Iron Horse District Camporee

Camporee is a weekend campout for troops full of competition to test Scouting skills. Patrols compete in various competitions and are judged on leadership, teamwork, skill demonstration, and Scout spirit. The Iron Horse District's Order of the Arrow chapter will be hosting a camporee.

Patrols will compete in events such as rifle shooting, fire building, first aid, pioneering, orienteering, and nature study.   Troops will be competing in the Grand Skills Relay. Scoutmasters will demonstrate their skills in a specialized cook-off. Saturday night will end the night at a wonderful campfire full of awards, songs, and skits. 

Every troop must send a representative to the January and February roundtables to help plan the camporee. This year’s camporee promises to challenge the youth leadership, as well as stretch everyone else’s comfort zones. These events cannot happen without each Scout’s competitive spirit and participation.

Registration

Registration is a two-step process. The unit leadership typically completes registration.

Part 1: RSVP:  Every unit needs to RSVP by the January roundtable to let the event staff if you are attending. Estimated numbers are provided to the council so the district can reserve the appropriate number of campsites and program areas for the event.

Part 1: RSVP

Part 2: Payment: Payment is completed by the unit leadership. Members of the Order of the Arrow who are volunteering to run stations attend free of charge; contact the chapter chief to volunteer to help. Registration is paid online with a credit card or electronic check. There is no onsite registration.  Council refund policy.

Part 2: Payment            

What to Bring

Personal (check with Scoutmaster): Field uniform (Scout uniform) and belt  Activity uniform (Scout t-shirt) Clothing appropriate for the weather Shoes (closed-toe) or hiking boots  Pajamas or sleeping clothes Rain gear (pants and jacket)  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  Portable chair or camp stool (optional)	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 Toilet paper Wash soap for restrooms Troop BSA Annual Health and Medical Record (part A&B for all Scouting events) for every participant (due at check-in) Roster of all participants attending Firewood, rakes, and fire buckets; buckets and shovel to remove unused firewood List of Scouts elected into the Order of the Arrow Copies of Youth Protection Training (YPT) certificate for all leaders. YPT can be taken online at www.my.Scouting.org.	Don’t Bring:  Alcohol 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.
Mark all items with name and troop number.

Program

Details of each event will be released at district roundtables in January, February, and March.  Tentative activities include: 

• Rifle shooting
• Fire building
• First aid
• Archery
• Pioneering
• Nature study
• Orienteering

Patrol Makeup

Patrols should be no more than 10 Scouts; the patrol will compete at the level of the highest-ranking member. Types of patrols:

• New Scout: Under one year in a troop; no member over the rank of Tenderfoot 
• Scout: More than one year less than four; no member over the rank of Star 
• Senior Scouts: Any Scout in the patrol over the rank of Star 

Tentative Schedule

Friday
6:00 pm	Camp opens
9:00 pm	Scoutmaster and SPL meeting
11:00 pm	Lights out
Saturday
8:00 am	Opening ceremony and range safety briefing
8:45 -11:30 am	Morning competitions
11:20 - 12:20 pm	Lunch at campsites (non-cooking lunch is recommended)
12:30  3:05 pm	Afternoon competitions
3:15 pm	Grand Troop Relay begins
4:15 pm	Scoutmaster cook cook-offs
5:30 -7:00 pm	Dinner
7:15 pm	Campfire
9:30 -10:30 pm	Order of the Arrow Gathering
11:00 pm	Lights out
Sunday
9:00 am	Interfaith Service
11:00 am	Camp closes

 A detailed schedule will be provided at check-in.

Uniforms

 Field uniforms should be during all flag ceremonies, the campfire ceremony on Saturday evening, and during general assembly and interfaith service on Sunday morning. 

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.

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 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.

Leaders Meeting

All senior patrol leaders and Scoutmasters (or their designee) from each troop should attend the leaders meeting on Friday night for final instructions and schedules. Please bring a chair and be prepared to take notes. 

Order of the Arrow

The Order of the Arrow (OA) is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America. For over 100 years, the Order of the Arrow has recognized Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. The Order of the Arrow 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.

Learn More About the OA

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 at your campsite. There will be no vehicles allowed in the activity areas. Please drive slowly through the camp.

Trash

Units are responsible for taking all trash to the dumpster located at the front entrance. Do not burn trash. All trash must be in a bag and inside the dumpster. If trash will not fit inside the dumpster, you MUST take it with you. Trash MAY NOT be stacked outside the dumpster or on top of the dumpster. Please remember to check restrooms and other areas you may have used, and remove all trash. Animals will make a mess of trash left in camp. Camp Brosig has recycle bins located near the red barn for aluminum cans and plastic bottles. Please empty liquids, leave caps off and crush bottles.

Fires

Campfires are permitted in the designated fire rings. If camp is under a fire ban, you will be informed in the email cover sheet. Gasoline, diesel fuel, and other liquids are not to be used to start fires. Please keep fires low and reduce sparks in windy conditions. Have water available to extinguish fires. Fires should be monitored at all times and put out cold before leaving your campsite or going to bed.

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).

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 has 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

For questions, contact the camporee chair or district activities chair.