Most boys join Cub Scouting because of outdoor activities. When a boy and his family join Cub Scouting, they are joining an organization that values the fun and excitement of experiencing the outdoors. Each Cub Scout pack is encouraged to provide its youth members with enriching, positive outdoor experiences.

Planned, organized outdoor activities at the pack, district, and council levels fulfill the promise made to our Cub Scouts. Young boys have a natural desire for fun, excitement, and adventure. These planned outdoor experiences encourage them to spend quality time with family and friends. Quality council camp and fun pack outdoor events directed by qualified, trained leaders provide an ideal setting for these activities.

Cub Scouts can camp! Each pack should include day camp and/or resident camp and many other outdoor activities as part of the pack’s annual plan. Advance planning will allow leaders to arrange to attend the appropriate training required by BSA.

• Click the link below for guidelines on Cub Scout camping in Sam Houston Area Council.
  Cub Scout Camping Guidelines – Sam Houston Area Council
• Click here for information on the National web site.

SUMMER CAMP

Cub Scout/Webelos Scout Resident Camp

SUMMER ADVENTURE CAMP - Bovay Scout Ranch - Navasota, Texas

Click here to view a brochure on 2008 Summer Adventure Camp at Bovay Scout Ranch. 
Click here for the Bovay Scout Ranch home page.

Cub Scout and Webelos Scout resident camping is a council-organized overnight camping program held during the summer at Bovay Scout Ranch.  Camp sessions operate for three days/two nights.  Any youth who is classified during the summertime as a Cub Scout or Webelos Scout is elibigle to attend; this would include current Tiger Cubs who will become Wolf Cub Scouts on June 1.  New Tiger Cubs who are recruited at the end of their kindergarten year are not yet elibigle for summer camp. 

Summer Camp 2008 - "Space: It's What's Up There"

The adventure of space has always captivated the imagination of young boys.  Join us for three days and two nights of fun as we discover what it takes to be an astronaut and fly into space.

Day camp is an organized, multiple-day, theme-oriented program for Tiger Cubs and their adult partners, Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts.  Day camp is conducted in each district at multiple locations throughout the Sam Houston Area Council.

Coming... Click here for a link to information on 2008 district day camps in Sam Houston Area Council.

WEEKEND CAMPING

McNAIR CUB ADVENTURE CAMP - Bovay Scout Ranch - Navasota, Texas

Click here for a link to the Bovay Scout Ranch home page.
Click here for a link to a brochure on weekend camping at McNair Cub Adventure Camp.

McNair Cub Adventure Camp provides full program and meals for weekend camping experiences for packs, dens, and individual Cub Scout families. Because Cub Adventure Camp is a council-organized family camp, it is the only location in Sam Houston Area Council at which individual Tiger Cub dens or Cub Scout dens may camp apart from their pack.

These forms will help you choose a weekend and submit your reservation.

Weekend Camping Brochure	Frequently Asked Questions - Weekends
2008 Available Weekends	What to Bring- Weekends
Weekend Reservation Form	Map to Bovay Scout Ranch
Weekend Camp Roster  (youth)	Map of Cub Adventure Camp
Weekend Camp Roster (adults)	Program Area Activity Schedule
Weekend Camp Roster (siblings 5 and over)	2008 Hold-a-Place Request
Weekend Camp Roster (siblings under 5)

JANIS & GEORGE FLEMING CUB WORLD - Camp Strake - Conroe, Texas

Click here for a link to Janis & George Fleming Cub World home page.
Click here for information on how to make reservations at Janis & George Fleming Cub World.

Cub Scout packs may conduct pack overnighter campouts (see below) at Janis & George Fleming Cub World.  Each pack is to be under the direction of a BALOO-trained leader, who is in attendance at the campout.

Click here for more information on BALOO training.

CAMP BROSIG - Sealy, Texas

Click here for a link to the Camp Brosig home page.
Click here for a link on how to make reservations at Camp Brosig.

Cub Scout packs may conduct pack overnighter campouts (see below) at Camp Brosig.  Each pack is to be under the direction of a BALOO-trained leader, who is in attendance at the campout.

Click here for more information on BALOO training.

PACK OVERNIGHTERS–Council-approved sites

Pack overnighters are pack-organized overnight camping experiences involving more than one family from a single pack, focused on age-appropriate Cub Scout activities.

In addition to the three council camps listed above, packs may also conduct pack overnighters at council-approved sites such as state parks or other locations meeting BSA health and safety standards.  Approval for these external sites should be requested by use of of the Sam Houston Area Council Pack Overnighter Site Approval Standards form, to be submitted with a local tour permit at least two weeks prior to the event.

At least one adult in attendance on the pack overnighter must be BALOO-trained (Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation).  Click here for more information on BALOO training.

These forms will assist you in planning for your pack overnighter:

Local Tour Permit - print on legal-size paper (8.5 x 14)

Pack Overnighter Site Approval Standards Form - Sam Houston Area Council

WEBELOS DEN OVERNIGHT CAMPOUTS - Council-approved sites

Webelso den campouts serve to move the Webelos Scout to the next level of BSA's ever-increasing challenge in the outdoors.  The boy and his parent will be introduced to the basics of Boy Scout camping. To provide leadership for this event, Webelos leaders are encouraged to complete Webelos Leader Outdoor Training, as well as basic training for their position.  BALOO training in not required for a Webelos den overnight campout.

Click here more for more information on Webelos Leader Outdoor Training. 

Click here to print a Local Tour Permit Application. Use legal-size (8.5 x 11") paper.

Webelos dens are encouraged to participate in joint den-troop campouts, particularly in the fifth-grade year.  These campouts are to be conducted with an individual troop for the purpose of strengthening ties between the pack and the troop.  BSA health and safety guidelines for Cub Scouts and Youth Protection gudienlines apply.

AGE-APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES

Cub Scout-age boys have a natural curiosity about their surroundings, especially the out-of-doors. Introducing these boys to the fun and adventure of Scouting in the outdoors will benefit them as they mature through the program. As they participate, their enthusiasm will grow for continuing in the program into Boy Scouts and beyond.

These charts help outline the camping and other outdoor activities that are age-appropriate to the various levels of the Scouting program:

Scouting’s Camping Program: Ever-Increasing Challenge Out-of-Doors

Age-Appropriate Activities - National web site

Age-Appropriate Activities - printable PDF file

There are lots of resources for outdoor activities for your Cub Scouts:

The Activities section of this Cub Scout web site includes a downloadable 18-page list of field trip recommendations, as well as a monthly calendar of Cub Scout-specific activities in the Houston metropolitan area. 

Houston Wilderness maintains a web site listing many outdoor adventures for families to enjoy, also including a calendar of upcoming events (www.houstonwilderness.org). The Houston Wilderness Passport is an educational program that encourages visiting outdoor venues in our area.  Families can earn a sticker for their passport every time they visit a passport site in a new eco-area.

Click here for more information in Guide to Safe Scouting.

Archery and BB-gun shooting are restricted to day camps, Cub Scout/Webelos Scout resident camp, council-organized family camping programs, or council activities where there are properly trained supervisors and all standards for BSA shooting sports are enforced. Archery and BB-gun shooting are not to be conducted at the den or pack level.

SWIMMING

Click here for more information in Guide to Safe Scouting.

Before a BSA group may engage in swimming activities of any kind, a minimum of one adult leader must complete Safe Swim Defense training, having a commitment card with them, and agree to use the eight defenses in the Safe Swim Defense Plan. The Safe Swim Defense plan applies to swimming at a beach, private or public pool, wilderness pond, stream, or lake, or anywhere Scouts swim.
      

BOATING

Click here for more information in Guide to Safe Scouting.

Before a BSA group may engage in any type of boating activity, adult leaders for such activity must complete Safety Afloat training, have a commitment card wtih them, and be dedicated to to full compliance with all nine points of Safety Afloat.

The following information is specific to Cub Scout boating activities:

• Canoeing, rowboating, and rafting for Cub Scouts (including Webelos Scouts)  is limited to council/distirct events on flat-water ponds or controlled lake areas free of powerboats and sailboats.  Prior to recreational canoeing, Cub Scouts are to be instructed in basic handling skills and practices.
• All persons must wear properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices (PFDs).
• The ratio of adult supervisors to participants is one to five.
• Youth members in Cub Scouting are not authorized to use scuba in any activity.