Alamo Area BSA

 
Boy Scouts of America

Live Scouting

merit badges

Advancement Through This Challenging Era of Scouting

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The Alamo Area Council along with all units are moving into a new era of Scouting. As we adjust to the challenge of keeping our youth and families engaged everyone is moving to online technology to deliver the program.

The staff has recently contacted most units and it is amazing how fast units have begun using Facebook Live, Zoom, and other tools to meet and communicate.

Our Council is on the cutting edge Nationally in live broadcasts on Facebook and using Zoom for Merit badges and Leadership Training classes. We receive calls daily from other Councils wanting to discuss what we are doing and planning in the future. A lot of our success is due to leadership from our volunteers and we really appreciate that.

Now is also the time to look at how the changes in the way we deliver the program might effect Advancements. National  recently sent out an update to the official Guide to Advancement 2019.

Please review the update which is in a question and answer format : 18MAR2020_QA Regarding COVID-19 Related Advancement Difficulties_FINAL (002)

These updates will help youth to continue to advance during these challenging times.

Report to State 2020

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Photos of prior year Report to State events

Report to State – February 1, 2020

Greetings from the 17,244 Scouts and the 4,456 adult volunteer Scouters of the Alamo Area Council, headquartered in San Antonio.

I am Eagle Scout Trent Corley of Scouts BSA Troop 809, and I am honored to report that the Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council continues to accomplish its mission of instilling the values of the Scout Oath and Law in our youth by utilizing outdoor adventure, citizenship, and fitness.

The Alamo Area Council earned the Journey to Excellence SILVER Award, the BSA’s planning, performance, and recognition program designed to encourage and reward the success of our units, districts and councils. And, we were 1 of 11 Council’s in the Nation to receive the GOLD Journey to Excellence Award for Venturing.

Most importantly, we continue to serve more youth. In fact, over 1.3 Million youth have been served by the Alamo Area Council since our chartered date of May 16, 1912.

Counted among our 2019 successes include:

  • Camping activity reached 5,699 – with Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Sea Scouts, and Venturing Scouts attending summer and year-round adventure programs.
  • Scouting for Food efforts of our youth and adults collected over 5,000 pounds of food. This represents 6,500 meals for food insecure youth and families in our local community.
  • Advancements: Total Cub and Scouts BSA advancements reached 11,697.
  • Eagle Scouts – 399 Scouts BSA youth achieved Scouting’s highest rank of Eagle Scout, contributing over 58,450 service hours with a value over $1.48 million invested into our local economy and community. (based on value of 2019 volunteer time $25.43/hr. by independentsector.org)

Highlights of our Eagles include:

  • Jonathan Largoza, of Troop 346 – Recognized for the 2019 Adam’s Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year for his work supporting a senior citizens community.
  • Eagle Scout Ethan Schneider of Troop 911 awarded prestigious William T. Hornaday Award for his conservation project work on invasive species control.
  • Eagle Scout Alex Kubon earned ALL 138 Merit Badges available to complete within the Scouts, BSA program. (Alex joins a list of less than 450 Scouts that have reached such an accomplishment within the 110-year history of the BSA)
  • Additional Community Service We acknowledge the sacrifices and services of those who serve in the U.S Armed Forces. In San Antonio, the Military City, we participate in many flag ceremonies with one of our biggest community service involving placing flags through Fort Sam Houston Cemetery to honor our American Heroes.

The Alamo Area Council continues to receive the support of our volunteers and community leaders; and, with your support, we will continue this tradition of Scouting and service for many years to come to help our youth to succeed!

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.

For complete information, forms, leaders guide, merit badge schedules, staff applications, and COVID-19 Updates follow this link to our Bear Creek Summer Camp Page

Upcoming Scouts BSA Summer Camp Events:

Scouting Adventures