Alamo Area Council

 
Boy Scouts of America

Unified Focus On Youth

bear creek

Register for Scouts BSA Summer Camp 2020 at Bear Creek

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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, and now young women, 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.

  • Bear Creek is divided into two sections. Troops who want to make use of the dining hall for their meal, camp on the Friedrich side. Three meals are provided daily except Wednesday night when troops will be provided food to prepare and eat at their campsites.

Troops who wish to experience patrol cooking, camp on the Rickenbacker side. Units bring their own food and prepare it at the campsites. Refrigeration and freezer space is provided. Ice is sold at the Trading Post.

Upcoming Scouts BSA Summer Camp Events:

Bear Creek Climbing — More Than Summer Camp

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Bear Creek is available almost year round for climbing and rappelling. Of course, check the calendar, facilities, and with Ken before driving out there. Troop 361 enjoyed climbing and rappelling the Short Cliffs behind the check-in cottage, and their diligent scribe recorded the experience.

Troop 361 Climbing at Bear Creek Scout Ranch

by: Erin Heilbrun

On October 11-13, Troop 361 went rock climbing at Bear Creek SR. While we were there, Scouts learned how to climb and rappel, as well as climbing merit badge requirements. Scouts got to experience on natural rocks, over hanging cliffs, and free rappelling.

For many of these girls, this was our first time rappelling . We learned to get over our fear of heights, trust the ropes, and have fun. For most of us, it was our first time climbing a natural rock face which is different from a rock wall. On the natural face we had to find small cracks and holes in the rock to get a grip or handhold. We didn’t have to do that on the rock wall at McGimsey.

At the end of the day, we helped take down the rigging, and learned how to put away equipment. This included checking ropes for wear, wrapping the ropes up, counting harnesses and helmets, and keeping the equipment safe and away from weather and animals. At the end of the campout, about five of us went home with the climbing merit badge completed. We want to come back to rappel the 100 foot OA Cliff!

Want To Take Your Unit Climbing?

Check Out the Alamo Council Climbing Page

Girls Attend First Summer Camp as Scouts BSA Youth

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Angel Martinez, PR Director
(210) 394-9915
Angel.Martinez@Scouting.org 

Young Ladies Ages 11-17 are welcomed to their first BSA summer camp experience

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (July 1st, 2019) – The Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council (BSA) has kicked off their Bear Creek Scout Reservation Summer Camp Program for Scouts BSA youth (ages 11-17). Young women enrolled in the Scouts BSA program made history by joining the roughly 350 Scouts in attending camp and earning merit badges. This is the first summer in which girls are invited to begin working towards the highest rank in Scouting – the Eagle Scout. Media is invited to witness youth participate in a multitude of activities at Bear Creek Scout Reservation throughout various summer sessions. Many female Scouts are also willing to share their historic experience in the Scouts BSA program via interview and/or demonstration.

“I thought it was interesting that everyone had a chance to be a leader, including the younger Scouts that had just come in…like me who’s never had any Scouting experience!” said Morgan Hegemier, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader of Troop 596, from League City who participated in the first week of summer camp at Bear Creek Scout Reservation.

All Scouts and their families are invited to learn more about the program and sign up for remaining Bear Creek Summer Sessions. Events are lined up throughout the summer to welcome new Scouts to the Scouts BSA youth program. Any young lady interested in attending will be able to enjoy a variety of activities, including a BMX track, 1400 foot tandem zip-line, and dual waterslide. Registration is still available for both boys and girls to attend Bear Creek Scout Reservation. Nationally the Boy Scouts of America have registered over 100,000 young ladies within the Cub Scout and Scouts BSA programs. The Alamo Area Council is on pace to serve over 1,000 girls locally.

“The Alamo Area Council works alongside our charter partners and over 5,000 adult volunteer leaders to make significant investments of our time and resources to provide hope. This hope to a Scout youth and their families is the ‘peace of mind’ that their unique Scouting outdoor adventure – like at Bear Creek Scout Reservation – will make their future brighter,” said Angel Martinez, PR Director with the local Boy Scouts.

“Communities need unity to thrive. I am excited to have the opportunity to work together with so many great organizations in this area to make a positive impact on the lives of all our youth. The investments we make with our time, energy and resources to build the character and leadership of our youth is a proven way to strengthen our future. Join us in the Scouting movement to positively impact the lives of all youth!” said Jim Jeffery, President, Alamo Area Council, BSA.

The Alamo Area Council earned the Journey to Excellence Silver Award status based on our performance in membership, program, unit service, district leadership, and finance. 355 Scouts BSA youth achieved the Eagle Scout rank in 2018, contributing over 52,000 service hours with a value equaling $1.28 million invested into our local economy.

To find out more about attending Bear Creek Scout Reservation, visit www.BearCreekScoutReservation.org. To join Scouting, look for or ask about the BSA recruitment flyers and posters at a school near you.  Or, visit the recruitment site www.BeAScout.org to find a unit near your based on your zip code. Or, contact the Scout Service Executive team member in your area by emailing Join@AlamoAreaBSA.org or calling 210-341-8611.

About the Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council

The Alamo Area Council, BSA, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, serves a 13-county area imparting the Scouting program to over 18,000 youth and 5,000 volunteer adults in South Texas. The Boy Scouts of America continues to prepare young people for life by providing the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, utilizing outdoor activity, citizenship, and sports fitness. The Alamo Area Council manages 1,280 acres of outdoor adventure for boys and girls from 5-21 years of age at three premier camps: Bear Creek Scout Reservation, Mays Family Scout Ranch, and McGimsey Scout Park. Learn more at http://www.AlamoAreaBSA.org.

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