University of Scouting BS-019 Treks : University of Scouting BS-019 Treks The Where’s, How’s and Why’s of High Adventure Treks
Great Sauk Trail Council November 5, 2005
BS-019 Treks : BS-019 Treks From the Course list:
“Philmont, Isle Royale, Sea Base, etc; details on planning, organizing, cost of trips to these locations”
The Trekking course is a look at various Boy Scout and Venture crew treks with the view of how to organize and plan them
The organization and planning behind a trek can make the event fun and exciting, or make it a disaster
This PowerPoint presentation available at
www.troop446.com
High Adventure Treks : High Adventure Treks One of the best parts of Scouting!
Lets Scouts do things that they would not ordinarily do with their family
Personal growth
Maximizes the scouting experience
Minimize regret (do it because you can)
Introduction : Introduction Daniel Katanski
1996 Troop 446, Committee (about nine years)
2002 Wood Badge, C016-02, Owl
dan@provide.net
2002 Philmont
With GST Council contingent
2004 Sea Base
Bahamas Tall Ship Adventure
Troop 446, crew of 20
2005 National Jamboree
With GST Council Contingent
Where to Trek? : Where to Trek? Philmont
Sea Base
Northern Tier
National Jamboree
Isle Royale
Cole Canoe Base
Prevailing Winds
Grand Canyon
Other Treks? : Other Treks? Check out these sites for other treks:
usscouts.org/netresources/ha.asp
List of 10 treks
www.scouting.org/boyscouts/directory
National list of 50 treks
Trek Preparation? : Trek Preparation? Questions for every trip…
Reservations? Most important for some treks
Transportation?
Permits?
Crew size?
Funding?
Getting ready?
More in Sea Base Parents Meeting show
If time allows
Planning : Planning You can not over plan!
I’m certain that some people can, but for the majority of us we have to work at it
Respect others by disclosing details
Sets expectations
Allows you to enjoy the trek instead of worrying about what can go wrong next
No surprises!
Reservations : 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
BSA Tour Permits : BSA Tour Permits Local Tour Permit within 500 miles of home and outside your council boundaries
National Tour Permit in excess of 500 miles from home
Tour Permits are an approved travel plan
Includes:
Troop identification
Leader in charge
Modes of transportation
Drivers (license numbers and vehicle and insurance information)
Itinerary
Other Permits : Other Permits Reservations may not be needed…
But permits may be required
Be aware of peak time on your trek that may impact getting permits
National Park Service
Finances : Finances Trek leader has two perspectives:
Troop to Trek
Handling monies for the group
Scout/Scouter to Troop
Monies from individuals
Disclose, disclose, disclose!
Be wary of conflicts of interest
Waiting list and refund policies
Discuss this up-front!
Finances : Finances Where is money for the trek coming from?
Mostly self funded
Scout accounts
Fund raisers
Contributions
Many treks have 18 month lead times so fund raisers may make sense
Expenses : Expenses Fee for trek (Philmont or Sea Base)
Transportation
Gas, ferries, airplane, buss or train tickets
Food
Equipment rentals
Canoes, scuba gear,…
Miscellaneous and contingency funds
I missed the final lunch and bought T-shirts
Expenses : Expenses Create payment schedule for scouts that is:
Multiple even payments
Minimum of one month between payments
Timed around major trek expenses such as trek fees and transportation
Create trip itinerary describing expenses at each part of the trip
Describe the fixed costs…
Describe the unrecoverable costs
Not refundable
Food : Food It’s heavy to carry
Cost
Cheaper to bring with you, but inconvenient
Amount of cooking time
Lunch on trail vs. dinner at camp
Refrigeration availability
Special dietary requirements
Food : Food Plan menus with scouts
Type of trek affects food takes
Munchies?
Set expectations
Significant financial component
Consider regional costs or currency
Great planners plan meals
Permission / Intent Forms : Permission / Intent Forms Signed permission slips 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
Needs to be notarized to enter some countries!
Identification : Identification In 2007 passports will be required to to reenter the USA!
Passports cost about $120
Passports require 2 to 12 weeks lead time
Useful for all air travel – even domestic
Photo ID
Secretary of state can make a scout less than 16 years of age a photo identification
Itinerary : Itinerary Create a detail itinerary
Include travel details such as flight numbers, departure and arrival times
Emergency contact information and when usable
Sets expectations
Describe possible contingencies, if appropriate
Include expenses to cross check other lists
You can’t communicate too much
Equipment : Equipment List all required and recommended equipment
What is Scout vs. Crew gear
What can Troop provide?
It’s easy to take too much stuff
First Aid Kits : 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
Trek Preparation? : Trek Preparation? Guide to Safe Scouting
Basic Leader Training & Outdoor Leader Skills
Red Cross First Aid, CPR, AED training
Youth protection up to date?
Behavior contract
Important when a scout is sent home at the parent’s expense
Special training?
Practice knots
Scuba certifications
Wilderness first aid
Shakedown : Shakedown Check equipment
No surprises!
Don’t leave home without one!
Contingencies : 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
Last minute things to check… : 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.
Let’s Look at a few Treks… : Let’s Look at a few Treks…
Philmont : Philmont GST Council High Adventure Committee
Organizes 3 to 6 crews of 12 Scouts per year
7 crew in 2007
Space is available for 2006
8 Scouts and 4 Scouters
14 day trip including travel
2 days travel
2 days in base camp
10 days on the trail
Cost through council in 2005 was $900
Philmont : Philmont Schedule you own trek?
Philmont Scout Ranch Route 1, Box 35 Cimarron NM 87714
(505) 376-2281
18 month lead time
Typical for the big treks
Philmont : Philmont Call 505-376-2281 ext. 227 to be put on an email list for registration information
2007 treks register online from Nov 28 - Dec 4 for Central region
Computer random draw after Dec 12
After all regions had registered their requests
Date selection is part of registration
You will be contacted if you win a trek
12 day trek costs $520 per person (2006 prices)
Add in transportation and travel meals
Philmont : 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 elevations or 6 to 12 thousand feet
Requires months of conditioning
Top-Off your Scouting experience
A right of passage for a Scout
Philmont : Philmont 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
$70 water purifier
The cost of the equipment can easily exceed the other trip fees
Sea Base : Sea Base Florida Keys or Bahamas
www.bsaSeaBase.org
Nancy Wells, Sea Base Registrar, (305) 664-5616
10 different adventures
My personal favorite trip
Cost in 2004 for Bahamas trek was $1050
Transportation cost will be much higher
See my Parents Meeting presentation…
Sea Base : Sea Base Crews selected by annual lottery
That’s an 18 month lead time
High demand – difficult to get
There are frequently openings for singles
See “Lone Scout Connection” link at
http://www.bsaseabase.org/reservations/connections.html
Sea Base : Sea Base 2007 registration is “on-line“ at
www.bsaseabase.org
2007 registration on Jan 15 to Feb 12, 2006
Computer random draw after Feb 15
Use BSA ID from ID Card to register crew
Bet you never knew you had a BSA ID
You can make multiple date choices
Note: No trips were canceled this year due to hurricanes in the Bahamas trip
However, over 50 of 1200 crews were affected by Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, Rita
For “Scout Run” Troops… : 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
Northern Tier High Adventure : Northern Tier High Adventure Canoe and fishing trek
info@ntier.org
218-365-4811 or
Northern Tier National High Adventure
PO Box 509
Ely, Minnesota 55731-0509
Mostly flat water and portages
Northern Tier High Adventure : Northern Tier High Adventure For 2007 starts in April 2006
Some 2006 dates available!
Dates choices, length and base selection
Call (218) 365-4811 or write:
Registrar, Northern Tier National High Adventure
PO Box 509, Ely, Minnesota 55731-0509
info@ntier.org
They never fill up all of their trips
6-8 day $46 /per person /day… About $368
Cole Canoe Base : Cole Canoe Base On Rifle River (north of the thumb)
White’s Canoe Livery, Sterling Michigan
989-654-2654 or www.whitescanoe.com
$125 to $250 per Person per Trek
Canoes or kayaks available
Grand Canyon : Grand Canyon Hike into and out of the canyon
Hiking down can be more strenuous than up
Treks difficult to get
Register 4 months early
FAX in application at midnight the first day of the month – that’s it for the month
30,000 requests, only 13,000 allowed
15% of treks held for walk-ins – risky
If you can wait 1-2 days it might work
Troop ??? went last spring
Grand Canyon : Grand Canyon Contact the National Park Service
www.nps.gov
1 to 6 camps in any site
7 to 12 must use assigned sites
No group greater than 12!
National Jamboree : National Jamboree 2010 National Jamboree
100th Anniversary of Scouting in the USA
Ft. A.P. Hill, Virginia
Fantastic 10 day for the Scouts!
Contingent organized by GST Council
Can not go on your own
You can visit but not participate
National Jamboree : National Jamboree 37,000 Scouts and Scouters
Next Jambo they are expecting many more!
4 troops from GST Council
35 Scouts and 5 Scouters per troop, 4 troops
Scouters consider earning your Wood Badge beads
Or be on staff (8,000 staffers)
2005 cost was $900 per scout
Optional Washington DC tour $1,300
National Jamboree : National Jamboree If you can go, then GO!
Is it high adventure?
Well it was very hot, and
It was a great adventure
You can’t do everything that is there!
It’s part of the full Scouting experience!
Isle Royale National Park : Isle Royale National Park Wilderness trek backpacking adventure
You, the moose and the wolves
Accessible only by boat or seaplane
Located in northwestern Lake Superior about 50 miles from Copper Harbor, Michigan and 15 miles from Minnesota
Contact the National Parks Service
www.nps.gov
Duration 12 days (4 days travel, 8 days backpack)
Isle Royale National Park : Isle Royale National Park Scouts will be carrying their own gear and food for 8 days (food is heavy)
Michigan at it’s finest
Ferry Service $85-$110 for 4-6 Hrs
1 to 6 people can just show up
Sleep in Adirondack shelters
7 to 10 require preset itinerary
Sleep in tent sites
Isle Royale National Park : Isle Royale National Park Register for groups after January 1st
Plan early
Two day travel to Copper Harbor
Guide to Safe Scouting limits you to 12 hours of travel per day in daylight hours
Prevailing Winds : Prevailing Winds Sail Lake Huron on a trek of your design
Run by Tall Pines Council, Flint Michigan
www.tpcbsa.org/General/Camps/
Troop 446 sail for a weekend in preparation for Sea Base
Fees are $1,200 for weekend trips and $4,750 for week-long trips for crew of 20 plus other food, other fees and your transportation (about $350 each)
Prevailing Winds : Prevailing Winds A gem in our own back yard
Explore the 3rd largest Great Lake
Much cheaper than Sea Base
Flexible trek design
Can be an international trip
GST Council Resources : GST Council Resources High Adventure Committee
Sig Herliczek, chairman at 734-856-6664
Meet 3rd Wednesday of every month at Faith In Action in Chelsea (hospital campus) at 7:00 PM
Coordinates Council Philmont contingent and other high adventure opportunities
Looking for new members and new ideas
Scouters are on the committee if you are on a Philmont trek
This is the Beginning of your Trekking Adventures… : This is the Beginning of your Trekking Adventures… But it’s the end of this Session!