Highlights of BSA's national high adventure bases - Philmont, Northern Tier, and Sea Base
- What is a BSA high adventure?
- Why put high adventure in your Troop/Crew program?
- Who should go?
- Best practices on how to get started.
1. BSA High Adventure Primer B109, University of Scouting, New Michigan Council, November 2009 Steve Lagreca [email_address] Philmont Contingent Leader, New Michigan Council Associate Advisor, Venturing Crew 1716 Additional information, along with the most recent version, is hosted at www.vcrew1716.org
36. Sea Base secrets Sea Base secrets: Captain’s creed – “in the morning we wake up late , in the afternoon we take it easy , then as evening approaches we taper off .
37. Patches you’ll never trade… PATCHES YOU’LL NEVER TRADE. ADVENTURES YOUR CREW WILL NEVER FORGET!
45. Because scouting values, a.k.a. the 3 AIMS… To build character - build self-reliance, self-discipline, self-confidence and self-respect. CHARACTER To develop fitness - develop physical, mental, emotional, and moral fitness that will stay with a Scout for the rest of his life. FITNESS To foster citizenship - foster love of community, country and world, along with a commitment of service to others and an understanding of democratic principles. CITIZENSHIP
46. … are integral to and enhanced though the high adventure vision! Ref: Passport to High Adventure, pg 5 Young people today seek greater challenges to their physical and mental abilities. High-adventure activities entice them to “stretch” to attain the goal of successfully completing an exhilarating outdoor experience. A High-adventure trek is a joyous opportunity – beyond the scope of the routine. It is more than just a scenic outdoor experience. It is an experience in living and cooperating with others to meet an exciting challenge. It is learning to overcome difficulties and learning to live in harmony with nature. In meeting these challenges, young people gain confidence, humility, and self-reliance. Trekkers become self-reliant by acquiring a wealth of knowledge and skills. High adventure develops critical thinking, judgment, and decision-making skills. High adventure stimulates good citizenship through teamwork and opportunities for leadership. It emphasizes spirituality by bringing young people closer to nature. It connects individuals to the land, developing a bond of respect for wild places and wild things. Through high adventure, a person becomes committed to wildland stewardship. High adventure inspires young people to undertake worthy challenges and to work together to meet common crew objectives. It offers a meaningful and lasting experience in their lives. Fitness Citizenship Character physical and mental abilities confidence, humility, and self-reliance leadership citizenship through teamwork and opportunities for
Skewed towards trekking / backpacking but most material will be relevant to most multi-day backcountry high adventures. Skewed towards BSA-high adventure but will be relevant to non-BSA as well. Skewed towards Troops but relevant for Venture Crews Skewed towards USA but relevant for other countries.
Agenda Where … are the coolest places to go? What … is a high adventure? Why … have high advenure in your program? Who … should go? How … do you “get r done”? Larry the cable guy
“… greater challenges to their physical and mental abilities" requiring them to "stretch to attain the goal of successfully completing an exhilarating outdoor experience." National BSA high adventures: Philmont - wilderness backpacking trek, Cimarron, NM Northern Tier - wilderness canoeing “trek”, Ely, MN Sea Base - ocean sailing “trek”, tropical island camping, Islamadora, FL Keys Double H - wilderness orienteering trek, Datil, NM Until virtual reality is a reality, the good stuff won’t come to you -- you have to go to the good stuff.
Oldest, best-known and most popular BSA National high adventure facility. 215 square miles of wilderness in the Sangre de Christo Mountains. 31staffed camps and 50 un-staffed camps operated to strict BSA standards. Hills and canyons teem with birds and its streams abound with fish. Mountains harbor a wilderness of botany – trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses. Meeting and sharing experiences with other crews from the US and other countries. Artwork: High Adventure - Normal Rockwell, 1957 A crew of Explorers at Philmont's Tooth of Time with their forest green uniforms and red Philmont jackets. Note the white leggings and belts, and the overseas caps with the Explorer logo on them. Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) is one of America's best known and loved artists. His numerous cover paintings for the Saturday Evening Post captured a period of American life that is long past. But for those of us in Scouting, we remember him for this long running series of Boy Scout calendars. Not surprising, when you realize that his first professional job was as the art director for Boy's Life magazine, supplying both cover art and interior art during the early years of that magazine. Later he would be approached to do the calendars, which he agreed to do and which he did the first couple for free, as a gift and thank you to the Boy Scouts of America. From 1925 to 1976 (except for two years), he did a painting that would be used for the calendar, using real scouts as models. To this task, he brought he well trained eye to accurately capturing the spirit of Scouting. Not surprising, he would be honored in 1939 with a Silver Buffalo, the highest award given at the National level for service to youth and scouting.
Pack light, here’s why: An ounce in the morning feels like a pound by nighttime. On the day we left, my pack weight, food water and everything, was 44 pounds. One of the other adults with our Troop had every gadget imaginable and left with 64. He had to come off the trail on day 3. -- Bill Lighter packs mean more enjoyment. You are not as tired at the end of the day. You can enjoy the trail a little more. You can do some of the same by being in better shape. Get in perfect shape with a super light pack and you can have a great trip. -- Jim Moss Don't bother, and you'll probably suffer to some extent. It really is pretty basic. -- Dr.Bob's corollary Your equipment stands between you and the wilderness. The less of it you have the closer you approach the wilderness. Expensive space age technology makes backpacking easier, or at least more efficient, but it is not what backpacking is all about, merely a means to it. Do only what you have to do. --Ed Burgen, Vagabonding in the USA Those who have read me over the past few years are aware that I pound on relative pack weight and physical preparation as two of the three key factors in enjoying a Philmont trek. – Dr. Bob After going to Philmont, my troop went "car camping" in August. I was amazed at what I did not take! If you can survive for 10 days on the trail in rugged terrain, leaving 50% of your pack space for carrying food, what can you possibly need for a 30-hour trip where the car is 1/4 mile away? -- Alan Hamm The biggest favor you can do for yourself before going to Philmont is to figure out how to get the pack weight down to a level comfortable for your size and strength. -- [email_address] Found on a thru-hiker list the other day: The more you carry, the more you enjoy your camping . The less you carry, the more you enjoy your hiking . Each of us has to find that particular balance between "enjoying camping" and "enjoying Hiking". Happy trails and campsites -- Roy Fisher Strive for 20 lbs. (16 lbs. has been achieved) personal gear. Crew Advisor’s discretion on removing any individual items. Assume you’ll be wearing the hiking shoes, 1 pr outer socks, 1 pr inner socks, underwear, long pants, short sleeve shirt and hat – these items don’t count towards the weight limit. Your share of Crew gear, food and water will add about 20 lbs to your pack.
A region once famous as the water highway of the Voyageurs, whose birch bark canoes carried explorers, traders and trappers northward. Eat-what-you-catch fishing Sunsets Secluded forest or island campsites Rivers and waterfalls Abundant wildlife Indian pictographs Ancient pine forests A chance to see the Northern Lights Boundary Waters Wilderness, MN Quentico Provincial Park, Manitoba White Otter Wilderness, Manitoba Atikaki Provincial Park, Manitoba Artwork: For the 75th anniversary of the Northern Tier Program in 1998,artist Joseph Csatari was commissioned by the BSA to do a painting. The cover is a representation of this work. Mr. Csatari has been called the heir to Norman Rockwell’s painting legacy and has done many works for the BSA. Like Rockwell, Csatari illustrated for the Saturday Evening Post, Brown & Bigelow Boy Scout calendars, and Boys' Life magazine covers. His involvement with the Boy Scouts of America has been one of length and dedication.
Underwater wilderness - coral formations, peaks, valleys, and literally hundreds of different types of colorful fish. Paddle an ocean kayak to campsites on Big Munson Island - lush vegetation, deer and vaca raccoons. Activities (dependant on track): Snorkeling, Scuba, Swimming, Diving, Boating, Deep sea fishing, Lobster catching, Canoeing, Wind surfing, Hobie Cat sailing, Spinnaker sailing, House boating Big Munson Island, over a hundred acres of high hardwood hammock fringed in lush mangroves, is much like it was when the pirates arrived in the 1800’s A week-long Robin Crusoe-like experience. Artwork: 1991, artist Joseph Csatari. Mr. Csatari has been called the heir to Norman Rockwell’s painting legacy and has done many works for the BSA.
He is a crab [1] with a Jamaican accent and a penchant for reggae music. He conducts King Triton 's orchestra in the first scene set in Atlantica, where Ariel's sisters are singing. His full name is Horatio Thelonious Ignacious Crustaceous Sebastian . Sebastian has also starred in The Little Mermaid TV series . In the series, Sebastian has a rival crab, Zeus, who was good at everything. Later, it was revealed that Zeus wasn't good at having any friends.
eBay sold in last 90 days - 6/1/07 Eagle patch 1 sale at $27 Philmont arrowhead 1 sale at $18 Northern Tier none avail Sea Base participant 1 sale at $3.50
Cool stuff to do at Pictured Rocks GET THE BSA 50-MILER PATCH. THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES YOU CAN GET IT WITHOUT CHEATING ON THE RULES. IT'S ARGUABLY THE MOST SCENIC 50-MILES IN THE STATE (contenders are Isle Royale and Porky Mt, both much harder to get to). Play on the sand dune bluffs overlooking Lake Superior. Play in the shallow water at the Coves. Relax in a hammock overlooking Lake Superior (you are bringing hammocks, right)? For photographers, there's several rock formations, spray falls and the famous tree-on-the-edge. For hikers, a chance to hike the most scenic part of the famous North County Trail system. Possible side trip to Tac Falls -- biggest waterfall in Mich.
High Adventures are not substitutes for: Other BSA programs, e.g. JLT, TTE, Jambo or OA. The family vacation. (all fun, not focused on scouting values (3 AIMS.)
Yes, I know you’re never, ever supposed to start a sentence with the word because
Check out "Age-Appropriate Guidelines for Scouting Activities" (Bin #18-260). We have a text version online here: http://www.quapawbsa.org/age-appropriate.htm
Indirectly as part of a camping continuum of expanding fun, excitement and challenge. The chart from the Passport to High Adventure, pg 10 that makes the point. Being part of the continuum described above. Fun, exciting and challenging. Available to all units, i.e. Scout Troops and Venture Crews. Differentiator offered by scouting vis-à-vis other extracurricular activities & organizations, e.g. school & church. Cubs are motivated to join, boosting recruiting efforts. Younger Scouts (age < 13) have outings to aspire to. Bonus – When 1st Class rank is necessary for HA it motivates Scouts to advance. Those Scouts who make 1st Class stay longer. Older Scouts (=> 13) are motivated to remain involved. Bonus – they are best able to mentor younger Scouts. Bonus – more likely to join a Venture crew at 18th b-day (no stealing). Scouts who have gone on a HA are more likely to return as Scouters. Their children are more likely to join Scouts. Bonus - parents are motivated to participate, with potential spillover into merit badge counselors and committee roles. Why do we care? Increasing the time in Scouting increases exposure to scouting values (3 Aims) Because high adventure compliments and extends the DAC outdoor program. Symbiotic relationship: Upward continuum Downward spillover Fulfill pre-requisites & co-requisites at DAC camps: 1st class rank often required Merit badges often are tie-breakers Contingent and individual crew training: Campouts CCB 50-milers 50-miler patch Retention results in participation.
Age-Appropriate Guidelines for Scouting Activities Age- and rank-appropriate guidelines have been developed based on the mental, physical, emotional, and social maturity of Boy Scouts of America youth members. These guidelines apply to Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops, Varsity Scout teams, and Venturing crews.
“ For years, the pair of questions I asked people at the advisor's coffee was always &quot;Are you enjoying the time on the trail?&quot; and &quot;Did you do any tune-up hikes?&quot; Invariably the groups that had not hiked together till they got to Philmont said no to both questions.” – Philmont discussion forum
Crew Leader – people focus, tool = duty roster Quartermaster – gear focus Chaplain’s Aide – morale focus, tool = “Eagles Soaring High”, 3 denominations and non-denominational Navigator (daily rotation) – “95% of trail signs are correct”, tool = map/compass
Reference: Philmont guidelines, 2006 Council and Unit Planning Guide, pg5: Philmont strongly recommends groups wear the BSA field uniform while in base camp, especially at chapel service, dinner and opening/closing programs. The uniform is also appropriate to traveling to and from Philmont. __________ During this trip we'll come in contact with many people. Some will have a Scouting background, some won't. Customs officials, gas station attendants, convenience store clerks, Philmont staff and Scouts from other Troops to name just a few. One thing is certain; we will leave an impression with everyone we meet. Impressions will be formed about Boy Scouts in general and our Troop in particular. We will be judged by our attitude, actions and even our appearance. We are, in effect, ambassadors for the Boy Scouts. Fairly or not, we will be judged as such. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_and_insignia_of_the_Boy_Scouts_of_America Officially, the uniform described above is known as the &quot;Field Uniform.&quot; The &quot;Activity Uniform&quot; is also defined as the official pants or shorts, socks, and belt with a Scouting related T-Shirt, polo shirt or other shirt. Often, members refer to these two classifications as &quot;Class A&quot; and &quot;Class B,&quot; respectively. Some units further distinguish a &quot;Full Class A&quot; or similar classification, that may involve wearing the merit badge sash, special medals, etc. Such terminology is not used in any BSA publications and is officially discouraged, to avoid any military connotation. Nonetheless, the terms &quot;Class A&quot; and &quot;Class B&quot; continue to be commonly used by many members.
“ For years, the pair of questions I asked people at the advisor's coffee was always &quot;Are you enjoying the time on the trail?&quot; and &quot;Did you do any tune-up hikes?&quot; Invariably the groups that had not hiked together till they got to Philmont said no to both questions.” – Philmont discussion forum
“ For years, the pair of questions I asked people at the advisor's coffee was always &quot;Are you enjoying the time on the trail?&quot; and &quot;Did you do any tune-up hikes?&quot; Invariably the groups that had not hiked together till they got to Philmont said no to both questions.” – Philmont discussion forum
Attitude is the key
Boy Scouts of America introduced its Strong Values / Strong Leaders/ Character Counts logo in the late 1990s, Scouting--September 1998 The Strategic Plan 1998-2002: A Summary The new National Strategic Plan--&quot;strong values, strong leaders, character counts&quot;--represents input from thousands of individuals at council, region, and national levels. http://www.scoutingmagazine.org/issues/9809/a-spla.html
What are the top 5? 1 - Eagle, 2 - Philmont, 3 - Northern Tier, 4 - Sea Base, 5 - 50-miler afoot/afloat What does it take to make the &quot;top 5 coolest patches&quot;? Every so often it's time to re-publish the criteria. Three things... 1. Must be offered by BSA, and the best BSA has to offer. (Eliminates religious emblems offered by P.R.A.Y. Don't misunderstand. I believe strong spirituality is essential. I've earned my religious emblem and vocally support &quot;a Scout is reverent&quot; at both Troop and Council level.) (Eliminates NRA medals, national park Jr. Ranger program patches, etc..) 2. Must be EARNED, and hard to earn. (Eliminates Order of the Arrow. A very cool part of Scouts and a very cool patch but you must be elected.) (Eliminates JASM. A very cool patch but you must be appointed.) 3. Must be challenging, character-building, outdoor, high adventure oriented experience that supports the three aims of scouting. It must embrace the spirit and essence of Scouting. If it indirectly promotes youth retention and/or rank advancement that's even better. If it's life-changing that's best. (Eliminates patches given to promote the business side of Scouts, e.g. popcorn sales.) (Eliminates got-it-because-I-showed-up patches, e.g. jamboree/camporee.) (Eliminates those challenging but indoor Internet, video & LAN party patches.) How do you know a contender when you see one? Simple. It's the patches Scouts talk about at social gatherings 25 years later. &quot;Patches you'll never trade, memories you'll never forget.&quot;