Alamo Area Council

 
Boy Scouts of America

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Largest Campout in 13-county Area Welcomes Scout Jamboree Spirit

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Scouts participate in a first aid training activity during Council-wide Campout in 2019.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information,
contact: Angel Martinez, PR Director (210) 394 9915
Angel.Martinez@Scouting.org
LARGEST CAMPOUT IN 13-COUNTY AREA WELCOMES SCOUT JAMBOREE SPIRIT

Campout brings together over 1,500 youth and adults for fellowship and adventure.  

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (February 28, 2020) – The Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council hosts their 4th annual, technology-themed weekend camping event at the Bear Creek Scout Reservation in Hunt, Texas over the weekend. Media is invited from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, February 29th to see Scout youth in action at the Bear Creek Scout Reservation – 125 Bear Creek Scout Road West – Hunt, TX 78024

“The Alamo Area Council is proud to host this regional adventure at one of our premier camps – Bear Creek Scout Reservation – to bring thousands of boys and girls the values of Scouting found in the Scout Oath and Law and the Great Outdoors,” said Linda Dieguez, Outdoor Adventure Director for the Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council.

The Campout is open to adventurous Scouting units including Webelos (The highest Cub Scout Rank – ages 9-10), Scouts BSA (boys and girls 11-17), Venture Scouts (co-ed program 14-20), and Sea Scouts (co-ed program 14-20). These Scouts will participate in a wide range of activities designed to teach trust and teamwork and show how technology has developed throughout history.  Some events are just fun:

  • Shooting Sports (Archery, Tomahawk Tossing, Black power, and Rifle shooting, etc.) – testing proper handling, skills, and accuracy.
  • Tools of the Trade – How tools have changed now and then.
  • Branding – Learning the ins and outs of handling a brand and putting a unique mark on personal items.
  • Climbing Walls and Obstacle Courses
  • COPE (Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience) – Group or individual climbing and fitness challenges.
  • First Aid Training – Preparing Scouts to be trained, equipped, and empowered to render aid in emergency situations.
  • Eagle Scout Challenge Events – Fire-Starting, Orienteering (Navigating), and First Aid Skills challenge tests.
  • Arts & Crafts – Marshmallow Catapult – Come by and build a catapult and see how far you can launch a marshmallow.

“I’ve been to National and World Jamborees with 50,000 Scouts and the energy of those events can be found at the Council-wide Camp Out at Bear Creek. It’s cool for youth to realize they belong to something bigger than themselves,” said Michael de los Santos, Scout Executive for the local Scouts.

For their entertainment and education, there will be a show Saturday evening at 7 p.m. sharing stories and experiences. Bear Creek offers over 1,200 acres for Scouting and camping activities including campsites, shooting ranges, fishing, a forge, and large wooded areas. Take Highway 27 west of Kerrville six miles to Ingram. In Ingram, take Highway 39 six miles to Hunt. In Hunt, turn onto FM 1340 and go six miles to Bear Creek.  For more information on Bear Creek, email BearCreek@AlamoAreaBSA.org

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 17,000 youth and 4,000 volunteer adults in South Texas. The Boy Scouts of America continue 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 fitness. The Alamo Area Council manages over 1,500 acres of outdoor adventure for boys and girls from 5-20 years of age at three premier camps – Bear Creek Scout Reservation, Mays Family Scout Ranch, and McGimsey Scout Park. Learn more at www.AlamoAreaBSA.org.

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Get to Know Billy the Ranger at McGimsey – GTA @ Work

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McGimsey Scout Park Ranger and Eagle Scout, Billy Koors, salutes the camera during a break from mowing grass.

GTA @ Work

Some folks within the Scouting community have been longtime financial supporters of the Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council, through the annual fundraising campaign called Friends of Scouting. Now renamed Give the Adventure (GTA), this annual time of giving provides the Council the opportunity to share with new donor families that the Alamo Area Council is a good steward of their donations. It’s also important to thank longtime donors and reassure them that their giving is valued. On behalf of the Alamo Area Council, I want to extend a sincere thank you to all donors.

Besides moving to expand our Annual Report and Adventure Guide with better and more information, our newly redesigned Council newsletter will feature a section of stories called “GTA @ Work”. These stories are meant to share some insights into where your monies are used in support of Scouting in the 13-county service area of the Alamo Area Council. (Angel’s personal note: Be sure to watch the Council GTA supported program called Scoutreach on video as the director, Josh Ozuna, shares a unique story.)

In this story, we meet Billy Koors who joined our local Scouting family on December 5, 2019. Billy is one of thirty full-time employees of the Alamo Area Council. Here is what I learned sitting with Billy and asking him questions.

Billy Koors, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, is the camp ranger at McGimsey Scout Park of the Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council. The 144 beautiful acres of McGimsey are located in North Central San Antonio at the corner of NW Military Hwy and Lockhill Selma.

Top Six Questions and Answers from Billy Koors:

1. Did you have the opportunity to do Scouting as a youth?

Yes. I started as a tiger cub within the Baltimore Area Council and eventually earned my Eagle Scout rank within Troop 480. My Eagle Scout service project was building a prayer garden for my troop’s charter partner organization, Salem Methodist Church. I was also Vigil honor within my Council’s Order of the Arrow Lodge. I enjoyed my Scouting experience so much I became the Baltimore Area Council’s Assistant Ranger at Broadcreek Scout Reservation during summer camp.

2. How did you come to be the McGimsey Scout Park ranger?

I was looking for a full-time job as a ranger at a Scout camp based on my love for Scouting and my experience at Broadcreek. One late, late night doing searches on the career website, Indeed.com, I came across the open ranger position at McGimsey and I applied. To be honest, I almost forgot that I applied when I got the call from the Outdoor Adventure Director, Linda Dieguez, inviting me to interview. I’m glad she called me.

3. Anything you enjoy the most being a ranger for a Scouting camp in Texas?

Working with all the volunteers is the best part of the job. There are some good people here. Also the Texas Bluebonnets are starting to popup. We don’t have that in Maryland.

4. Anything you dislike about being a ranger?

I really don’t. I like just about everything I do. Actually, you asking me to take a photo on my tractor and asking me questions for this article maybe is uncomfortable. I like to be behind the scenes supporting stuff. 

5. What’s the best thing a volunteer or a Give the Adventure donor can do to support McGimsey?

We got several scheduled McGimsey Scout Park Service Days.  Look for those on Council calendar or volunteers can just call 210-341-8611 or email me at McGimsey@AlamoAreaBSA.org or my boss, Linda Dieguez. We can share where they can help.

I might get a donor to give flowers and plants for some camp project; but, I don’t deal directly with money donations to Give the Adventure. But, Give the Adventure is important. Sounds like more of a Linda question; but I know it helps pay for me and the other camp rangers to be here. It keeps the lights on. It keeps me riding my zero turn tractor and supports me keeping up maintenance.

6. Any final thoughts for the Scouting community to know about you or what you do for Scouting?

Nope. I’m not good at this kind of stuff. I’m getting back to my ranger schedule. Thank you.

Well, it seems Billy is pretty passionate about what he does for Scouting! He’s a product of our Scouting movement and we are glad to have him on our team. Please look for more GTA @ Work stories. One last question and we will end this story.

What’s a ranger do at a Scout camp?

The camp ranger is responsible for the upkeep, maintenance, and proper use of all camp facilities. Besides seasonal volunteer support, Rangers often get help in the form of volunteer Campmasters. Here are eight things a ranger and his campmaster team do:

  1. Prepare camp and facilities for safe and welcome use by participants of Council, District, or Unit coordinated events. 
  2. Assist new leaders in getting the unit set up at camp.
  3. Advise unit leaders and administer first aid.
  4. Meet with leaders in regard to conservation and related camp Good Turns.
  5. Be the supper guest of a unit.
  6. Organize and conduct a nature hike with leaders.
  7. Arrange convenient check-in/checkout schedules.
  8. Secure loan of camp equipment for units.
Click to Learn More about McGimsey Scout Park

Watch the Video:

Eagle Scout and McGimsey Scout Park Ranger, Billy Koors, shares some words with Angel Martinez.

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:

Thorlo Sock Sale Starts May 5th

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When Jim Throneburg invented the Thorlos brand in the early 1980s, he dreamed of two new guiding possibilities:

  1. Sustainability of the company beyond his own lifetime.
  2. Being the best in the world at foot protection.

As a result, we at THORLO shifted our primary focus from the sock business to the relationship business. Our official vision and mission became all about Sustainable Relationships, and the Thorlos brand experience was born.

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