district executive or email the Council Leadership team at Safety@AlamoAreaBSA.org or the Outdoor Adventure department at Adventure@AlamoAreaBSA.org.

We will do everything we can to answer your question using the information available to us to evaluate the situation and make decisions in the best interest of our members, volunteers, and employees. With safety in mind, we are happy to encourage you and your Scouting family to SCOUT ON! 

Please check back on our website www.AlamoAreaBSA.org for the latest guidelines as this is an evolving situation and any of these guidelines are subject to change. We will take additional steps as needed.

Our most updated Council response to Coronavirus COVID-19 can be found online at www.AlamoAreaBSA.org/Covid19. 

Yours in Scouting,

Angel Martinez, PR Director 
Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council

Pinewood Build Days at Mays

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Get Ready For The Races!!!

Come and get your Pinewood Derby car ready for the races!

Lots of tools will be on hand to help sculpt your car to perfection.

Be sure to bring an adult (some tools will need the aid of an adult) and your creativity. A paint booth will be set up. Bring your favorite colors of paint since they’re not provided, and sharing with others is encouraged.

This event is just $5.00 per Scout (this nominal price will help us to keep having this event year after year).

Two dates in 2020.

Click here to register for a session on January 4, 2020

Click here to register for a session on January 11, 2020

Each date will have 3 sessions to choose from.

If you have any tools that you would like to use or share feel free to bring them along as well.

Virtual Roundtable – July 2020

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The last Roundtable of the summer was held on Thursday, July 9, 2020 at 7:00 pm. More than 175 adult volunteers and leaders tuned in to learn about Popcorn, Training, Woodbadge, Powder Horn, NYLT, Jamboree and OA! A lot was covered in the 45 minutes that was our July Roundtable.

As promised, you can download the slides that were presented below. We encourage you to share the information with other leaders and parents in your unit. Encourage your Scouts to continue Scouting! We may be in the middle of a global pandemic, but Scouting is Alive, and with your help Scouting will continue!

What’s coming up?

Be on the look out for more information to come about our Annual Scouting Expo: A Virtual Experience happening on August 6, 2020 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

July 2020 Roundtable – General SessionDownload

Mesquite Scout, Lane Mokry Receives National Certificate of Merit

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Mesquite District Scout, Lane Mokry is receiving the National Certificate of Merit due to his alertness and use of his Scout skills.

Lane is a Cub Scout from Pack 22 in La Vernia and is going to be a Webelos 1. On June 1, 2020, Lane was with his family at an RV park swimming pool in Port Aransas, Texas where there was a group of kids and parents enjoying the day. Claire, age 3, fell into an area of the pool where she could not touch the bottom and stand on her own.

Lane was alert as to what was going on, and quickly reacted by shouting to the adults that a child was in the deep water and one of the adults went in and pulled her out.

Because of his keen observance and concern for others, Lane effectively prevented what could have been a terrible tragedy. Lane saved little Claire’s life!

The Scout Oath states that the Scout will help other people at all times, and keep themselves physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. Lane Mokry demonstrated these characteristics with his actions. A Scout is Helpful. A Scout is Brave.

It was asked of him, what went through his mind when he saw what happened?  He said all he could think was that she could not swim or yell.

It was also asked of him, why did he react quickly and do what he did in getting adults to come help? He said he didn’t want the child to drown, or die at such a young age.

We commend you for your quick action, Lane Mokry!

Due to the Covid 19 situation his certificate will be presented at an appropriate time. If you would like to commend him in the meantime, please send to Mesquite@AlamoAreaBSA.com, and it will be sent to his family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CALLING ALL CUB SCOUTS! The Alamo Area Council and the San Antonio Zoo have partnered to help YOU FIND YOUR ROAR!

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On Saturday, July 18th at 10:00 am the San Antonio Zoo will be offering a special private Scout event to interact with Cub Scout age youth (K-5) for a program about Animal Care, Habitats, and Biomes. Also some of the Zoo’s special friends will make a guest appearance to help our Scout’s learn more about different types of animals. Click the button below to reserve your spot for this unique virtual Zoo event. This event is 45 minutes long and has a max attendance of 100 Scouts. The cost is $5 per family to help cover the cost of hosting an event. ALL Scouts and Scout families welcomed!

 Looking to check off some requirements while participating in our Zoo program?

  • Tigers: Tigers in the Wild – Learn about different animals in the Zoo and practice plant and animal identification using observation techniques and field guides.
  • Wolf: Call of the Wild – Leave No Trace Principles and how to be respectful of wildlife
  • Webelos: Into the Wild – Learn about the various roles that animals play in ecosystems, and think about how humans can help protect animal ecosystems.
SIGN UP TODAY!

Family Camp at AAC Properties – July Updates

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Scouting families at Mays Family Scout Ranch learn about S.T.E.M. through volcanos!

Family Camp at AAC Properties – Updates in July for Families!

Did your unit decide not to go to summer camp? Come out to Family Camp with us and invite your friends to reserve the campsite next to you. You can spend time together with friends, at camp, while maintaining an appropriate distance. There’s plenty of space!

There’s nothing quite like camping with your family. At our Family Camps, you can enjoy all that the outdoors has to offer and take advantage of our Newly Added Programs, which ranges from the pool at McGimsey Scout Park, Archery Range, and arts and craft projects, Scout skills, dance parties, outdoor movies, crazy games, and relay races.
If you want to truly sleep under the stars and experience all that nature has to offer, there’s no substitute for camping. Our sites include private picnic tables and fire rings or pits so you can spend your evening cooking over a fire (and making s’ mores of course) after spending your day taking advantage of all of the amazing activities. After all, s’mores taste just a little bit better after a day full of swimming in the pool, shooting at our ranges, fishing, hiking, or laughing around a campfire with those you love most.

Reservations are limited and offered with requirements like signing Assumption of the Risk and Waiver of Liability Relating to Coronavirus/COVID-19. Please read all policies and restrictions before registering. VISIT www.AlamoAreaBSA.org/FamilyCamp today!

Coyote District Super Coyote Award

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Vote for Option to Determine # of SCAs to Present Annually

In the past, Districts often determined the number of Unit-Level Awards (e.g. Super Coyote Awards) that can be awarded each year based on the number of Units in the District.
Last year, a proposal was made to change the way we determine the number of Unit-Level Awards (e.g. Super Coyote Awards) that can be awarded each year.

Since the BSA does not mandate how many Unit-Level Awards can be awarded each year, the Coyote District Committee, along side the Awards Board, came up with two viable options to determine the number of SCAs to award.

We are asking Coyote District members to vote on which option they think would be best moving forward:

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE COYOTE DISTRICT SUPER COYOTE AWARD SURVEY!

For more details and considerations, please review the Decision Brief: Determining the Number of SCAs to Present (located below), or contact your District Awards Chair, Paul Gallo, by email at paulafgallo63@gmail.com or by phone or text at (210) 857-0325.

Decision-Brief-Determining-the-Number-of-SCAs-to-Present_27Jun2020_ver5Download

The USAA Foundation, Inc. Grants $50,000 – Personal Management Merit Badge

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The USAA Foundation, Inc. is sponsoring the ‘Personal Management’ Merit Badge class, for the third consecutive year. The ‘Personal Management’ Merit Badge, is an Eagle required badge and one of the most difficult to obtain. As the presenting sponsor all ‘Personal Management’ Merit Badge sessions will be taught by USAA employee volunteers. USAA’s team of volunteers will help Scouts explore new areas of interests, while learning valuable financial skills.

The Alamo Area Council is honored to have received this $50,000 award in support of Financial Literacy and You(th)!. Thank you, USAA Foundation, Inc. for your steadfast support of Scouting youth!

For more information, visit www.AlamoAreaBSA.org/PersonalManagement and watch the video below or email the USAA Foundation Personal Management Merit Badge Counselors team at USAA@AlamoAreaBSA.org.

Scouting Adventures