Membership

All participants must be registered members of the Boy Scouts of America.

Patrols

Troops will divide Scouts into patrols with a minimum of six 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.

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. 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. 

Check-in / Paperwork

Check-in will begin at 6:30 pm Friday.  Upon arrival, directions to campsites will be given. BSA Annual Health and Medical Records, and waiver for all participants must be submitted to the registration staff in addition to a troop roster.

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.

Inform the registration staff of any Scouts or Scouters who need any special accommodations.

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.

About Long Point Ranch

Long Point Ranch is located at 8200 FM 1994, Richmond, TX 77469 across from the Davis Estates Rd/WCA entrance. It is just down the road from Brazos Bend State Park on approximately 1,100 acres designated for charitable use activities and serves as headquarters for The James B Harrison Foundation benefiting the citizens of Fort Bend and Wharton Counties. The property is a venue for organizations involved in education and research for land and wildlife conservation, appreciation of nature, and sustainability. With a variety of wildlife habitats on our properties, including wetlands, flooded timber, ponds of varying depths, mature hardwood forests, and a rookery where one can find a variety of birds nesting throughout the day, nature walks and bird watching are popular activities. Camping and Eagle Scout projects are also welcome.

From Rosenberg

• Take HWY 36 S towards Needville. Turn left at FM 361 heading to Fairchilds. Continue on FM 361 approximately 7.1 miles until red-blinking lights and turn left onto FM 1994 (Whaley-Long Point Rd.). Take FM 1994 roughly ½ a mile and utilizing the middle turn lane, turn left at the double gate limestone drive. The drive (on left) is immediately before the WCA Landfill entrance on right.

From Richmond / Sugar Land / Houston

• Route 1 – Crabb River Road: Take HWY 59 S and exit at TX-99 / FM 2759 (Crabb River Rd.). Turn left onto FM 2759 and continue on FM 2759 (Crabb River Rd.) approximately 1.75 miles until light at FM 762. Continue straight through light and follow FM 762 roughly 8.8 miles (continue past the George Ranch and Brazos Bend State Park). After passing the sign for the left turn at FM 762 for Brazos Bend State Park, continue straight on FM 1994 3.2 miles and immediately after the left turn for the WCA Landfill entrance, turn right at the double gate limestone drive. Follow the drive in.
• Route 2 – FM 2977: From HW 59 take FM 762 towards Thompsons. Turn right on FM 2977 (Minonite Rd.) and continue on FM 2977 approximately 7.9 miles to the end where it T’s at FM 361. Turn left at FM 361 towards Fairchilds. Continue on FM 361 5.4 miles until you reach the red-blinking light and turn left onto FM 1994 (Whaley-Long Point Rd.). Take FM 1994 roughly ½ a mile and utilizing the middle turn lane, turn left at the double gate limestone drive. The drive (on left) is immediately before the WCA Landfill entrance on right.

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.

Water

Potable water is not available. All troops should bring their own water in containers for their campsites as needed. Non-potable water is available for washing.

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.

Fire Safety 

Fires will be allowed, provided each unit abides by the following rules:

1. Keep fires in the fire rings provided in each site.
2. Leave No Trace of fire
3. Bring a shovel, rake, and fire buckets
4. Never leave a fire unattended

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 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.

Uniform Inspection

All Scouts are expected to arrive in field uniform. There will be a uniform inspection at check-in. The uniform inspection will follow the standard BSA uniform guidelines.

Uniforms

Field uniforms should be at check-in during all flag ceremonies, interfaith worship service, the Order of the Arrow ceremony on Saturday evening, and during general assembly Sunday morning. Scouts should wear activity uniforms any other time. Costuming is encouraged but does not replace the uniform at check-in and flag ceremonies. Remember that no weapons, real, simulated, or otherwise will be permitted. Since this will be a friendly competition, leave your weapons at home.

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! 

Campfire

The campfire will be performed by the troop/patrols with staff supervision. Each patrol should prepare one skit/song for the Saturday evening campfire. Skits or songs involving audience participation are encouraged and points will be awarded for participating and count towards the final troop score. Extra points will be awarded if the skit/song is related to the theme.

Order of the Arrow (OA) Call-Out Ceremony

The Order of the Arrow is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America. Colonneh Lodge is the Sam Houston Area Council's Order of the Arrow Lodge. The Order of the Arrow (OA) recognizes Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. This recognition 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. Once each year, a troop, crew, or ship may hold a unit election to elect youth members to become members of the Order of the Arrow. 

Following the campfire, a traditional OA Call-Out ceremony will take place to recognize those youth and adults from troops, crews and ships in the district elected to the OA. 

• The OA chapter adviser has a list of elected candidates and during the day will seek to confirm they are at camp to be called out.
• Scoutmasters, crew advisers and Skippers should encourage candidates to attend camporee to be called out. Many unit leaders choose to let the candidates be surprised when their names are called.
• Once each year, a troop, crew or ship may hold an election to elect eligible youth members to become members of the Order of the Arrow. Adults (age 21 or older) who meet the camping requirements may be selected following nomination to and approval by the lodge adult selection committee. A special call-out ceremony is being held during the camporee for Order of the Arrow candidates. Candidates are not required to participate in a call-out ceremony but must complete an Ordeal within one year of their election, in order to become a member of Colonneh Lodge. If a candidate does not attend an Ordeal within one-year, then the candidate has to be re-elected by their unit.

Parent Visitation: Parents who wish to attend the call-out on Saturday evening must check-in with registration desk upon arrival to camp. They will be given a visitor sticker and this must be worn visibly during their time in camp. They must check out with registration desk prior to leaving. Parents are not permitted to leave camp with their child unless approval is made with troop leadership. The staff must know that Scout has permission to leave camp with a specified person.

Order of the Arrow (OA) Brotherhood Walk / Ceremony

The Order of the Arrow will have a Brotherhood Walk on Saturday evening. All Brotherhood-eligible Arrowmen are invited.

• Arrowmen must be current on lodge dues.
• After 10 months of service as an Ordeal member and after fulfilling certain requirements, a member may take part in the Brotherhood ceremony, which places further emphasis on the ideals of Scouting and the Order. Completion of this ceremony signifies full membership in the Order of the Arrow.  Brotherhood is an opportunity for members to evaluate their past service to Scouting (camping and unit involvement) and to their lodge, and to reaffirm their belief in the high purposes of the Order. There is no charge for the Brotherhood walk or ceremony.

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

The following areas will receive up to four points (4 Points = Complete, 3 Points = Mostly Complete, 2 Points = Half Complete, 1 Point = Mostly Incomplete, 0 Points = Incomplete.)

Staff can award up to 20 extra points.