TROOP
171 High Adventure Trip Requirements for Scout and Adults
NOTE
ABOUT TRIP REQUIREMENTS: The trip requirements are a very important part of Troop 171
Adventures. In a sense, the high adventure trips are the equivalent of varsity
sports. In order to play in the “big game”, you have to prepare by attending
practice and playing in the regular games. More importantly, the practice of
monthly campouts and other adventures helps to insure that a Scout is prepared
for a trip such as this. We will be 2400 miles from home in some of the most
incredible wilderness imaginable. This is no place to be learning backpacking
and camping skills. We need Scouts to be competent, know each other and have
the correct gear. All of this comes from the practice of regular trips and
other adventures.
=============================
HIGH ADVENTURE TRIP REQUIREMENTS - Scouts: Any Scout in troop 171 who is age 14 or above
by the start of the adventure is eligible. Additional requirements to attend
the trip include:
• AGE: The age for BSA High
Adventure activities is 14 at the start of the trip. The Troop 171 Stair Step
to Adventure provides appropriate activities for all ages of Scouts (Mini,
Micro and High). The appropriate ages for this trip are 14 to 17.
• ACTIVE SCOUT: Be active in Troop
171 including Monday meetings and campouts. A casual visit now and then does not meet this requirement.
• CAMPING: Have an active
Scout camping record during the past 12 months shown by meeting one of the
following campout minimums:
___ Option A: Attend a minimum of SIX nights of monthly camping with the
troop during the 12 months preceding the trip, not including summer camp or
other adventures.
___ Option B: Attend a minimum of FOUR nights of monthly camping with
the troop AND SIX nights of summer
camp, mini adventure or high adventure in the 12 months preceding the trip (10
nights total). It is important to check the pre-trip requirements for the other
mini and high adventures if you will be using them for the long-term adventures
such as the Alaska or Cozumel High Adventure.
Campout Notes: Several trips such as Chimney Park, Klondike Derby, and others count
as two nights.
• BACKPACKING EXPERIENCE: attended
at least one backpacking trip of at least 2 nights and 10 miles in length.
• RANK ADVANCEMENT: Life or Eagle
Rank or above and advanced at least one rank during the 12 months prior to the
trip (special consideration for Life Scouts - specific advancement agreement
completed with trip signup – mb’s and project).
• Camping Merit Badge
• Cooking Merit Badge
• Canoeing Merit Badge ß If
water travel is involved
• First Aid Merit Badge
• Swimming Merit Badge
• MEETINGS: Attend troop and crew
meetings on a regular basis. Please note that this requirement is more than a
casual visit now and then. Active participation in troop meetings is a trip
requirement.
• OTHER ATTENDANCE: Attend planning,
food buying, packing and shakedown meetings.
• MEDICAL: BSA Medical Form with a
physical exam completed.
• TETANUS: For the safety of the Scout and the rest of the crew, Tetanus
inoculations are required of all adults and Scouts for extended backcountry
trips.
============================================
TRIP REQUIREMENTS - ADULTS: Scouting
High Adventure trips are meant to present challenges for Scouts ages 14 to 17.
There are certain risks inherent in these activities. It is important that the
adults leading and participating in these trips have sufficient background,
training and physical abilities to insure success for themselves and the Scouts
in the crew.
It is important that the adults in the crews are not the limiting factor for
the crew. This is a very challenging adventure.
• Have completed BSA Youth Protection Training within the past 2 years.
• Participated in at least one previous Troop 171 adventure (high or mini).
• Backpacking experience: attended at least one backpacking trip of at least 2
nights and 10 miles in length.
• Attend a minimum of two monthly campouts within the 24 months preceding the
trip.
• Have a current Red Cross First Aid and CPR certificate (or other certifying
agency).
• Completed Troop 171 Adult training sessions (provided last spring and will be
again next spring).
• Have previous backpacking experience and physical conditioning sufficient to
meet the challenges of backpacking up
to 15 miles per day in difficult
mountain terrain that includes steep grades and river crossings.
• Have previous canoeing experience to provide leadership and safety for
aquatic activities (canoeing, sea kayaking,
swimming, etc.) - available from
pre-trip training.
• Complete BSA Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat training (available from
troop 171 or on-line).
• Attend planning, food buying, packing and shakedown meetings.
• BSA Medical Form with a physical exam completed within the 12 months prior to
the trip.
• TETANUS: For the safety of the Scout and
the rest of the crew, Tetanus inoculations are required of all adults and
Scouts for extended backcountry
trips.
• NOTE: there may be modifications to these requirements depending on the trip
elements chosen by the Scouts.
CREW SIZE: At this time, we are
planning on 2 crews of 7 Scouts and 3 adults each. This number can be
changed if there is sincere interest and the adult support to have more crews.
PARENTS
and OTHER ADULTS: In keeping with high adventure policies, crews must be made up of
a majority of Scouts. National B.S.A. recommendations are for crews of 7
Scouts and 3 adults. There must be a minimum of two adults per crew, one
of which is over 21 years of age. In the event that we have more than
this number, support positions would be available. These positions will
meet crews at trailheads, move vans, resupply food to crews, etc. This is
a fine line. We need to have enough adults to run the crews, but we need
to keep in mind that these trips are for Scouts. Further details will be
included in the attached sheet regarding adult training.