February 2020
Camporee is a weekend campout designed to give new Scouts in troops as well as seasoned Scouts an opportunity to experience the traditional values of scouting as well as enjoy a challenge. Patrols compete in various competitions all based on Leave No Trace principles and are judged on leadership, teamwork, skill demonstration and Scout spirit. They will complete the Leave No Trace 101 course.
The evening program on Saturday will be a callout for Scouts elected into the Order of the Arrow, as well as a Brotherhood ceremony for those Brotherhood eligible Arrowmen.
Every troop must send a representative to the January roundtable to help plan the camporee. Every troop needs run a part of the camporee (e.g., competition, facilities). This year’s camporee promises to challenge the youth leadership, as well as stretching everyone else’s comfort zones. These events cannot happen without each Scout’s competitive spirit and participation.
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Registration | What to Bring | General Information | Schedule | Onsite Check-in/out | Camping | Contacts
Registration
Registration is completed by the troop leadership. The registration fee is $15 per participant (adult and youth) and covers camping fees, insurance, event supplies, burger burn and a patch. This event is for Scouts in troops. Payment can only be made online with credit card, electronic check or PayPal. Registration closes January 18, 2019. There is no onsite registration. Council refund policy.
Registration opens in December.
What to Bring
Personal (check with Scoutmaster):
- Field uniform (Scout uniform) and belt
- Clothing appropriate for weather
- Activity uniform (Scout t-shirt)
- Shoes (closed toe) or hiking boots
- Pajamas or sleeping clothes
(wool, polypropylene or polyester, never cotton!)
- Rain gear (pants and jacket)
- Winter coat
- 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
Optional
- Thermal underwear (pants and shirt, if cold (synthetic, polyester, nylon, polypropylene or rayon, not cotton)
- Portable chair or camp stool
- Nontoxic, noncombustible, environmentally friendly hand warmers
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Patrol:
- 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
- Items for campsite inspection
Troop
- BSA Annual Health and Medical Record (part A&B for all Scouting events) for every participant (due at check-in)
- Roster (due Friday at the leaders meeting)
- Firewood, rakes and fire buckets; buckets and shovel to remove unused firewood
- List of Scouts elected into the Order of the Arrow
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Don’t Bring:
- Alcholol
- 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
*Electricity is very limited.
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Mark all items with name and troop number.
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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.
General Information
Membership
All participants must be registered members of the Boys Scouts of America.
Patrols
Troops will divide their Scouts into patrols with a minimum of six Scouts up to a maximum of 12 Scouts per patrol.
Leadership
The senior patrol leader is in charge of and responsible for the conduct of the troop at all times during camporee.
All units must ensure sufficient leadership and comply with the BSA supervision requirements. Two registered adult leaders 21 years of age or over are required. There must be a registered female adult leader 21 years of age or over in every unit serving females. A registered female adult leader 21 years of age or over must be present for any activity involving female youth. Notwithstanding the minimum leader requirements, age- and program-appropriate supervision must always be provided.
Location
The camporee will be held at the Camp Mauritz located near Ganado, TX. From Sugar Land, take Hwy 59 south heading towards Victoria. Exit in Ganado on FM 710 heading west. Travel approximate a mile to County Road 258. Turn left, and proceed about a mile to County Road 256. Turn right until reaching the entrance to Camp Mauritz on the right. Enter the camp and follow the dirt road to the parking lot. There will be a staff member directing you to the parking lot.
Alcohol and Tobacco
Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at Scouting functions. The use of any tobacco product is discouraged at any time at a BSA event
Weather
Everyone must be fully prepared for variable weather conditions at this time of the year. Temperature ranges over the weekends could be quite cold to quite warm. Scouts are encouraged to bring necessary clothing to be as comfortable as possible at both of these extremes.
Reminder: effective April 30, 2018, new direct contact leaders must have completed Hazardous Weather Training to be considered position trained. Hazardous Weather Training can be taken at www.myscouting.org.
First Aid
The first aid station will be located in the training center building and marked with a red cross sign and is available 24 hours per day. Please be sure to advise your patrol members of its location, which will be announced at the Friday evening leaders meeting. Volunteers are needed to staff the first aid station.
Equipment Drop-off / Parking
Each troop will be allowed to drop off troop equipment at the troop campsite. Please make every effort to unload completely prior to setting up your camp. Due to safety concerns, all vehicles must remain in the designated parking area until Sunday morning. Please Do Not drive to or park in your campsite. There will be no vehicles allowed on the activity areas. Please drive slowly through the camp.
Restrooms
Portable toilets will be available in the field adjacent to the main parking lot. Flushing toilets and showers are located on the west side of the main parking lot. No trash is to be disposed of in these facilities. It is recommended that each troop bring toilet paper, just in case. Please consider others and keep them clean. A Scout is clean.
Help / Questions During the Event
If help is needed, the camporee committee and staff will help as much as possible. Ask for help at any time to solve misunderstandings. All camporee staff will wear a distinctive shirt for easy identification.
Typical Schedule
Friday
|
|
| 12:00 pm |
Key staff set-up |
| 6:30 pm |
Troops arrive, check-in, campsite set-up (evening on own) |
| 9:30 pm |
Leaders Meeting (Scoutmasters/SPLs/staff) at dining hall |
| 10:30 pm |
Lights out |
Saturday
|
|
| 6:30 am |
Reveille |
| 7:00 am |
Breakfast and clean-up in the campsite |
| 8:15 am |
Opening flag ceremony and announcements at flagpole) |
| 8:45 am |
Move to program areas (take sack lunches) |
| 9:00 am |
Program activities: begin at designated station and rotate) |
| |
Lunch during rotation |
| 1:00 pm |
Free time at activity field (volunteers needed to monitor/assist) |
| 5:00 pm |
Flag ceremony |
| 5:30 pm |
Burger burn at the dining hall (bring water bottle) and campfire with troop skits |
| 6:00 pm |
Campfire at the program area |
| 7:00 pm |
OA Call-out ceremony and Brotherhood Ceremony |
| 10:30 pm |
Lights out and staff meeting at first aid building |
Sunday
|
|
| 6:30 am |
Reveille |
| 8:00 am |
Closing ceremonies (awards and interfaith worship service) |
| 9:00 am |
Break camp and checkout |
| 11:00 am |
Staff clean-up and departure |
Onsite Check-in / Check-out
Check-in
Check-in will begin at 6:30 pm Friday. Upon arrival, directions to campsites will be given. BSA Annual Health and Medical Record for all participants must be submitted to the registration staff. Inform the registration staff of any Scouts or Scouters who have special needs.
Check-out
When the troop is ready to leave on Sunday morning, send a representative to the headquarters, a staff member will then visit the campsite for inspection. After passing inspection, troop leaders will be given event patches and medical forms will be returned.
Saturday night check-out
Any unit checking out on Saturday must make prior arrangements with the event chair. This will ensure that a proper campsite inspection takes place before the unit’s departure.
Medical Forms
The unit leader must have BSA Annual Health and Medical Record (Part A & B) for each Scout and Scouter participating in a binder. The binder will be turned in to the health and safety Officer at check-in. All forms must be completed and signed by the parent or legal guardian.
Camping
Campsites
Each troop will be assigned a campsite adequate for the number of Scouts indicated during registration. A large number of last minute additions may result in overcrowding of campsites so please have an accurate count for registration. Be reminded to have a first aid kit, trash bags, patrol duty roster, and meal planner visible in the campsite.
Cooking
Each patrol should cooking using the patrol method and must furnish its own food and cooking supplies except for the meal provided on Saturday evening. Units should plan on preparing sack lunches for Saturday. Scouts will not be returning to camp during the lunch period.
Garbage
All participants should follow Leave No Trace practices. Units must take all trashed and unburned firewood. Carry in – Carry Out.
Campsite Inspection
Each campsite will be inspected Saturday afternoon. Participants should demonstrate the patrol method and use BSA’s low impact camping guidelines. Campsite inspectors will be looking for the items listed above in the above campsite section.
Fire Safety
Fires will be allowed, provided each unit abides by the following rules:
- Keep fires in the fire rings provided in each site.
- Leave No Trace of fire
- Bring a shovel, rake, and fire buckets
- Never leave a fire unattended
Water
Potable water is available in each campsite. All troops should bring their own containers for water in their campsites as needed.
Conduct
Scout should not enter the camping area of another troop without permission. Defacing, destroying, or trashing of the property of others or the property of BSA is strictly forbidden. Scouts are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that will bring credit to their unit and the BSA.
Interfaith Service
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 (formerly known as a Scouts’ Own) 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.
Uniforms
Full field uniform should be during all flag ceremonies, worship service, the Order of the Arrow ceremony on Saturday evening, and during general assembly Sunday morning.
Leaders Meeting
All senior patrol leaders and Scoutmasters (or their designee) from each troop should attend the leaders meeting on Friday night at 10:15 pm at headquarters for final instructions and schedules. Please bring a chair and be prepared to take notes.
Disabilities
Scouts with a physical disability are encouraged to participate in all camporee activities. Patrols will not be penalized for a Scout’s inability to complete a challenge due to disability.
Cancellation
Camporee will happen rain or shine unless there is going to be dangerous weather. Be prepared for all types of weather and conditions. Camporee will not have a rain date. Late-breaking information will be emailed to all leaders who registered.
Scout Spirit
Patrol flags, patrol yells, a great team dynamic, and good sportsmanship will all come into play towards Scout spirit!
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).
Late-Breaking Information
For late-breaking news and announcements, sign up for our district texting service and e-mail list.
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
Contacts