Mustang District Trail to Troop

Registration

Trail to Troop is held rain or shine, except in case of dangerous weather. There is no program for siblings.

Registration is a two-step process. Registration is typically completed by the den leader or pack leadership. Registration can be completed individually if the pack is not attending; check with your pack leaders before registering individually.

Step 1: RSVP:  Every unit needs to RSVP by December 31^st to let the event staff if your unti is attending. Estimated numbers are provided to the council so the district can reserve the appropriate number of campsites and program areas for the event and so the event staff can plan the event.

Step 1: RSVP

 Schedule      What to Bring      Program      Leader's Guide     Event Feedback

Learn More at Roundtable

Den leaders are encouraged to attend the January and February roundtables for more information about the event. Roundtable is a monthly meeting held the second Thursday every month at 7:00 pm to help unit leaders plan and carry out their own program. For more information about roundtable, view the district calendar or contact the event chair.

Tentative Schedule

Friday
5:00-7:00 pm	Camp opens, unloading, parking, set-up campsite. Den leader checks-in.
9:00 pm	Cracker-barrel: den leaders, pack leaders and event staff meet in the pavilion. Den leaders are required to attend.
10:30 pm	Lights out
Saturday
7:00 am	Check-in opens for Saturday day-only participants
8:00 am	Opening flag ceremony and welcome at the flagpole
8:30 am	Sessions 1-3* (50 minutes sessions with 10 minutes travel time)
11:30 am	Lunch in campsites (opportunity to work on the Cast Iron Chef Adventure)
1:00 pm	Sessions 4 - 5
3:00 pm	Sessions 6:      4th Grade: Walkabout      5th Grade: Troop Visitation Game
5:00 pm	Flag lowering ceremony
5:20-6:40pm	Dinner in campsites and troop visitation (sunset ~6:20 pm)
7:00 pm	Campfire and Arrow of Light ceremony*
10:30 pm	Lights out
Sunday
7:00 am	Reveille, breakfast and cleanup
10:00 am	Interfaith worship service and closing flag ceremony. Check out immediately following flag ceremony. Camp must be cleared by 11:00 am.
11:00 am	Camp closed and gates locked

 

All participants are to carry a water bottle at all times.  Encourage Scouts to stay hydrated.

*The Arrow of Light Ceremony will be directly after the campfire presentation. Everyone is encouraged to attend. If you choose to return to your campsite, please remain quiet in respect for those in the ceremony. Sound carries easily in the evening. Extinguish fires, turn off all lights, and remain silent.  

Cracker Barrel

A cracker barrel is an evening snack and time for fellowship with other Scouters and youth leaders. The term cracker barrel is most thought to come from the time when people would shop at their local general store and gather around the cracker barrel to sit and visit with others in the community, much like the modern-day water cooler. On campouts, many troops have a Friday night cracker barrel with the leaders and youth leadership to review the weekend schedule. Sometimes food is served and is typically kept simple, such as cheese and crackers, summer sausage, chips or cookies.

A cracker barrel will be held on Friday night at 9:30 pm for pack and troop leaders. Please bring a cup and pen.

 

What to Bring

Uniforms

Scouts should wear their field uniform (Scout uniform) to assemblies, flag ceremonies, and the campfire. During the program periods, an activity uniform (pack/den or Scouting t-shirt and Scout shorts and belt) is ideal.

Train

There is a train that passes near Camp Brosig several times during the night. It is required by law to blow its whistle at every grade crossing (intersection with a road). Foam earplugs are recommended for light sleepers and tend to dampen the intensity of the whistle, potentially permitting the wearer a more restful night. 

Winter Camping Tips

Program

There are separate tracks for Webelos and Arrow of Light dens. Many of the activity sessions will cover rank advancement requirements, while others include adventures that Scouts enjoy or skills that introduce them to Scouts BSA. For activities where advancement requirements are completed, Trail to Eagle instructors will not sign off. The responsibility and authority for this rests solely with the den leader.

All Scouts will participate in activities with the den in which they are registered. No individual Scout may wander around the area. During program sessions, all Scouts shall remain with their den in their assigned session. Dens will move together from one session to the next. Event markers will be posted at each site.

Arrow of Light Ceremonies

The highest award in Cub Scouts is the Arrow of Light rank. The award goes to Cub Scouts who have completed this rank and prepares them to join Scouts BSA. The award is significant in the Scouting experience – so significant it is one of the only Cub Scout badges that can be worn on the Scouts BSA uniform. The Arrow of Light ceremony is the pinnacle of a Cub Scout’s experience.

An Arrow of Light ceremony will be held Saturday evening following the campfire. Pre-registration is required for any Scout who wants to participate in the Arrow of Light ceremony. There is a fee to participate to cover the cost of the arrow that will be provided to each Scout as part of the ceremony. Scouts should wear their field uniform. It is the responsibility of the den leader to verify that the requirements have been met.

 

Camp Site Expectations

Sample Duty Roster

The duty roster is a blueprint for shared responsibility. In preparation for the main event, during breakout group sessions, buddies are assigned to various tasks to assure their patrol’s smooth running and organization for mealtimes. Everyone has a job to do. For weekend camps, assignments are changed after each meal.

Interfaith Worship Service

The Scout Law teaches, "A Scout is reverent. A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others.” It is important that Scouts be taught to recognize the beliefs of other Scouts and to respect those beliefs. There will be an interfaith worship service on Sunday morning. All Scouts and Scouters should plan on attending this service. Field uniform should be worn. 

An interfaith service will be conducted for all participants on Sunday morning. An interfaith service is a brief worship or meditation, specifically designed for Scouting events where there may be members of more than one faith group. The intention of an interfaith service is to provide a spiritual focus during a camping experience that does not reflect the views of a particular denomination or faith. An interfaith service can be defined as a gathering of Scouts held to contribute to the development of their spirituality and to promote a fuller understanding of the Scout Oath and Law, with emphasis on one’s Duty to God.

Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines

These guidelines cover both Scouts BSA troops and Cub Scout packs.

Den Leader Meeting

The den leader or designated representative must attend a den leader's meeting on Friday evening  9:30 pm at the event headquarters in the pavilion. Questions about check-in materials received or the schedule of activities can be resolved at this time. Any additional information on activities will also be presented at this meeting.

Membership

Scouts must be registered with the Boy Scouts of America. There is no program for siblings.  

Leadership

All units must ensure sufficient leadership and comply with the BSA supervision requirements. Scouts will be under the supervision of the den leader and other adults in attendance at all times. The welfare of all Scouts is the joint responsibility of the den leader and the accompanying adults.

Medical Forms

BSA Annual Health and Medical Form Parts A & B (for All Scouting Events) must be completed and signed for each and every person in attendance and be presented at the registration desk and kept on hand for the duration of the event.

About Camp Brosig 

Camp Brosig is a 92-acre property, located six miles north of Sealy, TX, in Austin County with 20 campsites. Camp Brosig is located at 1893 Trenckman Road, Sealy, TX 77474.

Directions: Take Interstate 10, traveling West from Houston to Sealy, TX, Exit at State Highway 36. From the traffic light on Highway 36 where you exit from I-10, turn left (North) and go 5.1 miles until you pass the intersection with Farm Road 331. Another 0.6 miles past 331 is Trenckmann (a blacktop road to the left _ West). The road is difficult to see at night. Go 1.6 miles on Trenckmann Road to Camp Brosig gate on the left (south). Turn in and drive to the top of the hill. (The road is also identified as 1893 Trenchman Rd on some maps). Total time for the drive from Houston is approximately one to one and a half hours.

Camp Brosig Leader's Guide       Maps       Google Map

 

Parking

All parking will be in designated parking lots. Scouts in troops and other volunteers will be assisting with parking. Please follow their directions. Their goal is to get the vehicles parked as safely and quickly as possible. BSA policy forbids anyone to ride in the back of a pickup truck or in a trailer. Vehicles should be unloaded and moved to the parking lot as soon as practical to allow others access to the campsite roads. Do not set up campsite tents or gear until the vehicle has been taken to the parking lot. The camp speed limit is 10 mph.

Campsites

Final campsite locations will be given to the den leader at check-In. Campsite assignments will not be granted until the names and medical forms of all Scouts and adults attending have been verified. Campsites will be identified by pack number. Multiple dens within a pack must agree amongst themselves how to share the available space. Den number or name should identify each den area where possible. No adult shall sleep in a tent with any youth other than his or her own child. 

Campfires

In the absence of a  fire ban, wood-fueled campfires can be built in the campsites, but should only be built in camp-supplied fire pits. Ground fires are not allowed! Fires shall be attended at all times and shall be extinguished before departing the campsite for events or retiring to tents. You will need to bring your own firewood, there is none available at the camp. Campsite fire rings are not designed for large bonfires. Please keep the fire contained and flames less than two feet above the ground. No liquid charcoal fluid or liquid fuel is allowed per Sam Houston Area Council policy.

Cooking Fires

Cooking fires built of charcoal should be placed in existing cleared areas if possible. No holes should be dug for fires. Metal garbage can lids, barrel bottoms, or the camp - supplied fire pits should be used to contain the charcoal fires. No cooking on ground.

Knives and Axes

Knives may not be carried by Scouts during the event, even though they may have earned their Whittlin' Chip. As there will be little room for a proper ax yard in the pack/den campsites, Axes should not be used except in the Scouts BSA camping area in an appropriately designated area. Axes may be used only by adults and Scouts in troops who have earned their Totin' Chips. Scouts may use knives for meal preparation or similar activities under adult supervision.

Pack/Den Spirit

Each pack/den should have a pack/den yell and the pack/den is welcome to demonstrate it during the events portion of Saturday and at closing campfire. 

Insects and Poisonous Plants

As always, be prepared to defend yourselves against mosquitoes, chiggers, and ticks. You should also come prepared to treat fire ant bites and poison ivy. Venomous snakes may be underbrush, in the tall grass or around firewood. Use caution when reaching or passing these areas.

Weather

All dens must be fully prepared for the weather conditions typical for this time of the year. Either rain or shine, hot or cold, is sure to bring enough clothing to be as comfortable as possible during the weekend. If severe weather occurs during the event, three blasts on an air horn will indicate that one adult leader from each pack should meet at the pavilion for instructions. In some cases, some or all of the activities may be suspended for safety reasons during periods of severe weather.

Leave No Trace

Instilling values in young people and preparing them to make moral and ethical choices throughout their lifetime is the mission of the Boy Scouts of America. Leave No Trace helps reinforce that mission, and reminds us to respect the rights of other users of the outdoors as well as future generations. Appreciation for our natural environment and a knowledge of the interrelationships of nature bolster our respect and reverence toward the environment and nature. Leave No Trace is an awareness and an attitude rather than a set of rules. It applies in your backyard or local park as much as in the backcountry. We should all practice Leave No Trace in our thinking and actions–wherever we go.

The principles of Leave No Trace might seem unimportant until you consider the combined effects of millions of outdoor visitors. One poorly located campsite or campfire may have little significance, but thousands of such instances seriously degrade the outdoor experience for all. Leaving no trace is everyone’s responsibility. All participants are asked to follow the seven principles of Leave No Trace. 

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly (Pack It In, Pack It Out)
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Meal Suggestions 

Meals on Friday night should be simple to prepare or should be prepared in advance and brought from home. The Saturday morning meal should be suitable to get the Scouts through a long and tiring day. Saturday lunch is an opportunity to work on the Cast Iron Chef Adventure. Saturday evening's meal will be a good opportunity for the Scouts to display their expertise with some type of silver turtle or other meal prepared as a team. Sunday morning breakfast should be a non-cooking continental breakfast. Do not wash dishes in the latrine sinks as grease and debris will clog the drain lines.

Checkout

Final checkout of all dens must be completed by 10:00 am on Sunday before the interfaith worship service. Units departing Saturday evening need to check out with the event director prior to sunset on Saturday.

Photographs

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 council and district has the right to reproduce your likeness in videography/photography for promotion (e.g., publications, internet, newspaper).

Scouting Safely

The 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