High Adventure High Adventure Planning GuidePlanning Guide

John KuleyJohn KuleyAssistant Scoutmaster, Troop 238Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 238

Cincinnati, OHCincinnati, OHjkuley@cinci.rr.comjkuley@cinci.rr.com

Barry AkinsBarry AkinsTroop 805Troop 805Union, KYUnion, KY

anvil.feather@hotmail.comanvil.feather@hotmail.com

December, 2008

Online version available at: http://scoutinghighadventures.netcipia.net/xwiki/bin/view/Main/

University of ScoutingDan Beard Council

High Adventure Planning GuideHigh 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

High AdventureHigh 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

National, Council or Custom Program?National, Council or Custom Program?

• The Big Three

• Council High Adventure Programs

• Custom Trips

PhilmontPhilmont

• 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

Example ItineraryExample Itinerary

Day / Trek Camp Program 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

• 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

Florida Sea BaseFlorida 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

Northern TierNorthern 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 

Council High Adventure ProgramsCouncil 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/

Example Example Council-Operated AdventureCouncil-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,

Why Consider a Custom Trip?Why Consider a Custom Trip?

• Cost

• Variety

• Schedule flexibility

• Crew size flexibility

• Scout / leader ratio flexibility

• Age flexibility

• Age/skill ability matching

Select ActivitySelect 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

Destination ConsiderationsDestination 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)

How Far in a 10 Hour Drive?How Far in a 10 Hour Drive?

Backpacking Trips Backpacking Trips Accessible By CarAccessible 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

Backpacking Trips Backpacking Trips Accessible by PlaneAccessible 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

Canoe TripsCanoe 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

Multi-Sport TripsMulti-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

SailingSailing• 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

Cycling TripsCycling 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)

Detailed Planning Steps After Detailed Planning Steps After Destination SelectedDestination Selected

• Define Eligibility• Estimate Costs• Promote the Trip• Solicit Commitments• Build Team• Plan Details (Itinerary, Meals, Equipment)• Train Team• Assemble Equipment & Food

Define EligibilityDefine 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

Estimate CostEstimate Cost

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

Airfare from Columbus to San Francisco 238

Parking for 8 days in Columbus 8 days ($44/week/van) 7

Meal allowance for breakfast & lunch enroute to California 5

Van rental for 8 days 61

Gas for rentals 7

National park entry fee ($20 / van) 3

Bear canister rental (one per person) 5

Fuel and fuel canisters 5

Meal allowance for Saturday dinner entering park 5

One night tent camping in Yosemite Valley ($18 per site) 4

Backpacker bus fare to Tuolome Meadows 15

Backcountry camping fee ($5 / person) 5

5 days of backcountry food 35

Two nights in Curry Village tent cabins 35

Thursday pizza lunch 6

Dinner feast in Yosemite Village Thursday night 35

Meal allowance for Yosemite Village Friday 20

Meal allowance for Saturday in San Francisco 20

Parking at Fisherman's Wharf ($15/ van) 2

Ferry ride and tour of Alcatraz Island 12

Sunday breakfast on way home 5

Group T shirt 12

Unlisted & Contingency (maps, laundry, tips, gas to Columbus) 10

Total: $550

Promote The TripPromote 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

Secure CommitmentsSecure 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

High Adventure 2007 Permission Slip My son _________________________________, has my permission to participate in the Boy Scout Troop 238 high adventure backpacking trip to Yosemite National Park and San Francisco, California from July 14 through July 22, 2007. The troop will depart from the Our Lady of Visitation Pavilion early Saturday morning on July 14. We will return in the early morning of Sunday, July 22. The total cost per person is estimated between $550 and $600. The deadline for permission slip and $200 deposit is Feb 5, 2007. I, _______________________________, parent/guardian, will also attend. Eligibility requirements:

Active member of the troop First Class rank by July 14 Participates in backpacking practice trip March 16-18 Participates in other crew planning, skill training and stamina development events Acquires appropriate equipment for the trip

My son and I have read the eligibility requirements and agree to meet the requirements. Deposit: _______ Use Scout Account ______ Check Enclosed Family Physician:_____________________ Phone:_________________________ Allergies/ medical conditions/medicines ______________________________________ In the event of emergency contact: __________________ Phone:_______Cell:_______ Alternate contact: __________________________ Phone: __________ Cell:_______ I understand that this activity will be lead by parents like myself and that all applicable Boy Scout of America safety guidelines will be followed as outlined in the BSA Health and Safety Guide No. 34409. I only hold those adult leaders responsible for medical attention to my son and by signing this permission slip authorize that medical care.

Build the TeamBuild 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…)

Plan the DetailsPlan 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

Meal PlanMeal Plan

• Restaurant Meals• Campground Meals• Backcountry Meals

Yosemite Meal Plan Name:

Breakfast Lunch Dinner Snacks & Drinks

Saturday $ $ At airport or in car Fast Food outside San PROVIDED BY GROUP

Francisco

Sunday Peanut Butter Rice package Trail Mix Jelly Chicken package Dried FruitPROVIDED BY GROUP Pita Bread Iced Tea Mix Granola Bars Gatorade Toblerone Gum

Monday Spam Cheese Backpacker Dinner

Bagel Pepperoni Instant Pudding Tang Mix Pita Bread Iced Tea MixHot Chocolate Gatorade

Tuesday Oatmeal Peanut Butter Pasta Package Syrup Jelly Salmon package Tang Mix Bagel Iced Tea Mix Hot Chocolate Gatorade

Wednesday Pancakes Cheese Jambalya Package? Syrup Pepperoni Pepperoni Tang Mix Crackers Iced Tea Mix Gatorade

Thursday Oatmeal Summer Suasage Syrup Crackers Tang Mix Gatorade Group Dinner Feast in Yosemite Valley

Friday $ $ $ restaurant (Curry Village restaurant restaurantCafeteria)

Saturday $ $ $ Donuts outside park fast food near San restaurant in Fishermans Francisco Wharf

Condiments salt, peppercooking oil

Equipment ListEquipment ListHigh Adventure 2007 Backpacking Equipment List

Wear Saturday: Gym shoes Cash for meals & souvenirs Shorts or pants Watch (Opt) Group T shirt (new Yosemite shirt) Personal Gear in Your Carry-On Day Pack: Driver license/school ID/birth

cert/passport CD player / handheld electronics for

plane and car (Opt) Books and magazines Snacks/breakfast for flight and drive Glasses / Sunglasses Medicine Trip itinerary / maps Camera (Opt) Hiking boots (if they don’t fit in pack) Playing cards (Opt) Clothes Friday (shirt,short,underw,sock) Small towel (Opt) Clothes Saturday (Green troop

shirt,short,under,sock) Toilet kit (for cabin stay)

Group Gear in Your Pack: Tent -main part Stove (no fuel) First aid kit Tent –rain fly Repair kit Tent -poles/stakes Water filter Aquapure bottles Radios Pot, lid, tongs, soap,

scrubber, Dining fly

Maps/Guidebooks Group food Personal Gear in Your Pack: 20 deg Sleeping bag in

waterproof sack (3) Water bottles Food for 4.5 days to fit in

bear can Sleeping pad Pocket knife Condiments (salt, oil,…) Poncho or rain suit Cup Garbage bag Pack cover (Opt) Bowl Jacket – for cold nights Spoon and fork Dirty clothes bag Gloves (Opt) 2 Shorts (1 water short) Hat Toilet paper 2 Short-sleeve shirts Glasses/shades (Opt) Chapstick (Opt) 1 Pants Toothbrush & paste 1 Long-sleeve shirt Flashlight Moleskin (Opt) 2 Liner socks Compass Soap 2 Hiking socks Matches/Lighter Medicine (Opt) 2 Underwear Whistle Washrag/towelets Sleeping shirt Cord (Opt) Sunscreen Sleeping shorts Camera (Opt) Insect repellent Ear plugs (Opt)

What to Wear Enroute

Carry-On / Daypack

Group Gear in Pack

Personal Gear in Pack

ItineraryItinerary• 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

Example ItineraryExample Itinerary

Make ReservationsMake Reservations

• 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

(Months in advance!)

Secure National Tour PermitSecure 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

Train TeamTrain 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…)

Assemble Equipment and FoodAssemble 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!

Flying as a GroupFlying 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

SummarySummary• 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/

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

Backpacking in Grand Teton Backpacking in Grand Teton National ParkNational Park

• Five days backpacking

• Two days sightseeing in Yellowstone

Virgin Islands National ParkVirgin Islands National Park

• Snorkeling, Kayaking, Sailing, Hiking, Exploring and Community Service

• $760

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Bike Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Bike HikeHike

Backpacking Backpacking in Olympic in Olympic National National

ParkPark