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For thousands of families across the Greater Houston region and Southeast Texas, Bovay Scout Ranch has become a place where lifelong memories are made — from first campfires and fishing lessons to leadership experiences that shape young people for years to come.

Now, the beloved outdoor destination near Navasota is celebrating a major milestone. Bovay Scout Ranch, part of the Sam Houston Area Council of Scouting America, is marking its 25th anniversary with expanded programming, special events and new opportunities for Scouts and families to explore the outdoors.

Located just three miles south of downtown Navasota at 3450 County Road 317, the 1,498-acre ranch sits about an hour from downtown Houston, offering rolling hills, lakes, wooded campsites and wide-open skies that provide a rare natural escape for youth and families throughout the region.

Founded in 2001 and named after its founders, Mr. and Mrs. Harry E. Bovay Jr., the ranch has grown into one of the premier outdoor program destinations for Cub Scouts and Scouting families in Texas.

A Natural Outdoor Classroom in the Heart of Central Texas

Spread across nearly 1,500 acres, Bovay Scout Ranch offers an immersive outdoor environment where young people can connect with nature while developing confidence, teamwork and leadership skills.

Visitors often describe the ranch as a natural paradise, with campsites surrounded by native Huisache and Bois-d'arc trees, peaceful lakes and expansive views of the central Texas landscape. Sunsets across the rolling hills have become a signature part of the ranch experience for generations of Scouts.

The ranch’s facilities support a wide range of outdoor activities, including a water park, Cub Scout shooting range, slingshot activities and hands-on learning areas, allowing youth to explore new skills while experiencing the outdoors in a structured and safe environment.

Those experiences reflect the broader mission of Scouting America, one of the nation’s largest youth development organizations, which focuses on building character, citizenship and personal fitness through outdoor experiences and values-based leadership.

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Special 25th Anniversary Programming Expands Adventure Camp

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Bovay Scout Ranch has introduced expanded program rotations for Adventure Camp weekends throughout the spring and late fall of 2026.

Adventure Camp is a popular weekend campout designed primarily for Cub Scouts in kindergarten through fifth grade and their families, combining outdoor fun with structured learning activities led by experienced youth and adult volunteers.

New anniversary programming will include a variety of hands-on activities designed to spark curiosity and creativity.

Participants can explore STEM challenges such as building and testing brick cars, practice outdoor skills through BB gun shooting and archery, or step into hands-on historical and scientific experiences at themed program areas including The Mine, The Dino Dig and The Fort.

Other activities include:

• Fossil exploration and animal track casting at the Dino Dig
• Leatherwork and traditional Scout crafts
• Gold Rush–style panning and geology activities at The Mine
• Outdoor games and team challenges

The goal is to combine learning and adventure while keeping the experience accessible and fun for young campers.

Archaeology Activities Planned for March 28 Adventure Camp Weekend

One of the highlights of the anniversary programming will take place during the March 28 Adventure Camp weekend, when the Texas Archaeological Society will host special hands-on activities at the ranch.

Scouts attending that weekend will have the opportunity to learn about archaeology through interactive demonstrations, including pinch-pot pottery creation and artifact show-and-tell experiences, offering a rare chance to explore history through real-world artifacts and techniques.

For many young participants, experiences like these often become the moment when curiosity about science, history or outdoor exploration first takes root.

Youth Leadership at the Heart of the Camp Experience

While younger Scouts participate in activities across the ranch, many of the program stations are led by youth staff members, giving older Scouts valuable leadership experience.

These youth leaders guide campers through activities, demonstrate skills and share their enthusiasm for Scouting with the next generation.

Parents and adult leaders play an important supporting role as well, assisting at activity stations and helping supervise younger participants. Their involvement helps maintain a strong mentorship structure while also helping keep camp programs affordable for families.

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Cub Scout Fishing Derby Returns May 9

The anniversary year will also include the return of a favorite outdoor tradition — the Cub Scout Fishing Derby, scheduled for May 9, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at Bovay Scout Ranch.

The event invites Cub Scouts from kindergarten through fifth grade to spend the morning learning fishing basics and competing in friendly contests.

Experienced volunteers will teach Scouts everything from how to bait a hook to safely reeling in a catch, making the event accessible for both experienced young anglers and those casting a line for the first time.

Awards will be given for the longest fish, the smallest fish and the most fish caught during the catch-and-release competition.

Beyond the competition, organizers say the day is designed to focus on building confidence, enjoying nature and giving Scouts a chance to create lasting memories with family and friends.

Youth who are not currently involved in Scouting are also invited to attend the fishing derby as a way to experience Cub Scouting firsthand.

A Gateway to Outdoor Adventures for Southeast Texas Families

Bovay Scout Ranch serves as a key outdoor hub for the Sam Houston Area Council, which supports approximately 28,000 youth across 16 counties in Southeast Texas with the help of about 10,000 adult volunteers.

The council’s service area includes Austin, Brazos, Burleson, Chambers (portion), Colorado, Fort Bend, Grimes, Harris, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Trinity (portion), Walker, Waller, Washington and Wharton counties, making Bovay Ranch a central gathering point for Scouting families throughout the region.

Throughout the year, the ranch hosts a wide variety of programs beyond Adventure Camp, including Webelos and Arrow of Light advancement events, resident camps, and family camping opportunities.

Family camping weekends allow Scout packs to organize overnight experiences where youth and parents camp together, cook meals and enjoy outdoor programming designed around age-appropriate activities and safety guidelines outlined in the Guide to Safe Scouting and other Scouting America youth protection policies.

Continuing a Legacy of Leadership and Outdoor Learning

As Bovay Scout Ranch celebrates 25 years, its mission remains closely aligned with that of Scouting America — helping young people grow into responsible citizens and leaders.

Through outdoor experiences, teamwork and values rooted in the Scout Oath and Scout Law, the program aims to prepare youth to make ethical and moral choices while developing confidence and resilience.

For many families across the Greater Houston area and Southeast Texas, the ranch has become more than just a campground. It is a place where friendships begin, leadership skills develop and the next generation of community leaders takes shape.

With expanded programming and a full calendar of events in 2026, Bovay Scout Ranch continues to invite new Scouts and families to experience the outdoors and discover the traditions that have shaped the ranch for a quarter century.

Residents interested in learning more about Bovay Scout Ranch programs or upcoming Scouting events can find additional information through the Sam Houston Area Council of Scouting America.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more community stories and local updates across the Greater Houston region.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.