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/HealthandS
afety/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/Appli
cations/highadventuresearch.aspx Council
High Adventure facilities
• http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/healt
handsafety/gss/gss11.aspx Travel safety
Tour Permits
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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.
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Q. When do I need to complete a tour plan ?
A. Times when a tour plan must be submitted for council review include:
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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.
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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
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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
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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/Appli
cations/highadventuresearch.aspx
Council High Adventure Programs
• Florida Sea Base, Islamorada, FL
• Northern Tier, Ely, MN
• Philmont Scout Ranch, Cimarron, NM
Questions and Discussion