- Annual Health and Medical Record (part A, B1, B2) signed within one year of camp
- Eat lunch before arriving
- Download the Camp App (search "Sam Houston Area Council" on Apple or Android platforms)
Clothing
- Field uniform (Scout uniform) and belt
- Activity uniform (Scout t-shirts) or comfortable shirt (5 shirts)
- Socks (4 pair)
- Shorts, Scout shorts (4)
- Sweater or light jacket
- Shoes (closed-toe) or hiking boots
- Cap or hat
- Underwear (4)
- Pajamas or sleeping clothes
- Rain gear (pants and jacket)
- Swimsuit and towel
- Dirty clothes bag
- Gloves and work clothes for service project
Camping Gear
- Tent and ground cloth (Scouts in Super Troop will be assigned to the campsites with canvas tents; Scouts and adults in Super Troop can bring their own individual tent)
- Sleeping bag or blankets, sheet
- Pillow
- Cot or pad or air mattress
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Personal first aid kit
- Water bottle - marked with name and troop #
- Water bottle clip to attach water bottle to belt loop or backpack
- Sports drink powder packs for water bottles (not energy drinks)
- Backpack (day pack)
- Insect repellent (non-aerosol)
- Mosquito netting
- Portable chair or camp stool
- Pocket knife and Totin' Chip
- Lockable storage container, recommended to keep clothes dry, available at big box stores)
Personal Items
- Towels and washcloth
- Soap and shampoo
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Comb, brush, mirror
- Shaving gear (if needed)
- Medicated body powder
- Personal medications in the original containers: prescriptions must be listed on the medical form) and over-the-counter. Send a Routine Drug Administration Record form if medications must be administered.
- Sunscreen
Program items
The registration fee includes all program supplies. Scouts do not need to purchase additional supplies for merit badge classes.
Special Diets
See the Special Dietary Section for more information. Special dietary requests must be submitted at least two weeks before camp within the online registration.
Optional
- Spending money for trading post (cash, debit, credit)
- Backup phone battery, rechargeable & fully charged
- Water shoes
- Shower shoes
- Lip balm
- Lotion
- Camera
- Book of Faith
- Frisbee (for Frisbee golf course), football, soccer ball, kickball for Gaga ball
- Bike and helmet# (see requirements)
- Fishing pole (to catch bass, sunfish, bluegill) and bait (worms, corn, jigs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, topwater lures); hooks must be barbless
Unit Leaders
- See the Leader's Guide for more information on what unit leaders need to bring.
*Mark all items with name and troop number. Electricity is limited.
#Bikes (non-motorized) are allowed on all paved roads to access the campsites and program areas and on the marked mountain bike trail by the bike barn. There are bike racks near the climbing tower, shooting sports area, Grand Pavilion, and campsites 1 and 20. All other trails, including sidewalks and grassy areas are off-limits. Helmets, proper safety protocols, and procedures are required at all times while riding bicycles. Learn more about Bike Safety.
Don’t Bring: valuables, electronics (e.g., iPad), fireworks, sheath or hunting knives, pets, hammocks, personal firearms and ammunition, jewelry, personal bows and arrows, generators
Personal Possessions
Camp is an outdoor experience. A Scout is cheated out of a full outdoor experience by electronic devices. Personal items such as electronic games, iPads should not be brought to camp. In all cases, personal valuables (watches, wallets, money) should not be in the open at camp. It is virtually impossible to provide security for these items. It is recommended that each unit bring a lockable storage container to secure valuables, while an adult is not in the campsite. All items are to be permanently marked with Scout's name and troop number. Scouts should not leave any electronic device unattended while charging anywhere at camp.
Special Accommodations
If a Scout requires any special accommodations, let your unit leader will notify the camp staff using the online registration system. The camp staff will do whatever they can to accommodate. For more information about special accommodations, visit the Health, Medical and Safety Issues section of the Leader's Guide.
Meals
The air-conditioned dining hall seats 450 people. All meals are served in the dining hall. The dining hall has commercial gas stoves and ovens, food preparation areas, plenty of utensils and cooling supplies, a dry goods storage area, a dishwashing area, two walk-in refrigerators, three freezers, and much more. High-quality and nutritious meals will be provided on-site by a professional custom food service company. All menus have been reviewed by a certified dietician and are designed to provide active and healthy youth and adults with the nutrition and calorie intake needed for camping.
There is a salad bar and pasta bar at every meal. Seconds are available after everyone has been served, so there is plenty of food for everyone. Snacks are available for purchase in the Trading Post.
Special Dietary Needs
Allergies and special diets are common concerns. If a Scout requires a special diet, the unit leader must enter the information in the online registration system at least two weeks prior to arrival. The camp's food service providers are very experienced with accommodating most diets; however, not all diets can be accommodated. The unit leader will provide a parent and/or adult participant's email and phone number in the online registration system whenever a special diet is requested; the food service provider might contact the adult participant or a Scout's parent/guardian to discuss unique special requests.
The following diets can be accommodated: vegetarian, kosher, halal, no pork, no beef, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, dairy-free, and lactose intolerant. Shellfish is not served at camp. The only peanut product served in the dining hall are peanut butter in the extra food bar. Not all diets can be accommodated; if the camper has a unique request, the details should be entered into the online registration system along with an email and the food service provider will let them know if the request cannot be accommodated.
- While at camp, participants could participant in many dining styles such as family-style dining, cafeteria-style dining, and/or self-serve bars.
- It is the expectation that all campers have the necessary knowledge of their diet and can manage their food choices.
- Camp staff cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment. Careful consideration needs to be taken for campers with severe allergies, particularly those susceptible to airborne transmission.
- If a camper has a severe allergy or dietary restriction, contact the camp directors to discuss if the camp staff is properly equipped to manage needs.
- While the staff works to meet all dietary requirements, food is prepared in an area with milk, eggs, peanut, tree nut, wheat, soy, fish, and cross-contamination may occur.
- Upon arrival at camp and prior to their first meal eaten, it is the camper's responsibility to identify themselves to the kitchen staff; then cooperate in helping the camp staff meet their need(s).
Depending on the need, it may be necessary for campers with special dietary requirements to bring food items to supplement items available at camp. Participants with special diets can request access to refrigerators, freezers, and microwaves to heat food, but actual cooking must be done at the campsite.
Annual Health and Medical Record
All camp participants must have a completed Annual Health and Medical Record consisting of Parts A, B1 and B2. The form must be completed in its entirety and must contain all applicable signatures. Medical forms are only current for one year and must not expire before the last day of camp.
Health and Medical Record
The following are the most common errors or omissions made on the Annual Health and Medical Record submitted:
- Part A immunizations. Please complete the form rather than attaching an immunization record alone. The tetanus shot is required (form needs month, date, year) to participate and recommends additional immunizations.
- Part B signed by an adult or guardian. In order to be able to treat youth in camp for more than immediate life-threatening conditions, our medical staff must have signed consent of a parent or guardian of a youth as contained in Part B. Be sure to check (Yes or No) on Part B2 whether non-prescription (over-the-counter) medications (e.g., acetaminophen, antibiotic ointment, antacids, antihistamine, hydrocortisone cream) can be administered at camp.
- Use a current form. Use the latest form available at www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/ahmr.aspx.
Prescription and Non-Prescription Medications
All medication is the responsibility of either the individual taking the medication or that individual’s parent or guardian. A leader, after obtaining all the necessary information and permission, can agree to accept the responsibility of making sure a youth takes the necessary medication at the appropriate time, but Scoutig America does not mandate or necessarily encourage the leader to do so. (Source)
- Scouts and adults who require medication must have all medications listed on the Annual Health and Medical Record. Be sure to check (Yes or No) on Part B2 of the Annual Health and Medical Record whether non-prescription medications (e.g., acetaminophen, antibiotic ointment, antacids, antihistamine, hydrocortisone cream) can be administered at camp.
- Bring enough of the medication in sufficient quantities in the original container to last throughout camp, but only send the amount of medication needed at camp. If requested, most pharmacists will provide a second labeled container for medications so only the needed prescription can be sent to camp and the remainder can be kept at home in a labeled container.
- Keep the medications in the original prescription bottle/container.
- Place all medications in a zip-lock-type plastic bag with the Scout’s name on it.
- Include a filled-out copy of the Routine Drug Administration Record.
- Make sure the prescriptions are not expired, including inhalers and EpiPens.
- Make sure that youth with asthma inhalers or epinephrine auto-injectors have what they need when they need it. They should know how to use the medicines, and they should report the use to an adult.
- All information on administration, including any specialized equipment or medication (e.g., insulin injections, insulin pumps, and emergency medications) should be provided to unit leaders.
- Campers should not stop taking any maintenance medications unless instructed to do so by their doctor.
- If a medication needs to be refrigerated, contact the camp health officer.
- Emergency medications that may be needed for an emergency or on an urgent basis may be carried by the youth participant. A buddy or a responsible adult should be sure the youth has the emergency medication. • The youth participant must notify the adult leader immediately upon self-administering the emergency medication. • In many cases, an evaluation or further treatment by a healthcare provider may be needed after the use of some emergency medications, e.g., epinephrine, even if the youth member feels OK. It may also be necessary to obtain an additional supply if no additional doses are available. • Planning should address how the emergency medication will be administered and include how to develop the adult leader’s comfort in assisting the youth if necessary. • The parent or guardian should be notified of the use of emergency medication.
Unit leaders will collect, store, dispense, and document/record medications for their Scouts. Unit leaders are to store the medications in a locked container kept in a locked vehicle. Units will receive a medication record sheet upon check-in on the first day of camp from the camp medic.
Routine Drug Administration Record Medication Use in Scouting Safe Use of Medication in Scouting
Buddy System
All Scouts should adhere to the buddy system throughout the camp. No Scout should ever be found wandering through camp alone. This can be difficult if the Scout doesn't have scheduled classes with fellow members of their troop. The troop leadership is encouraged to attempt to pair Scouts in classes as much as possible. If this is not feasible, the Scout should walk with other Scouts in the class to the location of the merit badge class. Due to the number of Scouts and the short amount of time between classes, this should be a relatively simple exercise.
Camp App
We are thrilled to introduce our brand-new camp app, which will serve as a vital communication tool for all camp attendees, offering convenient access to essential resources such as the camp map, schedule, program updates, emergency announcements, and much more. You can find it by searching "Sam Houston Area Council" on both Apple and Android platforms.
Youth Leaving and Returning
Parents are encouraged to allow Scout to remain at camp all week. This reduces unnecessary traffic in and out of camp and allows youth to have the complete camp experience with their troop. Youth will only be allowed to check out from camp prior to final checkout by an adult authorized on Part B of the Scout’s Annual Health and Medical Record. Please ensure that parents in your troop have included all authorized adults on this form. Without this authorization on the form, only an adult from the Scout’s troop registered for camp or the parent signing the form will be allowed to remove the child from camp prior to the final checkout.
No one, including a Scout leader or parent, will be allowed to leave camp with a person under the age of 18 without having checked out at the camp office and receiving a ticket which will be taken by security just before you reach the exit of the camp.
During checkout, on the last day of camp, adult leaders will receive exit tickets for all youth in their troop from their camp commissioner once they have successfully checked out.
Nonparticipants in Camp
For liability reasons, unregistered youth, younger siblings or friends, that are not registered as a member of Scouting America in a troop, crew or ship are not allowed to participate in camp programs.
Lost and Found
If any lost items are found, they should be turned in at the camp commissioner’s office in HQ as soon as is reasonably possible. Likewise, if anyone from your troop has lost an item while at camp, check with the camp commissioner’s office to determine if it has been returned there. Lost items will be kept in the camp commissioner’s office through the end of camp. After camp, the camp director will dispose of the items left at camp (e.g., donated to a non-profit organization, returned to the council office, thrown in the trash). Neither the council nor its staff shall be held responsible for any lost items.
Do not bring valuables to camp. To assist in returning items to their rightful owner, please ensure that all items brought to camp have the owner’s name and troop number marked on them.
Trading Post
The trading post is located in the camp headquarters building and is stocked with merit badge pamphlets, t-shirts, Scouting literature, handicraft supplies, camp patches, mugs, camping equipment, cold drinks, ice cream, and candy. The trading posts accept cash, checks, and credit cards (Master Card, Visa, American Express, and Discover).
Illegal Substances
Smoking or vaping by youth at any Scouting event will not be tolerated. If a youth is caught smoking at camp, the youth’s parents or guardians will be contacted by phone and shall be required to pick the youth up from camp immediately. The consumption, possession, or use of alcohol or illegal drugs or controlled substances at camp is not permitted. All local, state and federal laws will be followed when a violation involving the above substances is reported. Violators will be asked to leave the camp immediately.
Photographs
Notice! Please be advised that promotional videotaping/photography/drone 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).
Questions
Parents of campers should contact their troop leaders with questions about summer camp. Many of the adult leaders attending summer camp are quite experienced and can answer questions.