Hello Thunderbird Family!
RECRUITING SEASON IS ROLLING! 
I continue to be excited by the energy we’re seeing across Thunderbird. Units are getting into schools, hosting Join Scout Nights, following up with families, and—most importantly—ADDING SCOUTS!
Every new Scout represents another young person getting the opportunity to experience adventure, leadership, friendship, service, and everything this program has to offer.
Our goal remains simple:
Give EVERY youth who wants to experience Scouting the opportunity to do so!
And right now, Thunderbird is making it happen!
Upcoming Events Spotlight
Our fall calendar is PACKED, so make sure these dates are on your unit calendars!
September 25–27 — Thunderbird District Camporee @ Lost Pines Scout Reservation
September 26 — Kite & Rocket Festival
September 27 — Dittmar Soccer Joint Activity
October 3 — Scouting 101
October 15 — Scout Shop Road Show
October 17 — JOTA/JOTI @ Frank Fickett Scout Training and Service Center
October 31 — Shooting Sports Extravaganza
November 14 — SpeedFest @ Circuit of the Americas
January 15, 2027 — Winter Festival @ Smiling V
February 4, 2027 — Distinguished Citizen Award Luncheon
Remember: these aren’t just events for our current Scouts—they’re recruiting tools!
When you’re talking with a prospective family, don’t just tell them about Scouting. SHOW THEM what’s waiting for them when they join!
ANY UNIT Recruiting? TELL US!
This isn’t just for Packs anymore!
If ANY Thunderbird unit is hosting a Join Scout Night, recruiting event, open house, community event, or another opportunity designed to bring in new youth, PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM!
Submit Your Recruiting Event:
https://forms.gle/
We want to support you however we can—with recruiting materials, promotion, staffing, follow-up, ideas, or additional resources.
BUT WE CAN ONLY SUPPORT WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT!
Please communicate your recruiting plans with us early. The more notice we have, the more we can do to help make your event successful.
If your Troop, Crew, or Pack is doing something creative to recruit new Scouts, I want to hear about it!
Membership Growth: KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING!
Join Scout Nights, school recruiting, community events, follow-up calls, and individual conversations with families are all adding up.
Thank you to every leader, parent, and Scout who has welcomed prospective families, answered questions, handed out flyers, worked recruiting tables, and helped show families what Scouting is all about.
Every successful recruiting event is the result of volunteers putting in the work BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER the event.
And that last piece matters!
FOLLOW UP. FOLLOW UP. FOLLOW UP.
A family expressing interest is great.
A family completing an application is better.
A brand-new Scout walking into their first meeting and being welcomed into their new unit?
THAT’S THE GOAL!
Keep reaching out to those families. Sometimes that one phone call, text, or email is all it takes to help someone take the next step.
Second Chance Join Nights!
Your first Join Scout Night doesn’t have to be your last recruiting opportunity this fall!
If you still have families to reach, consider holding a Second Chance Join Night during the first couple of weeks of October.
We’ll have National Night Out events, Scouting 101, and the October 15 Scout Shop Road Show all happening around the same time, giving us several opportunities to connect families with Scouting.
If you’re planning one, LET ME KNOW!
Submit Your Recruiting Event:
https://forms.gle/
Remember, recruiting material orders are placed every Friday and typically arrive the following Friday, so the earlier you communicate your plans, the better we can support you.
Let’s keep those recruiting events going!
AFTER Your Recruiting Event — REPORT THOSE RESULTS!
Once your Join Scout Night or recruiting event is complete, don’t forget one important final step:
TELL US WHAT HAPPENED!
Capitol Area Council Join Scout Night Results:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/
This information goes directly to Vicki, our Central Service Area Field Director, and helps us track our membership progress, see what’s working, improve our recruiting process, identify opportunities, and determine where additional support may be needed.
Plan it. Promote it. Hold it. Follow up. Report it. GROW!
IT’S CAMPOREE WEEK!
Alright, Thunderbird…
WE MADE IT! CAMPOREE IS THIS WEEKEND!
September 25–27
Lost Pines Scout Reservation
Thunderbird and Colorado River District are coming together for a weekend of competition, fellowship, outdoor adventure, and FUN!
Our Camping Committee has put a tremendous amount of work into making this weekend happen, and I cannot wait to see our Scouts finally get out there and compete.
IMPORTANT: Review Your Attached Camporee Documents!
Attached to this email, you will find important documents that every unit should review before arriving at Lost Pines:
Camporee Leaders Guide — Please review this with your unit leadership and youth leaders so everyone knows what to expect throughout the weekend.
Burn Ban Instructions — Bastrop County is currently under a burn ban, so there are important adjustments and safety requirements that units need to understand before arriving at camp. Please make sure your cooking plans and equipment comply with the instructions provided.
Activity Consent Form and Approval by Parents or Legal Guardians — Please make sure your Scouts have the appropriate completed paperwork before arriving at Camporee.
Please don’t wait until Friday afternoon to look through these! Take some time with your leadership this week to review everything, communicate the information to your families, and make sure your unit arrives prepared.
If your unit has NOT registered yet, this is your LAST CALL!
Camporee Registration:
https://scoutingevent.com/564-
REGISTRATION CLOSES TOMORROW AT 11:59 PM!
DO. NOT. WAIT.
We’re almost there, Thunderbird! Pack the gear, review those documents, get your Scouts ready, and let’s head to Lost Pines for an incredible weekend.
LET’S HAVE AN AWESOME CAMPOREE!
SCOUTING 101 — WE’RE NEXT!
As soon as Camporee wraps up, we’re turning our attention toward another HUGE opportunity.
October 3
Troops and Crews, Scouting 101 is YOUR recruiting event!
We aren’t only inviting Arrow of Light Scouts preparing to cross over. We’re inviting new youth from across Thunderbird to experience our older-youth programs and discover what Scouts BSA and Venturing have to offer.
That means this is your opportunity to SHOW OFF YOUR UNIT!
What makes you different?
What adventures do you take?
What traditions do you have?
Why should a young person walk away saying:
“THAT’S the unit I want to join!”
Bring your Scouts. Bring pictures. Bring gear. Bring something INTERACTIVE!
Most importantly, let YOUR SCOUTS tell the story.
Don’t sit behind a table waiting for someone to approach you. Engage families. Invite youth to participate. Get their information. Invite them to your next meeting or outing.
Then…
FOLLOW UP!
We’re working to bring prospective Scouts to you.
Now let’s get them into Scouting!
SpeedFest Registration is UNDERWAY!
November 14Circuit of the Americas
Thunderbird has COTA right in our backyard, so I want us showing up BIG!
And remember—SpeedFest is another incredible recruiting tool.
Imagine telling a brand-new family:
“Welcome to Scouting! By the way… we’re going to Circuit of the Americas.”
That’s a pretty great introduction to the program!
Register for SpeedFest:
https://scoutingevent.com/564-
Let’s PACK COTA with Thunderbird Scouts!
Stay Connected with Thunderbird!
With recruiting season, Camporee, Scouting 101, and a VERY busy fall ahead, make sure you’re subscribed to our Thunderbird District text notification system.
We’ll use it for weather alerts, event changes, reminders, and other time-sensitive district information.
Subscribe:
https://app2.simpletexting.
Thunderbird, THIS is the season to GROW.
We’re in our schools.
We’re in our communities.
We’re hosting recruiting events.
We’re following up with families.
We’re putting on incredible programs for our Scouts.
And most importantly…
WE’RE ADDING SCOUTS!
Every Scout we add means one more young person gets the opportunity to discover what this program can do for them.
Keep recruiting. Keep inviting. KEEP FOLLOWING UP.
Now let’s have an incredible Camporee weekend and carry that energy straight into October!
LET’S GROW THUNDERBIRD!
Yours in Scouting,
Sherrick West | Thunderbird District Executive
