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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates

As a leadership organization, we want to do our best to assist with any potential spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and keep our Scouting family and community healthy. We are following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Federal Guidelines, Texas State Department of Health, and the Council Risk Management/Medical Task Force.

Scout Meetings, Activities & Events

Many of you have asked when will in-person Scout gathering begin again. The council leadership team believes we have evaluated safety protocols to begin a limited, phased approach to starting some council-level gatherings in September.

The Bay Area Council has canceled most in-person Scout meetings, activities and events through September 31^st, with the following exceptions.

• 9/12/2020         Show & Sell Popcorn Distribution

• 9/26/2020         Bobcat in the Park

These gatherings will be limited by the number of participants allowed in a specific time period and family-focused. 

We strongly advise that before your unit resumes any in-person Scout gatherings, your unit leadership take a Safety Pause and evaluate how to best plan to mitigate the risks associated with your in-person Scout gathering, including camping while COVID-19 is still present. This includes all dens and patrols, packs, troops, crews, ships, posts or unit committees.

If your unit cannot mitigate the risk of exposure, your unit should not do anything in-person.

Virtual meetings are still strongly recommended, however, one local troop used the Safety Pause and evaluation plan and were able to attend an out-of-council summer camp. They stayed safe from start to finish and returned home without incident. They put the work in to keep their Scouts, families and leaders safe.

Please review the documents below to better understand the hazards that are present and develop a solid plan to keep yourselves and your Scouts safe.

Safety Pause

Restarting Scouting Checklist (Updated June 2020)

CDC Camps & Events Decision Tree

Medical Screening

Pre-event checklist

Prevention of Communicable Diseases

National BSA Guidelines

The following questions have arisen as we deal with closures, cancellations, or other issues caused by the spread of the COVID-19. Youth, parents, and leaders should work together to implement creative, common sense ways to facilitate advancement and online programs while adhering to the following:

NATIONAL BSA Digital Guides & Safety (Updated May 15, 2020)
NATIONAL BSA Guide to Safe Scouting (Updated May 15, 2020)
NATIONAL BSA Youth Protection Training (Updated May 15, 2020)
NATIONAL BSA COVID & ADVANCEMENT FAQs (Updated September 1, 2020)

Event Updates

CANCELLATIONS - March 17-December 31, 2020
Baloo Training - March 21-23, 2020
Cub-O-Ree - Coastal/Cradle - March 27-29, 2020
Camp-O-Ree 2020 - April 3-5, 2020
Cub-O-Ree - NStar/Tbird - March 20, 2020
IOLS - March 18-19, 2020
OA Spring Shoot - April 18, 2020
OA Spring Ordeal - May 17-15, 2020
Gulf Coast FourSquare Cub Camp - June 8-12, 2020
Summer Camp - June 8-12, 2020
NYLT - June 19-25, 2020
Brazoria Cub Camp - July 20-24, 2020
Ghosts & Goblins at Camp Karankawa - October 23-25, 2020
Native American Weekend - November 13-15, 2020

Refunds will be processed for postponed and/or cancelled events within 30 days.

Eagle Scouts

If you have an Eagle application that needs immediate approval, please contact kristi.hamelmann@scouting.org If it is not an immediate need, we ask that you wait to have it approved.

BAC - How to conduct Eagle Board of Reviews remotely (Updated March 17, 2020)
BAC - How To Setup Online Conferencing Tools for Virtual Meetings (Updated March 19, 2020)
NATIONAL BSA - Advancement Waivers During COVID-19 & FAQs  Extended to December 31, 2020 (Updated September 1, 2020)
FIND THE REQUEST FOR AN EXTENSION HERE (Fillable PDF, updated May 18, 2020)

Council Communications

Update #7
Update #6
Update #5
Update #4
Update #3
Update #2
Update #1

If you need immediate assistance, please contact Scout Executive Charlie Tinsley at charlie.tinsley@scouting.org or Field Director Kelly Meacham at kelly.meacham@scouting.org.