Alamo Area BSA

 
Boy Scouts of America

Live Scouting

Cub Scouts

Swim Checks and Lessons 2021

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The swim classification of individuals participating in water activities is a key element of the BSA’s Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat. Swim classification tests (swim checks) should be renewed annually at the beginning of the outdoor season and are required for any Scout attending Scouts BSA Summer Camp, Webelos Akela Adventure Camp and any swim activity at Day Camp. In addition this may be an advancement requirement for your scout, please check your scout’s rank requirements to know if he will require a swim test prior to summer 2022 to advance. The Alamo Area Council offers swim lessons to Scouts (ages 6+) as well as swim checks.

Swim Lessons:

Cost: $75/week; each 45-minute session is limited to 20 swimmers

Swim Checks:

Sign up online for a 1 hour time slot and take your swim check.

Cost: $7.50/swimmer

Click on the event links to Register for one of the Events below:

May 5, 2021 – Swim Checks

May 22, 2021 – Swim Checks 

Jun 12, 2021 – Swim Checks 

Jun 26, 2021 – Swim Checks

Jul 12-16, 2021 – Summer Swim Lessons 

Mesquite Pinewood Derby

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The Mesquite Pinewood Derby will be on Sunday, May 2nd, 2021!

Location: Mays Family Scout Ranch, 3445 Fest Rd.

This page will guide you with rules, categories, directions and ideas!

Official Mesquite Rules and Guidelines for Pinewood Derby cars and participation!

Mesquite Pinewood Derby Rules 2021

The link below will provide the categories we will be racing. We will not only judge on speed, but check out the additional 8 categories we will also be looking at!

Mesquite Pinewood Derby Categories 2021

Things to know: 

  • $5.00 Race Car Entrance Fee
  • Your Scout will be issued an Official Mesquite Driver’s License entrance pass upon entering their Pinewood Derby Car!
  • Early Check in Period through Registration Online – Coming Soon!
  • Check In Time will start at 2:00PM
  • Official Race Start Time will start at 2:30PM

If you have any questions, please contact your Mesquite District Scout Service Representative at Mesquite@AlamoAreaBSA.org.

 

2021 Cub Scout Day Camp Staff/Counselors and Counselors in Training Needed – Apply Now

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Each year as we recruit more Cub Scouts into our units we give what is called a “cub talk”, which is designed around sharing with the youth all the fun and exciting things they can do if they join us.  We promise them that they are going to get to shoot BB Guns, Archery, and Slingshots.  That they will fish, learn new games, and be able to focus on STEM activities that are hands on.  All year long they work to complete rank requirements and learn new things, but it is at CAMP that they truly get to experience everything we promised them in that Cub Talk.

We are looking for the right people to join our Day Camp team and help us to KEEP THE PROMISE.

Our Camps are led by two Directors that are National Camp School Trained. Working with those Directors, we have many other staff positions that are open for application.

Our most important team members are our Camp Counselors.  They are the heart and soul of what happens at camp. They are the number one reason why a camper falls in love with camp.  You can be a Counselor and be given the opportunity to impact somebody’s forever! This year, you will be mentoring and working with groups of 8-10 Cub Scouts all week, and will get to know them, help them grow, and keep them safe at camp with us.  We are looking for high energy team members that are willing to sing, dance, and do everything they can to bring our theme alive.

We offer a Counselor in Training (CIT) program, as well.  A CIT works closely with the staff members and Camp Counselors to ensure a quality and safe program while learning what it means to be a Camp Counselor.  This is a great way to get that on the job training for when you reach the age to be on Camp Staff, while introducing you to the different roles and areas so you can decide where your heart leads you in your Camp Career. CITs are not paid staff, but receive credit for their volunteer hours.

Area Directors and Program Staff are another part of our Camp Staff.  We are always looking for qualified team members to help us run our Shooting Sports Activities, Aquatics, Games, Crafts, and other areas.  Some of these areas have age requirements but all who apply should be 16 years or older. To apply to be on Aquatics, Shooting Sports, or General Camp Staff.

TO APPLY TO BE ON STAFF – PLEASE CLICK HERE AND THEN FOLLOW THE LINKS TO THE CIT APPLICATION OR THE DAY CAMP STAFF APPLICATION. 

PARENTS who are interested in attending camp the week their scout is attending camp, and would like to VOLUNTEER at camp the same week may receive one free scout admission to that camp.  In order to be considered for this, you must apply to be on camp staff by January 30th, go through the interview process, and be selected to fill a position.  At all the camps outside of McGimsey units are required to maintain a 1 adult to every 2 scout ratio for supervision (Den Walkers).  The volunteers receiving one free scout to camp are not Den Walkers in these camps, they must fill a program area position.

If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to me directly at Linda.Dieguez@scouting.org or you may text me at 210-740-9370

 

Cub Scout Recruiting Materials

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Looking for a new gathering activity? Or a fun way for your Cub Scouts to invite their friends to an upcoming event/meeting? Download our Coloring Pages and personalize them to suit your packs needs!

You can use them as invitations!

Gathering Activities!

Drop them off at Libraries or Community Centers to invite youth to join your units!

Add them to your Pack’s Welcome Packet!

The Coloring pages are saved as a PDF please contact Lesley.vinka@scouting.org and she can customize them for you!

Coloring-Pages-WebsiteDownload

Shooting Sports Trainings (NRA and Archery) and Opportunities to Get Involved

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The Alamo Area Council Shooting Sports Advocates are working hard to bring opportunities for you to get involved with one of the most beloved and exciting parts of the scouting program….Shooting! Who doesn’t love knocking that clay pigeon out of the air with a well placed shotgun shot or creating holes in it with a BB Gun at one of our camps?  These activities are vital to the excitement of our program and one of top reasons scouts initially join the Boy Scouts of America.

Volunteers are a vital part of this program and trained volunteers are extremely hard to find in the shooting arena. For older units (Scouts BSA, Venture, Sea Scouts) if you have trained adults you can run a program in your unit.  How nice would it be to add some range time to one of your weekend rentals at Bear Creek Scout Reservation?  You can do it.  For Cub Scout Packs, scouts can only shoot at a Council level event and we always need volunteers willing to help on the ranges during those events.  The more volunteers we have, the more likely we are to be able to share the load (schedule 1-2 hours volunteer on the range instead of volunteers giving their whole day).

So, how do you get more involved?

  1. NRA (Shotgun, Rifle, Pistol) –  Click on this link to find the dates of the upcoming classes we are offering and how to register.  There is a minimum of 8 participants for a class to make, so register early and bring your friends to ensure your class holds!  NRA_BSAInstructorClassesFall2020
  2. NRA Range Safety Officer (RSO) – Any range that runs is required to have an NRA RSO present and in charge of the safety of that range.  We are currently in need of more RSOs as we need them for every range. If you hold a current NRA Instructor certification you can take the RSO training online through the NRA.  If you don’t, you will need to attend an in person class. We are gauging interest to be able to schedule a class in person at McGimsey or Mays this fall.  Please email Adventure@AlamoAreaBSA.org  if you are interested in attending an in person NRA RSO certification training, we will add you to a contact list and notify you when we get a class scheduled.
  3. Archery – We have a USA Archery Level 1 training scheduled for August 1 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at McGimsey Scout Park.  Course materials need to be ordered in advance so registration closes on July 15th.  Register here
  4. Cub Scout Rangemasters (BB or Archery) – To volunteer to help at a Cub Scout event you must either be NRA Trained or hold a current Cub Scout Rangemaster Training certification (good for 2 years).  You must be 18 years old to be trained as a Rangemaster.  We are offering shooting activities beginning in July at McGimsey and continuing at all of our Cub Scout Events through December 2020.  If you are interested in receiving Cub Scout Rangemaster Training for either BB or Archery please email Adventure@AlamoAreaBSA.org and let us know.  We will add you to a contact list and let you know when we get training scheduled.
  5. Shooting Sports Advocates – We have a wonderful committee of volunteers that are considering how to best support our scouts in both what events are offered, how they are run, and considering facility and equipment requirements.  If you are interested in joining this group, please let us know, we are happy to have you join us.  We support all the Cub Scout level events, Powderhorn, Council Wide Campout, and we host the Beast Feast and Shooting Sport University each year.  Email us at Adventure@AlamoAreaBSA.org and let us know you are interested in joining our Advocates and we will add you to the communications list.
Scouting Adventures