Arrowhead District Camporee

April TBD, 2024

Long Acres Ranch
2335 Richmond Parkway
Richmond, TX 77469

Celebration of Scouting

Camporee is designed to give Scouts the opportunity to broaden our circles and experience Scouting traditions we share together. The theme emphasizes commitment to the values of the Scout program within the troop program and share strengths with others

Promotes Scout spirit and leadership within our troops. It is our vision a spark and kindle other Scouts to step forward for the next adventure. The spirit represents the ideals of Scouting as expressed through the Scout Oath, Law, Motto and Slogan. Through fellowship and fairness, participants are encouraged to demonstrate their knowledge, skills of fairness, patrol spirit, and leadership.

The theme this year is a celebration as the Scouts broaden their interactions with Scouts from other troops. Team pick-up games kept to manageable sides and minimal scores to generate movement for waiting participations. Campsite inspection and cooking competition are by and for Scouts.  Scouters are highly encouraged to come to headquarters and do some face time with your fellow Scouters. Please see the value with fellowship, as the Scouts broaden their circle of friendship, let’s do the same. Together we can strengthen our Scouting program.

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Registration

The online registration fee is $9.00 per Scout and covers the camping fee, a patch, and wrist band,  Registration is completed by the unit leadership online with credit card or electronic check. The late fee begins 3/27/23. There is no onsite registration. Council refund policy. 

Register           


Cancelation             

No alternate or rain date, barring extreme weather conditions; camporee will take place rain or shine. A Scout is prepared. Because of fixed expenses, troops should limit changes to their camp roster. 

Medical Forms

BSA Annual Health and Medical Records are required to be submitted during check-in for each individual attending. In addition, a SHAC Medication Form for each individual must be submitted for all medications to be taken / administered at camporee. Each unit should maintain one additional copy of each participant’s medical forms in their respective campsites. Adults must attach a copy of current YPT with medical form and have a copy on their person throughout the event.

Talent Release             

A talent release is included with the BSA Health and Medical Record. If you have Scouts or adults that do not wish to have their photo taken, please let registration know.

Campsite Information

Check-in/out     

Troops may start set-up at 6:00 pm, Friday evening receiving wristbands for campers. Registration and check-in at Headquarters after 8:00 pm. All visitors will be required to sign-in, receive an alternate wristband at camp registration. Visitors must sign out. Checkout Sunday morning, after the worship service.

When you are ready to leave on Sunday morning, send SPL to the Camp Headquarters to have a staff member visit your campsite for inspection. If your campsite is ready for departure, you will be given your patches and health forms

Parking 

Parking space clearly marked so plan accordingly, park in designated parking areas only. Unit Trailers may remain at the campsites if necessary, but if possible, unloaded and moved to a parking area if weather conditions warrant relocation.  No vehicles are allowed in the camping area…period. Trailers should have the wheels blocked and secured when unattended

Campsites

Campsites will be assigned at check-in. Each site will be an equal width apart, with plenty of depth for Troops of any size and clearly marked with appropriate signage. Terrain and geographical features may vary, so be prepared. Most sites will NOT include any covered spaces, picnic table pads, or campfire rings. Troops need to bring fire buckets, first aid kits, trash bags, etc.

Cooking & Fires

Each Troop will be responsible for their own food, as well as provide all equipment for preparation, serving, and cleaning up meals. Campfires are permitted in elevated platforms, using bricks or other materials to prevent charring of the ground.  A fire station/fire guard posting must be in place before any cooking or campfires may occur. No liquid fuels are allowed per SHAC policy. Please bring in your own wood/charcoal/fire pit/sand if you choose to build a fire.  Propane stoves are allowed.  Remember that all materials brought in must be taken out. Strain your wash water before discarding.  Campsite ash must be removed as well.

First Aid

The first aid station is staffed 24-7 for any Scout or Scouters needing assistance. The first aid station will be centrally located and marked with a sign. Please advise campers of its location, which will be announced at Friday’s Leaders Meeting. All injuries requiring further attention beyond camp aid share be documented and addressed accordingly with instructions of off-site facilities

Restrooms

Portable toilets will be available in the field of the camping area. No trash to be disposed of in these facilities. Keep a small trash bag in your pocket, a Scout is prepared. It is recommended that each troop bring toilet paper, just in case. Please consider others and keep them clean. Toilets will be designated as Men and Women. Please use only the one that applies to you.

Trash

We will adhere to Leave No Trace practices. All trash must leave with your unit to include ashes and unburned firewood should be carried out. Remember “Carry in – Carry Out.” There are no dumpsters on site.

Water

All troops should bring their own supply of potable water for the weekend. Weather: Please be prepared for all types of weather and conditions. We do not have an alternate or rain date.

Weather                        

Please be prepared for all types of weather and conditions. We do not have an alternate or rain date. 

Tentative Schedule 

Friday

 
6:00 -11:00 pm Arrival / Check-in-camp open
9:00 pm    Scoutmaster and senior patrol leader (SPL) Meeting
11:00 pm    Lights out

Saturday

 
5:30 am Reveille
6:30 - 8 am Breakfast/Clean-up
8:00 am Opening Ceremony
9:00 - 11:20 am Morning sessions: Knot Demonstration-Camp gadgets within troop program
11:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch break-non-cooking lunch recommended-could be shorter
1:00 - 2:20 pm Registration for cook-off, skits and songs for camp fire
1:30 - 4:30 pm Afternoon sessions: Orienteering Demonstration-Fire building within troop program
4:30 - 7:30 pm  Dinner and troop time
5:30 - 6:30 pm Camp Chef Cook-off
7:30 - 8:30 pm Campfire and Skit/Song Competition
8:30 - 9 pm Order of the Arrow Callout (or not?)
10:30 pm Lights Out

Sunday

 
6:30 am Reveille 
6:30 - 8:00 am Breakfast
8:30 am Interfaith Worship Service
8:00 - 10 am Camp assembly-Scout is Reverent-camp awards.
10:00 - 12:00 pm Break Camp/Departure

 

What to Bring

Participants:

  • BSA Annual Health and Medical form (Parts A, B) for every participant (please bring a copy, not the original)
  • Field uniform (Scout uniform) and belt 
  • Activity uniform (Scout t-shirt)
  • Clothing appropriate for the weather
  • Shoes (closed-toe) or hiking boots 
  • Pajamas or sleeping clothes
  • Rain gear (pants and jacket) 
  • Flashlight and extra batteries 
  • Personal items (e.g., deodorant, comb, medications, toothpaste, toothbrush)
  • Water bottle (or canteen) and cup 
  • Pocket knife and Totin' Chip
  • Sleeping bag, blankets, sheet 
  • Pillow 
  • Cot or pad 
  • Personal first aid kit 
  • Portable chair or camp stool (optional)

Patrols:

  • Tents with ground cloth
  • Water containers for hauling water
  • Cooking gear and food: Saturday breakfast, non-cooking sack lunches, Sunday non-cooking breakfast
  • Duty roster and menu
  • First-aid kit
  • Trash bags
  • Patrol flag
  • Toilet paper
  • Wash soap for restrooms

Troops/Crews:

  • Roster of all participants attending
  • Firewood, rakes, and fire buckets; buckets and shovel to remove unused firewood
  • List of Scouts elected into the Order of the Arrow
  • Copies of Youth Protection Training (YPT) certificate for all leaders. YPT can be taken online at www.my.scouting.org.

Don't Bring:

  • Alcohol
  • Valuables
  • Electronics (e.g.,  iPod, iPad)*
  • Fireworks 
  • Sheath or hunting knives 
  • Pets 
  • Hammocks 
  • Personal firearms and ammunition 
  • Jewelry 
  • Personal bows and arrows 
  • Fuel-burning hand warmers 

Programming Information

Leaders Meeting 

The Senior Patrol Leader and Scoutmaster plus one adult from each troop should attend meeting to brainstorm, create instructions and programming, assignments and rotations. Please bring a cup, a pen, and a chair. The meeting will start roughly at 9pm on Friday evening.

Uniforms

Participants are encouraged to wear the field uniform while traveling to and from camporee, Saturday evening campfire and the Sunday morning interfaith service. The activity uniforms (troop or Scout t-shirts) may be worn at all other times.

Buglers’ Corps         

We invite all troop buglers to participate in a district Bugler’s Corps. The Bugler’s Corp will provide calls during flag posting and retrieving, reveille, and Taps. Please bring your own Bugle.  A Bugler’s meeting will take place following the Leader’s meeting on Friday night.

Camp Inspection 

Recognition for top three campsite based on inspection of judges. The judging form is available at check-in.

Campfire                     

The success of our campfire depends on the participation of Scouts from each troop. Sign-up for participation will take place prior to the end of lunch on Saturday. No acts will be permitted that have not been reviewed by the campfire chair. Awards will be assigned at campfire. There will also be a brief flag retirement ceremony following awards, so bring any flags you have for retirement.  There will be an Order of the Arrow call-out to conclude campfire program.

Scouts Own Service

Each unit is requested to attend Sunday morning service provided by troop chaplains.


Activities                    

Scouts will have an opportunity to participate in several activities on Saturday. Camp-wide demonstration of skill. Skill may require a Scout to “e prepared. Recognition provide to teams for their skill demonstrating the EDGE method.

Proposed means of fair assessments: Each troop may provide a Scout skill between troops organized at the leadership meeting Friday night.

Events

Instructors should use the EDGE method in training. Here is a list of suggestions for skills for troop-sponsored programs.

First Aid:   Basic first aid is one of the foundations of Scout skills. Essential to all successful Scouting programs. Preparations for district First Aid Meet in the fall.
Knots \ Lashings Three major knots required for lashing. Potentially build a tripod, table, chair or  flag-pole. This is preparation for campsite gateway and gadget building. Scouts bring six feet of quarter-inch hemp rope, two-twelve inches of light twine for whipping. Competition: Depends on who is prepared?
Pioneering camp gadgets: Expand above lashing. Have fun, shake hands, make friends and be spirited!
Orienteering Basic triangulation taught and expanded to distance within the time period provided. Compasses only. Competition: complete one course assigned by leadership.   
Fire building The correct way, wrong way, one match way or other? Build a basic fire to light and burn. Demonstration of skills.
Tug-of-War Teams may consist of no more than nine members and based on the ranking scores above. Troops may enter as many teams as they want, but members may only be on one team. The competition format will be based on the number of entries. 6 or fewer teams will use a double-elimination draw format. Seven or more teams will use a single elimination bracket. Team seeding will be based on arrival of entries (the first entry will be seeded 1; second entry will be seeded 2, and so on.
 Chef Cook-off  This is a traditional camp cook-off for patrols only; the “chef” may utilize the assistance of up to 3 additional Scouts.  Presentation of a single meal will be presented for Judging. The dish will be based on the quality of the meal, well-rounded menu, and presentation. Chefs must sign-up for a judging time before lunch. Judging between 5:30p to 6:30p.
Scoutmaster Dutch Oven Prepared from scratch at camp in the Dutch oven by the Scoutmaster held by the same standards of the Chef Cook-off of a single meal and presented in the Dutch oven.  Provide entry before lunch. 
Campsite Inspection   Traditional campsite inspection (takes place throughout the day).

Order of the Arrow

The Order of the Arrow (OA) is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America. For over 100 years, the Order of the Arrow has recognized Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. The Order of the Arrow provides encouragement for others to live these ideals as well. Arrowmen are known for maintaining camping traditions and spirit, promoting year-round and long-term resident camping, developing leaders, and providing cheerful service to others. OA service, activities, adventures, and training for youth and adults are models of quality leadership development and programming that enrich, support and help to extend Scouting to America's youth.

Learn More About the OA

Photographs    

Notice!  Please be advised that promotional videotaping/photography may be in progress at any time at an event. Your entrance constitutes your agreement that the district has the right to reproduce your likeness in videography/photography for promotion (e.g., publications, internet, newspaper).

Scouting Safely

Safety is Your Responsibility posterThe BSA's Commitment to Safety is ongoing and we want you to know that the safety of our youth, volunteers, staff, and employees cannot be compromised. The Boy Scouts of America puts the utmost importance on the safe and healthy environments for its youth membership. The Sam Houston Area Council takes great strides to ensure the safety of its youth as well as the adult volunteer leadership that interacts with them. 

BSA Guide to Safe Scouting policies must be followed. All participants must follow Youth Protection Guidelines at all Scouting events. Highlights include:

  • Two-deep leadership on all outings required.  
  • One-on-one contact between adults and youth members is prohibited. 
  • The buddy system should be used at all times. 
  • Discipline must be constructive.

Health and safety must be integrated into everything we do, to the point that no injuries are acceptable beyond those that are readily treatable by Scout-rendered first aid. As an aid in the continuing effort to protect participants in a Scout activity, the BSA National Health and Safety Committee and the Council Services Division of the BSA National Council have developed the "Sweet Sixteen" of BSA safety procedures for physical activity. These 16 points, which embody good judgment and common sense, are applicable to all activities.

Youth Protection Guidelines     Guide to Safe Scouting      Sweet Sixteen      Enterprise Risk Management

Contacts

For questions, contact d.cawthon@windstream.net