Hello Thunderbird Family!
First, thank you all for your patience while I’ve been away at trainings and getting some much-needed rest! I’m finally back, recharged, and ready to hit the ground running.
Friends of Scouting showed exactly what Thunderbird can do when we rally around a goal. Now I’m excited to bring that SAME energy into the second half of the year with MEMBERSHIP!
We raised the money. Now let’s grow the movement. 
Upcoming Events Spotlight
Our fall calendar is filling up FAST, so get these dates on your unit calendars now!
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
There are A LOT of opportunities coming our way. Make sure your families know about them, especially the new families we’ll be welcoming this fall!
Membership Growth: Our District’s #1 Focus
Friends of Scouting was an incredible success…
Now it’s time to grow Scouting!
We’re currently sitting at 76.3% of our annual membership goal, and I know we’re only getting started.
Over the next several weeks, we’ll be focusing heavily on:
Join Scout Nights School recruiting Community outreach events Fall recruitment planning
The goal is simple: more youth experiencing Scouting.
A huge thank you to all the units that have already completed their Unit Meeting Information Forms! Your quick responses make it much easier for the district and commissioner team to support you.
EVERY UNIT: We Need Your Meeting Information!
If you haven’t completed the Unit Meeting Information Form yet, please take a few minutes and get it done.
This information helps us coordinate commissioner visits, membership support, recruiting assistance, and future Friends of Scouting presentations.
Unit Meeting Information Form:
https://forms.gle/ux86cnJqyyakDVf58
PACKS: Confirmed Join Scout Nights Need to Be Submitted ASAP!
If your Pack has ANY confirmed Join Scout Nights coming up, I need your dates, times, and locations ASAP.
Submit your confirmed JSN here:
https://forms.gle/qG8p8Guzdv67CM4aA
I want to make sure your unit receives the most professional recruiting materials possible and has everything it needs for a successful night.
Recruiting material orders are placed every Friday and typically arrive the following Friday. Please plan ahead! The sooner I have your information, the better we can support you.
If your unit would like a personalized recruiting visit or a custom Join Scout Night training, just reach out. Let’s make sure every Pack is ready to recruit! I have attached some of the highly requested recruiting templates for connivence.
Popcorn Season Is HERE!
Membership brings new Scouts through the door. Popcorn helps give them an incredible program once they’re here!
If your unit hasn’t signed up or completed onboarding, now is the time.
There are some BIG incentives this year:
Units that did not sell last year or only sold online can receive a 12% bonus.
New popcorn units can receive two FREE cases with 100% profit!
Final Popcorn Training: August 25 at 7:30 PM
Deadline to Sign Up: August 26
If your unit has never participated in traditional sales, this could be the year to try it.
Everything Popcorn:
https://www.capitolareascouting.org/resources/popcorn/
Don’t leave money on the table that could be paying for your Scouts’ adventures!
First Aid Merit Badge at September Roundtable
We’re excited to offer the First Aid Merit Badge during our September Roundtable!
September Roundtable
6:00 PM–8:30 PM
Bethany Lutheran Church
First Aid is one of the most useful Merit Badges a Scout can earn, and we’re excited to take better advantage of our Roundtable classroom space by offering opportunities like this.
Space may be limited, so please register early.
First Aid Merit Badge Registration:
https://forms.gle/kshaboRBErs443LV9
Camporee Registration Is LIVE!
Our 2026 Thunderbird District Camporee is officially open for registration!
September 25–27 Lost Pines Scout Reservation
Register for Camporee:
https://scoutingevent.com/564-118081-268640
This year we’ll be partnering with troops from Colorado River District, which means more Scouts, more competition, more fellowship, and an opportunity to make this one of our best Camporees yet!
The Leader’s Guide is coming soon, so keep an eye out.
SPEEDFEST REGISTRATION IS UNDERWAY!
Speaking of BIG fall events…
SpeedFest is BACK at Circuit of the Americas!
November 14 Circuit of the Americas
Please start advertising this opportunity to your current families AND talking about it with prospective families during recruiting season.
Events like SpeedFest help us show a brand-new family that joining Scouting doesn’t mean waiting months for something exciting. There are adventures waiting for them right away!
Register for SpeedFest:
https://scoutingevent.com/564-114933?_gl=1*14u4xw1*_gcl_au*MTQwOTY3MTI3Ni4xNzg0ODM0NDkz*_ga*MTcwMTYyNjY5NS4xNzM2ODgwNTc4*_ga_6L7HJN7E32*czE3ODYzODM0MjEkbzIyMiRnMSR0MTc4NjM4MzQ0OSRqMzIkbDAkaDA
Thunderbird has COTA in our backyard. I want us showing up BIG!
Thunderbird Needs YOU!
As our district grows, our volunteer team needs to grow with it.
We’re looking for adults interested in:
• Teaching Merit Badge Classes at Roundtable
• Becoming Unit Commissioners
• Serving as our Roundtable Commissioner
• Joining District Committees
• Bringing more Pack representation to our district committees
You don’t have to take on another massive Scouting job. Even teaching one Merit Badge class a year or helping with a few district projects can make a difference.
If you’re interested, reach out:
commissioner.tbird@gmail.com districtchair.tbird@gmail.com Sherrick.West@scouting.org
District Notification Text Messages Are LIVE!
Thunderbird is officially using our District Notification Text Message system for important, time-sensitive information including:
• Weather alerts
• Event changes
• Important reminders
• Time-sensitive district announcements
Subscribe here:
https://app2.simpletexting.com/join/joinWebForm?webFormId=689fa570b229977b3440159b&c=USA
With recruiting season, Camporee, and a VERY busy fall coming up, I highly recommend getting subscribed now.
Eagle Scouts: September NESA Gathering
Last but certainly not least, calling all of my Eagle Scouts age 21+!
Our next NESA Eagle Scout Gathering is coming up:
September 1 6:00 PM Warren Wildlife Gallery
1401 Bouldin Ave, Austin, TX 78704
This gathering is open to ALL Eagle Scouts age 21+, not just Eagles from the Capitol Area Council.
Come out, meet other Eagles, build connections, enjoy the Warren Wildlife Gallery, and help us continue growing our Eagle Scout alumni community here in Central Texas.
One quick housekeeping note before I go: I pull these email lists directly from your unit information in My.Scouting. If you’re receiving this email but are no longer in your Pack, Troop, or Crew leadership role, please either forward this information to your current leadership or let me know so we can make sure we’re communicating with the right people.
We have a HUGE second half of the year ahead of us.
Thunderbird proved what we could accomplish with Friends of Scouting. Now let’s bring that same competitive energy to membership. Let’s get into our schools, show up in our communities, support our Packs, strengthen our Troops and Crews, and welcome a LOT of new families into Scouting.
Let’s grow!
Yours in Scouting,
Sherrick West | Thunderbird District Executive
