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Alamo Area Council

Council Wide Campout

March 2 – 4, 2018 Bear Creek Scout Reservation

Jim Causey, Committee Chair email: jimbosa53@gmail.com Matt Dooley, Asst. Committee Chair email: matts.heavensbest@yahoo.com

Linda Dieguez, Staff Advisor email: Linda.Dieguez@scouting.org

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What is a Cowboy?

The word “Cowboy” appeared in the English language by 1725. It appears to

be a direct English translation of the word Vaquero. The name Vaquero is a

Spanish word for an individual who managed cattle while mounted on

horseback. It was derived from vasa, meaning “cow”, which came from the

Latin word “vacca”.

The classic “American Cowboy” period is really very short, from 1865 to

1895, called the era of the open range and the great cattle drives. This period

of thirty years is known as the “Old West” and is famous for cowboys, Native

Indians, the lawmen, gunslingers, the pioneers, the gamblers, the scouts, the

outlaws, gangs, and gunfighters.

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Registration – Troop, Crew, Post, Team, Ship Cost is $15.00 per Scout registering as a youth participant and $5.00 for adults. PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY YOUTH PARTICIPANTS CAN TAKE PART IN THE EVENTS. All units must designate a Unit Contact and ONLY UNIT CONTACTS CAN REGISTER PARTICIPANTS. Registration must be done online. Registration opens December 1, 2017 at 12:00 am and closes February 11, 2018 at 11:59 pm so keep this in mind. Walk-ins will not be allowed at this event.

Registration - Webelos Cost is $15.00 per Webelos Scout and $5.00 for each adult. Webelos may come for the day or may spend the night. Parking will be available in the Valley Parking area between the Forge/Shotgun Range to the Eco/Program Pavilion. Webelos must be invited/hosted by a Troop and check in at the Eco/Program Pavilion upon arrival. Webelos Dens can participate starting at 9:00 am on Saturday in the Activity and Specialized Program events (see page 6 - 8 for a list of events). All units must designate a Unit Contact and ONLY UNIT CONTACTS CAN REGISTER PARTICIPANTS. Registration must be done online. Registration opens December 1, 2017 12:00 am and closes February 11, 2018 at 11:59 pm so keep this in mind. Walk-ins will not be allowed at this event. Overnight camping will be available by the swimming pool. Camp set up is available after 4:30 pm so you will be able to drive to the swimming pool area at that time. Webelos are responsible for their own food or can eat with their host Troop. Please keep in mind our Stage Show starts at 7:30 pm Saturday night and it gets dark about 6:30 pm.

Registration - Staff Cost is $5.00 if you bring your own food or eating with your home unit or $20.00 if you are eating Staff food. Youth may register as Staff for the event if they are committed to working an event. All Staff must register using the online registration. Staff can register as part of your home unit or as Staff - please let us know if you register with your unit.

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Parking Instructions Each unit will be emailed vehicle parking passes based on the number of vehicles listed on the Vehicle Registration form (see page 12) that must be submitted at registration. Please make sure your vehicle count is accurate. The Unit Contact will be emailed parking passes that must be in the dashboard of each vehicle before arrival at Bear Creek. Units will be directed to their assigned parking and campsites. Registration - SPACE LIMITED ACTIVITIES These activities have limited space for participation. To allow as many Scouts as possible to have the opportunity to participate in one of these activities, a Scout can only participate in one of these activities. No spots held without payment. Registration for these events is available through the online registration until all the spots are full. Cowboy Action Shooting – Must be 14 years and older (or 13 and graduated 8th grade). Cost is $5.00 per Scout. This a fun, safe introduction to cowboy action shooting with pistols, rifles, and shotguns. Scouts can take part in a special shooting experience with opportunities to shoot .22 caliber pistols, .22 caliber lever action rifles, and 12 or 20-gauge shotguns at reactive targets. There is a special permission form parents must sign before a Scout participates that available for download on the “Resources” tab of the Registration page at http://www.alamoareabsa.org/Event.aspx?id=7161. Rappelling - Must be 14 years and older (or 13 and graduated 8th grade). Advance registration is required. There is no charge for this event. There is a special permission form parents must sign before a Scout participates that available for download on the “Resources” tab of the Registration page at http://www.alamoareabsa.org/Event.aspx?id=7161. T-shirt Orders – Units can purchase in advance CWC themed T-shirts for $10.00 each for all sizes. Please note that t-shirts come in Adult sizes only. PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR COMPLETED ORDER FORM AND PAYMENT IN FULL NO LATER THAN JANUARY 19, 2018. No extra shirts will be ordered, please make sure your order is completed before the deadline. Please see page 13 for the Order Form.

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CHECK-IN – Check-in will be at the designated staging areas close to your District Campsite area from 6:00-10:00 pm on Friday night.

• PLEASE COMPLETE ALL YOUR PAPERWORK IN ADVANCE. (For efficiency, put Scouts in patrols with 6 - 8). Please bring a paper copy of your registration paperwork with you.

• Do not block the road with vehicles.

• Units must check in as a unit – NO INDIVIDUAL CHECK-IN ALLOWED.

All Adults (over 18 years of age) are required to have proof of current Youth Protection training. It is suggested that all Adults carry the YPT card or have a picture on your cell phone to be able to provide proof of training at any time. The online YPT course is sufficient for this event. CHECK-OUT - Check-out for everyone leaving Sunday will begin Sunday after the Closing Ceremony. If you plan on leaving prior to Sunday, please notify camp staff at check-in. Patches will be distributed at check-out in exchange for turning in the evaluation forms.

CAMPSITES - Each Unit will be assigned a campsite within their District area adequate for the number of Scouts listed on your online Registration form. No requests for specific campsites will be accepted. No last-minute additions will be allowed, all attendees must be registered online. This is to be treated as a regular troop campout. Come prepared with all Troop gear and Patrol gear that you use on a campout.

COOKING AND SANITATION - Each unit should cook by the Patrol Method, and must furnish its own food, ice, stove, fuel, wood or charcoal. We will adhere to any burn ban that may be in effect so BE PREPARED. All units must use charcoal or stoves for cooking according to BSA rules as stated in the Guide to Safe Scouting.

GARBAGE - No large dumpsters will be available. Please plan on taking your garbage with you.

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WATER - Abundant water is available. HOWEVER, it will be several hundred feet from your Camping area. All Units should bring their own water containers to transport the water to their campsites.

VEHICLES/PARKING – Only one motorized vehicle and the unit trailer will be parked in the campsite. Please plan your packing. Unauthorized vehicles will be towed at owner’s expense. Only properly marked Staff or Handicapped vehicles will be permitted in camping areas or activity areas.

Events

Passport Activities - Participation in the following activities provide

Scouts the opportunity to earn this limited-edition patch.

Activity Events Arts & Crafts – Each Scout can choose one of the craft projects while supplies last: Beading - Neck Chokers - Dream Catchers Archery - Native Americans used their archery skills to kill prey for both food and hides. Scouts will learn to properly and safely shoot arrows at archery targets. This activity will be held at the Archery Range.

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Rifle Shooting – Per BSA Guidelines Webelos Scouts are not allowed to participate in this activity. Cowboys were skilled at rifle shootin’! They hunted for their food. Stop by the Rifle range and test your skills. Trail Signs – Try your skill (and not get lost) on the trail and reading the trail signs to find your way. The Forge - A great place to learn how Cowboys did things. Bring something that has parent/guardian approval to be branded. There will be items (including cups) available at Ken’s General Store for purchase.

Ropemaking – Making rope is a skill that has been around for thousands of years. Once people got past vines and other natural materials for binding up things, they discovered that fibers could be combined and twisted into great lengths by taking advantage of the tendency of materials to remember their natural condition. Learn how to make your own length of rope.

Fire starting – You need to start a cooking fire, there are lots of fire starting methods. We will be using items found in nature and matches to see who can get their fire going. Are you up for the challenge? Tomahawk Toss – Per BSA Guidelines Webelos Scouts are not allowed to participate in this activity. Cowboys didn’t always get along with the Native Americans they encountered. The tomahawk was a tool that could be used in close quarters combat for protection. In this activity, scouts will try their hand at throwing tomahawks at a target. Gold Nugget Rush – Find some gold nuggets and see what you can purchase with them at the Saloon.

Treasure Hunt – Try your skills at finding the pieces to the map. What will you find at the end?

Specialized Events

Saloon – We will be serving lemonade and root beer for only 8 gold nuggets ($2.00 for you city slickers). Try your luck at a card game.

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COPE Event – Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience. It comprises group initiative games and low and high-course activities. Some activities involve a group challenge, while others test individual skills and agility; only a few require athletic strength.

Rodeo/Horse Corral – Stop by and see some horses and enjoy Stick horse races and Cow roping games. Outlaws – If you hang around the bad guys, there is a good chance you will wind up in the Jailhouse.

Cowboy Medicine – Stop by to learn about - Frontier Physician, Quacks, and Indian Medicine Men on the Texas Frontier. When and where was the first hospital in San Antonio established? What was the poisonous gas affecting San Antonio? What plants did they use to treat injuries and illness? Think you want to go to a healer in frontier Texas? Homesteading Cooking – Dutch oven, foil, and utensil-less cooking Games - Stick Horse Race, Horseshoes, Washer Toss Chuck Wagon Cooking – A World Champion Chuck Wagon Cook will be with us to show us some authentic chuck wagon cooking skills.

Indian Village – Indians, of course there will be Indians. Flint Knapping - Flint knapping is the age-old art of making arrowheads and other edged stone tools. Hunter-gatherers relied upon this key wilderness survival skill to create important tools and hunting implements. Many people continue to practice the skill today, including traditional bowyers, experimental archaeologists, and primitive skills enthusiasts. Service Project – Participation in this event is required to earn the Passport patch.

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Space Limited Events - Please note that advance registration for these event is required for participation. See Registration Section for details.

Cowboy Action Shooting – Must be 14 years and older (or 13 and graduated 8th grade). Two Scouts per unit can be registered to participate – sign up will be part of the event registration. Cost is $5.00 for this event per Scout. Registration for time spots will happen at the Friday night Leader’s Meeting. Rappelling – Must be 14 years and older (or 13 and graduated 8th grade). There is no charge for this event. This activity will take place at the OA Cliff.

LEADER MEETING – Two people from each unit – Unit Adult and Youth Leader must attend the Leader Meeting at the Headquarters located at the Eco/Program Pavilion at 10:15 pm Friday. At that time, any questions on check-in materials or the schedule of activities may be discussed. Additional information/schedule changes will be presented at that time.

FLAG RETIREMENT CEREMONY – In honor of Texas Independence Day, we will retire a Texas flag immediately after the Leader Meeting at 10:45 pm.

OPENING CEREMONY- Will be at 7:30 am on Saturday at the Parade Field.

STAGE SHOW – An entertaining Stage Show will be held on Saturday night at 7:30 pm. Bring your own chair. ORDER OF THE ARROW AND BROTHERHOOD WALK - There will be an Order of the Arrow Call Out Saturday evening. After of the Call Out, there will be a Brotherhood Walk (Brotherhood testing will be available on Saturday). Unit Contacts will need to register Scouts/Scouters that will be called out online in advance. Brotherhood participants are asked to register in advance. Visitors for the OA event should arrive 5:00 – 7:00 pm and coordinate in advance with your unit on the place you will meet them. Visitors may park in the Valley Parking Area or BCSR Road above the Dining Hall.

. WORSHIP SERVICE – Services will be held Sunday morning at 8:05 am at the Valley Flagpole immediately following the Flag Ceremony.

EVALUATION - Please fill out the included Evaluation and return it at check-out. Be fair and honest in your opinions as they will have a bearing on future events. Constructive suggestions are greatly appreciated.

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Deep in the Heart of Bear Creek Country Schedule

Friday, March 2, 2018 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm Check in, Registration, Set up Camp 10:15 pm Unit Leadership Meeting 10:45 pm Texas Flag Retirement Ceremony 11:00 pm Lights Out Saturday, March 3, 2018 6:00 am Reveille/Breakfast 7:30 am Flag Ceremony (Done by Staff/OA)

Opening Ceremony 8:00 am – 11:30 am Events 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Lunch 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm Events Continued 4:30 pm Supper Sundown Flag Retreat (Done by Staff/OA) 7:30 pm Camp-wide Stage Show 11:00 pm Lights Out Sunday, March 4, 2018 6:00 am Breakfast 8:00 am Flag Ceremony (Done by Staff/OA) 8:05 am Church Service & Closing Ceremony 8:30 am – 11:30 am Unit Departure/Camp Cleared

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Evaluation

Your comments are always welcome and will be used in designing future events. Please be honest with your thoughts about what was good and what needs improvement. Use back of evaluation sheet for additional comments. FANTASTIC GREAT AVERAGE FAIR POOR CAMPSITE LOCATION 5 4 3 2 1 Comments:

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ONLINE REGISTRATION PROCEDURE 5 4 3 2 1

Comments:

_____________________________________________________________________ ON-SITE CHECK-IN PROCEDURE 5 4 3 2 1 Comments:

_____________________________________________________________________ ACTIVITY STATIONS 5 4 3 2 1 Comments:

_____________________________________________________________________ STAGE SHOW 5 4 3 2 1 Comments:

_____________________________________________________________________ SUNDAY SERVICE 5 4 3 2 1

Comments:

_____________________________________________________________________ LEADERS GUIDE 5 4 3 2 1 Comments:

_____________________________________________________________________ CHECK-OUT PROCEDURE 5 4 3 2 1 Comments:

_____________________________________________________________________ WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE ADDED TO THE PROGRAM NEXT YEAR?_______________________________________

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_________________________________________________________________________________________________ ADDITIONAL COMMENTS___________________________________________________________________________

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Optional – It is up to you whether you give your name. Your comments are not shared. Unit___________Name_________________________________________Unit Position___________________________

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