Scouting America - Texas Southwest Council

Where is Scouting taking you this summer? If you or your Pack, Troop, Crew, Ship, or Post making trip this summer, tag where you are going and share a picture when you get there.

As America turns 250, we’re investing in the next generation. Because leadership, resilience, and community don’t happen by accident. They’re built. Military families save $85 on National Membership starting June 1, 2026.

Let’s light up Facebook… Like and Share!

The mission of Scouting America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

We are proud to congratulate one of our own, Eagle Scout Joaquin, on graduating as the Valedictorian of Del Rio High School!
We also celebrate all of our graduating seniors as they begin an exciting new chapter in their lives. Remember the principles that guided you in Scouting:
“Do Your Best,” “Do a Good Turn Daily,” and “Be Prepared. For Life.”

Joaquin J. Taylor
Del Rio High School 2026 Class Valedictorian

He is the son of Diego Taylor and Vanessa Jones.
In the fall, he will be attending Abilene Christian University where he will major in Mechanical Engineering. His goal is to graduate from Abilene Christian University with honors, continue his education with earning a master’s degree, and eventually open his own engineering firm. He has obtained 30 college hours and took 7 AP classes. He was a member of the National Honor Society, Robotics, National Technical Honor Society, Cross Country, Track and Field, and Boy Scouts of America Troop 255. His officer positions include Robotics Drive Team and Senior Patrol Leader with Troop 255. His total scholarships amount is $46,630.06. His favorite high school memory is when the Robotics Team 4063, TrikzR4Kidz, was selected as an alliance partner for finals at FRC World Championships in Houston, TX. He would like to thank his parents for always pushing him to be his best and keeping him going when he wanted to stop. They would put him back together when he crashed or fell apart.
“The Race Always Hurts, Expect it to Hurt, You Don’t Train So That it Doesn’t Hurt, You Train So That You Can Tolerate It.” -Mark Rowland

Camp Sol Mayer is temporary closed for planned major renovations and upgrades.

Attention: Scouting programs in the Eagle Pass Area. This would be a fun family activity.

The City of Eagle Pass and Maverick County cordially invite you to participate in a complimentary fishing event for children at Maverick County Lake, presented in collaboration with the Eagle Pass Evening Lions Club, Eagle Pass Walmart Supercenter, and Texas Parks and Wildlife. Advance registration is required, and participants will not need a fishing license.

A den leader asks, "How can I encourage parents to actively participate during den meetings instead of sitting in the back of the room on their phones?"

Many parents disengage during den meetings because they assume the leader already has everything covered, they are unsure how to help, or they think volunteering requires a major time commitment.

The best way to increase involvement is to make participation easy, specific, and expected from the beginning. Setting the tone early helps establish that Cub Scouts is a family-supported program, not a drop-off activity.

Rather than making broad requests for volunteers, it is far more effective to give parents small, clearly defined tasks during meetings, such as helping with a craft station, organizing supplies, supervising a game, or assisting with cleanup. Most parents are willing to help when they know exactly what is needed and understand that the commitment is manageable. Some refer to this as "micro volunteering."

It also helps to structure meetings so that adults naturally participate rather than sitting on the sidelines. Hands-on activities, parent-child challenges, team competitions, and rotating stations keep both Scouts and parents engaged.

Publicly thanking parents for helping reinforces a positive culture and encourages others to participate as well. Over time, assigning parents ownership of small responsibilities, such as advancement tracking, snack coordination, camping support, or communications, creates a stronger investment in the den’s success.

One-on-one conversations are often the most effective way to recruit help, since many parents respond better to a personal invitation than a general announcement.

Ultimately, the goal is to create the understanding that the den does not belong to one leader alone, but to all of the families working together to create a great experience for the Scouts.

What do you think? What advice can you offer to this den leader?



(The coach answers a question online every Friday. You have a question for the coach? Send it by DM for consideration.)

Need a cool place to take you kid's this summer? Visit us and check out these kid's activities in our Kid's Cave. The museum is free and open for everyone! Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am - 5 pm.