Transcript University of Scouting Trekking

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
• 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
• 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
• Daniel Katanski
– 1996 Troop 446, Committee (about nine years)
– 2002 Wood Badge, C016-02, Owl
– [email protected]
• 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?
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Philmont
Sea Base
Northern Tier
National Jamboree
Isle Royale
Cole Canoe Base
Prevailing Winds
Grand Canyon
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?
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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:
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Troop identification
Leader in charge
Modes of transportation
Drivers (license numbers and vehicle and insurance
information)
– Itinerary
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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Plan menus with scouts
– Type of trek affects food takes
– Munchies?
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Set expectations
Significant financial component
Consider regional costs or currency
Great planners plan meals
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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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?
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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
• Check equipment
• No surprises!
• Don’t leave home without one!
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…
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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…
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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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…
• 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
• Canoe and fishing trek
• [email protected]
• 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
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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
• [email protected]
• They never fill up all of their trips
• 6-8 day $46 /per person /day… About $368
Cole Canoe Base
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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
• 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
• 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
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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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
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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
• 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…
But it’s the end of this Session!