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High Adventure Planning Guide

University of Scouting Dan Beard Council. High Adventure Planning Guide. John Kuley Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 238 Cincinnati, OH jkuley@cinci.rr.com Barry Akins Troop 805 Union, KY anvil.feather@hotmail.com. December, 2008

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High Adventure Planning Guide

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  1. University of Scouting Dan Beard Council High Adventure Planning Guide John Kuley Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 238 Cincinnati, OH jkuley@cinci.rr.com Barry Akins Troop 805 Union, KY anvil.feather@hotmail.com December, 2008 Online version available at: http://scoutinghighadventures.netcipia.net/xwiki/bin/view/Main/

  2. High Adventure Planning Guide • What is High Adventure? • National BSA Adventures • Council-Based Programs • Custom Trip • Select Activity • Determine Destination • Define Eligibility • Estimate Costs • Promote the Trip • Solicit Commitments • Build Team • Plan Details • Train Team • Assemble Equipment & Food

  3. High Adventure • Definition: • “ an exciting or very unusual experience” • “Participation in hazardous or exciting experiences” • A Boy Scout High Adventure: • Challenging and exciting journey • Out of the ordinary - Not something they will likely do on their own • Remembered as a highlight of their youth

  4. National, Council or Custom Program? • The Big Three • Council High Adventure Programs • Custom Trips

  5. Philmont • BSA premier national backpacking high adventure base • 137,000 acres of wilderness in the Sangre de Cristo range of the Rockies in New Mexico • High mountains dominate rough terrain with an elevation ranging from 6,500 to 12,441 feet. • 32 staffed camps and 50 unstaffed camps are operated by the ranch. • Serves 22,000 Scouts per year • Treks open to Councils and individual troops

  6. Example Itinerary • Typical stay is 13 days • Choose from 35 treks - 50 to 100 miles long • Spend 10 nights in mix of staffed and unstaffed camps • Stay at base camp first and last night • Several food re-supply points along the way Day / Trek CampProgram Features 1 Camping Headquarters Opening Campfire 2 Dean Cutoff Ranger Training 3 Rich Cabins Homesteading, stop off at Pueblano to Rich Cabins 4 Greenwood Canyon Trail Camp 5 Copper Park Gold Panning, mine tour, blacksmithing @ French Henry 6 Copper Park Side Hike Baldy Mt. Baldy Town 7 Upper Dean Cow Trail Camp, Challenge events @ Head of Dean 8 Dean Cow Rock Climbing, rappelling, environmental awareness 9 Harlan 12 Gauge shotgun shooting/reloading, burro racing 10 Ute Springs Trail Camp Ute Gulch Commisary 11 Clark's Fork Tour Hunting Lodge, horse ride, chuck wagon dinner 12 Camping Headquarters Hike in via Tooth of Time, Awards campfire 13 Departure

  7. Florida Sea Base • Scouting's most complete aquatic facility • Swim, sail, snorkel, SCUBA and fish among beautiful coral reefs. • Located in Islamorada and on Summerland Key in the beautiful Florida Keys as well as Marsh Harbour, Great Abaco Island, Bahamas • Choose from 9 one week trips: Coral Reef Sailing, Sea Exploring Adventure, Scuba Adventure, Scuba Certification, Live Aboard Scuba Adventure, Out Island Adventure, Keys Adventure, Bahamas Adventure, Bahamas Tall Ship Adventures • Make reservations via lottery 17 months in advance

  8. Northern Tier • National base located in Ely, Minnesota • Borders Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Quetico Providential Park in Canada • Offers 6 to 10 day wilderness canoe trips • Provides canoes, paddles, PFD’s, food and most gear • Crew size of 6 to 8 plus a base-supplied guide • Paddle 6- 10 miles per day through myriad of lakes and streams with occasional portages • Enjoy swimming, fishing and viewing wildlife such as eagles and moose • Camp each night on islands and along shorelines • Spend first and last night at base, featuring sleeping cabins, trading post, dining hall, Bay Post outfitters and sauna 

  9. Council High Adventure Programs • “Passport to High Adventure” publication provides guide to planning trips • On-line directory of 50 local council-operated high adventure camps • http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/directory/

  10. Example Council-Operated Adventure Program: Appalachian Wilderness Adventure Council: Buckskin Council Located Near: Bluefield, West Virginia Directions: From I-77, exit at Bastian, travel 3.5 miles on state Route 614 to Camp Roland. Description: 22 miles overnight hike on the Appalachian Trail; one-day world-class whitewater rafting on the New River with Class VI River Runners; rock climbing and rappelling at Pinnacle Rock; and cavi ng Program Features: Backpacking, Whitewater Canoeing/Rafting/Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Rafting, Caving,

  11. Why Consider a Custom Trip? • Cost • Variety • Schedule flexibility • Crew size flexibility • Scout / leader ratio flexibility • Age flexibility • Age/skill ability matching

  12. Select Activity • Discuss options at annual planning session • Single Focus or Multi-Sport? • Backpacking, Hiking • Canoeing, Rafting • Sailing, Kayaking • Cycling, Mountain Biking • Scuba Diving, Snorkeling • Horseback Riding • Rock Climbing • Caving • Snow / Water Skiing

  13. Destination Considerations • To a crowded national treasure or an empty unknown secret? • Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana Disqualified! • Fly or Drive? • BSA allows maximum 10 hours driving per day – Choose destination within that range • Flying will cost $275 to a major city plus car rental of $60 per person for a week • Design trip to fly ONLY into large city (e.g. Salt Lake City – not Boise, Idaho)

  14. How Far in a 10 Hour Drive?

  15. Backpacking Trips Accessible By Car • AT/Bartram Trail Nantahala Dam to Nantahala Outdoor Center, NC – 41 miles – Combine with duckie trip down Nantahala River • Bartram/Chatooga River, NC/GA – 40 miles – Combine with rafting on Chatooga River • Smoky Mountains, TN Old Setttler’s Trail/AT to Gatlinburg up to 54 miles (8 person crew) – Sightsee Gatlinburg

  16. Backpacking Trips Accessible by Plane • Philmont Scout Ranch, New Mexico • Double H Base, New Mexico • Yosemite National Park, California • Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming • Olympic National Park, Washington • Grand Canyon / Havasupai Indian Reservation, Arizona • Maroon Bells Circuit, Colorado

  17. Canoe Trips • Northern Tier / Boundary Waters, MN / Quetico Provincial Park, Ontario • Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario • Spanish River, Ontario • Dumoine River, Quebec • Big South Fork, KY/TN • Delaware River, PA • James River, VA • New River “Voyageur”, WV, Blue Ridge Council

  18. Multi-Sport Trips • Horns Creek, TN • Nantahala Outdoor Center, NC • Virgin Islands National Park • Camp Daniel Boone, NC • Appalachian Wilderness Adventure, Buckskin Council, WV • New River Adventure, Blue Ridge Council, VA • Rivermen Whitewater, WV • ACE Adventure Center, WV

  19. Sailing • Sea Base, FL • “Daniel Webster Clements”, Destin, FL (sailingsouth.com) • “Dream Catcher”, Key West, FL (sailingkeywestflorida.com) • “Ciganka”, Bahamas (venturingcrew.org) • Pamlico Sea Base, NC • Chesapeake Bay Sailing Experience • “SS Odyssey”, San Juan Islands, WA (ssodyssey.org) Ciganka

  20. Cycling Trips • C&O Canal Towpath, MD (185 miles) • Great Allegheny Passage & C&O Canal (335 miles) • Mickelson Trail, Black Hills of South Dakota (109 miles) • Katy Trail, Missouri (225 miles) • Telluride, CO to Moab, Utah San Juan Hut System Mountain Biking (215 miles) • GreenBrier River Trail, WV (79 miles) • Outer Banks, North Carolina (150 to 250 miles loop)

  21. Detailed Planning Steps After Destination Selected • Define Eligibility • Estimate Costs • Promote the Trip • Solicit Commitments • Build Team • Plan Details (Itinerary, Meals, Equipment) • Train Team • Assemble Equipment & Food

  22. Define Eligibility • Who is eligible to go? • Scouts must have the maturity, skills and strength to handle the trip • Adults must also have skills and stamina and participate in all training events! • Examples: • Scouts should be active members of the troop • Rank: First class • Age: 13 • Swimming ability: BSA Swimmer • Skills: Require participation in training meetings and practice sessions • Skills: Require certain merit badges (e.g. canoeing) • Look for age restrictions from commercial providers

  23. Estimate Cost • Airfare • Parking • Rental Vans • Fuel • Meals • Backcountry food • Camping fees • Tour fees • Equipment rentals • Group T shirt

  24. Promote The Trip • Prepare glossy sales pitch in winter: • Overview • Date • Eligibility • Cost estimate • Itinerary • Schedule highlights (dry runs, training,…) • Merit Badge opportunity/requirements • Schedule Parent’s Rally: • review trip details • build excitement • answer questions

  25. Secure Commitments • Permission Slip • A form of contract to plan and prepare • DEPOSIT to cover advance reservations and airfare • Money talks • 4-6 months in advance • SeaBase & Philmont require $50 per person deposit 18 months ahead

  26. Build the Team • Advisor is adult leader with overall responsibility for organizing and leading trip • Two or three adults per crew • Crew size of 7 to 12 optimal • Multiple crews permit optimal match of challenge to ability • Have each crew elect crew leader • Delegate tasks to crew leaders • Delegate to other adults (transportation, etc…)

  27. Plan the Details • Daily itinerary (advisor and crews) • Technical skills (advisor) • Strength and stamina (advisor) • Meal plans (crews) • Equipment for individual and group (crews) • Duty rosters (crews) • Who rides, sleeps, travels, bunks with whom? (crews, with advisor consent) • History, flora, fauna of destination (crews) • Games (crews) • Religious services (crews) • Class III medical forms • Group T Shirt (crews) Check out AmericanBackcountry.com for beautiful moisture-wicking shirts

  28. Meal Plan • Restaurant Meals • Campground Meals • Backcountry Meals

  29. Equipment List What to Wear Enroute Carry-On / Daypack Group Gear in Pack Personal Gear in Pack

  30. Itinerary • How long? - Answer – One week • Allow one day traveling to and another day back • Allow one day to equilibrate at higher elevations • Easy first day • NEVER overshoot daily mileage – don’t make scouts miserable: • Rarely does group average > 1.5 MPH backpacking in rugged terrain • Canoeing flat water - 8 miles per day? (portages, paddling into wind) • Canoeing a river -12 miles per day • Cycling on pavement – 50 miles per day • Cycling on gravel – 12 year olds 30-40 miles • Add variety each day to compensate for boredom • Allow R&R / free time at the end

  31. Example Itinerary Itinerary Sat: Drive to Columbus Fly Southwest Airlines to Salt Lake City Rent vans & drive 6 hours to Jackson Hole Stay at group camp in Colter Bay/Gros Ventre Sun: Pick up permits, ice axes, butane fuel Drop van at Jenny Lake Start hike at Death Canyon trail head First night Granite Canyon group site Mon: Hike out of park in Teton National Forest Have only camp fire during trip! Tue: Hike past Marion Lake Camp at Death Canyon Shelf group site Wed: Hike thru Alaska Basin & up Hurricane Pass Camp at Cascade South Fork group site The: End hike at Jenny Lake Pizza at Dornan’s; return ice axes Drive to Yellowstone cabins & dinner feast Fri: See Old Faithful and bison herds See Grand Canyon of Yellowstone Sat: Leave park via West Yellowstone, Montana Drive back to Salt Lake City, fly home Itinerary Sat: Drive to Columbus Fly Southwest Airlines to Salt Lake City Rent vans & drive 6 hours to Jackson Hole Stay at group camp in Colter Bay/Gros Ventre Sun: Pick up permits, ice axes, butane fuel Drop van at Jenny Lake Start hike at Death Canyon trail head First night Granite Canyon group site Mon: Hike out of park in Teton National Forest Have only camp fire during trip! Tue: Hike past Marion Lake Camp at Death Canyon Shelf group site Wed: Hike thru Alaska Basin & up Hurricane Pass Camp at Cascade South Fork group site The: End hike at Jenny Lake Pizza at Dornan’s; return ice axes Drive to Yellowstone cabins & dinner feast Fri: See Old Faithful and bison herds See Grand Canyon of Yellowstone Sat: Leave park via West Yellowstone, Montana Drive back to Salt Lake City, fly home Itinerary Sat: Drive to Columbus Fly Southwest Airlines to Salt Lake City Rent vans & drive 6 hours to Jackson Hole Stay at group camp in Colter Bay/Gros Ventre Sun: Pick up permits, ice axes, butane fuel Drop van at Jenny Lake Start hike at Death Canyon trail head First night Granite Canyon group site Mon: Hike out of park in Teton National Forest Have only camp fire during trip! Tue: Hike past Marion Lake Camp at Death Canyon Shelf group site Wed: Hike thru Alaska Basin & up Hurricane Pass Camp at Cascade South Fork group site The: End hike at Jenny Lake Pizza at Dornan’s; return ice axes Drive to Yellowstone cabins & dinner feast Fri: See Old Faithful and bison herds See Grand Canyon of Yellowstone Sat: Leave park via West Yellowstone, Montana Drive back to Salt Lake City, fly home

  32. Make Reservations (Months in advance!) • Flights • Fly from Columbus, Dayton or Indianapolis • Design trip to fly ONLY into large city (e.g. Salt Lake City – not Boise Idaho) • Southwest has excellent group desk (time for deposit, changes, same fare as online) • Backcountry permits • Tour operator reservations • Equipment rentals (boats, ice axes, bikes) • Campground, cabin, hotels • Rental cars and vans

  33. Secure National Tour Permit • Required for trips over 500 miles • Provides insurance protection to you and your troop • Study it months in advance • Determine what leader training is required: • Safety Afloat • Safe Swim Defense • CPR • Wilderness Use Policy • Wilderness First Aid (not required but recommended) • Fill it out COMPLETELY • Make a copy for yourself • Submit IN PERSON at Dan Beard office 8 weeks in advance • You will receive written confirmation in mail in about a month

  34. Train Team • Integrate initial training classes and events into normal troop program • Use merit badge books as guide • Encourage older scouts to lead efforts • Start with classroom training • Advance to practice sessions in field (e.g. paddle canoes on local lake, later on Little Miami River) • Schedule weekend dry run (backpack trip, canoe trip, cycling trip, etc…)

  35. Assemble Equipment and Food • Make sure equipment lists are prepared and distributed months in advance • Everyone brings packed bag to meeting before dry run and final trip • Older scouts inspect gear (and weigh it for backpacking trips) • Crew leaders distribute group gear (tents, cooking gear, food, first aid) week before departure • Ship equipment ahead of time? • Don’t distribute anything on day of departure!

  36. Flying as a Group • Fuel canisters are illegal on flights! –buy at destination • Wrap packs in heavy duty garbage bags and seal with – what else?- duct tape! • Have scouts bring a day pack with all their miscellaneous stuff • Everyone wear the same scout class A or group T shirt enroute

  37. Summary • Select Activity • Determine Destination • Define Eligibility • Estimate Costs • Promote Trip • Solicit Commitments • Build Team • Plan Details (Meal Plans, Equipment List, Itinerary) • Make Reservations • Secure National Tour Permit • Train Team • Assemble Equipment & Food http://scoutinghighadventures.netcipia.net/xwiki/bin/view/Main/

  38. ScoutingHighAdventures.Netcipia.Net A database of high adventure trip information and on-line planning guide Includes the tools your troop needs to decide what to do, where to go and how to get there! A Wiki-based website that allows users to edit and add their own trips

  39. Backpacking in Grand Teton National Park • Five days backpacking • Two days sightseeing in Yellowstone

  40. Virgin Islands National Park • Snorkeling, Kayaking, Sailing, Hiking, Exploring and Community Service • $760

  41. Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Bike Hike

  42. Backpacking in Olympic National Park

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