Going Full Throttle at Camp Strake

Sep 20

September 18-20, 2026 | Camp Strake, Coldspring TX

Eighteen Scouts and five adults made the drive up to Coldspring Friday evening for the Sam Houston Area Council's annual open-choice merit badge weekend at Camp Strake. The lovebugs were out in full force to welcome our campers and would stay with us throughout the weekend activities.

For Saturday’s Full Throttle event each Scout picked one merit badge off a menu ranging from Citizenship in the World and Emergency Preparedness to Astronomy, Music, Automotive Maintenance, and Sustainability. They also had the opportunity to choose two activities from Camp Strake’s facilities including archery, rifle, shotgun range, the climbing tower, COPE course, boating, fishing, and the obstacle course. Our Scouts had the kind of day that makes a Scout tired in the right way.

Saturday night, with the temperature still firmly in "not a chance" territory for an actual campfire, the troop gathered at our campsite pavilion for an evening Campfire Progam. Scoutmaster Stamm surprised our Scouts with frozen treats and Life Scout Emmitt Grubbs ran the inaugural Scouting Plinko Trivia competition where patrols went head to head on a mix of Scouting history and troop lore.

How many can you get correct?

Three dollars and 50 cents 1908 | Morris County Library
$6.50 per dozen (~55¢ each) Defiance Lantern & STPG Co. Lantern 1908. For Sale at Ruby Lane
$0.09 per half pound 1908 | Morris County Library
$1.06 1908 | Morris County Library
Eagle, Life, Star, First Class, Second Class, Tenderfoot, Scout
14 Eagle (21 total)
Swimming/Cycling/Hiking, Environmental Science/Sustainability, and E-prep/Lifesaving
Square, Tautline, Two-half hitches, sheetbend, bowline, timber & clove hitch
Scout rank
478
1952 (November 10th)
Sam Houston Area Council
Colonneh Lodge, Mustang district

The Snake Patrol had the answers when it mattered and they took home the inaugural Golden Duck Trophy. It was a good night.

The weekend also marked a quiet but meaningful milestone for three Scouts in the troop. Each completed a handful of final sign-offs in the field that moved them to the threshold of Eagle Scout eligibility. The rank still has to be earned -- and they know that -- but this weekend was part of the proof that they're ready. Troop 478 is proud of where they are and looking forward to what comes next.

Sunday morning the Scouts ran patrol lines through the campsite, left things cleaner than we found it, and headed home. Thankfully the lovebugs couldn’t keep up.