Phoenix District Trail to Troop

October TBD, 2024

Tellepsen Scout Camp
3450 County Road 317
Navasota, TX 77868 

Trail to Troop is a campout designed to introduce Webelos Scouts (4^th and 5^th grade) to the many outdoor adventures of Scouting. This awesome weekend event includes patrol-method camping and Scouting activities.

Scouts will have an opportunity to:

• Work with troops in a number of skills, activities, and games.
• Experience a campfire program and interfaith worship service
• Have fun and get a taste of camping with troops.

On Saturday morning, dens, and parents participate in a round-robin rotation of short troop visits. Scout families will meet with troop leadership to learn about annual programming, meetings, organization, and some of the troop's latest adventures.

On Saturday afternoon, Scouts and parents will be able to participate in games, crafts, shooting ranges, activities, and more. Those with more questions for troops will have a chance to continue visiting and asking questions to get to know their preferred troops better. The activities will come to an end with team competitions with teams consisting of Scouts from both levels of Scouting.

The evening will conclude with an entertaining campfire program and evening activities. After the campfire, the Scouts and their parent/guardian are encouraged to camp overnight with Phoenix District troops. Dens are encouraged to camp with a troop to get to know them better.

Learn more about the Webelos-to-Scouts BSA transition and information to help assist Scouts as they make the important decision on which troop to join and questions to ask troops at shacbsa.org/webelos. Find area troops at shacbsa.org/join-troop.

Registration

Registration is a two-step process. Registration is typically completed by the den leader or unit leadership. 

Part 1: RSVP:  Every unit needs to RSVP by the July roundtable to let the event staff know if you are attending. Estimated numbers are provided to the council so the district can reserve the appropriate number of campsites and program areas for the event.

Part 1: RSVP

Part 2: Payment: 

Pre-registered Scouts will receive an event patch. Registration includes activity supplies. Registration can be completed by a parent/guardian, den leader, or unit leader.

• Den Registration: $10 for the Scout and one parent and $5 for each additional parent
• Late registration for Dens is $15 and begins 10/6/2023. There is no onsite registration;
• Payment must be completed before arriving. Registration closes on 10/13/23.
• Troops: $50 per troop. Register by 10/6/2023
• Siblings: a program is not available for siblings

Step 2: Registration and Payment  Printable View 

Arrival

Webelos Scouts and their families arrive between 7:00 am and 8:30 am on Saturday morning (the earlier, the better). Webelos Scouts and their families who are interested in camping Friday night are encouraged to reach out to their den leader or unit leader to be connected with your preferred troop. Webelos Scouts and their families who plan to camp Saturday night should also communicate with the Webelos Woods event chair to coordinate with troop campsites and meals.

What to Bring

Note: Scouts are not allowed to sleep in a tent with an adult who is not their parent/legal guardian. Please be aware that temperatures during late September can be quite varied. Plan for the worst and hope for the best!  Canopies, umbrellas, and hats are suggested. Have extra clothing on hand, especially socks.

Meals

Units provide their own meals. Scouts and their families are asked to coordinate with a troop for lunch or bring a non-perishable sack lunch for Saturday afternoon. Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast should be coordinated with troops.

Tentative Schedule

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).

Late-Breaking Information

For late-breaking news and announcements, sign up for our district e-mail list. Webelos Woods is typically held rain or shine unless there is going to be dangerous weather.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do we arrive?

Webelos Scouts and their parent may arrive with the pack or travel separately and arrive anytime between 7:00 am, and 8:30 am. You may arrive on Friday by 7 pm.  You will be setting up camp and having a chance to visit troops when you arrive, so the earlier, the better.

When do you pay?

Payment is done online at www.phoenix.shacbsa.org/webelos-woods.

Does a parent have to accompany a Webelos Scout?

Yes,

In special circumstances, a Cub Scout whose parent or legal guardian is not able to attend an overnight camping trip may participate under the supervision of another registered adult member of the BSA who is a parent of a Cub Scout who is also attending. The unit leader and a parent or legal guardian must agree to the arrangement, and all Youth Protection policies apply. At no time may another adult accept responsibility for more than one additional “nonfamily member” youth.

Overnight activities involving more than one pack must be approved by the council. Council-organized family camps must be conducted in accordance with established standards as given in National Standards for Council-Organized Family Camping, No. 13-408.

However, an adult may not sleep in a tent with any youth other than their own child. No leader should be asked to supervise more than their own Scout plus one. 

Do Webelos Scouts need to be invited to attend by a troop?

No, all 4^th and 5^th grade Webelos Scouts and a parent/guardian are welcome, no invitation is needed.

Will Webelos Woods be canceled because of rain?

This event is not canceled because of rain. Expect the event to be held unless there are dangerous conditions predicted.  Be ready to camp (with your equipment) regardless of weather reports and be prepared for all weather conditions. All registered leaders will receive an email if the event is canceled.

Do I need to bring my own tent?

Yes, all campsites are primitive with water only.  Troops are a good source for tents if you need to borrow one for the weekend.

Can I bring a big tent?

We recommended tents for four or fewer people.  Large tents fill up a campsite very quickly.

What do parents/guardians do during this event?

Parents/guardians are welcome to quietly view any of the classes.  Parents/guardians will have the opportunity to learn about Scouting as well as talking with the volunteers who work with various Scouting activities.  

What are some winter camping tips?

Participants are expected to come to camp prepared for variable weather. Although temperatures average between 40 to 60 degrees during winter camp, temperatures have been known to dip as low as 19 degrees and rise as high as 80 degrees.

Sources - Scouting Magazine: Winter camping tips and tricks to help you enjoy the fourth season, Eight essentials for staying warm while cold-weather camping, Outdoor Smarts: How to Keep Warm in Camping's Fourth Season; Boys' Life: How to Stay Warm With the Right Winter Gear

Dressing for the cold. When dressing for cold weather, focus on a layering system including the three Ws: wicking, warmth and wind. Your base layer should be wicking (like an athletic shirt), an insulating layer should be warming (like fleece or wool) and an exterior layer should block the wind. Use clothing you have, focusing on the right combination of fabrics.

Wicking Layer or Base. Also commonly known as long underwear, the base layer is worn closest to your skin. Its main job is to wick away sweat and moisture so your skin stays dry. Wear it relatively tight to the skin and use only wool or synthetic base layers. Never use cotton because it will not keep you warm once it’s wet, whether from sweat or precipitation. These base layers come in various weights, from heavy for frigid conditions to lightweight for warmer temps and activities that cause a lot of sweating, such as strenuous hiking and cross-country skiing. It’s a good idea to have one extra pair of base layers to change into every night at camp.

Warmth Layer or Insulation. The insulation layer is worn atop the base layer and is designed to provide the majority of your insulation. It should be made of fleece, wool, down or synthetic insulation and can be a pullover, zip-up jacket or vest, depending on how much insulation you need.

Windproofing Layer or Shell. The outermost layer, the shell jacket and pants protect you from wind and wet conditions. There are two types of shells: the hard shell is a lightweight layer that’s windproof and waterproof, capable of handling heavy rain and very wet conditions; a soft shell is made of a more flexible, soft-faced material that’s windproof yet highly breathable, and water-resistant enough to protect you against everything except a heavy downpour.

Mittens. Mittens are warmer than gloves. If insulated mittens get wet, they stay that way. Wool mitts worn inside leather or nylon shells are removable for faster drying. Wool gloves are needed for dexterity when cooking.

Sleeping. Be sure to change into dry clothes for sleeping — moisture retained in field clothes will cause chilling. For overnight warmth, wear wool, polypropylene or polyester (never cotton!) long johns, socks and a balaclava to bed. Place a scarf across your neck to seal drafts.

Sleeping bags. Two sleeping bags — one placed inside the other — should provide enough warmth down to about zero degrees. If you don’t have a closed-cell foam pad to use as a sleeping mat, try half-inch-thick foam carpet padding.

Ground cloth. In warmer months, a plastic ground cloth should be used inside your tent to stay dry. However, in winter, use the ground cloth beneath your tent to keep it from freezing to the ground.

Toes cold? Put on a hat. Your body loses up to half of its total heat in 40-degree temperatures. So, when it’s below freezing and your head is uncovered, you could be radiating more than three-fourths of your overall body heat from your head.

Baggy clothes are back in style at least in the freezing-cold wilderness. Your body heats itself most efficiently when it’s enveloped in a layer of warm air. If your clothes are too tight, you’re strangling the cold right out of your body. Dressing in loose layers helps aid this convection layer of air. Tight clothes or too-tight boots can also restrict blood-flow.

The three W’s. Every cold-weather camper needs to dress for the occasion. You’ll need a wicking layer (long underwear), a “warm” layer (fleece) and a “wind” layer (waterproof shell).

Stay hydrated. In winter, you may not be aware of how much you’re sweating. A gulp of ice-cold water is hardly appetizing, but it is important to keep drinking. Hot drinks and soup are a great way to replenish liquids, electrolytes, and heat. Keep extra tea bags on hand, as well as bouillon cubes, and hand out hot drinks liberally, especially at the end of the day when energy is low.

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

Contact

For more information, contact the event chair of district activities chair.