We will be going to NASA Space Center Houston for a sleepover, special activities, Christmas light show, and tram tour of the astronaut training facility and rocket park, December 2-3. Please watch your email for details and how to sign up. This is an amazing experience!
Fall 2023 Campout
Oct. 28-29 RESCHEDULED to NOV. 11-12: Inks Lake State Park
We will be camping at Inks Lake State Park near Burnet, Texas, on October 28-29 November 11-12. This campout will feature hiking, fishing, canoeing, and stargazing—weather permitting.
ARRIVAL : Plan to arrive Saturday at NOON to set up your family’s tent before opening ceremony. Allow 90 minutes for the drive from NW Austin. See the map and street address at the bottom of this post for directions. We recommend getting lunch en route or bringing a picnic lunch to eat upon arrival.
OPENING CEREMONY : Opening ceremony will begin at 1:00 PM. Please gather in the central open area near our campsites as the 1:00 hour approaches. Scouts should wear their Class A uniform for opening ceremony and for the Scouts Own service and closing ceremony on Sunday. At other times, the pack T-shirt should be worn (with jacket or long-sleeve shirt over it if needed).
CAMPSITES : For Saturday arrivals, our group has campsites 41 thru 57, except not 51 or 52. We need to accommodate two to three family tents per campsite, so when setting up your tent, please allow space for other Scout families that will arrive after you. All campsites have water and electric service. Click here for a map of our campsites.
FRIDAY CAMPING : If you signed up for camping on Friday night, you may arrive as early as noon on Friday. For Friday night arrivals, we have campsites 49 thru 57, except not 51 or 52. Again, please leave room for two to three family tents per campsite. (Leaders with parking permits may not arrive until later in the afternoon on Friday, but probably you won’t be bothered if you arrive earlier. Please be aware that one campsite TBD will be claimed for the pack trailer and kitchen, so it is advised to wait on setting up your tent until a leader arrives and determines where the pack trailer and kitchen will go.)
PARKING : When you arrive at the state park, drive directly to our reserved campsites. Refer to the park map to find your way. If you’re stopped at the park entrance gate, tell them you’re with a Scout group that’s camping in the park and will get your pass when you get to the campsite (see “Parking Permits” below). Parking in driveways at each campsite is limited to 2 vehicles, but there is overflow parking nearby, which we will need to use. The state parks strictly enforce parking rules, so avoid parking on roadways, grass, or anywhere that is not a designated parking space.
PARKING PERMITS : Every parked car needs a parking permit that should be taped to the inside front windshield. When you arrive at the campground, find a pack leader and we will give you a pre-printed parking permit with your license plate number on it. Please submit this online form with your vehicle details no later than noon on Friday, November 10.
MEALS & DRINKS : The Pack will provide Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast with lemonade, tea, coffee, and water available to drink. Reduce waste by bringing your own reusable cup or canteen. Email the AoL Den Leader at least a week in advance if any member of your family has food restrictions. You may bring your own snacks and drinks, but please be discreet (or generous) if any items could be perceived as special treats by your kid’s fellow Scouts.
HIKING : Inks Lake has over 9 miles of hiking trails. Every Scout should plan to spend some time on the trails with their den. Hiking boots are the best footwear, but any sturdy pair of closed-toe shoes are acceptable. Crocs, sandals, and flip-flops are not appropriate footwear for a Scout campout, except in the showers. Scouts in the Wolf den and higher are expected to pack and carry their own Cub Scout Six Essentials for hikes.
FISHING : Optional. If your family wants to fish, we recommended bringing your own gear. The camp store at Inks Lake sells live bait or you can bring your own. The camp store also has a few fishing rods that can be borrowed after a bit of paperwork, but availability is very limited; don’t count on it. A fishing license is not required for fishing from piers or shores at any Texas state park, but other restrictions may apply. See the park website for details. We will not be fishing from canoes.
CANOEING : Optional. We will offer two one-hour canoeing sessions on Saturday afternoon from 2-3 PM and 3-4 PM. The park only has 25 canoes, so families that are interested in canoeing should sign up in advance using this online form. Please note:
Every participant must wear a life vest, including adults. The park has plenty of life vests on-hand in various sizes that we can use. You don’t need to bring a life vest unless you want to.
The max capacity of each canoe is 4 people or 760 lbs. Canoes have only two seats, so any additional passengers above 2 must sit on the floor in the middle of the canoe; the park has cushions that we can borrow.
Each child must be in a canoe with their own parent or guardian, unless YPT requirements are satisfied by other means.
The adult piloting the canoe (i.e., in the rear seat) must be a capable swimmer and have prior experience in canoes or similar small paddle craft. Please contact a pack leader in advance if you have questions or doubts about your ability.
Each canoeing session will begin with a short safety briefing and review of basic paddling skills. Our plan is to paddle as a group from the boat launch area to Devil’s Waterhole and then back, a scenic 45-minutes round trip.
For Cub Scout canoeing, the BSA requires a ratio of one adult trained in “Safety Afloat” per every 5 participants. We need volunteers to take this training. It can be completed online in the BSA Training Portal at my.scouting.org and takes about 30 minutes. In the canoeing sign-up form, please indicate whether you are willing to complete the “Safety Afloat” training. If we don’t get enough volunteers, then every family that wants to participate in canoeing will be asked to designate one adult who will take the training.
We recommended wearing dedicated “water shoes” and dedicated shorts/pants for canoeing since you might need to step in the water to launch or land the canoe. There could also be some (surely unintentional) splashing. Capsizing is not likely, but the possibility cannot be excluded. Bring an extra set of clothes and shoes to change into after canoeing, just in case.
MEDICAL FORMS : Every person (youth and adult) needs to turn in a completed set of BSA medical forms, Parts A B1 and B2, to the pack’s designated camp “medic” as soon as you arrive at the campground. These forms must be printed and submitted on physical paper. If you forget, you will have to fill out the forms when you arrive, and this takes time away from other activities like setting up your tent and having fun. BSA medical forms are valid for 12 months, so we will keep them on file for the NASA overnight and Spring campout.
YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING : Every adult is required by the BSA, before going on any overnight Scouting trip, to complete Youth Protection Training (YPT). This training takes about 72 minutes and is available online at my.scouting.org. YPT certification is good for 2 years, so if you are not sure when you last took it, please go online to my.scouting.org and check that your certification is up-to-date. Bring a printout of your YPT completion certificate with you to the campout and turn it in with your medical forms. See the pack’s Training page for more details.
PACKING : Refer to our pack’s standard Packing List. Note that the weather is likely to be colder than you expect, so bring multiple layers, including long pants, a decent jacket or coat, and a warm hat, to wear after dark. You can always shed layers if it ends up being warm, but it is miserable to be cold and have nothing to put on. Keep in mind that sleeping bag temperature ratings are for survival, not comfort. If your family has only summer sleeping bags (50-degree rated, as opposed to 30- or 0-degree rated), then bring blankets or comforters to lay over your sleeping bags to provide extra insulation. Also, make sure every member of your family has a foam sleeping mat, inflatable mattress, or cot to go under their sleeping bag to prevent heat loss into the ground. If necessary, consider reaching out to friends, family, or other Scouting families to borrow extra gear that they might have.
WEATHER CONTINGENCY : Cub Scout camping is supposed to be fun and easy. A chance of light rain or moderately cold weather is not a problem, but non-trivial chances of thunderstorms or extreme cold temperatures is a concern. If by Wednesday night (or at latest Thursday night) the weather forecast for the weekend looks doubtful, the pack leaders will send an email announcement with a decision about whether to go.
CAMPOUT AGENDA:
Sat, NOON / Arrive and set up family campsite
Sat, 1:00 - 1:30 PM / Opening ceremony and announcements
Sat, 2:00 - 4:00 PM / Hiking, fishing, canoeing, etc.
Sat, 4:15 - 5:45 PM / Den-organized hike or activities
Sat, 6:00 - 7:15 PM / Dinner and practice den skits
Sat, 7:30 - 8:30 PM / Campfire, s’mores, taps
Sat, 8:45 - 9:30 PM / Stargazing talk
Sun, 8:00 - 8:45 AM / Breakfast
Sun, 9:00 - 9:15 AM / Scouts Own service
Sun, 9:15 - 9:30 AM / Closing ceremony
Sun, 9:30 - 10:30 AM / Strike camp, cleanup, depart
CAMPFIRE: Scouts and parents are invited to contribute to the campfire program by telling a joke or leading a song. If you have a favorite song or joke you’d like to share, get ready! All contributions must be approved in advance by a Cubmaster; find one of us on the day of the campout and run it by us. Note that there is currently a burn ban in effect for Burnet County, but it will hopefully be lifted before our campout. If not, then we will set up a “simulated” campfire and find an alternative way to roast s’mores. The show must go on!
PREP & PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKLIST:
☐ Youth Protection Training (YPT): REQUIRED FOR EVERY ADULT WHO WILL STAY OVERNIGHT. See our Training page for instructions. If any adult staying overnight is not the parent or legal guardian of a Scout (e.g. a grandparent, aunt/uncle, or sibling aged 18+), please contact the pack leaders at info@pack421austin.org for additional requirements. Bring a printed copy of your YPT completion certificate to the campout.
☐ BSA Medical Forms: Bring a physical paper copy of completed BSA Medical Forms (Parts A, B1, and B2) for every person in your family who will attend the campout, including all adults, scouts, and siblings. Turn these forms in to our designated camp “medic” upon arrival, together with a printed copy of your YPT completion certificate.
☐ Vehicle Registration: Before noon on Friday, October 27 November 10, register your vehicle for a parking permit using this online form. Pick up your parking permit from a pack leader when you arrive at the campground.
☐ Canoeing Sign-up: Optional. If your family wants to participate in canoeing, submit an online form to reserve a canoe. Availability is limited, so don’t wait, and consider volunteering to take the BSA “Safety Afloat” training to help us meet BSA ratio requirements.
☐ Reservation for tent and food: If you have not already reserved your tent and food for the campout, please RSVP using this Google form or contact pack leaders at info@pack421austin.org. This campout is now sold out, but we will try to accommodate everyone if additional headcount or campsites becomes available.
☐ Food restrictions: If you or any member of your family has food restrictions, email the AoL Den Leader with the pertinent details at least a week in advance. (The AoL den is hosting our meals.)
☐ Packing: Review the Packing List and get everything packed before Saturday morning when you need to leave because packing will probably take longer than you think. Encourage older Scouts to help with packing so that they can learn how to do it. If you have never set up your tent, practice doing it at least once at home before showing up and trying it for the first time at the campout.
Contact your den leader or the pack leaders at info@pack421austin.org if you have any questions.
Inks Lake State Park
3630 Park Road 4 West
Burnet, TX 78611
Latitude: 30.737356
Longitude: -98.369007
(512) 793-2223
Fall 2023 Campout (redirect)
This Event page has moved. Please find it at its new URL.
Program Schedule 2023-24
Save The Date
WED, AUG 23 = Join Scouting info session, Davis Cafeteria 6-7:30 PM
SUN, AUG 27 = First pack meeting (rockets!), Covenant UMC, 4-5:15 PM
SAT-SUN, OCT 28-29 = FALL CAMPOUT @ INKS LAKE STATE PARK
SAT-SUN, NOV 11-12 = Alternate rain weekend for fall campout
SAT-SUN, DEC 9-10 = OVERNIGHT TRIP @ NASA SPACE CENTER HOUSTON
SAT, FEB 3 = Pinewood Derby
SUN, FEB 25 = Blue & Gold Banquet
SAT-SUN, MAR 23-24 = SPRING CAMPOUT @ TBD
SUN, MAY 19 = Last pack meeting (picnic & rank advancements!)
Additional pack and den meetings—and other special events—will be posted in the official pcak calendar in Scoutbook. Verify your contact information in Scoutbook to receive the latest event information, reminders, and email notices.
Email the pack leaders for questions.
Spring 2023 Camping Trip
MAR. 25-26, Colorado BenD State Park
We will camp overnight on Saturday, March 25 to Sunday, March 26 at Colorado Bend State Park, about 90min NW of Austin.
Colorado Bend’s most-impressive feature is Gorman Falls: a speculator and unique, spring-fed waterfall. There are several hiking trails that lead to the falls, and each den should consider which trail would be best for their scouts. some may want to hike form our campsite. Other may want to drive to a different trailhead in the park.
(Views from our campsite, of the Colorado River and adjacent cliffs, are also stunning!)
BEFORE YOU GO
☑️ All adults who attend an overnight trip must have completed the latest Youth Protection Training. Yes, it is required.
☑️ All attendees—adults and scouts—need to have a Scout BSA Medical Form completed/updated. Click here to download the form as a PDF. It can be filled out in Adobe Acrobat or by hand. A physical copy must be delivered to Ben at the campout (or before).
☑️ Reserve your spot: pay your tent and “grub” fee online. Deadline: Sunday March 12
☑️ Please register your vehicle before Friday, by filling out this form.
AGENDA
Saturday
12noon-2pm Arrival and campsite setup
(Eat a pre-packed lunch onsite or make a stop en route to camping)
2pm Opening Ceremony
Afternoon: Den Activities
6pm Dinner
7pm Campfire Prep / Practice Den Skits
8pm Campfire
Sunday
8am Breakfast
9am Scouts Own Service
9:30am Cleanup, strike camp, and departure
GOOD TO KNOW
There will be a reserved camping sites available for those who want to arrive on Friday, March 24 to camp an extra night. This is completely optional, and you are responsible for your own food on Friday night/Saturday morning. Contact Ben and pay an extra tent fee if you would like to reserve one of these spots.
Camp sites and parking: The Pack has already made the campsite reservations. We have sites 1-15 and 17.
There is a composting restroom on site.
Meals will be provided for Saturday Dinner and Sunday breakfast. The Tiger and Bear dens will be leading meals for this trip.
Coffee will be provided for adults (and anyone is welcome to learn how to help brew).
Arrival: Our opening ceremony is at 2pm. We recommend arriving at least an hour head of that to claim a site and set up your tent. There will be some opportunity later in the afternoon to continue to settle in, but it’s far better to get your tent pitched well before 2pm.
Swimming will NOT be permitted during our stay (our rules, not the park’s rules). If you would like to swim, you may do so, as a family, AFTER our closing ceremony. There is also a natural spring (Spicewood Spring) which you can swim in… again after our closing ceremony and a as a family.
What to bring
Class A uniform (Cub Scout uniform shirt, neckerchief, and hat) for Opening / Closing Ceremonies
Class B uniform (Pack t-shirt) for the rest of the weekend
A tent! Need to borrow a tent? Contact your Den Leader.
A reusable cup, mug, water bottle, and/or canteen.
A camp chair.
A fishing pole (*optional)
Note: Children can fish without a license in Texas state parks parks.
Click here for a complete packing list (including what not to bring!)
Colorado Bend State Park
1201 Colorado Park Road
Bend, TX 76824
Latitude: 31.022965
Longitude: -98.442401
(325) 628-3240
Scout Sunday 2023
Our partner organization, Covenant United Methodist Church, has invited all Pack 421 scouts and their families to attend their Scout Sunday celebration on February 26, 10am. The service should last about an hour.
Scout who attend should wear class A uniforms, and some can choose to volunteer for one of a few different roles:
Lighting candles (2 Scouts)
Leading a call to worship (1-3 Scouts)
Reciting the Scout Law (all Scouts)
Reading Scripture (1 Scout)
If your Scout can volunteer for one of those roles, please sign up here.
This is not a mandatory event. Families from all faiths are welcome to attend, and could be a great way for some Scouts to experience a different faith tradition.
It’s a great chance to open a conversation about an important part of the Scout Law: A Scout is Reverent.
2023 Blue & Gold Banquet
Our annual Blue & Gold Banquet will take place on Saturday, February 18, from 5:00-6:30pm, at Covenant United Methodist Church. The event will feature a BBQ dinner and our Arrow of Light scouts in a crossover ceremony. We’ll also celebrate our Pack’s achievements and BSA’s birthday. We will also showcase the past year’s activities and Scouts in a photo slideshow. (Click here to upload your photos!)
All Scout should attend in Class A uniforms. Friends and family are invited to join us.
Meal tickets are only $10 for anyone over the age of 4. Scouts in uniform eat for free!
Cash/credit will be accepted at the door, or you can click here to pay online now.
Our dinner menu will include:
BBQ brisket
Baked beans (vegetarian)
Potato salad
Bread
Pickles, peppers, onions
PB&J and bread
Lemonade and Ice Tea
Homemade Cupcakes
It will be a special night for our Arrow of Light Scouts, our Pack, and all of our families.
2023 Summer Camps
Capital Area Council and Armadillo District are offering affordable Summer Camp opportunities in 2023. Register early. These can be very popular.
CUB SCOUT DAY CAMPS
South Day Camp
Cabela’s
June 15-17
North Day Camp
Unity Church of the Hills
July 6-8
East Day Camp
Pioneer Farms
May 31-June 2
West Day Camp
VFW Post 4443
June 8-10
— Cub Scouts, non-Scout friends, and younger siblings are all welcome to attend! —
WEBELOS EXTREME Adventure CAMP
Webelos Scouts and their parent/guardian are invited to Webelos Extreme Adventure Camp (sometimes called “WEAC”)! This is a camp that gives Scouts and parents a glimpse of the fun they will experience in a Scouts BSA Troop.
— For Scouts going into 4th or 5th grade only —
Lost Pines Scouts BSA Camp
July 5-8
TECHLAB CAMP
A STEAM (Science/Technology/Engineering/Art/Math) camp with engaging, exciting, and hands-on activities during the summer in Austin ISD’s state-of-the-art Applied Technology Center at Anderson High School. In the winter, there’s version of TechLab offered at Camp Tom Wooten inside our Lost Pines Scout Reservation.
— For Scouts going into 3rd grade or older. —
Camp attendees will use tools like:
DSLR cameras
laser cutters/engravers
3D printers
robotics kits
hydrology display boards
Adobe Creative Suite and Labview software
Summer 2023 camp dates:
Week 1 – June 26-30
Week 2 – July 10-14
Week 3 – July 17-21
Week 4 – July 24-28
Fall 2022 Overnight Trip: A Night On an Aircraft Carrier
Nov. 5-6, USS Lexington
Last updated on Sep. 12
Come join us the weekend of November 5-6 at the USS Lexington! Now a museum ship, the Essex-class carrier was commissioned in 1943 and served in World War II with distinction in the Pacific, where she was claimed to have been sunk four times, earning the nickname "The Blue Ghost". She remained in the Navy as a training vessel until 1991. The flight deck houses 20 naval aircraft from across its career.
We'll be sleeping on the ship in the same way sailors did while the ship was in service. Fortunately, the bunks were modernized during the ship's career to be more comfortable than WWII standards. We'll have separate spaces for males and females. We'll have access to restrooms (with showers!) and lockers, but campers should expect to bring a pillow and sleeping bag.
Dinner and breakfast will be provided. Let us know if anyone has a dietary restriction: we can work with you on that, but otherwise bringing food is not allowed.
This event is open to all scouts, parents, and siblings over the age of five.
Click here to make your reservation and pay by September 25.
Required Forms.
Please complete and bring your health form with you.
Youth Protection Training is required of all attending adults. Forward your completion certificate. It may take a few hours to be sent to your email address upon completion.
Annual BSA Medical Release Forms are required for all Scouts attending. Click here to download.
Check-In/Meetup
We will meet outside entrance to the pier at our specified arrival time. Please arrive at the scheduled time so we can all enter together.
USS Lexington
2914 N Shoreline Blvd
Chorpus Christi, TX 78402
(361) 888-4873
Plan accordingly: From Austin, this is a minimum 3.5 hour drive.
What to Pack
Everything you bring will need to to be carried across the pier and down at least one flight of very steep steps, so we recommend packing light with a duffel.
Sleeping bag and pillow
Closed-toed shoes
Basic toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, etc)
Class B uniform (pack t-shirt)
Flashlight
Eye mask (optional)
Towel
Sunscreen, insect repellant, hand sanitizer (optional)
Lock for the provided lockers
What to Leave at Home
Items of value (laptop, tablets, etc)
Food is not allowed in sleeping areas: contact us if you have any special dietary needs
Alcohol
Agenda
Timing is approximate—except for check-in. Don’t be late!
1200-1500: arrival and check-in (exact time for Pack TBA: we will update this page)
1600: Film
1700: Dinner
1800: Flag Ceremony
1830: Self-guided tours
2130: Ghost stories (a crowd favorite)
2300: Lights out
——
0645: Reveille
0800: Breakfast
0845: Morning colors
0900: Departure
Questions?
Fall 2022 Camping Trip
OCT. 8-9, BASTROP STATE PARK
We will camp overnight on Saturday, October 8 to Sunday, October 9 at Bastrop State Park, about 45min east of Austin. Activities begin at 2pm on Saturday, so please arrive at least an hour earlier to set up your tent site.
There will be a few reserved camping sites available for those who want to arrive on Friday and camp an extra night. This is completely optional, and you are responsible for your own food on Friday night/Saturday morning. Contact Ben if you would like to reserve one of these spots.
BEFORE YOU GO
☑️ All adults who attend an overnight trip must have completed the latest Youth Protection Training. Yes, it is required.
☑️ All attendees—adults and scouts—need to have a Scout BSA Medical Form completed/updated. Click here to download the form as a PDF. It can be filled out in Adobe Acrobat or by hand. A physical copy must be delivered to Ben at the campout (or before).
☑️ Reserve your spot: pay your tent and “grub” fee online. Deadline: Sunday Sept. 25
AGENDA
Saturday
12noon-1pm Arrival and campsite setup
2pm Opening Ceremony
Afternoon: Den Activities
6pm Dinner
7pm Campfire Prep / Practice Den Skits
8pm Campfire
Sunday
8am Breakfast
9am Scouts Own Service
9:30am Cleanup, strike camp, and departure
GOOD TO KNOW
Camp sites: The Pack has already made the campsite reservations. We have all the sites (27-42) in the Deer Run Camping Area for our pack. Click here for the park map
Note: Site 29 is a “walk-up” reservation, and we will try to reserve it as well, but it may get reserved by anyone on Saturday.
A maximum of two vehicles may occupy a site. Please plan on bringing just one vehicle (each site can have two vehicles parked) and keep in mind that we need to have two tents at every site, maximum.
There are restroom facilities, a playground, and plenty of trails in the park.
Click here for the trail map
Note: Orange Trail is closed.
Meals will be provided for Saturday Dinner and Sunday breakfast. The Arrow of Light den is leading meals for this trip.
Coffee will be provided for adults (and anyone is welcome to learn how to help brew).
Arrival: Our opening ceremony is at 2pm. We recommend arriving at least an hour head of that to claim a site and set up your tent. There will be some opportunity later in the afternoon to continue to settle in, but it’s far better to get your tent pitched well before 2pm.
What to bring
Class A uniform (Cub Scout uniform shirt, neckerchief, and hat) for Opening / Closing Ceremonies
Class B uniform (Pack t-shirt) for the rest of the weekend
A tent! Need to borrow a tent? Contact your Den Leader.
A reusable cup, mug, water bottle, and/or canteen.
A camp chair.
A fishing pole (*optional)
Note: Fishing does not require a license in state parks.
Click here for Bastrop State Park’s fishing tip sheet
Click here for a complete packing list (including what not to bring!)
Bastrop State Park
100 Park Road 1A
Bastrop, TX 78602
(512) 321-2101
Latitude: 30.110149
Longitude: -97.286864