Leader Guide 2026
Sid Richardson Scout Ranch · September 18–20, 2026 · Longhorn Council
Event Overview
The Brazos River Canoe Race is a competitive ~6-mile paddle event for youth and adult participants. As a unit leader, you are responsible for coordinating your unit's participation, ensuring safety protocols are followed, and managing logistics for your participants.
Emergency Contacts
- Thomas Denton — Event Chair
- Autymn Bach — Program Executive
- Chad Hay — Camp Ranger
- Pat Adams — Camp Ranger
- Wendy Shaw — Longhorn Council Scout Executive
- Scout's First Hotline — (844) 726-8871
Critical Program Information for Leaders
Traffic and Site Management
- Island Causeway: One-way traffic down to campsites on Friday night. Traffic control officers will be stationed at 7:00 AM Saturday to manage traffic flow.
- Participant Movement: When driving we just have to watch out for scouts. There is not an alternate trail to some places.
- Travel Time: Allow up to 30 minutes for transportation between camp areas during peak times.
Swim Check Requirements — MANDATORY COMPLIANCE
CRITICAL: No swim check documentation = No boat participation
Leader Responsibilities:
- Bring the original swim check documentation for every participant
- Swim checks must be from the calendar year 2026
- Summer camp or high adventure documentation is acceptable
- Your unit may administer its own swim tests. Any leader currently trained in Safe Swim Defense who is familiar with basic swimming strokes may run them, and a lifeguard is not required.
- Worth Ranch Summer Camp attendees must bring their documentation (camp records are not maintained)
- Submit documentation to the Longhorn Council Aquatics Committee representative for verification
- Ensure every participant has a current swim classification on record: Non-swimmer, Beginner, or Swimmer
- No one at the check-in table can waive the swim check requirement. There are no exceptions.
- No Swim Areas have been established - No Swimming
Boat and Crew Requirements
- Every boat must carry at least one person classified as a Swimmer.
- If anyone in the boat is a Non-swimmer or a Beginner, at least one Swimmer in that boat must be an adult 18 or older.
- A kayak seats one person, so every kayak racer must be classified as a Swimmer.
- Every boat races as a buddy boat, paired with one other boat. Pair like with like wherever you can: two canoes, or two kayaks. A kayak can do very little for a capsized canoe, so a mixed pair is a last resort. Paired boats launch together and stay together for the whole course.
- A properly fitted life jacket must be worn at all times on the water, by every person in every boat.
Operational Changes Continue for 2026
- We moved to Sid Richardson Scout Ranch
- No on-site swim checks will be conducted
- No meal service provided
- T-shirt distribution: Pre-ordered shirts only; Severely limited on-site sales;
- 14-mile race: Discontinued as of 2024
- No Sunday racing will be held this year.
- We will have an Awards Ceremony Saturday night
- Schedule has changed — No trading post this year and Sunday is for Program Clean up
Event Schedule
Friday
- 7:00 pm–9:30 pm — Check in at Main Camp Intersection — a staff member will direct you to your campsite. Please send a representative of your unit to the Race HQ (Northwest Corner of Island) to verify your roster, race numbers, and launch times
- The goal is to get you to your campsite quickly and minimize waiting time for registration
- Island Causeway is ONE-WAY down until Saturday morning
Saturday
- 6:30 am — Staff breakfast and briefings
- 7:00 am — Traffic Control begins
- 7:00 am–10:00 am — Check-in for races is at the Island near the canoe launch. Not the Sail Base. Pick up driving directions maps, race numbers (BIBs), and Race Wristbands
- 8:00 am — Morning Racing Starts!
- 12:00 pm — Staff lunch
- 6:00 pm — Lake races end
- 6:00 pm — Traffic Control ends
- 6:30 pm — Staff dinner
- 8:30 PM — Awards Ceremony — Race Start/Finish
Sunday
- 7:00 AM — Staff breakfast
- 8:00 AM–12:00 PM — Clean camp, stow canoes
- 1:00 PM — Check out and leave camp
Pre-Event Leader Responsibilities
Team Boat Roster Submission
- Deadline: Thursday before the event
- Recipients: Hank Kirkland (hankland1+roster@gmail.com) AND Tommy Denton (tommydenton+canoe@gmail.com) AND Autymn Bach (autymn.bach@scouting.org)
- Note: Roster adjustments permitted during check-in
Download the 2026 Team Boat Roster (Excel)Fill it in, save it as your unit ID, and email it to all three recipients above by the Thursday before the race.
Transportation Coordination
- Cars should be parked Friday night till Sunday morning. We need to limit motorized traffic and stick to walking as much as we can.
- Youth Protection: Safeguarding Youth Training (SYT) rules apply; contact Tommy or Autymn for adult supervision requirements
Personal Watercraft Management
- Authorization: Notify the registration team of personal canoe/kayak transport
- Access Requirements: A 4-wheel drive vehicle is required for island access
- Leader Pass: Obtained at check-in for island vehicle access
- Conditions: Uneven, sandy terrain with rocks; plan accordingly
Check-in Procedures
Initial Check-in (Friday Evening)
- Receive wristbands, campsite assignments, and logistical information
- The logistics team will provide a preliminary briefing
Administrative Check-in (Friday Evening or Saturday Morning)
- Required Attendees: 1-2 adults (21+ years)
- Location: Northeast Beach of the Island
- Responsibilities:
- Verify race roster accuracy and participant counts
- Confirm launch times
- Submit roster modifications and swim check documentation
- Collect wristbands (boaters and non-boaters), race numbers with safety pins, and pre-ordered merchandise
Recommended Equipment List for Participants
Safety Requirements:
- Closed-toe footwear (water shoes acceptable; barefoot prohibited)
- Life jackets are provided and must be worn at all times on the water
Recommended Items:
- Appropriate water attire
- Hydration supplies and backup water
- Personal snacks (pack-out-trash policy)
- Sun and insect protection
- Boat comfort items (backrest)
- Personal towel
- Unit first aid supplies
- Waterproof equipment protection
- Dry storage for personal items
Awards/Results
Awards by 1st, 2nd, 3rd place within each category:
Canoe
- Male: Under 14 (U14), Under 18 (U18), Under 21 (U21), Adult
- Female: Under 14 (U14), Under 18 (U18), Under 21 (U21), Adult
- Two Adults with Youth
Kayak
- Male (14+): Under 18 (U18), Under 21 (U21), Adult (A)
- Female (14+): Under 18 (U18), Under 21 (U21), Adult (A)
Competition Guidelines:
- Youth participants compete within their designated age groups
- Award categories are determined by the oldest team member
- Adult with Youth category requires two adults plus a youth
- Kayak participation is restricted to ages 14 and older
Launch Schedule
Session Times:
- Saturday: 8:00 AM–11:00 AM
- Saturday: 1:30 PM–4:00 PM
Launch Protocol:
- Launch intervals: Every 20 minutes during designated sessions
- Unit capacity: Up to 30 participants per time slot
- Large units: Must select two time slots for groups exceeding 30 participants
- Timing: Approximate launch times are subject to equipment availability and operational capacity
Unit Leader Requirements: Event staff will maintain route presence and conduct safety sweeps. Each unit must designate an adult leader to serve as the unit sweeper for participant accountability and safety management.
Timing System Operations
RFID Technology Requirements
- Race Number (BIB) Assignment: Mandatory for all timed participants
- Distribution: Up to three Race Numbers (BIBs) per canoe, one Race Number (BIB) per kayak
- Timing Protocol: Last Race Number (BIB) at start line = start time; first Race Number (BIB) at finish line = end time
- Every person in the boat must pass through both the start gate and the finish gate. A boat has no official time unless everyone aboard crosses both.
- Safety Function: Race Numbers (BIBs) provide participant tracking for safety management
- Race Numbers (BIBs) are to be worn on the front side, on the outside of the life jacket. A Race Number (BIB) worn underneath a life jacket will not read.
- Do not switch boats unless it is absolutely necessary. If you must, tell the finish line officials which race numbers switched. The Race Number (BIB) list is how we account for who is on the water, so this is a safety requirement before it is a timing one.
Backup Systems
- Manual timing personnel stationed at start and finish lines ensure comprehensive time recording.
Safety and Medical Requirements
Medical Coverage
- Staffed first aid stations at check-in, launch, and recovery areas.
Leader Medical Responsibilities
- Required Documentation: Scouting America Medical Forms Part A and B for each participant
- Training Requirements: Leaders must maintain current Safeguarding Youth Training (SYT), Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS), and Hazardous Weather Training (HWT) certifications. Safe Swim Defense (SSD) is required only if your unit administers its own swim tests. Wilderness First Aid (WFA) is encouraged but not required
Environmental and Safety Regulations
Fire Restrictions
- Camp and the surrounding Jack and Wise Counties are under a burn ban. PROPANE STOVE FIRE ONLY. NO GROUND FIRES.
Departure Procedures
Saturday Night Departures
- Requirements: Complete trash removal, Leave No Trace compliance
- Notification: Report to Race Start and Finish on the island check-in crew to log departure. Or text the Event Chair to advise Unit and Number of Souls departing camp.
Final Departure Requirements
- Deadline: 1:00 PM Sunday
- Requirements: Complete trash removal, Leave No Trace compliance
- Notification: Send unit representative to report to Race Start and Finish on the island check-in crew to log departure, or text the Event Chair to advise Unit and Number of Souls departing camp.
Post-Event Feedback
- You will receive a survey via email Monday following the event. Leadership feedback is requested for continuous improvement. Feedback is a gift!
Staff Information
- Friday Check-in: Report to Race HQ by ~7:00 PM, Sunday Check-out: 1:00 PM
- Saturday Briefings: 6:30 AM staff breakfast and operational briefings
- Contact: Direct questions regarding roles and responsibilities to Tommy or Autymn
- Accommodations will be published right before the event. Plan to see Tommy or Autymn on arrival, unless pre-arranged with them.
- Text the Event Chair to advise Unit and Number of Souls departing camp
Event Maps and Race Directions
- Maps for the start and finish at SR^2 Island are below.
- The race will be along the shoreline from the island around to the Sail Base up the shoreline past Lakeview Lodge to the horn of the peninsula.
- You will retrieve a token from the horn and return down the shoreline to where you started.
- No Token = No finish
- Find yourself outside of the buoys for more than 10 strokes then you did not complete the course as intended.
- Stay between the buoys and the shoreline at all times. This is for safety as well as making the race as fair as possible.
