OTHER HIGH ADVENTURE OPPORTUNITIES • Baden-Powell believed that adventure is one of the cornerstones of : Time Available 10 minutes —“Many boys join Scouting because of a lack of adven- ture in their lives, but many leave Scouting for the Learning Objectives same reason.” 1. Recognize why high adventure is important for Roles of High Adventure Outings in Older retaining older Scouts Retention 2. Identify high-adventure opportunities other than the • Ask the attendees for reasons that high adventure four national high-adventure bases appeals to older Scouts. Expect to hear these: Suggested Presenter(s) —They want to experience something new. Ideal presenters include a unit leader, or leaders, who have —They want more challenges. used high-adventure outings to enhance their unit’s program. A Scout whose troop conducts high-adventure • Share the following from the BSA Passport to activities may help explain how doing so has improved High Adventure: retention of older Scouts in his unit. —Young adults today seek greater challenges to their Presentation Method physical and mental abilities. • Begin with an overview of the aims and methods of —High-adventure activities entice them to “stretch” to Scouting that relate to high-adventure outings. attain a goal. • Discuss high-adventure opportunities. —In meeting these challenges, young people gain confi- dence, humility, and self-reliance. BSA Reference Materials • Aims and Methods of Scouting, http://www.scouting. —High adventure develops critical thinking, judgment, org/filestore/hispanic/pdf/521-042.pdf and decision-making skills. • Passport to High Adventure, No. 34245 —High adventure stimulates good citizenship through teamwork and opportunities for leadership. • Far East Council website, www.fareastcouncil.org —High adventure inspires young people to undertake • Transatlantic Council website, www.tac-bsa.org worthy challenges and to work together to meet common team objectives. Presentation Content Aims and Methods of Scouting Related to High —It offers a meaningful and lasting experience in Adventure Outings their lives. • The third aim of Scouting is fitness: The BSA’s National High Adventure Bases —“A third aim of Boy Scouting is development of phys- • ical, mental, and emotional fitness. Fitness includes • Florida Sea Base the body (well-tuned and healthy), the mind (able to think and solve problems) …” • Northern Tier • The outdoors is one of the eight methods of Scouting: • The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve —“Boy Scouting is designed to take place outdoors. It is Other High Adventure Opportunities in the outdoors that Scouts share responsibilities and This interest topic explores high-adventure opportunities learn to live with each other.” other than the four national high-adventure bases. • Leadership development is another of the eight • Many councils have high-adventure programs. methods of Scouting: —Some are stand-alone camps intended just for —“Boy Scouting encourages boys to learn and practice high adventure. leadership skills. … Understanding the concepts of leadership helps a boy accept the leadership roles of —Some are adjuncts to the council’s summer camp others and guides him toward the citizenship aim program and are only available through the of Scouting.” summer camp. —Ask your local council service center.

68 • Ask participants if they have tried the local program, and • The Transatlantic Council has offered summer camp ask for testimonials. weeks at Kandersteg in the Swiss Alps, and a high-adventure camp in Turkey. Check their website • Check with neighboring councils if your council does for current offerings: www.tac-bsa.org not have its own high-adventure opportunities. • The Transatlantic Council also offers historic trails in —Ask participants if they have tried a nearby program, several countries which can form the basis for a and ask for testimonials. high-adventure hike not involving backcountry: • Hawaii does not have a high-adventure camp in either www.tac-bsa.org/program/historic-trails directory, but Scouting magazine had a story about a High Adventure Planning Considerations Maryland troop’s high-adventure trip to Hawaii, including a linked itinerary: scoutingmagazine.org/ • Always check age requirements before planning a issues/1009/a-hawaii.html high-adventure trip. Many locations have a minimum age restriction. —There are also four summer camps in Hawaii, owned by Aloha Council or Maui Council, some of which • High-adventure trips require special training, available offer hiking trips. online through My.Scouting.org, including: • Puerto Rico isn’t listed either, but the Puerto Rico —Trek Safely Adventure Area arranges seven-day tours of the island, —Weather Hazards including El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. Forest Service system: kareltog.wixsite.com/prhaa —Safety Afloat • One of the newer high-adventure bases is the Louisiana —Safe Swim Defense Swamp Base in the Atchafalaya Swamp of southern —Climb on Safely Louisiana: www.bsaswampbase.org • The BSA Passport to High Adventure contains a —The gator on the T-shirt asks, “Who’s watching who?” thorough planning guide that covers: • Alaska has another partnership that sponsors high —Who will go adventure at Chilkoot High Adventure base: http://alaskascoutingadventures.org —Trip planning • Chief Council: www.seattlebsa.org/ —Travel budget and insurance -camping/48-venturing-camping-cat/ —Preparation 80-camp-parsons-high-adventure-base —Fitness and medical concerns • Northeast Illinois Council: www.makajawan.com/ programs/high-adventure —Equipment needs • Katahdin Area Council: www.mainehighadventure.org —Skills practice (shakedown trips) • Lenhok’sin High Adventure: www.gotogoshen.org/ —Trail procedures camps-programs/lenhoksin-high-adventure —Trek safety National Historic and Scenic Trails —Leave No Trace • The National Trails System (nationaltrailsguide.com) —Reminders and checklists includes 30 historic and scenic trails spanning 50,000 miles across many states, including Alaska. • Other considerations include: • Units can hike, bike, or canoe along these trails for a —Funding the trip high-adventure trip. —If the SPL, patrol leaders, and key adults are on a Outside the United States high-adventure trip, who will lead summer camp for the other Scouts in the unit, whose leaders can’t • The BSA’s overseas councils offer adventure not found in afford both? the U.S. • If your troop can’t plan, staff, or fill a crew on its own, • The Far East Council has offered a summer camp in consider partnering with a nearby troop to fill an appro- Thailand that included a Mammal Study merit badge priately sized contingent. focus on the Thai elephant with a visit to an elephant camp. Check their website for current offerings: www.fareastcouncil.org

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