November 9, 2019; December 14, 2019

The TW Davis Family YMCA is offering half-day Swimming (8:00 - 11:30 am) and Lifesaving (1:00 - 4:30 pm) Merit Badge classes for Scouts in troops, crews and ships. Scouts only need to attend one class and must be able to pass the BSA Swim Test at the event in order to proceed with the class. The Swimming Merit Badge is a prerequisite for the Lifesaving Merit Badge. Classes are $40. For more information, contact steven.stout@ymcahouston.org (281-341-0791).

December 14, 2019

Scouts in troops can work on the Railroading merit badge with Houston METRORail. Experience an interactive and Informative day on the METRORail with the METRO safety team at METRO's Rail Service and Inspection Facility. Learn about railroading and safety, get a tour of where the light-rail trains live and take a ride on the METRORail. Space is limited to 25 Scouts for this workshop, so sign up early! Parents are welcome to join us, please make note of your attendance when you sign up. For more details contact Desiare.Duplechan@ridemetro.org.

Lone Star Flight Museum Overnights and Aviation Merit Badge

The Lone Star Flight Museum, located near Ellington Field, is an aerospace museum that displays more than 24 historically significant aircraft, and many artifacts related to the history of flight. The museum's collection is rare because most of the aircraft are flyable.

Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts can spend the night at the museum. Scouts spend the evening learning about the collection of rare air-worthy warbirds, conducting a preflight inspection of a real plane, testing their pilot skills in our flight simulators, and learning science with more hands-on aviation activities. Then, Scouts set up camp and sleep under the wings of the historic planes like the giant B-17 Bomber!

Scouts in troops, crews, and ships can earn the Aviation Merit Badge three ways:

1. Attend an Aviation Overnight to work on the badge and then camp out in the hangars surrounded by the historic warbirds.
2. Attend a merit badge three-hour workshop to earn the badge with staff and volunteers.
3. Visit the museum and complete the independent merit badge work with your own counselor using museum planes, simulators, exhibits using the online museum guidebook.

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Sea Star Base - Galveston

Sea Star Base is a multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art seaside facility in Galveston, Tx. Explore the diverse natural wonders of the Texas Gulf Coast marine environment. Master the maritime skills needed to navigate the open ocean. Discover the value of teamwork when working with your crew and meet old friends and new ones. Cub Scouts can attend Splash Weekends to earn requirements towards the new aquatics program and a variety of STEM / Nova classes. Scouts in troops, crews and ships can attend weekend adventures and summer high adventure activities. Adventures include a variety activities such as kayaking, small boat sailing, big boat sailing, beach volleyball. scuba diving, crew-to-crew competition, STEM/Nova courses and more.  

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Alamo Area Council Scout Nights

Scouts, Scouters and families from our council are invited to participate in Alamo Area Council (San Antonio, TX) Scout nights.

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iFly Scout Discounts

iFLY makes the dream of flight a reality with indoor skydiving in a safe and fun environment. iFLY offers special rates and programs for Scout outings! STEM summer camp programs are available for Scout groups of 20 or more and participants will receive a special iFLY patch. For more information, contact iFLY Houston at (281) 295-1761 or aburchett@iflyworld.com.

Armand Bayou Nature Center Scout Classes

The Armand Bayou Nature Center offers a variety of classes for Cub Scouts. 

• Tigers: Tigers in the Wild
• Wolves: Paws on the Path
• Bear: Fur, Feathers and Ferns  
• Webelos Scouts: Into the Wild and Into the Woods

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Bricks4Kids

Bricks4Kidz Cypress offers various programs where children build and design simple machines, famous landmarks, catapults and robots using LEGO Bricks. While exploring engineering, architecture and physics, students will develop problem solving and critical thinking skills.

Students will work in a lab-type setting using LEGO® bricks with an integrated curriculum based on math and science. For children to play and socialize with friends while learning fundamentals of engineering and architecture in a non-competitive setting. For more information, contact cypresstx@bricks4kidz.com.

Classes offered include STEM NOVA Awards - Science Everywhere, Tech Talk,  Swing!, 1-2-3 Go, Wolf Adventure Make it Move, Bear Adventure Robotics and Webelos Scout Adventure Movie Making

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Gigglin' Marlin Dive & Swim Merit Badge Classes

Gigglin' Marlin Dive & Swim offers a variety of merit badge classes taught by registered merit badge counselors throughout the year. Classes include the Lifesaving, Swimming, Scuba Diving Merit Badges and many more. These are not give-away merit badges, and this is not a merit badge factory. Each Scout is expected to fulfill all the requirements by reading the merit badge book ahead of time, attending classes and doing prerequisites. Scouts are expected to participate fully in the class in order to receive full credit for the requirements completed.

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Houston Arboretum & Nature Center Scout Classes

The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center offers a variety of workshops for Scouts. Scouts investigate the nature sanctuary with a naturalist and learn about the fascinating ecology of the forest. All of the Scout programs are conducted by staff naturalists and use the nature sanctuary as a field laboratory for hands-on explorations!

• Bears can work on the un, Feathers and Ferns adventure.
• Webelos Scouts can work on the Into the Wild adventure.
• Scouts in troops can work on the Bird Study merit badge and conduct Eagle Scout projects.
• Scout groups can take a one-hour guided hike through the woods called a Forest Trek. Along the way, Scouts look for wild animals and their habitats, and learn to identify signs of nature. 

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Health Museum Scout Classes

The Health Museum offers a variety of classes for Scouts. Private classes can also be scheduled for groups of 10 or more Scouts on a first-come, first-serve basis.

• Webelos Scouts and can work a variety of advancements.
• Scouts in troops can work on several different merit badges.

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HMNS Scout Classes

The Houston Museum of Natural Science offers a variety of classes for Scouts.

• Tigers, Wolves, and Bears and Webelos Scouts can work towards Adventures in two-hour classes. Up to two classes can be taken in one day and entrance to the general exhibits is included for the Scout and one parent/chaperone. Classes are offered throughout the school year on Saturdays.
• Scouts in troops can work on several merit badges, including five Eagle Scout required badges. All classes use the resources at the museum’s disposal to help Scouts meet requirements.
• Scout Overnight is an opportunity for Scouts to spend the night at the museum. Scouts have an exclusive adventure through the museum exhibit halls, with activities and a special program in the Burke Baker Planetarium, where Scouts have a clear night adventure under the stars!
• Summer Scout Academy are week-long classes, held during the summer for Scouts in troops, Webelos Scouts, Bears, and Wolves. A total of 42 different merit badge class are being taught by registered merit badge counselors.
• STEM/Nova Day is held annually in September. Scouts of all ages have access to the museum at a discounted rate while working towards requirements for Nova Awards. 

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Houston Zoo Overnighters

The Houston Zoo offers a spend the night at the zoo for a unique, after-hours experience which includes interactive activities, touchable animals, pizza dinner, Scout advancements on certain nights, and a continental breakfast!  

District Merit Badge Days

Merit Badge Days are an opportunity for Scouts in troops to work on several merit badges. Classes are taught by adults with experience in the field. The following districts typically hold merit badge events:

• Aquila District 
• Orion District 
• Phoenix District 
• Raven District 
• Texas Skies District 
• Twin Bayou District