Intro to High Adventure

Or how to keep the kids interested!

Who will go?

• Age appropriate (Guide to Safe Scouting http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/toc.aspx )

• Physical and mental health• Skills and qualifications• Written parental approval under 18 years of age

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/19-673.pdf • Crew size• Adult leadership and qualifications

Trip Planning

Where are we going?

• Boys decide where

• Is the destination reasonable and matched to the abilities of the group?

• Research

• How long, how far, how fast, how much?

Trip Planning

• As you talk, write it down.

• Full description (what, where, when, how, who)

• Disseminate (parents, participants, leaders, interested parties)

• Plan for the unexpected (Murphy’s Law)

Travel, Budget, and Insurance

Travel

• Safest and most economical (airlines, rail, chartered bus)• Private car, van, or truck• All drivers licensed and at least 18 years of age (must

have an adult of 21 years old with the trip)• Driving time limited to 10 hours a day with frequent

stops. Travel and rest time is limited to a maximum of 10 hours in one 24-hour period, regardless of the number of drivers available. The intention is to include sleep and thorough rest breaks while traveling long distances.

• Cell/Text use is discouraged, even “Hands free”

Travel

• Seat belts required for each passenger and to be in use

• Station wagons are ok but no one in the back

• Trucks are ok but passengers must be in the cab with a seat belt

• All driving should be in the daylight

• Try to plan for 8-9 hours sleep a night

Travel

• All vehicle must be covered by liability insurance with limits that meet or exceed the licensing state requirements

• All vehicles must meet state inspection requirements

• Use your lights• 2 adults per vehicle is recommended• Youth Protection Training required• Do not travel in a convoy

Travel

• Use preplanned stops and checkpoints

• No youth alone in a vehicle with only one adult

• Each vehicle should carry minimum emergency gear depending on your travel route

• Overnight stops include military bases, council camps, and parks

Travel

• Remember you are ambassadors• Wear your uniform properly, mind your

manners, and be courteous• Use the buddy system• Telephone ahead to the next overnight• No tobacco in public or in front of youth

(illegal in some areas)• SAY THANK YOU FOR COURTESIES

EXTENDED YOU!

Travel

• References: Guide to Military Installations in the U.S. 1-800-368-5718

• AMTRAK 1-800-872-1477 • Grey hound Bus Lines 1-800-231-2222• http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/

Applications/highadventuresearch.aspx Council High Adventure facilities

• http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/healthandsafety/gss/gss11.aspx Travel safety

Tour Permits• Tour Plan FAQs• Q. Why should I complete a tour plan   ? 

A. The tour plan  is a checklist for best practices to be prepared for safe and fun adventure. Completing the tour plan may not address all possible challenges but can help ensure that appropriate planning has been conducted, that qualified and trained leadership is in place, and that the right equipment is available for the adventure.

• In addition, the plan helps to organize safe and appropriate transportation to and from an event, and defines driver qualifications and minimum limits of insurance coverage for drivers and vehicles used to transport participants.

• Please complete and submit this plan at least 21 days in advance (check with your local council) to ensure your council has enough time to review the plan and assist you in updating the plan if it is found defective. When the review is complete, the second half of the plan is returned to you to carry on your travels. 

• Q. When do I need to complete a tour plan   ? A. Times when a tour plan must be submitted for council review include: 

• Trips of 500 miles or more; or• Trips outside of council borders [Exception: not to your council-owned property]; or• Trips to any national high-adventure base, national Scout jamboree, National Order of the Arrow Conference, the Summit Bechtel

Reserve, or regionally sponsored event; or• When conducting the following activities outside of council or district events: • Aquatics activities (swimming, boating, floating, scuba, etc.) • Climbing and rappelling • Orientation flights (process flying plan) • Shooting sports • Any activities involving motorized vehicles as part of the program (snowmobiles, boating, etc.) • At a council's request (contact your local council for additional guidelines or regulations concerning tour plans)• Regardless, the tour plan is an excellent tool that should be included in preparation for all activities, even those not requiring it. It guides a

tour leader through itineraries, travel arrangement, two-deep leadership, qualifications of supervision, and transportation. 

Tour Permits• Q. What is different on the tour plan  vs. the tour permit? 

A. Several items:• The unit leadership certifies the plan.• The local council reviews the plans but does not "approve" them. No

regional review is required. • The tour plan consists of a tour planning worksheet that is

completed by the unit/contingent. After processing, the council retains the tour planning worksheet and returns the tour plan to the unit. 

• The plan can be printed on standard 8 ½-by-11-inch paper! • 21-day advance notice requested for units to submit the plan

for review. • A single point of contact (not on the tour) for council use included. • Defined reasons/times when a tour plan must be submitted for

council review. • Updated Pledge of Performance.

Tour Permits• Q.  Is planning and preparing for Hazardous Weather Training

 required for all tours?  A.  Yes, it has been required for all tours, including local and national, Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing, since January 1, 2009. It should be repeated every two years and is appropriate for not only adults, but Boy Scout-aged youth as well. A CD is available for use at your unit, district, and council events where Internet access is not available. Search www.scoutstuff.org  for Item 610642  .  

• Q. What should we use for permission from parents?A.  The Activity Consent Form and Approval by Parents or Guardian  is an appropriate resource. 

• Q.  Do I need anything else if we are going on a discovery flight?A.  Yes, please complete the Flying Plan Application  along with an Activity Consent Form and Approval by Parents or Guardian   (for each participant). 

Tour Permits

• Needed in most national parks and forests as well as military installations

• Must be in hand at all times and be shown when requested by BSA officials and others of authority

• Make sure all signatures are in place

Budget

• Plan with care• Estimate or research all expenses• Include a contingency fee• Decide each person’s share• How do we pay for it and what are our

fundraising deadlines?• Stay within the policies of the BSA – each unit

fundraiser must be approved by you local council (unit money-earning application N0. 34427)

Budget

• What about refunds?

• What about monies left over?

• Have an emergency fund

Insurance

• Insurance is for your protection and those responsible for the trip

• Greatest risk is an auto accident. Check your coverage ahead of time for type of vehicle, capacity, and limits. Check with local laws for minimums.

• Auto liability insurance is NOT accident insurance

Insurance

• Leaders and parents should be encouraged to purchase group accident and health insurance for all Scouting activities

Promotion and Preparation

Promotion and Preparation• Promotion anit Preparation Plan• Your Checklist• When A Suggested Plan• August Reserve dates for participation in council high-adventure program.• Confirm two-deep adult leadership.• October CONDUCT PARENTS' RALLY. Invite prospects and parents. Make program exciting.• Share risk advisory statement (see page 41) with parents. Distribute schedule of fee payments.• Sign up 100% of quota by end of month. (Your quota is the number of people for whom reservations have been made for program

participation.)• November Arrange transportation and overnight accommodations to and from council high-adventure base.• December Unit committee meets with all selected expedition leaders and reviews plans. Make plans for training and parents' meeting.

Obtain health and medical records.• January Schedule medical exams.• February Develop physical training plan.• March Develop plans for the summer.• Conduct series of training experiences. Start easy and end with a challenging experience involving several days of camping, hiking with

full packs, canoeing, etc. Submit tour permit application through council.• April Send reminder for final fee payments.• Share accident and sickness insurance information, base address, and emergency telephone number with parents.• May Submit final fee payments.• Complete details. Confirm travel plans in writing. Prepare and release story to news media.• June This year's expedition is set to go!• Bring completed health and medical records, first-aid/CPR certificates, approved tour permit, and crew roster to council high-adventure

base.• August Evaluate trek and preparations. Prepare for next high-adventure experience.

Preparation

• Class 3 Personal Health and Medical History

• Make extra photocopies as some hi-ad bases need copies

• GET IN SHAPE!! Physically and Mentally

• Advise all parent and participants of risks involved with your activity

Preparation

• Be prepared to either exclude or make arrangements for participants with chronic illnesses. You made need to require specific medical releases for such.

• Those with medications should bring them in an appropriate containers along with duplicate or triplicate doses to be stored elsewhere

Preparation

• If needed train in: Safe Swim Defense Safety Afloat Climb on Safely Leave No Trace Trek Safely Wilderness First Aid Sweet Sixteen of BSA Safety• Make sure all immunizations are up to date as needed

for your destinations• Do you need passports?

Equipment

• Develop checklists for both individual and group depending on your destination

• Use people that have experience to help you

• Shakedown, train with, and break in equipment before the trip

• Types of food and nutrition depending on activity

Equipment

• Emergency gear

• After shakedown, eliminate what you don’t need (repeat several times)

• Divide the load fairly

Skills Practice

• Practice, Practice, Practice!!!!

• To include any and all skills needed

• Use pros to help you, they would rather help train you than have to rescue you.

• Know what to do in case of any emergency you might encounter, then think again

Wrap It Up

• Keep a journal

• Pictures (spare camera, batteries, or memory sticks)

• Unpack, repair and store your gear

• Do a debrief with all involved at each level of organization and leadership

• Keep records (IF IT IS NOT WRITTEN DOWN, IT NEVER HAPPENED!)

Wrap It Up

• Poor planning and execution on your part can, and probably will constitute an emergency on someone else’s part.

• Poor prior planning prevents perfect performance.

Resources

• Commercial outfitters found by word of mouth, trade shows, magazines, internet

• Passport to High Adventure No.34245• http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/

Applications/highadventuresearch.aspx Council High Adventure Programs

• Florida Sea Base, Islamorada, FL• Northern Tier, Ely, MN• Philmont Scout Ranch, Cimarron, NM

Questions and Discussion