Properties Service Projects Hub
The Alamo Area Council is blessed with incredible outdoor properties-Bear Creek Scout Camp, McGimsey Scout Park, and Mays Family Scout Ranch-that serve thousands of youth and families every year. Maintaining and improving these special places takes dedication, teamwork, and the generous spirit of volunteers like you. Whether you’re a Scout unit looking for a meaningful service opportunity, a skilled individual with trade experience, or an organization with equipment and manpower to lend, there’s a place for you in this effort. This page lists a variety of ongoing and upcoming service projects, categorized by skill level and need-from simple cleanups and painting to construction, repairs, and technical upgrades. We invite you to explore the opportunities below, find a project that fits your interest and abilities, and sign up to make a difference. Every hour of service helps ensure that our camps remain safe, beautiful, and ready to inspire future generations of Scouts. Together, we can build stronger camps-and stronger Scouts.
Why Your Help Makes a Difference
Every year, Scouts and volunteers donate thousands of hours improving our beloved camp properties. Whether it’s trail maintenance, conservation efforts, or construction, your service ensures a better experience for all.
Our Camp Properties
Bear Creek Scout Reservation
1,000+ acres in the Texas Hill Country. Ideal for large-scale conservation and trail work.
| Task | Location | Tools / Equipement | Materials | # of volunteers | description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clean / Organize | Multiple | Gloves / hand tools | NA | Any | reference cleaning tab |
| Tree / Brush clearing | Multiple | Saws / loppers / Gloves | NA | Any | reference Sawyers tab |
| Paint | Multiple | Sprayer / hand tools | Paint | Any | reference paint tab |
| Pressure Wash | Multiple | Pressure washers | 2+ | reference pressure washing tab | |
| Trail work | Multiple | hand tools | rock | Any | reference trail tab |
| Picnic tables | Multiple | hand tools | lumber, fasteners | Any | repair picnic tables |
| Tent platforms | Multiple | hand tools | lumber, fasteners | 4+ | repair tent platforms, remove if platform is beyond reasonable repair |
| Repair Pavillions | Campsite | hand tools | hardi, lumber, fasteners | 2+ | replace fascia with hardi board, repair railings and trim as needed |
| Build steps | Campsite | hand tools | stone, mortar, rebar | 2+ | build stone steps at any pavillion egress greater than 10" height |
| Siding & trim repair | Maintenance | Demo / hand tools | Siding, trim, fasteners | 3+ | replace or repair loose / damaged siding panels (T111?) replace damaged trim, caulk and seal |
| Fascia repair | Maintenance | Demo / hand tools | Hardi, fasteners | 3+ | remove wood fascia, repair damaged rafter tails, install hardi fascia |
| Repair Lighting | Maintenance | hand tools | Light fixtures, wire nuts | 1+ | Replace ballasts, install new fixtures. will require troubleshooting |
| Remodel office | Maintenance | Demo / hand tools | TBD | 2+ | Demo interior, insulate, install ceiling, install wall treatment, install AC |
| Rebuild equipment shed | Maintenance | Demo / welding | 4+ | demo roof structure, transport trusses from old donkey barn, install trusses and perlin, install roofing, install wall | |
| Address drainage | Maintenance | breaker / cutter | Drain pipe | 2+ | rock saw length of maintenance building. install drain pipe in sock |
| Service roll up windows | Maintenance | Gloves / Hand tools | N/A | 2+ | Service the hinges, springs, and tracks |
| Replace doors | Maintenance | hand tools | Double exterior, Single Exterior, Single interior | 2+ | Replace the double doors in the shop, replace the rangers office doors |
| Air conditioning | Maintenance | hand tools | Mini-split AC unit | install air conditinoing in the office | |
| Tent Party | Maintenance | hand tools | iron-on patches, needle and thread, sealant | Any | wash and repair all tents, tents beyond repair to be processed out. |
| Remodel Bathroom | Maintenance | Demo / hand tools | Insulation, drywall, toilet, sink, plumbing, electrical | 2+ | Demo and rebuild bathroom, consider adding shower / changing area |
| replace fascia / trim | Rangers | hand tools | hardi, fasteners | 2+ | replace fascia and trim |
| replace screens | Rangers | hand tools | screen | 1+ | replace screen on porch and windows |
| Repair trim and fascia | HQ Bathroom | Hand tools | Hardi board, fasteners | 2+ | replace damaged trim |
| Install ADA bars & rails | HQ Bathroom | hand tools | Grab bars, hardware | 1+ | Install ADA hand bars as required. |
| Install hand rail | HQ Bathroom | Welder / hand tools | stock metal | 1+ | Build hand rail for stairs leading to check in cottage |
| Epoxy floors | HQ Bathroom | hand tools | epoxy | 2+ | grind and prep floor, install epoxy coating |
| Sidewalk | HQ Bathroom | hand tools | concrete | 3+ | install concrete walkway connecting stairs to front office |
| Repair railings and deck boards | Cottage | hand tools | lumber, fasteners | 2+ | replace damaged deck boards and railing |
| Relocate sewer line | Parking lot | TBD | TBD | 2+ | TBD, remove from parking lot |
| Masonry repairs | Parking lot | hand tools | mortar | 1+ | repair damaged sections of rock walls and curbs |
| Remove debris | Donkey Barn | hand tools, trailer | Any | remove remaining debris from area | |
| increase pole storage | Skills Area | hand tools | posts, rebar | 2+ | install an additional set of pole racks |
| rebuild outdoor kitchen | Skills Area | hand tools | lumber, hardware | 3+ | rebuild outdoor kitchen to better fit with surroundings |
| install outlet | Valley Bathhouse | hand tools | outlet, conduit, box | 1 | add plug in mechanical room for heater |
| Repair roll up doors | Eco Pavillion | hand tools | none | 1+ | service and repair roll up doors. |
| Repair drop ceiling | Eco Pavillion | hand tools | ceiling tiles | 2+ | remove and replace damaged ceiling tiles throughout first floor |
| Replace lighting | Eco Pavillion | hand tools | NA | 1+ | |
| Remove Insulation | Eco Pavillion | hand tools | 1+ | Remove damaged insulation from eaves | |
| Replace outlet | Eco Pavillion | hand tools | GFCI, cover plate | 1 | Replace outlet and cover plate in environmental lab |
| Build new aviary | Ecology Area | Welder, hand tools | steel, wire mesh, fasteners | 3+ | replace existing aviary with new structure |
| build new habitat | Ecology Area | welder, hand tools | steel, wire mesh, fasteners | 3+ | replace existing habitat enclosure with new structure |
| Build pump cover | Water slide | hand tools | misc | 1+ | build cover for pump and motor assembly, route and mount connections |
| Relocate canoe racks | Boat docks | concrete | 4+ | dig holes and set steel racks | |
| Repair floating dock | Boat docks | hand tools | boards | 2+ | remove floating dock, repair deck boards as needed |
| erosion control | Boat docks | heavy equipment | stone block, aggregate | 4+ | Continue block wall along hill side, spread and level additional aggregate |
| Replace ground wire | Boat docks | hand tools | #8 wire | 1 | Replace grounding wire from panel to rod |
| Masonry repairs | Goodman Ring | hand tools | mortar | 2+ | repair any damaged or missing masonry on pillars, walkway, and seating. |
| Lighting and power | Goodman Ring | hand tools | NA | 1+ | inspect and repair any issues with power in campfire ring |
| Repair store room | Handicraft | hand tools | drywall, screws, trim | 3+ | replace damaged wall areas and refinish for paint |
| Replace door | Handicraft | hand tools | Door, hardware | 2 | replace exterior door |
| Repair deck boards | River Pool | hand tools | wood, fasteners | 2+ | remove and replace any damaged deck boards |
| Refinish benches | Archery | hand tools | paint | 4+ | reference paint tab |
| Replace lighting | Archery | hand tools | light fixtures, wire nuts | 2+ | Install lighting fixtures, remove and simplify old |
| Trim repair | Rifle | hand tools | wood, fasteners | 1+ | repair or replace damaged trim |
| Replace Lighting | Rifle | hand tools | light fixtures, wire nuts | 2+ | Install lighting fixtures, remove and simplify old |
| Masonry repair | Rifle | hand tools | Mortar | 2+ | repair damaged stone around base |
| Install Gate | Rifle | hand tools / welder | pipe, wire | 2+ | fabricate and install metal pipe gate in existing fenceline |
| Repair Wall | Cowboy Action | Hand tools / lift | Wood, fasteners | 3+ | replace damaged / warped boards, cut top edge to clean line, cut metal poles down to size and cap |
| Stain Wood | Cowboy Action | Sprayer / hand tools | Stain, roller covers | 2+ | pressure wash, then apply exterior stain / seal (carpentry should be completed prior |
| Replace Doors | Cowboy Action | hand tools | doors, fasteners | 2+ | fabricate and install saloon doors and shutters |
| Fence construction | Cowboy Action | hand tools | posts, rails, bolts | 4+ | Install cedar fence - 3 rail, connect to rifle fence and continue to hillside |
| extend roof | Cowboy Action | hand tools | wood, tin, fasteners | 3+ | add framing as needed, install roof tin to match existing |
| Repair fascia and woodwork | Cabin | hand tools | hardi, lumber, fasteners | 4+ | replace fascia and damaged wood |
| Repair fences and gates | Cabin | hand tools, welder | hog panel, pipe | 2+ | repair gates and replace panels |
| Demo wall | Astronomy | ||||
| Secure grounding wire | Overflow | hand tools | 1 | secure grounding wire at uphill panel | |
| Drywall repairs | Kitchen | hand tools | sheetrock, joint compound | 1+ | repair or replace damaged drywall throughout kitchen |
| Replace broken window | Kitchen | hand tools | window, trim, fasteners | 2+ | remove and replace broken window |
| repair walk-in coolers | Kitchen | hand tools | sandwich panels, seal kits | 4+ | replace damaged sandwich panels and re-seal entire unit |
| install septic riser | Kitchen | hand tools | Riser assembly | 1+ | add riser to septic tank |
| epoxy bathroom floors | Dining Hall | hand tools | epoxy | 2+ | remove any loose epoxy, sand and prep surface, re-coat |
| misc. plumbing repairs | Dining Hall | hand tools | NA | 1+ | address small repairs to plumbing throughout |
| Repair roll up doors | Dining Hall | hand tools | NA | 2+ | service and repair roll up doors. |
| Replace Breakers | Dining Hall | hand tools | breakers (2) 20A | 1 | Two breakers inside a panel are 30a on #12 wire -recommend to change to 20a |
| Replace broken plugs | Dining Hall | hand tools | (2) 15A standard outlets | 1 | two broken outlets in the service line |
| Repair pump house | Fred Well | hand tools | misc | 2+ | repair walls and door as needed, consider rebuilding if necessary |
| Paint Cisterns | Fred Well | hand tools | masonry primer | any | wire brush and scrape loose paint / surface, paint |
| Cistern repair | Fred Well | hand tools | hydraulic repair cement | 2+ | Drain cistern, prepare surface, install repair, |
| Replace missing overflow cap | Fred Well | hand tools | check style overflow | 1+ | install at existing location |
| Install backfeed plug | Fred Well | hand tools | Outlet, wire, | 1 | Install backfeed to allow for pumps to be run on generator backup |
| Upgrade electrical | Fred Well | hand tools | outlets, light | 1 | Install outlets and lighting in well house |
| Repair pump house | Rick Well | hand tools | misc | 2+ | repair walls and door as needed, consider rebuilding if necessary |
| Paint Cisterns | Rick Well | hand tools | masonry primer | any | wire brush and scrape loose paint / surface, paint |
| Cistern repair | Rick Well | hand tools | hydraulic repair cement | 2+ | Drain cistern, prepare surface, install repair, |
| Replace missing overflow cap | Rick well | hand tools | check style overflow | 1+ | install at existing location |
| Install backfeed plug | Rick well | hand tools | Outlet, wire, | 1 | Install backfeed to allow for pumps to be run on generator backup |
| Upgrade electrical | Rick well | hand tools | outlets, light | 1 | Install outlets and lighting in well house |
| replace door seals on coolers | Conference | hand tools | seal kit | 1 | replace door seals, inspect latches etc. |
| Repair damaged siding | Conference | hand tools | Hardi, fasteners | 2+ | repair or replace damaged sections on exterior |
| Re-route condensate line | Conference | hand tools | PVC, glue | 1 | route line to prevent splashing on sidewalk |
| demo kitchen area | Staff Area | ||||
| repair screens | Staff Area | ||||
| replace wardrobes | Staff Area | ||||
| bathroom fixture repairs | Staff Area | ||||
| replace vent fans | Staff Area | ||||
McGimsey Scout Park
Urban camp needing regular upkeep on buildings, landscaping, and program areas.
Mays Family Scout Ranch
Hands-on projects for younger Scouts; small-scale improvement and beautification tasks.
Current Service Projects
Trail Cleanup – Bear Creek (May 18, 2025)
Clear brush and debris from 2-mile loop trail. Need: 10+ volunteers.
Building Repairs – McGimsey (June 12, 2025)
Fix roof leaks and perform general maintenance on program areas.
Landscaping – Mays Ranch (July 5, 2025)
Plant trees and maintain gardens. Good for younger Scouts.
