Troop 701 was privileged to have eight scouts and five adults attend Camp Strake June 9th through June 14th. This BSA camp is affiliated with the Sam Houston Area Council and is in Coldspring, Texas, about one hour north of Houston. Though close to a metropolitan area, the camp is in the rural piney-wood section of Texas.
Troop 701 was privileged to have eight scouts and five adults attend Camp Strake June 9th through June 14th. This BSA camp is affiliated with the Sam Houston Area Council and is in Coldspring, Texas, about one hour north of Houston. Though close to a metropolitan area, the camp is in the rural piney-wood section of Texas.
Historically, Camp Strake was built in Conroe in 1943, built with funds from the Conroe oil fields. A repurposing of land contiguous with the Sam Houston National Forest facilitated the move, and rebuilding of the new Camp Strake on 2806 acres, with 150,000 square feet of modern facilities. The camp has a modern resort-style water park and pool, a climbing wall and ropes course and zip line, a 28-acre lake for watercraft skills, a shooting sports range, and a STEM-training pavilion. Additionally, Camp Strake has an agreement with NASA to facilitate day-adventure programs to have “Train Like An Astronaut” water rescue skills.
Camp Strake is designed to facilitate growth in all levels of scouting including leadership and outdoor skills. The campsites are set in a U-shape, shaded under tall pines, and centered around a covered pavilion. Campers slept in a-frame canvas tents on wooden platforms. Showers and restrooms, troop vehicle parking, and road access were at the top of the U-shape. At the base of the U, trails through the pines led to the central area of the camp for all activities. Troop 701 scouts and leaders were in camp before breakfast during which they had responsibility for cleaning the restroom and shower, at midday, before dinner, and at bedtime. Scouts and leaders walked an average of 6 miles per day.
The primary focus of Troop 701 at Camp Strake was merit badge acquisition for rank advancement. Our troop gained skills in multiple areas completing or pursuing merit badges in the following categories:
- Swimming
- First Aid
- Lifesaving
- Sustainability
- Pulp and Paper
- Nature
- Rowing
- Forestry
- Citizenship in the World
- Nuclear Science
- Robotics
- Cooking
- Camping
- Wood Carving
Merit badges will be awarded at the August Court of Honor for Troop 701.
Troop 701’s Scoutmaster Scott “Woody” Woodard demonstrated responsible citizenship in stepping into an unexpected leadership role when an outdoor leadership training instructor had an unplanned absence. Woody led what many adult leaders lauded as their favorite activity at Camp Strake. Three of Troop 701’s adult leaders at camp completed this Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills training and are now eligible for assistant scoutmaster positions.
Troop 701 would like to acknowledge and THANK the Dominion Rotary Club for their continued sponsorship of our troop charter. Your ongoing support improves the growth in leadership and autonomy for the young men in our troop. It strengthens their families, schools, and communities now and promises to improve their contribution to our country in the years to come.