"High Adventure" Program

[Mrw]

I am just looking for some comments here.

Our troop is in the process of trying to create a "high adventure" program for the older scouts. We are talking mostly weekend backpacking type trips with maybe one annual longer trip.

I was curious as to how other troops set these up and how you determine who is eligible for these trips.

The current thought is 14 and at least first class, but my personal opinion is that 14 as a minimum age cuts out far too many boys who would be able and interested in going. Our troop roster is pushing 50 boys at this point, with 16 of them brand new and the others pretty evenly distributed between 12-16 years old.

Thanks!

[wagionvigil]

Keep it at 14. Gives the young ones something to look forward to. Better yet start a venturing crew for you 14 through 21. Make it Co ed and start having great high Adventure activities. Note: Not a Venture Patrol.

[hacimsaalk]

we have one kinda going. our req's are 13 yo and at least 1st class. we are "seperat" from the troop, and our business cant mess up troop stuff. so far we have done a couple rafting trips, gone hiking on the AT twice, and some other stuff. it is a pretty good idea to keep boys in the troop after age 16.

[Fibonacci]

We are talking mostly weekend backpacking type trips with maybe one annual longer trip.

I am curious. Do you mean that your troop doesn't do ANY backpacking/overnight hiking now? With proper training & equipment, even the brand new Scouts should be able to participate in an overnight hike.

For our troop 50 Miler hikes, Scouts must be 1st Class or above, have participated in a troop overnight hike, and go on training hikes (with the trip leader.) For hikes with lots of river/lake swimming, the Swimming MB is also required. Our Canoe 50 Miler also has the requirement of both the Swimming and the Canoeing Merit Badges. (Note: Last year a trip leader made an exception. One Scout was working on his swimming skills but couldn't pass the First Class skills. The Scout was allowed to participate with extra supervision near the water. He had a great time!)

We don't have an age restriction for 50 Milers, but most of our Scouts progress to First Class slowly.

[Mrw]

We camp regularly, but backpacking, no, they really haven't done any of that.

They used to, and then we went through a change of leadership and size, and then a re-building period. The fact that the guy who had lots of extra vacation to go with them got a new job didn't help either.

The older boys have been on two canoeing 50 milers.

We are now at a point where the program has grown, is attracting as many new ones each year as age out/move/quit, and they are really ready for something new.

The plan is to start some backpacking weekends with the littler kids doing at least the hiking, even if they aren't carrying more than their lunch to start.

I should add that we have somewhere between 25-30 kids that are first class at this point and about 15 that are over 14. Part of the concern for longer trips is the number of guys involved.

[Quailman]

Some of our weekend camping destinations lend themselves to a split adventure. We camp together Friday night and after breakfast Saturday the over 14 / 1st class group backpacks a short distance. They meet up again very early Saturday morning to break camp.

We visit a lot of state parks and not all have primitive camping options. One drawback is that we are not a large troop and splitting up is only possible if at least four leaders come.

[ronin718]

Our troop does an HA program semi-separate from the rest of the troop. The requirement is the boys must be 13 y/o and First Class by the summer HA excursion. First-year-eligible HA boys must attend the Lenhoksin HA camp our council has before going on any of the more intensive HA trips (Philmont, Maine, Sea Base, etc.).

These boys still participate in the regular troop activities and can still attend the regular summer camp, but fundraising for HA is done separately.