Intro to High Adventure

1. Intro to High Adventure How to plan that first adventure experience! Dan Beard Council November 2011

2. Introduction • Bill Theis • Troop 555 in Madeira, Former Scoutmaster, Current Committee Chair • 2004 Wood Badge (Beaver) • wtheis@fuse.net • 1980 Philmont • With Council Contingent • 2008 Philmont • Crew Advisor • 2011 Sea Base • Bahamas Sailing Adventure • 2 Crews of 8 • 2012 Philmont (In Progress)

3. Credits • Daniel Katanski, Troop 446, Great Sauk Trail Council • Cooper Wright, Venturing Crew 1519 • “Trek Safely Training Outline,” #20-129, 2002 printing

4. Why Plan a Trek? • One of the best parts of Scouting! • High adventure treks are sought by older youth • They challenge and inspire both youth and adults • They grow better leaders and build better units • Because you can!!

5. Where to Trek? • Philmont • Sea Base • Northern Tier • National Jamboree • The Summit (2013+) • “Your Own Trek” • usscouts.org/netresources/ha.asp • Lots of info!!

6. Qualified supervision Keep fit Plan ahead Gear up Communicate clearly and completely Monitor conditions Discipline “Trek On Safely”

7. Planning • Questions for every trip… • Reservations? Most important for some treks • Transportation? • Permits? • Crew size? • Funding? • Getting ready?

8. Reservations • Understand the process • Can be complex • What are the fees • When are payments due • Group sizes and adjustments • Cutoff dates • Cancellations • Scout ages are requirements • Age 14 and first class typical (and recommended!)

9. Itinerary • Create a detailed itinerary • Include travel details such as flight numbers, departure and arrival times • Emergency contact information and when usable • Set expectations • Describe possible contingencies, if appropriate • Include expenses needed during travel • You can’t communicate too much!

10. Permits • BSA Local Tour Permit required within 500 miles of home and outside your council boundaries • BSA National Tour Permit required in excess of 500 miles from home • Tour Permits are an approved travel plan • Troop identification • Leader in charge • Modes of transportation • Drivers (license numbers and vehicle and insurance information) • Itinerary • Other permits may be required (National Parks)

11. Crew • Crew size • Can range from 4-12 people; 5-8 is ideal • May be dictated by the backcountry management area’s rules • BSA’s Adult Leadership Policy • One Advisor 21, second advisor at least 18 • Co-ed Crews; At least one male and one female leader, 21 years old or older • Three advisors recommended

12. Crew • The Crew Leader leads • Organizes the crew (may have Ass’t and QM) • Develops the duty roster • Seeks consensus from crew, but makes decisions • The Crew Advisor advises • With the crew leader, develops the training program for backcountry skills and building crew unity • Should only step in when there is a health or safety issue • Daily “one-on-one” with Crew Leader • Build crew unity by e.g., designing a distinctive crew shirt

13. Crew • Match the adventure to the group • Set challenging, but realistic goals • Set physical standards • Conduct crew training (shakedowns) • Pay particular attention to adults • Physically/emotionally unable crew members will ruin the crew’s experience

14. Shakedowns • Practice “Mini-Treks” (3x or more) • Develop crew dynamics and unity, teach skills, and build physical and emotional stamina • Train at home prior to shakedowns, then practice what you have learned in the backcountry • Build in duration and difficulty • Insist on full participation right from the start

15. Permission / Intent Forms • Signed permission slips per standard BSA mode of operations • For expensive treks add text describing the financial obligation & risky nature of the trek • Permission to take youth out of state or country may be required • Signed by both parents (even if one is on the trek) • May need to be notarized for some countries!

16. Identification • Passports are now required to travel outside the USA! • Cost about $120 • Require 12 weeks lead time • Useful for all air travel – even domestic • Photo ID • State can make a scout less than 16 years of age a photo identification

17. Expenses • Trek leader has to manage it between: • Troop and Trek • Scout/ Scouter and Troop • Disclose, disclose, disclose! • Be wary of conflicts of interest • Waiting list and refund policies • Discuss this up-front! • Many treks have 18 month lead times so fund raisers can work!

18. Expenses • Fee for trek • Fixed at BSA Bases • Transportation • Gas, ferries, airplane, buss or train tickets • Food • Often included in Trek Fee • Meals To/ From • Equipment rentals • Canoes, scuba gear,… • Miscellaneous and contingency funds • Miss the final lunch and buy T-shirts?

19. Equipment • Use crew/individual equipment checklists • Work with your outfitter/ base • Check all gear, especially personal gear before ever going out • Learn to do with minimum; think multipurpose • Teach safe operation of all equipment • Stoves, water purification/ pumps, bear bags • What can Troop provide? • It’s easy to take too much stuff • Then what??

20. Food • Develop tasty, easy to prepare, high energy meals • Good food feeds good crew morale • Teach proper food handling, preparation and disposal • Try out trek foods during training to identify likes/dislikes, and determine amounts needed • Use a detailed food buying list

21. Food • It’s heavy! • Cost • Cheaper to bring with you, but inconvenient • Included at Seabase and Philmont • Amount of cooking time • Lunch on trail vs. dinner at camp • Refrigeration availability (likely not) • Special dietary requirements

22. First Aid Kits • Troop and individual • Trek dependant • Prescriptions • Double supply • Appoint an adult to dispense if needed • Special needs • Epi pen • Insulin, sugar • Be prepared

23. Certifications • First Aid • ARC Standard First Aid & CPR (minimum) • Wilderness First Aid (WFA, SOLO) • Leave No Trace • Specialized training • Safe Swim Defense, Safety Afloat • Climb On Safely • Trek Safely • Youth Protection Training (mandatory for Advisors) • Back Country Outdoor Leader Skills

24. Contingencies • Trek leaders must have thought this through in advance • Ask the camp staff what you should plan for • What-If… • There is a hurricane • Someone gets injured • Can an adult go with the Scout and still have needed two-deep leadership?? • There is a family emergency

25. For “Scout Run” Troops… • Some High Adventure Treks frequently have lead time greater than 18 months • Troops change their youth leadership annually • Either you have to organize turnover between youth to handle these treks… • Or have an adult leader organize the high adventure treks • Planning them on a troop level is a major undertaking

26. Last minute things to check… • Are camp or open fires allowed on site? • Unusual weather conditions? • National security issues? • Last minute crew member or family issues? • Special Doctor notes? • No changes in diet and medications • Can be devastating on some people • Don’t worry… you’ll forget something! • But it will not be anything major if you do your homework.

27. Let’s Look at a Few Treks…

28. Philmont • Highest Adventure in Scouting • 213 Sq. Miles in the Mountains in Northeast New Mexico • This ain’t no picnic… • Hike 70 - 100 miles in 10 days at 6-12,000 ft. • Requires months of conditioning • A ‘Rite of Passage” for a Scout

29. Philmont • Council Contingents • Organizes several crews of 12 Scouts per year • Space is available for 2012 • 14 day trip including travel • 2 days travel • 2 days in base camp • 10 days on the trail

30. Philmont • Schedule you own trek? • 18 month lead time!!

31. 2013 registration information: • Unit representatives may log on to http://philmontreservations.wslive.com/2013 during Week Two: Nov 7 - 13 • Date selection is part of registration • You will be contacted if you win a trek

32. Philmont • 12 day trek costs $770 per person • Add in transportation and travel meals & crew gear • The hidden costs… • $50 to $300 Boots • $50 to $500 Backpack • $30 to $300 Sleeping bag • $20 to $150 Sleeping pad • $$$ Hiking socks, non-cotton clothes, rain gear • $40 to $200 walking sticks • The cost of the equipment can easily exceed the other trip fees!!

33. Sea Base • Florida Keys or Bahamas www.bsaSeaBase.org • Nancy Wells, Sea Base Registrar, (305) 664-5616 • 10 different adventures • Base Cost is $725 per person • Est. Cost for Bahamas trek is $1300 • Incl. Transportation cost (charter flight)

34. Sea Base • Crews selected by annual lottery • Similar to Philmont, but less competitive • Registration is on-line • 2012 Open registration available Now • 2013 registration will open in January • You can make multiple date choices

35. Northern Tier • Canoe and fishing treks • Mostly flat water and portages

36. Northern Tier • Dates choices, length and base selection • Reservations for 2013 season begin in April • Call (218) 365-4811 or info@ntier.org   • They never fill up all of their trips • About 2/3 the cost of Philmont or Seabase!

37. National Jamboree • If you can go, then GO! • Is it “High Adventure”? • You can’t do everything that is there! • It’s part of the full Scouting experience! • Fantastic 10-day for the Scouts! • Can not go on your own • Contingent organized by Council • You can visit but not participate

38. National Jamboree • 40,000+ Scouts and Scouters • Next Jambo will be at “The Summit” in 2013 • Multiple troops from our Council • ~40 Scouts and 3 Scouters per troop • Scouters consider earning your Wood Badge beads • Or be on staff (8,000 staffers) • 2010 cost was $1300 per scout • Including Washington DC tour

39. This is the Beginningof your Trekking Adventures… But it’s the end of this Session!