Passport to High Adventure
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HIGH ADVENTURE PASSPORT TO HIGH ADVENTURE A guidebook to enable older Scouts and Venturers, with guidance from their adult leaders, to plan and safely carry out unit high-adventure treks using Leave No Trace techniques. PREFACE What opportunities for high-adventure experiences are available to older Scouts and Venturers in your council? This guidebook is designed to acquaint volunteers and older youth with the wide spectrum of council high-adventure experiences available to quali- fied older youth in Scout troops and Venturing crews. Your council may already have a canoeing or backpacking high-adventure program, but what about rock climbing, caving, horse packing, rafting, mountain biking, rappel- ling, sailing, scuba diving, bicycle touring, and skiing? Collectively, the councils that have high-adventure programs offer these activities and more. Older Scouts and Venturers seek to participate in these programs. This book will show you how. High adventure is a highlight of Scouting outdoor experiences. It appeals to, chal- lenges, and inspires the youth and adult leaders who participate. High adventure keeps older youth high on Scouting. Scoutmasters and crew Advisors must make it a priority to promote high-adventure opportunities and to involve members of their units who are qualified for these elite outdoor activities. The pinnacle of Scouting experiences, high adventure can be used to challenge, excite, and hold youth in Scouting. Visit the Boy Scouts of America’s directory of high-adventure programs at www.scouting.org. CONTENTS Introduction 3 Weight Guidelines for Chapter 8. Trek Safety 57 The Call of Adventure: High-Adventure Activities ........... 29 Expect the Unexpected .................. 57 A Message to Trekkers ................ 4 Immunizations ................................ 29 Dangerous Weather ....................... 57 Know Before You Go ....................... 4 Safe Swim Defense ........................ 29 What to Do When Lost ................... 59 Safety Afloat ................................... 30 Avoiding Accidents ......................... 59 Chapter 1. Who Will Go? 5 Trek Safely ...................................... 32 Rating River Difficulty ...................... 59 Participant Qualifications .................. 5 Climb On Safely .............................. 33 Safety Around Plants ...................... 60 Crew Organization............................ 5 Safety Around Animals ................... 60 Adult Adviser .................................... 6 Chapter 5. Equipment 35 Handling Backcountry Adult Leadership—BSA Policy ......... 7 Gearing Up ..................................... 35 First-Aid Emergencies ................ 62 Youth Protection ............................... 8 Individual Equipment ...................... 35 Medical Dangers ............................ 63 Packs ............................................. 39 Chapter 2. Trip Planning 9 When to Stop or Turn Back ............ 65 Crew Equipment ............................ 39 Planning Group Adventures ............. 9 If an Injury or Crisis Occurs ............. 66 Cooking Gear ................................. 40 Planning Where to Go .................... 11 Food .............................................. 41 Chapter 9. Leave No Trace 69 Religious Obligations ...................... 11 The Outdoor Essentials .................. 42 A High-Adventure Ethic .................. 69 Trip Plan ......................................... 12 First-Aid Kit .................................... 42 The Seven Principles of Leave References ..................................... 14 Maps .............................................. 43 No Trace .................................... 69 Chapter 3. Travel, Budget, Conducting a Shakedown .............. 43 Leave No Trace Information ........... 70 and Insurance 15 Minimum Impact for Chapter 6. Skills Practice 45 Group Travel ................................... 15 Backcountry Treks ..................... 71 Loading a Pack .............................. 45 Overnight Stops Along the Way ..... 18 Backpacking Technique ................. 46 Chapter 10. Wrapping Up Tour Plans ...................................... 19 Hiking Tips ..................................... 46 Your Adventure 73 Ambassadors of Goodwill .............. 20 Canoeing ....................................... 47 Keeping a Journal .......................... 73 Budget ........................................... 20 Rafting............................................ 47 When You Get Home ..................... 73 Insurance ....................................... 20 Kayaking ........................................ 47 Evaluating Your Trek ....................... 73 Chapter 4. Promotion Riding and Packing ........................ 47 Appendix 75 and Preparation 23 Winter Camping ............................. 47 Unit Money-Earning Application ..... 76 Parents’ Night ................................ 23 Cross-Country Skiing ..................... 48 Historic Trails/50-Miler Council High-Adventure Rock Climbing ................................ 48 Award Applications .................... 78 Parents’ Rally ............................. 23 Mountain Hiking and Climbing........ 48 Reminders for Outings ................... 80 Annual Health and Caving ............................................ 48 Equipment Checklist ...................... 83 Medical Record ......................... 24 Bicycle Touring ............................... 49 Resources ...................................... 86 Getting in Shape ............................ 25 Chapter 7. Trail Procedures 51 Mental Fitness ................................ 27 Assigning Duties............................. 51 Risk Advisory ................................. 27 Duty Roster Tasks .......................... 51 Recommendations Regarding Positive Crew Dynamics ................. 52 Chronic Illnesses ........................ 27 Staying Healthy .............................. 53 34245 ISBN 978-0-8395-4310-7 ©2011 Boy Scouts of America f 2 INTRODUCTION Young adults 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 exhil- arating 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 more than just a physical challenge. 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 com- mitted to wildland stewardship. High adventure inspires young people to undertake worthy challenges and to work together to meet common team objec- tives. It offers a meaningful and lasting experience in their lives. THE CALL OF ADVENTURE: how to protect yourself from sunburn that may cause A MESSAGE TO TREKKERS pain now and skin cancer later in life; knowing how to The exhilaration of being in the wild outdoors is hard to top. conserve the environment and preserve the experience of Free from the distractions of everyday life, a trekker has future trekkers. a chance to pause and reflect. There are no ringing tele- The best high-adventure treks are planned, led, and phones, instant messages, e-mail, televisions blaring tragic carried out by youth. The purpose of Scouting is to help events, traffic congestion, school, work, or meetings. youth grow and mature. This happens when youths are Living in the outdoors is a return to a simpler life. The air responsible for their own plans and for making their own is fresh and invigorating, the whisper of a gentle breeze in the decisions. Teenagers usually can accomplish far more than trees is rejuvenating, the gurgle of a brook or stream soothes many adults are willing to acknowledge. Adult leaders should your soul, the warmth of afternoon sun rays assures you that offer suggestions and alternatives and give thoughtful all is right with God’s world. The outdoors beckons, offering guidance, but should let the youths plan and carry out their a welcome respite. It also reminds you of your commitment trek. People learn from experience. We learn best from to leave the land as pristine as you found it. experiences when we are responsible for the results. We To enjoy a trek, you must be fit. Part of preparing for may make some mistakes, but we learn from them. Most marvelous outdoor experiences means undertaking a young people are eager to learn when given the opportunity. physical conditioning program to enhance your aerobic Perhaps the greatest outcome of high adventure is the capacity and to tone your muscles. Being fit means feeling satisfaction of successfully meeting the challenge of doing good about yourself not only physically, but mentally and something that only a few others have attempted, and doing emotionally, too. When you’re fit, you’re alert, able to sleep more than you ever thought you could. By making prudent soundly, refreshed,