Alamo Area Council

 
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Alamo Area Council

Eclipse is happening April 8th!

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Do you have the special glasses so you can see the eclipse without hurting your eyes?! You can purchase them from the council office! ONLY $1.50/piece

Order them online and pick up at the council office

These glasses are both ISO and CE certified safe for direct solar viewing anytime.

Click here to buy the glasses!

ALSO!!!

Get ready for the awe-inspiring April Solar Eclipse at the scenic Bear Creek Scout Camp! Imagine a weekend campout under the stars, with the chance to witness this celestial spectacle from the comfort of our captivating location. Don’t miss out on this exclusive weekend-only camping opportunity. While other places in the hill country are filling up fast, and traffic chaos looms, why not opt for the tranquility of Bear Creek? Get set for an unforgettable experience without the stress.

 

Click here for more info about view the Eclipse with us!

APR: Backpacking the Back Country at Bear Creek Scout Camp!

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The Bear Creek Adventure (BCA) is a weekend at Bear Creek Scout Camp in preparation for a Philmont Experience, but it is not limited to Philmont Bound participants.

Any Scout, Venturer or adult leader is invited to attend this backpacking experience through parts of Bear Creek that most do not get to see.

You start your adventure on Friday night with a cracker barrel and fellowship and conclude on Sunday morning with a hike in from the outpost.

The cost is $30.00 per person and this covers your cracker barrel, Saturday night dessert and a patch.

Come learn and experience the adventure of backpacking ethics in the backcountry at Bear Creek.

For more information contact highadventure@alamoareabsa.org

To sign up for this event– click here or go to the SCOUTSPLOSION! event on the website.

BSA’s SAFE Checklist for Units

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Scouts and their parents expect all Boy Scouts of America activities to be conducted safely. To ensure the safety of participants, the Boy Scouts of America expects leaders to use the four points of SAFE when delivering the Scouting program.

 

SUPERVISION

  • Accepting responsibility for the well-being and safety of youth under their care.
  • Ensuring that adults are adequately trained, experienced, and skilled to lead the activity, including the ability to prevent and respond to likely problems and
    potential emergencies.
  • Knowing and delivering the program of the Boy Scouts of America with integrity.
  • Using qualified instructors, guides, or safety personnel as needed to provide additional guidance.
  • Maintaining engagement with participants during activities to ensure compliance with established rules and procedures.

 

  • Predetermining what guidance and standards are typically applied to the activity, including those specific to the Boy Scouts of America program.
  • Planning for safe travel to and from the activity site.
  • Validating the activity is age appropriate for the Boy Scouts of America program level.
  • Determining whether the unit has sufficient training, resources, and experience to meet the identified standards, and if not, modifying the activity accordingly.
  • Developing contingency plans for changes in weather and environment and arranging for communication with participants, parents, and emergency services.
  • Confirming the activity is right for the age, maturity, and physical abilities of participants.
  • Considering as risk factors temporary or chronic health conditions of participants.
  • Validating minimum skill requirements identified during planning and ensuring participants stay within the limits of their abilities.
  • Providing training to participants with limited skills and assessing their skills before they attempt more advanced skills.

 

EQUIPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT

Safe and appropriately sized equipment, courses, camps, campsites, trails, or playing fields are used properly. Leaders periodically check gear use and the environment for changing conditions that could affect safety.

Confirming participants’ clothing is appropriate for expected temperatures, sun exposure, weather events, and terrain.
Providing equipment that is appropriately sized for participants, is in good repair, and is used properly.
Ensuring personal and group safety equipment is available, properly fitted, and used consistently and in accordance with training.
Reviewing the activity area for suitability during planning and immediately before use, and monitoring the area during the activity through supervision.
Adjusting the activity for changing conditions or ending it if safety cannot be maintained.

Download a copy of this form for your Leader Resourses

 

A Must Know for Leaders – Guide for Safe Scouting Effective September 1, 2023

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What is the Guide to Safe Scouting?

Guide to Safe Scouting is, is the BSA’s resource for leaders that contains policies and guidelines for Scouting activities created to keep the youth in the program safe. Find this document at https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/safety-moments/gss/. It is important to only use the online version to get the most current version of the resource. 

Updated Guidelines, Effective September 1, 2023

Two registered adult leaders 21 years of age or over are required at all Scouting activities, including all meetings. 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 or female adult program participants.   

Notwithstanding the minimum leader requirements, age and program-appropriate supervision must always be provided.   

All adults staying overnight in connection with a Scouting activity must be currently registered in an adult fee required position as listed or as an adult program participant. Limited exception below for Cub Scout overnight Programs.    

See FAQ for list of adult fee-required positions.  Registration as a Merit Badge Counselor does not meet this requirement.  

Cub Scout Programs – Overnight Exception: Cub Scout parents or legal guardians taking part in an overnight Cub Scout program with their own child or legal ward are not required to register as leaders. All adults must review the “How to Protect your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide” that can be found in the front of each Cub Scout Handbook. In addition, the parent or legal guardian must be accompanied by a registered leader at any time they are with youth members other than their own child/ward.  All other overnight adults must be currently registered in an adult fee-required position.  

How to Become a Registered Adult Leader in the Alamo Area Council

The BSA is open to all who meet the requirements, and leaders are selected based on individual merit. Adult leaders must possess the moral, educational, and emotional qualities that the BSA deems necessary for positive leadership to youth. Before submitting their completed application packet to their unit leadership, adult applicants must also: 

  • Abide by the Scout Oath, Scout Law, and Scouter Code of Conduct. The Scouter Code of Conduct can be found at www.scouting.org/health-andsafety/gss/bsa-scouter-code-of-conduct/ 
  • Subscribe to the precepts of the Declaration of Religious Principle. 
  • Reside within the USA or a U.S. territory, or be a U.S. citizen residing outside the USA. 
  • Be 21 years of age or older for primary leadership positions. 
  • Be 18 years of age or older for assistant leadership positions. 
  • Complete online Youth Protection training (YPT) and Leader Specific Training by going to my.scouting.org and creating an account. 
  • Completed application.

Your completed application packet to your unit leaders for further processing. Items must include:

    • Completed adult application: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/524-501.pdf
    • Completed and signed Background Check Authorization form. 
    • A printed copy of your Youth Protection Training certificate.
    • A printed copy of your position-specific training certificate. 
    • Registration fees.
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