Planning BSA High Adventure Trips

Planning High Adventure Trips

What’d Ya Gotta Do to Get Ready!

Objectives

Agenda

• Where to Go!

• Registration

• Planning

• Pre-Trip Conditioning

• Adult Leader Training

• More Information

Where to Go!

• The Big Four– Philmont – Northern Tier– Sea Base– Bechtel (after 2013 Jamboree)

• Council High Adventure Bases– www.Scouting.org

• Make Your Own

Philmont

• Cimmaron, New Mexico

• High Altitude Back Country Backpacking– Shows & adventures at resupply points

• Cavalcade

• High Country Backpacking

Northern Tier

• 3 Bases– Ely, Minnesota– Bissett, Manitoba, Canada– Atikokan, Minnesota & Manitoba

• High Adventure Canoeing

• Bissett accessible only by float plane

• Opik: Cold-weather survival

Sea Base

• Florida Keys

• Several Programs– Scuba– Sailing– Snorkeling– Fishing

Bechtel

• West Virginia

• You name it!– Mountain Biking– Whitewater– Backpacking

Registration

• The Big Four– Lottery– Early Registration– Often 2 Years ahead of time– Council Contingents

• Council– Call

• Do Your Own Thing

Sea Scouts

• Public Relations Officers– US Navy Bases– US Coat Guard

• Charter Boats

• Create Your Own Fun

Planning

• Capabilities Assessment

• Trip Plan

• Medical Forms

• Transportation

• Food

• Tour Permit

• Committee

Capabilities Assessment

• Know the limitations of your Crew!– Maturity– Age– Special Training– Previous Experience– Attitude– Teamwork

Fixing Capability Gaps

• Consultants / Guides

• Training

• Conditioning

• Team Building

• Pre-Trip Extravaganzas

• Discipline

Trip Plan

• Initial Planning Document– Outing Charter– Ranger: Risk Management Plan

• Sets parameters for Scouts to plan with

Medical Forms

• Parts A, B, & C– Always

• Part D– The Big Four

• Part B(?) contains release of liability

Food

• The Big 4– Provided by the outfitter

• Special Dietary Needs– Bring your own

• On Your Own– Carry / Mail Ahead of Time– Resupply Schedule

Tour Permit

• Tour Plan– Normal– Itinerary

• Travel times are scrutinized

• Adult leader training highly evaluated

• Expect rejection first time– Submit early

Adult Leadership

• Adults are advisors– Level of leadership depends on group– Ideally: Shadows!

• Provide planning parameters• Enforce discipline• Make things happen behind the

scenes

Committee

• Membership– Tour Leader– Travel Agent– Fund Raiser– Project Manager

• Works in the background– Blocking & tackling

Pre-Trip Conditioning

• Personal Conditioning– Personal Fitness Merit Badge– Personal Fitness Ranger Elective

• Shakedowns

• Training Sessions

• Outings

Equipment

• Outfitter– Special Equipment– Food– Guides

• Participants– Personal Gear

Adult Leader Training

• Youth Protection Training• Weather Hazards• Wilderness First Aid• Outdoor Leader Training• Specialty Training

– Climb On Safely– Safety Afloat– BSA Lifeguard

More Information

• www. Scouting.org– Passport to High Adventure

• Internet– Planning guides– Big Four High Adventure Bases

• Powder Horn

• Sea Badge

More Information

• Field Book

• Sea Scout Manual

• Dummies Books

• Experienced Adults– Camp Directors– Sea Scout Commodores– Venture Crew Leaders– Been There, Done That Scouters