High Adventure Destinations

… you know you’d like to go! Getting a high adventure trip off the ground sounds difficult, but you can make it happen for your Scouts. This week I’ll discuss some of the things you need to do to set up high adventure, and answer email questions about attendance at outings, and advise a new committee chair Links Mentioned in this Podcast Ken Greenberg’s Troop Patrol Practices Survey High Adventure Planning posts mentioned in Scoutmastership in Seven Minutes or Less...

Here’s Arlen Ward and I discussing Kandersteg International Scout Center on the most recent ScoutCircle. I’ll be returning there next Summer and I encourage you to look into the possibility of taking your Scouts. If you are interested in arranging a trip I’d be happy to help. Kandersteg is a picture postcard town in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland that is home to Kandersteg International Scout Center (KISC)....

A presentation about one of the great world destinations for Scouts, Kandersteg International Scout Center in Switzerland that features the history of the center and some practical guidelines on arranging your visit and viewer questions. Kandersteg International Scout Center Website

For the last nine years every summer our Scouts pile into a van and drive north to Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park for a week-long high adventure canoe trip. Our crews typically cover 40-50 miles of paddling and portaging during our stay. Two years ago we started alternating these canoe trips with a trip to Kandersteg International Scout Center every third year. Here’s the background information on how we make this happen....

Andrew Skurka’s new Ultimate Hiker’s Gear Guide includes a packing list for Philmont Scout Ranch! It has far less gear than the official Philmont list. In Clarke’s interview in podcast 111, Andrew pointed out that over 20,000 Scouts backpack at Philmont every summer and probably 19,000 of them are carrying too much weight. Improving packing at Philmont is a huge opportunity for youth to get started on the light path, have more fun, and become lifetime backpackers....

The Wilderness Medical Society published an article concerning Wilderness Communications authored by Gordon H. Worley. The article explains the technology behind wilderness communications, emergency communication, radio communications, satellite communications, casualty evacuation and helicopter evacuations. Anyone venturing past reliable cell phone range would do well to read the article and gain some understanding of current technology and its proper application. Satellite phones, personal locator beacons, and other devices are inexpensive to rent...

PROGRAM OVERVIEWTahosa Alpine Adventure is true back country mountaineering. Backpack thirty to fifty miles in the Indian Peaks Wilderness with a trained guide while learning all about mountaineering skills and practices. Rock climb in a true back country environment, glissade down snow fields in July, learn about weather patterns, summit peaks of over 13,000 feet in elevation, and experience the back country adventure of a lifetime. The Tahosa Alpine Adventure is for Scouts aged 13 and up by January 1 of that summer....

PROGRAM OVERVIEW Philmont style High Adventure Treks and Stake Encampment features. Slot canyoneering and Bicycling the top trails of Brian Head are two of the most requested side trips that can be built into the program for the units. Areas such as Mountain Men, Rappelling, Aquatics, Mountain Biking and Canyoneering areas all have a different program as the troops, teams and crews hike around a 31 mile loop. High adventure outpost camp geared for older Scouts thirteen (13) or above ....

In August fifteen of our Scouts and leaders are off to visit Kandersteg International Scout Center in Switzerland. We started planning and raising money last spring. Lots of research has gone into constructing a budget, planning the trip and making reservations. There is very little reliable information to be found about group air travel and the rules seem to change pretty regularly. In the hopes that I may be able to save anyone planning group air travel some time and trouble I’ll tell you the story of our quest to fly to Switzerland....

PROGRAM OVERVIEWBackpacking, Climbing, Kayaking, Cycling At Goshen Scout Reservation crews backpack from outpost to outpost on mountain trails on a schedule they choose. Program outposts include forge, caving, rock climbing, mountain biking, mountain man, civil war, and lumber jack. Crews arrive on Sunday and leave on Saturday. Crews visit 3-4 outposts and do one night of ‘primitive’ camping. In addition there is a week long canoe trek program. Food is provided for crews....

PROGRAM OVERVIEW Some people have called our High Adventure Program at Spanish Peaks Scout Ranch a “Little Philmont”. We think our program has as much to offer in a smaller, more secluded setting. One of the big differences is that you won’t be hiking on trails that are more than knee-deep or running into many crowds in the wilderness. Because of our much smaller size, we can plan a custom trip for your group that will be a unique experience....

PROGRAM OVERVIEW Climbing and Rappelling from several heights ranging from 50 feet to 110 feet Mountain Biking on a 10.2 mile trail with elevation changes of over 600 feet Shooting Sports with rifle, pistol and shotgun Whitewater Rafting on the Oocee River Sailing and canoeing on our 21 acre lake Backpacking All Treks at Latimer High Adventure Reservation are led by qualified staff members, who are trained in a specific area of expertise and certified in Wilderness First Aid....

PROGRAM OVERVIEWThe trek or “quest” is a 5-day and 4-night excursion that will follow the North Country National Scenic Trail with optional rendezvous with the Muskegon, Pere Marquette, Pine, or Manistee Rivers for day or overnight float trips. All treks will be accompanied by a trained Owasippe trail guide. Two of the above-mentioned rivers are “white-water” routes and should be traversed by experienced canoeists only. There are three types of Treks to choose from:...

PROGRAM OVERVIEW Hanna Venture Base offers week-long treks catered to what your group wants to accomplish. From kayaking in the Apostle Islands to backpacking in the Porcupine Mountains, Hanna Venture Base welcomes all that strive for the ultimate challenge of experiencing the outdoors. No trip is impossible if your Scouts have the imagination and courage to attempt it. Wisconsin River – Canoeing Adventure Canoe for six days on the lower Wisconsin River and earn your 50 Miler!...

PROGRAM OVERVIEW Sail School Bahamas runs a superb range of sailing adventures for Scouts that offer excellent value for money. Your group can learn how to sail while traveling from island to island in the Sea of Abaco in the beautiful northern Bahamas. Our main focus is ensuring you have FUN, so each morning you can discuss your options with your Captain and the pace of the trip is decided by you....

PROGRAM OVERVIEW Canoeing Sailing Backpacking Climbing Waterskiing Floodwood Mountain Scout Reservation is a high adventure base located in Tupper Lake in the Adirondacks. It is owned by the Northern New Jersey Council, Boy Scouts of America. Floodwood specializes in hiking and canoeing treks. Floodwood itself is a base camp from which canoeing and hiking treks leave. While at base camp, crews can partake in waterskiing, water tubing, climbing, repelling, archery, day hikes, or advancement....

PROGRAM OVERVIEW * Canoeing * Sailing * Backpacking * Climbing * Kayaking * Cycling * Mountain boarding * Trimaran sailing * War canoes The trekking program at Sabattis Adventure Camp is unmatched by any Scout Camp in the region, all crews get Kevlar canoes, the latest in cooking equipment (both jet boils and/or whisper lites) along with comfortable PFD’s and properly sized paddles. All needed food is supplied and each crew gets a trained Voyageur to accompany them and to help navigate the Adirondack park....

PROGRAM OVERVIEW Canoeing Backpacking Kayaking Treks are open to individuals, troops or crews who can choose between a canoe/kayak trek on the Hood Canal, a large arm of the Puget Sound spending times at various locations OR hike in the Olympic Peninsula, an untouched parcel of forest located in Washington State. LOCATION DESCRIPTION Camp Parsons is located in the Olympic Forest and Park’s “untouched” wilderness. There are not any roads that venture into the peninsula itself, only trails....