HIGH ADVENTURE SELECTION GUIDE

Troop 23

Harrisburg, pa

New Birth of Freedom Council

Keystone Capital district

PHILMONT Overview

Philmont Scout Ranch is the Boy Scouts of

America's largest national High Adventure Base.

Its 34 staffed camps and 55 trail camps provide

an unforgettable adventure in the high country of

New Mexico along hundreds of miles of rugged,

rocky trails. More than one million Scouts,

Venturers, and leaders have experienced the

adventure of Philmont since the first camping

season in 1939.

Activities

12-Day & 7-Day Backpacking Treks – Crews hike 50-100 miles through Philmont's rugged

wilderness, summiting peaks and participating in staffed programs along the way.

Western themed program activities include blacksmithing, panning for gold, horseback

riding, branding, shooting shotguns, .30-06 and muzzle loaded rifles, wilderness medicine,

learning search & rescue techniques, rock climbing and rappelling, conservation, chuck

wagon dinner, cowboy campfire, and more.

Cavalcades – Philmont Cavalcades are similar to regular expeditions except that, instead of

hiking, crews ride horses through the rugged mountain wilderness. Cavalcade expeditions

cover fewer miles than the backpacking treks because you are on horseback. The program

activities are similar to the backpacking treks but with more of a focus on horsemanship.

Age Requirements

Philmont trek and cavalcade participants must be

14 years of age OR completed 8th Grade and be at

least 13 years of age prior to participation.

Crew Sizes

Backpacking Treks – Minimum of 7 and a maximum

of 12, including adults.

Cavalcades – Minimum of 10 participants, including

adults.

Weather

During the summer, daytime temperatures commonly reach 80 to 90° F but with very low

humidity. Night time temperatures are usually very comfortable and sometimes even a bit

chilly (occasionally reaching into the 40's and even lower in the higher elevations). Mid-

afternoon thunder showers are fairly common but seldom last more than an hour.

Training

Crews are highly recommended to participate in at least two shakedown hikes before

their Philmont trek (preferably more). These shakedowns will vary from crew to crew but

three-day/two-night trips covering between 15-25 miles over as much elevation change

as possible are recommended for each shakedown hike.

Cost (2017 prices)

12-Day Trek – $895

7-Day Trek – $522

Cavalcade – $750

Estimated airfare to Denver – $500

Estimated cost of transportation between

Denver and Philmont including any side

trips (widely varies) – between $200-$700

Incidentals (snacks, souvenirs, etc.) – $100

Total = $1,322 - $2,195

Additional Resources

Official Philmont Website: http://www.philmontscoutranch.org/philmont.aspx

Packing List: http://philmontscoutranch.org/filestore/philmont/pdf/SummerPkL.pdf

Philmont Blogs: https://philmont2015.wordpress.com/

http://www.troop324.org/high-adventure/philmont-trek-log

http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2012/06/30/storychasing-our-

philmont-backpacking-trek-in-june-2012-with-images-audio-video/

Sea base Overview

Sea Base is a unique Scouting program that offers aquatics

programs found nowhere else. Whether your interests lie in

sailing, scuba diving, rustic camping on an undeveloped barrier

island, fishing or a combination of all, this is the place for you.

Sea Base began in the early 1970's as a local sailing program in the Florida Keys. Sea Base

now operates 15 different adventures out of four locations: two in the Florida Keys, one in

the US Virgin Islands, and one in Marsh Harbour,

Bahamas.

Activities

Florida Keys, Lower Matecumbe Key

Coral Reef Sailing – Live aboard a 40- to

50-foot sailing yacht for a week. Your

captain will instruct you in navigation,

fishing and sailing techniques.

Sea Exploring Adventure – Designed for

large group sailing on large vessels, 75

feet or more, normally gaff-rigged topsail schooners. Experience snorkeling on the

reefs, fishing, and hands-on sailing as well as a port-o-call in Key West.

STEM Eco-Adventure – This is an up-close, hands-on educational adventure.

Discover and explore the wildlife and ecosystems of the marine habitats of the

Florida Keys via sailboat, kayak, snorkeling, glass-bottom boat, and fishing.

Scuba Adventure – This adventure is for crews who are already SCUBA certified.

This program offers as many as eleven dives including a night dive, marine life

studies, and other underwater adventures.

Scuba Certification – Get certified in SCUBA diving in the warm, tropical waters of

the Florida Keys. Crews are trained by professional instructors in Sea Base’s P.A.D.I.

5-Star rated Scuba Training Facility. Approximately five open water dives are

conducted on reefs just off shore from the Sea Base.

Live Aboard Scuba Adventure – Spend your days not only scuba diving, but fishing

and sailing around the Florida Keys on a 57-foot schooner or two 40-foot sailing

yachts (crew size 10-12). You will dive 11-15 times, including one or more night

dives.

Florida Keys, Brinton Environmental Center on Summerland Key

Out Island Adventure – Camping on a remote 100+ acre island, snorkeling coral

reefs, trolling for sport-fish, kayaking through mangroves, and exploring the flora

and fauna of Big Munson Island.

Keys Adventure –This adventure has the flexibility to include activities that

personally interest your crew, such as night trawling to examine marine life, a

possible overnight, great boating days visiting fabulous fishing and snorkeling areas.

Florida Fishing – A week of fishing and boating in the Florida Keys spanning from

the Gulf of Mexico to the Florida Straits in the Atlantic Ocean.

Bahamas Sea Base in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Bahamas*

Bahamas Adventures – Seven days of sailing, snorkeling, fishing, swimming, and

island exploring throughout the Abacos Islands on

a 45’-55’ sailboat. (Crew sizes 6-8 or 10-12).

Bahamas Tall Ship Adventures – Learn and

experience the seven days of sailing as an active

crew member aboard a 60' catamaran Tall Ship.

(Crew size 18-20) *Passport required for Bahamas adventures

St. John, US Virgin Islands

Sea Base St. Thomas Adventures – Sailing, fishing,

snorkeling, and exploring in the Caribbean Ocean

around St. Thomas and St. John.

Eligibility

Age - Participants must be 13 years old and have completed the 8th grade or will be

graduating from the 8th grade in the season of their arrival or 14 years old by September 1

in the year of their arrival.

Swimming – Must pass the BSA swim test.

Health – Medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure,

epilepsy, asthma, etc. may limit the ability to participate. Check Sea Base website for

details.

Crew Sizes

Crew sizes vary based on the chosen adventure. See Sea Base website for details.

Weather

Winter and spring temperatures vary from 50°F possible in the evenings, to 80°F during

the day, with varying wind speeds and a humid climate. Water temperatures in winter dip

to 72°. Summer temperatures vary from 80°F to 95°F night and day, with high humidity

and light breezes, and afternoon thunderstorms. The water temperature averages 84° in

summer.

Training

Any sailing experience you can get prior to your trip is

highly recommended. A lot of your time is spent in the

water so inexperienced swimmers should practice

swimming so they can easily pass the BSA swim test. Try

to practice diving as deep as you can and swimming as

far as you can under water. SCUBA adventures require

additional training.

Cost (2017 prices)

Sea Base fees vary between $860 and $1,350 per person based on chosen adventure.

Airfare is between $400 and $800 depending on destination. Travel costs can be

slightly reduced by driving to Florida but that adds 2-4 days to your trip along with

additional food and hotel costs.

Estimated cost of transportation between Miami or Ft. Lauderdale airport and Sea

Base including any side trips (widely varies) – between $20-$200

Incidentals (food while traveling, souvenirs, etc.) – $100-$200

Total = $1,380 - $2,550

Additional Resources

Official Sea Base Website: http://www.bsaseabase.org/seabase.aspx

Participants Guide: http://www.bsaseabase.org/Resources.aspx

Sea Base Blogs: http://www.floridaseabasenews.com/

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/category/sea-base/

http://www.sailingadventures.org/tag/sea-base-bahamas/

SUMMIT BECHTEL

RESERVE Overview

Summit Bechtel Reserve (SBR) was selected in 2009 as the

new location for BSA’s National Jamborees. SBR also offers

scout camps, leadership training programs, and high

adventure opportunities. The high adventure philosophy at

SBR is that “High adventure is not just about adrenaline and

the wow factor, it’s about digging deep within yourself, finding

out what makes you tick and discovering how to push beyond

what you think you can do.” The Paul R. Christen High

Adventure Base at SBR offers eleven programs within three

program categories: The Summit Experience Program, Focused Programs, and Advanced

Programs.

Activities

To provide the greatest flexibility to crews and contingents, SBR allows members to

individually select their program experiences. This means that a crew can choose (1)

for all members to participate together in the same program experience; or (2) allow each

crew member to select his or her individual program. This permits your crew the

flexibility to accommodate a wide range of interests and experiences.

The Summit Experience Program provides an introduction to all components of the SBR

Adventure Zone. This program is a high adventure experience for participants that want

to try everything. Spend a half day at

each of the Summit’s adventure sports

venues – BMX, skateboarding, mountain

biking, zip lines, canopy tours, challenge

courses, climbing, shooting sports, and

kayaking/whitewater rafting. Summit

Experience groups will also participate

in a service project and will get to ride

down the 3,100 foot BIG ZIP! In addition, each night (Monday-Friday), SBR will open the

Scott Summit Center for activities, fun and socializing. The Scott Summit Center

incorporates small versions of SBR’s adventure sports venues.

Focused Programs allow Scouts to focus primarily in one particular area of the SBR’s

adventures and concentrate on developing their skills in that focus area while still having

some time for elective choices. These programs include three full days in your focused

program of choice with two days of electives, a

service project, and the BIG ZIP. Focused program

options include:

The River – Whitewater kayaking/rafting

Helmets & Harnesses – Climbing, rappelling,

canopy tours, challenge course

The Marksman – Shooting sports and

archery

Tires & Trails – Mountain biking

Berms & Bars – BMX biking

Ramps & Rails – Skateboarding

Advanced Programs provide the opportunity to reach advanced skill levels in a single high

adventure skill set. The Advanced Programs are designed for older, more experienced

Scouts (16+ years old). Advanced programs are available in climbing, kayaking, mountain

biking, and adventure photography.

Age Requirements

Summit Experience Program and

Focused Program participants must be

13 years of age by September 1st of the

year they are attending. Advanced

program participants must be 16 years

old, except for adventure photography

participants who must be 14 years old.

Crew Sizes

A minimum of six crew members are needed for each program. There is no maximum

number of participants per crew. However, each program experience or activity has an

optimal group size. When participating in a single program experience as a crew, large

crews may be divided into smaller groups for activity periods to ensure the ideal program

experience. Two adults are required for every ten participants, and SBR recommends

that larger groups add one extra adult beyond the first ten participants.

Weather

The weather at SBR is similar to Central PA weather with it being a little bit cooler overall

due to higher elevations.

Training

Training is dependent upon the program activity chosen. For example, those choosing a

climbing focus should prepare by doing as much climbing as possible prior to their trip.

This will help hone your climbing skills and help strengthen the muscles used for climbing.

Regardless of the program chosen,

all crew members must be

prepared to do a lot of hiking. It is

not uncommon to hike up to eight

miles in a day and possibly more at

SBR. Also, participants in

programs that include aquatics

activities must have passed their

annual BSA Swim Test.

Cost (2016 prices)

Summit Fees – Between $769 – $939 per person for Summit Experience and Focused

Programs. Between $779 – $1199 per person for Advanced Programs.

Transportation (gas) and meals in transit – Between $35 – $50 per person.

Incidentals (t-shirts, souvenirs, etc.) – $100 per person.

Total = $904 - $1,349

Additional Resources

Official SBR Website: http://www.summitbsa.org/

2016 Planning Guide: http://www.summitbsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2016-

Planning-Guide-as-of-11132015.pdf

SBR Blogs: http://www.summitbsa.org/blog/

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/category/summit-bechtel-reserve/

http://scoutingnewsroom.org/blog/summit-bechtel-reserve-overlooks-best-

national-park-hike/

NORTHERN TIER Overview

Northern Tier is located in the Great Northwoods and offers

both summer and winter programs. In the summer from one

of three canoe bases, scouts explore millions of acres of

pristine lakes, meandering rivers, dense forests in Northern

Minnesota, Southwestern Ontario* and Southeastern

Manitoba*. In the winter, Northern Tier is home to the OKPIK

Cold-Weather Camping program, the BSA's premier winter high adventure program.

Northern Tier staff outfit each crew with state-of-the-art camping equipment, as well as a

highly trained staff member called an "Interpreter." Northern Tier is the BSA's oldest

national High Adventure program, outfitting Scouting groups for canoe trips since the

summer of 1923.

*NOTE: Passports are required for trips in Canada.

Activities

Summer Adventures – Canoe trips in the Boundary

Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of Minnesota, the

Atikaki Provincial Park of Ontario, or the Northern

Expeditions Base in Bissett, Manitoba. Trips range in

length from 6-14 days and usually include between 50-

150 miles of wilderness travel. The Charles L.

Sommers Canoe Base in Ely, MN is the flagship

location of Northern Tier which services more than

4,000 Scouts each year. The Atikokan Canoe Base

services about 1,500 Scouts each year in their canoe

programs, as well their two specialty programs: the

Fishing Expedition designed for crews with an

intensive interest in angling, and the Kayak Trek, an

introduction to wilderness travel via kayak. The Northern Expeditions Base in Bissett,

Manitoba is the most rugged and remote region paddled by Northern Tier crews. It is

unofficially regarded as the "Most Extreme High Adventure in Scouting" and is most

appropriate for older crews with previous High Adventure experience. All Northern

Expedition crews enter the wilderness via a twenty-minute float plane ride to be dropped

off in the heart of the combined 2.5 million acres of Atikaki Provincial Park and Woodland

Caribou Provincial Park, an area paddled by only a handful of canoeists each year.

Winter Adventures – OKPIK Cold Weather

Camping is Northern Tier's winter

offering. At OKPIK, Scouts experience a

true Northwoods winter: learning how to

thrive in subzero temperatures, travel

across frozen wilderness lakes and

construct their own sleeping structures

out of snow. All trips are fully outfitted

and provisioned, including almost all of

the personal gear necessary to stay warm

in the winter. Four types of OKPIK experiences are currently offered: Cabin Stays, OKPIK

Weekend Samplers, OKPIK Treks, and Dogsled Trips. The Cabin Stay program is

designed to introduce younger scouts to the idea of winter camping. Cabin Stay crews stay

in a heated cabin each night, but fully explore the winter wilderness during the day. Cabin

Stay participants may learn how to cross-country ski, snowshoe and ice fish. The OKPIK

Weekend Sampler is designed to teach Scouts the basics of winter camping. In this

program, crews will pack their gear onto sleds (or "pulks") and head out into the

wilderness to spend 1-2 nights. Scouts learn how to set up a winter campsite, how to build

snow shelters and how to cook meals at low temperatures. OKPIK Treks provide older

scouts with the opportunity to test their camping skills in a true winter wilderness. Crews

travel by ski, snowshoe or foot into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

(BWCAW) for at least two nights, learning how to travel efficiently and enjoyably in the

more difficult conditions of the Minnesota winter. Dogsled Trips are designed to teach

Scouts how to care for and run sledding dogs. There are two types of Dogsled Trips:

Musher Camps stay in a heated cabin on base, and take the dogs out for half-day and day-

long runs; Dogsled Treks head out into the wilderness with their dog teams and camp with

the dogs out on the ice. In both experiences, Scouts will take ownership of a team dogs,

learning how to feed, house, harness, and otherwise care for them.

Age Requirements

All participants must be age 14 by the time they

arrive at Northern Tier OR have graduated from

the 8th grade and be age 13 by the time they

arrive.

Crew Sizes

Crew sizes range from 6 to 11 participants.

Weather

Summer temperatures at all three Bases range from the mid-70’s (°F) during the day

down to the low-50’s (°F) overnight. Winter temperatures in Ely, MN range from highs

around 17°F to around -8°F overnight. Expect complete snow cover in the winter.

Training

Northern Tier is probably the most physically demanding of the four BSA high adventure

bases. Days of constant paddling combined with portaging heavy canoes and gear over

rocky trails and through waist-deep mud make for a challenging but rewarding trip. The

winter trips’ physical challenges are obvious: several nights of camping in sub-zero snowy

conditions in northern Minnesota. Because of the remote locations and physical demands

of these treks, BSA height/weight minimum and maximum limits are enforced and a

minimum weight of 100 lbs. is recommended for all treks other than the Cabin Stay

adventure. Multiple overnight shakedown canoe trips with practice portages are

necessary to train for summer trips, and multiple winter camping excursions are

necessary if a winter adventure is chosen. Remember – the greater the challenge, the

greater the reward!

Cost (Most trips are 6 to 12 nights but some winter trips are shorter)

Winter programs – range from $90/person/night to $190 per/person/night (dogsled

programs are more expensive)

Summer programs – range from $1,300-$2,000 per person (fishing and kayaking programs

are more expensive)

Estimated airfare to Minneapolis, MN – $500

Estimated cost of transportation between Minneapolis and Ely – between $200-$300

Incidentals (snacks, souvenirs, etc.) – $150

Total = $1,390 - $2,950

Additional Resources

Official Northern Tier Website: http://www.ntier.org/northerntier.aspx

2016 Participant Handbook:

http://www.ntier.org/filestore/NorthernTier/pdf/2016ParticipantHandbook.pdf

Northern Tier Blogs: http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/category/northern-tier/

http://northerntierexperience.blogspot.com/

http://northerntierbsa.blogspot.com/

High Adventure

Section Guide

Survey Questions

Instructions

Circle the number that best indicates your level of agreement or disagreement

with the statement with “1” meaning you strongly disagree and 5 meaning that

you strongly agree. Select “3” if you have no strong feelings either way about the

statement. Add up and record the score for each section, and then check the last

page to see what your scores tell you about your high adventure base preference.

Section 1

1. I enjoy training for physically demanding challenges and pushing myself to

test the limits of my endurance.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

2. I prefer a traditional Scouting adventure and relish the history of high

adventure in Scouting.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

3. I don’t like the water and prefer high adventure on land.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

4. I enjoy having a defined tour plan and sticking to it every day.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

5. I love the Wild West and want to learn more about the Pioneers and Native

American culture.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

6. I love the challenge of climbing high-altitude mountains and enjoying once-

in-a-lifetime views.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

Section 1 Total Score = ___

Section 2

1. I love action sports and want to improve my skills.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

2. I’m concerned about the high cost of a trip prohibiting my ability to go.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

3. Whitewater rafting and kayaking are the ultimate in high adventure.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

4. I like a wide variety of activities to choose from when doing high adventure.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

5. I’m not afraid of heights and love the idea of zip-lining and ropes courses

high in the trees.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

6. I would love to go on a high adventure trip where I can take my rock climbing

or shooting/archery skills to the next level.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

Section 2 Total Score = ___

Section 3

1. I don’t like long backpacking or canoeing trips that require a lot of

endurance.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

2. I love the idea of exploring the sea and learning about the underwater

environment.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

3. I enjoy warm weather and don’t mind being in the sun a lot.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

4. I’m okay with being in close quarters with my crew for extended periods of

time.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

5. I would love to see sharks, sea turtles and barracuda in the wild.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

6. I’ve always wanted to learn how to snorkel or scuba dive.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

Section 3 Total Score = ___

Section 4

1. I love backcountry adventure and prefer to be on my own with my crew as

far away from civilization as possible.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

2. I enjoy extended canoe trips and backcountry camping.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

3. I don’t like the heat and prefer a cooler climate for high adventure.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

4. I’m into winter camping and want to test my survival skills in a cold weather

environment.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

5. I would love to see bears, eagles, and moose in the wild.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

6. My ideal adventure is exploring undisturbed wilderness where my crew may

not see another person for days.

1 2 3 4 5 Strongly Disagree

Somewhat Disagree

No Strong Feelings

Somewhat Agree

Strongly Agree

Section 4 Total Score = ___

If your highest score is from Section 1, you would prefer to go to….

PHILMONT

If your highest score is from Section 2, you would prefer to go to….

SUMMIT BECHTEL RESERVE

If your highest score is from Section 3, you would prefer to go to….

SEA BASE

If your highest score is from Section 4, you would prefer to go to….

NORTHERN TIER