Sam Houston Area Council Boy Scouts Of America

What Sam Houston Area Council Boy Scouts Of America does

The Sam Houston Area Council (SHAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit local council of the Boy Scouts of America serving approximately 28,000 youth across 16 counties in Southeast Texas, with a base of roughly 10,000 adult volunteers organized into 20 districts. It delivers the federation's tiered youth programs — Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Sea Scouts, and Venturers — supported by four major camp properties (Bovay Scout Ranch, Camp Strake, Camp Brosig, and Tellepsen Scout Camp) and headquartered at the Cockrell Scout Center in Houston, Texas. Program operations are enabled by third-party SaaS tools including Scoutbook for advancement tracking and the Blackpug/247scouting platform for online Scout Shop retail. SHAC recently rebranded alongside the national federation to "Scouting America" and is expanding its curriculum into space-focused STEM programming through the Space U Odyssey initiative (July 2026), and has secured institutional partnerships with the Houston Texans, Houston Astros, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

The council's revenue model is a multi-stream nonprofit structure typical of large BSA councils: direct donations, product fundraising (notably the popcorn drive), program and activity fees paid by member families, and retail revenue through its Scout Shops. It is also investing in marketing capacity, evidenced by the recent hire of a Marketing and Communications Director. Operationally, SHAC depends on a roughly 360:1 youth-to-volunteer ratio for unit-level program delivery, with paid professional staff concentrated at the council and district levels. The organization is not a technology company and operates no proprietary AI, ML, or platform products of its own; its competitive position rests on the BSA charter, the Eagle Scout brand, physical camp and district infrastructure, and the lifetime Scouting alumni network rather than on software differentiation.

Name

Sam Houston Area Council Boy Scouts Of America

Legal name

Sam Houston Area Council

Website

https://shacbsa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1914

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Sam Houston Area Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Boy Scouts local council serving roughly 28,000 youth across 16 Southeast Texas counties and 20 districts with four major camp properties, funded through donations, popcorn fundraising, program fees, and Scout Shop retail.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212), Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA), STEM & Science Camps (Biology, Chemistry, Space, Lab Science) (EDAMALAC)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Scouting programs
• Outdoor camping programs
• Leadership training programs
• Character education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Friends of Scouting: Annual giving campaign where supporters donate to fund Scouting programs. Completely funded by the generosity of those that believe in its mission.
2. Popcorn Fundraising: Annual fall popcorn sale where Scout units raise money. Units use the Trail's End portal for tracking sales and inventory.
3. Program Fees: Registration and participation fees for camping programs, merit badge events, summer camps, and other Scouting activities.
4. Scout Shop Sales: Sale of Scouting merchandise including uniforms, handbooks, merit badge pamphlets, and camping equipment at the Scout Shop.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Sam Houston Area Council delivers Boy Scouts of America youth development programs across 16 Southeast Texas counties, including Cub Scouting (grades K-5), Scouts BSA (ages 11-17), Sea Scouts and Venturing (ages 14-20). The council operates four camp properties — Bovay Scout Ranch, Camp Strake, Camp Brosig, and Tellepsen Scout Camp — offering summer camps, weekend camping, merit badge programs covering over 130 subjects, high-adventure expeditions, and STEM programs such as Space U Odyssey inspired by NASA missions. Programs are delivered through 20 local districts organized into packs, troops, crews, and ships run by approximately 10,000 adult volunteers serving approximately 28,000 youth.

Product overview

The Sam Houston Area Council operates a comprehensive youth development organization serving approximately 28,000 youth across 16 Southeast Texas counties through a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core offerings include Cub Scouting Programs (for ages 5-10), Scouts BSA Camping Programs (for ages 11-17), and High Adventure Programs. These are supported by specialized program offerings including Space U Odyssey (STEM/NASA-themed experience), Merit Badge Programs (over 130 badges via Merit Badge Days), and seasonal camps such as Adventure Camp, Aquatics Summit, Full Throttle, Winter Camp, and Campsgiving. The organization leverages digital platforms including Blackpug for event registration and Scoutbook for advancement tracking. Additional offerings include the Popcorn Fundraiser program, Scout Days community partnerships with professional sports teams, recognition programs like the Silver Beaver Award, and the Order of the Arrow honor society. The council maintains physical assets including Bovay Scout Ranch, Camp Brosig, Camp Strake, and Tellepsen Scout Camp, supporting 20 local districts that deliver programming across the region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cub Scouting Programs Youth development program for kindergarten through 5th grade (ages 5-10), featuring Cub Scout Camping with programs including Adventure Camp, Day Camp, Family Camping, Fishing Derby, and Webelos/Arrow of Light Quest activities. Designed for elementary-age youth with family involvement.
• Scouts BSA Camping Programs Outdoor adventure camping programs for youth ages 11-17, including Summer Camp, Winter Camp, Aquatics Summit, Full Throttle, MLK Camp, Trail to Eagle Camp, Super Troop, Weekend Camping, and Angler Classic at council camp properties.
• High Adventure Programs Multi-day wilderness expeditions including Mission Lone Star, National Scout Jamboree, Florida Sea Base, Northern Tier, Philmont Scout Ranch, and Summit Bechtel Reserve for older Scouts seeking advanced outdoor challenges.
• Space U Odyssey A five-day, hands-on STEM experience inspired by real NASA missions that puts students in the role of NASA scientists, engineers, and astronauts. Offered July 12-17, 2026 at Camp Strake.
• Merit Badge Programs Advancement opportunities offering over 130 merit badges through district and council events, including Merit Badge Days at camp locations throughout the year, covering diverse subjects from wilderness survival to programming and citizenship.
• Adventure Camp Weekend campout at Bovay Scout Ranch for Cub Scouts and their families featuring activities at several program areas and STEM-based activities.
• Aquatics Summit Fun-filled event for Scouts in troops, crews, and ships featuring merit badge classes, climbing, paddleboarding, and survivor-inspired adventures for Sea Scouts and Venturers. Held August 7-9, 2026.
• Full Throttle Weekend event for Scouts featuring program areas including shooting sports, climbing, swimming, ziplining, and boating, along with merit badge instruction.
• Campsgiving Thanksgiving break camp combining traditional camp (Turkey Camp), STEM Camp, and Mission Lone Star for troops seeking merit badges and high-adventure experiences.
• Scout Shop Retail store offering Scout uniforms, merit badge pamphlets, camping equipment, and Scouting supplies for members and families across the council territory.
• Order of the Arrow Scouting's national honor society providing service to camps and promoting camping, including chapter events and activities such as those hosted by the local Neches Lodge chapter for inducted members.
• Scout Days Community partnership events offering discounted experiences with local partners including Houston Texans, Houston Astros, and Houston Museum of Natural Science, providing community exposure and family recruitment opportunities.
• Popcorn Fundraiser Annual fall fundraising program powered by Trail's End portal, providing tools, training, and tracking for Scout units to run successful popcorn sales that fund a year of Scouting adventures.

Quantifiable outcome

• 28,000 youth served annually across 16 counties

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Houston TexansminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 August 2026Houston Texans NFL team hosting Scout Day at Reliant Stadium. Scouts receive preferred ticket rates for Texans vs. Chargers game on August 13, 2026.
• Houston AstrosminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 July 2026Houston Astros MLB team hosting Scout Day at Daikin Park. First 2,000 Scouts receive exclusive Houston Astros Scout Day patch. Scouts can run the bases after the game.
• Scouting America (National Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational governing body providing program guidelines, insurance, training resources, and brand standards. The council operates under the national organization's policies and procedures.
• Order of the ArrowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBSA's national honor society for recognizing campers who exemplify Scout values. The council has OA chapters including Neches Lodge.
• Florida Sea BaseminorOthersNational high adventure base in the Florida Keys offering sea-based adventures including sailing, fishing, and scuba diving programs.
• Northern TierminorOthersNational high adventure base in Minnesota offering canoe country expeditions and wilderness programs.
• Philmont Scout RanchminorOthersNational high adventure base in New Mexico offering backcountry hiking and wilderness treks.
• The Summit Bechtel ReserveminorOthersNational high adventure base in West Virginia offering climbing, zip lines, and adventure sports programs.
• Houston Museum of Natural ScienceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYear-round Scout programs offering merit badge classes and advancement workshops for Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA.
• Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes youth in the eastern and southwest side of Cy-Fair ISD and Harris County areas through the Red Wolf District.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Philmont Scout Ranch: National BSA high-adventure base in New Mexico offering backcountry trekking used by Sam Houston Area Council Scouts. Comparable camp programming and Scouting-aligned delivery, but operates as a separate high-adventure destination rather than a local council.
• Trail's End Popcorn: National popcorn fundraising platform powering the council's annual fall fundraiser. Comparable ecosystem participant that enables the council's largest unit-level revenue stream.

Direct peers

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston: Houston-based youth-development nonprofit serving thousands of local youth with after-school programs, leadership curricula, and recreational facilities. Directly comparable mission, geography, and youth-development delivery model.
• Camp Fire National Headquarters: National youth organization offering outdoor programs, camp experiences, and youth-led programming comparable to Scouting's model. Operates local councils across the country with summer camp and badge-equivalent programming.
• Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council: The Houston-area Girl Scouts council serving Southeast Texas with a directly analogous youth-development model: troop-based delivery, badge/award curriculum, cookie fundraising, and camp properties. Most direct comparable by geography, mission, and operating model.
• National 4-H Council: Land-grant university affiliated youth-development organization delivering STEM, citizenship, and outdoor programs to millions of U.S. youth. Comparable mission, non-degree educational structure, and reliance on volunteer-led clubs.

Broad incumbents

• Boy Scouts of America / Scouting America (National Council): The national governing body of which Sam Houston Area Council is a local council. Operates the same Scouting program, brand, training, insurance, and high-adventure bases, but at a national scope with charter and policy authority over local councils.
• YMCA of Greater Houston: Major regional youth and family services nonprofit operating camp programs (e.g., Camp Cullen), afterschool care, and youth sports across Southeast Texas. Comparable scope, geographic footprint, and youth-development programming portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RedWolfDistrict
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/boy-scouts-of-america-sam-houston-area-council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries25 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sam Houston Area Council Boy Scouts Of America