BSA’s High Adenture Bases Looking for more?
A summary of the High Adventure Bases operated by the Boy Scouts of America
Resource Kits Available From The Council Offices. Contact Tracy Launders @ 610.688.6900
BSA’S HIGH ADVENTURE BASES Boy Scouts of America operates currently operates three High Adventure Bases: Philmont, in New Mexico, Sea Base in Florida and Northern Tier in Minnesota and Canada. A fourth High Adventure base opens in 2013 – The Summit in West Virginia. Cradle of Liberty council currently sends a contingent to Philmont each summer. Many troops and crews also attend the bases each year. Are you looking for more? This guide is designed to whet your appetite for High Adventure. The information is taken directly from the websites for each High Adventure Base. High Adventure is a chance to try something you may never experience again. So take adventure to the limit. You'll never forget it. Mailing addresses and websites: Florida Sea Base P.O. Box 1906 Islamorada, FL 33036 (305)664-4173 www.bsaseabase.org
Northern Tier P.O. Box 509 Ely, MN 55731 (218)365-4811
Philmont Scout Ranch Cimarron, NM 87714
www.ntier.org
www.PhilmontScoutRanch.org
High Adventure™ Get out of the house and into the excitement offered at one of the BSA's High Adventure™ Bases! You've got four choices: a unique aquatic quest at the Florida Sea Base; a canoeing or winter camping challenge at the Northern Tier; or a wild west backpacking expedition at the Philmont Scout Ranch; or the newest High Adventure base – The Summit opening for the Jamboree in summer 2013
Florida Sea Base Make a splash! Head to the Florida Keys and dive into an amazing Florida Sea Base adventure and wade into more excitement than you ever thought possible. Snorkeling, SCUBA, boating, and beach camping are among the many possibilities.
Northern Tier Don't miss the boat! One of the most beautiful and remote parts of North America offers a unique opportunity for Scouts. Canoeing, hiking, fishing, and winter camping in and around the beautiful lakes of northern Minnesota and southern Canada await you at the Northern Tier.
Philmont Scout Ranch Take a hike! The mountains of New Mexico offer the adventure that you have always dreamed about. Backpacking, rock climbing, western lore, living history, and the views from peaks over 10,000 feet tall will make memories that last a lifetime.
More Info Cradle of Liberty Council has a selection of DVDs and brochures to help you plan your adventure.
FLORIDA SEA-BASE
The Florida National High Adventure Sea Base is owned and operated by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America to offer unique educational aquatic programs to our members. Located in Islamorada and on Summerland Key in the beautiful Florida Keys, as well as Marsh Harbour, Great Abaco Island, Bahamas, the heart of the Florida Keys, the near shore reefs and crystal clear waters offer unparalleled opportunities for long term and short term programs year round. Our Conference facilities are utilized for youth and adult Scouting Conferences and non-Scouting groups when available... write or call for specific program information and costs.
A History of the Base The Florida Sea Base is an ocean of adventure among the islands of the Florida Keys. Each year the Base serves over 11,000 Scouts and their leaders. Currently there are eleven different programs with one basic characteristic: high adventure! The programs are Sea Exploring, Eco Adventure, Out Island Adventure, Keys Adventure, Coral Reef Sailing, Scuba Certification, Scuba Adventure, Scuba Live-Aboard Adventure, Bahamas Adventure, Bahamas Tall Ship Adventure, and Florida Fishing Adventure. In the heart of the fabulous Florida Keys, on a sub-tropical island, 75 miles south of Miami, you will find Sea Base, home of the Florida National High Adventure program. The Florida Sea Base is Scouting's most complete aquatic facility offering sailing, sea kayaking, deep sea fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, lobstering, and beach combing. You can explore the vast ecosystem of the Florida Keys and get a fish-eye view of marine biology. The Sea Base facilities include a large, fully equipped "galley". The elevated dormitories overlook Florida Bay and one of the major bridges that separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Gulf of Mexico. Our harbor has a 300 foot dock for the larger sailing yachts, as well as many shorter docks for our smaller vessels. The swim "review" area is complete with a step down deck and marker buoys. The Ship's Store, our Trading Post, sells many items that you may have forgotten, or that you would like to take home as a reminder of your exciting adventures. Just a few miles offshore is the only living coral reef in North America, forming a protective barrier around the islands. Here, among the pillars of living coral, you come face to face with thousands of multi-hued tropical fish. The area abounds with legends and tales of unequaled adventure, the lure of discovering a buried treasure burns in the heart of all true adventurers. Today, Sea Base serves Scouts and conference participants from every state and from countries around the world.
Reservation Procedures 1. Sea Base runs a lottery from January 15th to February 15th for reservations for the following year. Units may sign up for multiple dates and/or multiple Adventures to maximize their chances of getting an Adventure and date that works for them. Units will receive notification (both email and mail) of the results of their lottery requests during the latter part of February. 2. After notification of lottery results, all remaining open dates are made available for Open reservations that leaders can schedule themselves by going to their unit on-line accounts and accessing open Adventures and dates. 3. These reservations become "tentative" reservations. Reservations remain tentative until the deposit and reservation application are received. Be certain to review the age requirements. 4. A deposit of $100.00 per person must accompany the reservation application. The deposit is transferable within a crew, but is NOT refundable. 5. The application can be printed at your unit account online. Your local council Scout Executive's signature is required on the application. 6. We only accept checks - no credit cards. Have youths and adults make checks to your troop or crew leader, who will then send a single check to Sea Base for each payment. 7. Spring Crews' first half payment is due August 1st. 8. Summer and Winter Crews' first half payment is due October 1st. 9. Fall Crews will receive a separate payment schedule. 10. A Leaders' Packet will be mailed to crews after the receipt of their first half payment. 11. Final half payments are due 90 days prior to the adventure arrival date.
Eligibility Please read carefully as the age requirements on this page supersede any others; expressed, implied or written. 1. Each participant must be a registered Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, Venture Scout, or Adult Leader. 2. Participants must be thirteen (13) and graduated from the 8th grade or fourteen (14) years old to participate in all programs. Youth who would be eligible to attend the summer season (May-August) ARE eligible for spring program of that year (February-April). AGE REQUIREMENTS FOR SEA BASE CANNOT BE RELAXED. PLEASE DO NOT REQUEST OR EXPECT EXCEPTIONS! 3. The ability to swim 100 yards (official BSA swim test) and stay afloat for one (1) minute. 4. Must be in good health evidenced by a SEA BASE Health and Medical form filled out and signed by your doctor within the past 12 months. A special SCUBA Medical and Waiver are required for the SCUBA Certification Program. Inquire early with questions about medical requirements for participation. 5. Must be a Certified Diver for the SCUBA Adventure Program by a certified agency nationally recognized by the BSA. 6. No participant may weigh in excess of 300 pounds. Participants not meeting this requirement will be sent home at their own expense. 7. All participants must know and use the Scout Oath and Law as their guide to appropriate behavior at Sea Base.
Sea Base Adventures
Bahamas Tall Ship Adventure Fly directly to the Bahamas! Experience all the Bahamas Adventure has to offer aboard a Tall Ship. This Adventure is for groups of 18-20 people who are willing to explore the Sea of Abaco in a vessel equipped with kayaks for reef discovery. This is an active ship and requires everyone to work as a team as you learn and experience the workings of sailing and sea traveling. This is a seven day event. NOTE: The vessel currently being used in this program is a 60' catamaran perfect for the depth and conditions in the Sea of Abaco. Bahamas Adventure The Sea Base is offering an exciting adventure based in Marsh Harbour on Great Abaco Island. Your crew can snorkel the beautiful, pristine reefs surrounding Marsh Harbour, wade ashore on the many small cays (pronounced keys) in the area, learn their unique history, and fish for the gamefish which are abundant in the Abacos. You'll board traditional Bahamas sailing vessels designed to take you to such exotic places as Green Turtle Cay, Hopetown and Little Harbour. There's plenty of time for fishing, snorkeling and swimming. Steady breezes, the protection of the barrier islands and the reef surrounding Abaco Sound provide perfect sailing getaways. This is a seven day event, and can accommodate crews of 6-8 or 10-12 based on availability.
Out Island Adventure
You think Survivor is tough? Check out Big Munson. The Out Island Adventure combines camping on a remote 100+ acre island, snorkeling on pristine coral reefs, trolling for sportfish, kayaking through red mangroves, and exploring the flora and fauna of Big Munson Island. You will wade ashore on Big Munson Island carrying all the food, water and equipment used during your adventure in a rugged camping setting. Powerboats will take you snorkeling and fish on selected days. A program mate will remain with you for the duration of your trip to assist you in appreciating this unique environment. This is a true high-adventure program, one that combines physical challenge with excitement and adventure. If your crew has strong camping skills and enjoys rugged camping, then the Out Island program is for you. This is a seven day event. Sea Exploring (Keys Tall Ship) Designed for larger groups (either a council contingent or a larger troop), offering your crew the opportunity to experience a sailing adventure of yesteryear. These are large vessels, 75 feet or more, normally gaff-rigged topsail schooners, fully equipped and prepared to provide an unforgettable adventure snorkeling the beautiful Keys' reefs, fishing, and hands-on sailing as well as a port-o-call in Key West. For a hands-on sailing adventure voyage, one that is exciting, ruggedly challenging, and excellent for larger groups, pack your sea bag for the Sea Exploring program. This is an eight day event.
Coral Reef Sailing A 40- to 50-foot sailing yacht will become your home for a week. It has a large self-contained galley and dining area where you will prepare wholesome meals from the fresh or canned foods supplied by Sea Base, supplemented by fresh catches from trolling while underway. Your captain will instruct you in navigation, fishing and sailing, and will remain on board for the entire trip. You choose your own float plan to explore the beautiful Florida Keys. This trip offers one-of-a-kind snorkeling and abundant fishing. You'll spend a "port day" back at Sea Base and have the chance to demonstrate your sailing skills in our fleet of Hunter Sailboats. This is a seven day event. Eco-Adventure If you are looking for an up-close, hands-on educational adventure, then the Eco Adventure is for you. Your crew’s home and base of operation for the week will be two 40’ – 45’ sailboats. From there you will launch into your undersea world of exploration by means of snorkel, mask and fins; kayak; fishing pole and glass-bottom viewer. It is here that you will discover and explore the wildlife and ecosystems of the four major marine habitats of the Florida Keys, study the plant and wildlife, and understand their delicate balance. Scouts will return to civilization with a greater appreciation of the undersea world and their roles as stewards of this amazing environment. Crew size 10-12 Florida Fishing Come enjoy the fishing you’ve only dreamed of, spending a week in the beautiful Florida Keys exploring the ocean as you try to hook that trophy fish! Play in the largest Scout camp in the world, spanning from the Gulf of Mexico to the Florida Straights in the Atlantic Ocean. The Florida Keys boast several different ecosystems you will have the opportunity to fish and explore.
Scuba Certification
Discover the excitement of SCUBA diving in the warm, tropical waters surrounding the Florida Keys. Crews are trained by professional instructors in our specially designed dive tanks. Approximately five open water dives are conducted on reefs just off shore from the Sea Base. Explicit health concerns require a special medical enrollment in this program. Please contact the Sea Base in advance for details. This is an eight-day event. Scuba Adventure Come dive the coral reefs and wrecks of the Florida Keys. Designed for certified divers, this program offers eleven dives (weather permitting). Explore the only living coral reef system in the USA, diving sites like Alligator or Tennessee Reefs, exploring uncharted dive sites up and down the Keys or adding to Sea Base's own artificial reef. Your dive itinerary features a night dive, a deep dive (to 60 feet), marine life studies, and other underwater adventures. All food, lodging and equipment is included. You must be a certified diver to participate in this adventure. This is an eight-day event. Explicit health concerns require a special medical acceptance in this program. Scuba Live Aboard The Florida Sea Base has combined the sailing and scuba diving programs for one incredible adventure. On this adventure you will be spending your days not only scuba diving, but sailing around the Florida Keys. With a crew size of 10 to 12 people, your home that will
transport you from reef to reef is a 57-foot schooner or 2 40-foot sailing yachts. During this adventure (weather permitting) you will get to dive 15 times, including 3 night dives. When you are not diving there are plenty of opportunities for sailing and fishing while cruising through the Florida Keys. This is an eight-day adventure. All participants must be SCUBA certified by a BSA recognized agency. Explicit health concerns require a special medical acceptance in this program Florida Keys Adventure Program The essence of the Keys Adventure program is to offer as much excitement and variety of activities as possible within a seven-day period This adventure has the flexibility to include activities that personally interest your crew, such as night trawling to examine marine life, a possible overnight, great boating days visiting fabulous fishing and snorkeling areas. This is a seven day event. Order of the Arrow Ocean Adventure (OAOA) Information about this exciting program open to arrowmen can be viewed on the Order of the Arrow website. Divemaster Training Academy The Florida National High Adventure Sea Base is pleased to announce its newest program, the Florida Sea Base Divemaster Training Academy. The Divemaster Training Academy gives Venturers and Boy Scouts the opportunity to further their dive training by becoming a certified PADI Divemaster. Participants must be 18 years of age.
2013 SEA BASE FEES
Adventure
Coral Reef Sailing
Eco Adventure
Fee
Summer Arrival Days
Crew Size*
Seasons
$6,150.00 per crew
6 Minimum 8 Maximum
Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter
Daily
$10,700 per crew
10 Minimum 12 Maximum
Summer
Fridays
Sea Exploring Adventure
$15,000.00 per crew
18 Minimum 20 Maximum
Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter
Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays,
SCUBA Adventure
$900.00 per person
6 Minimum 8 Maximum
Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter
Sundays and Wednesdays
SCUBA Certification Adventure
$900.00 per person
6 Minimum 8 Maximum
Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter
Sundays and Wednesdays
SCUBA Live Aboard Adventure
$12,000.00 per crew
10 Minimum 12 Maximum
Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter
Mondays and Thursdays
Keys Adventure
$765.00 per person
6 Minimum 8 Maximum
Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter
Arrivals every other day
Florida Fishing Adventure
$900.00 per person
6 Minimum 8 Maximum
Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter
Saturdays and Sundays
Out Island Adventure
$765.00 per person
6 Minimum 8 Maximum
Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter
Arrivals every other day
Bahamas Adventure
$6100.00 Per crew
6 Minimum 8 Maximum
Spring/Summer
Mondays and Wednesdays
* Crew
Bahamas Adventure
$9,150.00 per crew
10 Minimum 12 Maximum
Spring/Summer
Fridays and Saturdays
Bahamas Tall Ship Adventure
$15,000.00 per crew
18 Minimum 20 Maximum
Spring/Summer
Saturdays
size
includes adult leaders attending.
Reservation Procedures Spring Season: February 12th to April 30th (Know your Spring break schedule ahead of time.) Summer Season: May 29th to August 22nd Fall Season: October 1st to November 18th Christmas Season: December 18th thru January 2nd All crews not filled by the lottery will be made available on our website for open registration after the lottery is held. The Florida National High Adventure Sea Base does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, or national origin.
Reservations must be made on-line.
The Florida National High Adventure Sea Base and the Boy Scouts of America reserve the right to change the offerings, itineraries, vessels and other program features at any time based on weather, facilities and vessel availability and other reasons.
Northern Tier National High Adventure Program Northern Tier is Scouting’s gateway to adventure in the Great North. From Northern Tier’s three bases, Scouts can explore millions of acres of pristine lakes, meandering rivers, dense forests, and wetlands in northern Minnesota and Canada. Whatever your plans, Northern Tier staff can outfit your crew with state-of-the-art equipment and knowledgeable interpreters. Overview In the summer and fall, Scouts head to Northern Tier for canoeing, hiking, exploring, and some of the best freshwater fishing anywhere. Northern Tier is the only official BSA outfitter in the million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and or in Canada. In the winter, Northern Tier is home to Okpik, Scouting’s cold-weather camping program, with dogsledding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snow shelter building, animal tracking, cold-weather cooking, and ice fishing. History North America’s Canoe Country, a vast series of navigable lakes and rivers spanning thousands of square miles, is one of the last great wildernesses on the continent. This boreal forest of waterfalls and bogs, bears and wolves, granite crags and waist-deep mud remains nearly as much of a wilderness as it was for the first fur traders who explored the area in the 1600s. Two centuries after the fur trade’s peak in the early 1800s, our participants still
follow in the footsteps of the French-Canadian voyageurs, paddling the same waters and straining over the same portage trails. Northern Tier is historic in its own right: our own Charles L. Sommers base, located near Ely, MN, is the oldest national high-adventure base operated by the Boy Scouts of America. Age/Participation Requirements Are you ready? To participate in a Northern Tier high-adventure base program, you must be 13 by the year you attend, a registered Scout, and classified as a swimmer. You also must be in good shape for the trek. Crew Size Most canoeing crews consist of six to eight people, and may not be larger than nine people, including your interpreter. (Larger crews—up to 12, including your interpreter—are allowed at certain parks that our Canadian bases serve) Length of Stays Most crews spend six to 10 days canoeing the boundary waters. Standard trek schedules include an arrival and outfitting day, then several days out in the boundary waters before returning to the originating base for an overnight before the trip home. Scheduled Okpik program lengths include: Weekend; Long Weekend; Midweek; Holiday stay—a longer stay between Christmas and New Year’s. Plan-your-own options are available, too.
Costs Northern Tier prides itself in offering all-inclusive gear/equipment, food, and program packages for its crews. For canoe trips, costs average $54 to $59 per person per day. Most Okpik cold-weather camping programs run about $62 per person per day, which includes all your gear. For details, click here. The bases: Charles L. Sommers Wilderness Canoe Base Ely, Minnesota Our flagship base in Ely, Minnesota, is home to the Okpik winter camping program and is our largest base for wilderness canoeing. In the summers, crews paddle deep into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the Quetico Provincial Park. Don Rogert Canoe Base Atikokan, Ontario Called the “Canoe Capital of Canada,” this base serves as the launching point for exploring Quetico Provincial Park and the White Otter – Turtle River Provincial Park. It also features great fishing and kayaking programs. Northern Expeditions Canoe Base Bissett, Manitoba Unofficially regarded as the “Most Extreme High Adventure in Scouting,” the Northern Expeditions base is the most rugged and remote region paddled by Northern Tier. A float plane drops crews off at our wilderness canoe cache in the heart of the combined two million acre Atikaki Provincial Park and Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, an area visited by only a handful of canoeists every year.
Adventures Summer Adventures Northern Tier is your launching point for high-adventure treks into the wilderness waterways of the remote North Woods. Crews can choose a six- to 10-day canoe trip into some of the most spectacular lakes and forests in the world. Do you want to paddle lots of miles? Go to Canada? Paddle from base to base? It’s up to you and your crew! With millions of acres to explore and thousands of miles of water routes, the possibilities are endless. Autumn Adventures With no bugs, beautiful fall colors, and a wealth of different wilderness programs, Autumn is the perfect time to visit Northern Tier. Paddle gorgeous wilderness lakes, backpack the little-known trails of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, hook a monster walleye, or explore Minnesota’s richest and deepest iron mine – there is something for everyone in the fall. Winter Adventures Are you ready for some of the toughest camping conditions in North America? Would you like to try ice fishing? Snowshoeing? Dogsledding? If so, you’re ready for Okpik, the Boy Scouts of America’s premier coldweather adventure program. At Northern Tier’s Charles L. Sommers base near Ely, Minnesota, you’ll find some of the best snow conditions and terrain available. We provide all the specialized equipment, and our highly trained staff helps Scouts learn cold-weather cooking, sleep systems, snow shelter building, animal tracking, and ice fishing.
FAQ What food and equipment does Northern Tier provide to each participant? Northern Tier provides all trail and base meals, aluminum canoes, packs, tents, cooking gear, and communication equipment. We also provide trained staff (i.e., interpreter) to assist your crew in having a great Scouting experience with a fun trip appropriate to the experience and abilities of your crew. The interpreter will enhance your Scouting skills along the way and deliver a memorable experience. What is the cost per person? Summer 2012 Approximately $59 dollars a day per person for a six- to eight-day trip and $54 a day for a nine- to 10-day trek. Optional additional charges may include park permits and floatplane and Kevlar canoe options. For more detail, see our budget worksheet for the appropriate canoe base. Also, our Atikokan base offers special kayaking trips at $466 per person per trip and fishing trips at $524 per person per trip. Winter–Okpik 2012 We have many exciting programs to experience winter adventure at its best. Our five-day Holiday Stay (Dec. 27–Jan. 1) is $52 a day per person. We also offer Okpik Weekends (skiing/snowshoeing treks/Cabin Stays) for $62 a day per person, or Webelos Okpik Weekend for $62 a day for both Webelos Scout and partner. Special programs include Musher camp (minimum of three days) for $108 per person per day, dogsled treks (minimum of three days) for $129 per person per day, and cold-weather training (Jan. 3–8th) for $258 per person. What are the height and weight requirements to participate in this highadventure base? What health form should I use? Each participant in a Northern Tier expedition should not exceed the maximum acceptable weight for height in the table shown on the Annual Health and Medical Record form. Those who fall within the recommended weight limits are much more likely to have an enjoyable trek and avoid
incurring injuries and health risks. Extra weight puts strain on the back, joints, and feet. The portage trails can be very muddy, slippery, and rocky, and present a potential for tripping and falling. We also strongly recommend that no participant be less than 100 pounds in weight. Extremely small participants will have a very difficult time carrying canoes and heavy packs. Canoes' loads are another important reason to limit participant weight. Northern Tier assigns three people to a canoe. The total participant load per canoe must not exceed 600 pounds, or an average of 200 pounds per participant. Northern Tier does not permit individuals exceeding 295 pounds to participate in high-adventure programs. Depending on which of the three Northern Tier bases you are visiting, each crew determines which park they would like to attend. From Ely the options are Quetico (Canada) or BWCAW (US). From Atikokan the options are Quetico Provincial Park (Canada) or Ontario's Crown Land (Canada). Bissett does not require entry points. Crews use the Expedition Route Planning Guide to help determine at which entry point you would like to begin your adventure. When it says "one" on the availability chart is that "one person" or "one group"? What does it mean when the availability chart says "call"? The availability chart is done for the number of crews we can accept on that day. When it says "call," it means to please call Northern Tier so our staff can customize your trek and permits to meet the needs for your selected adventure. What is the payment schedule - 2012? Summer A deposit of $300 per crew is due within three weeks of making a phone reservation. The first payment of $1,000 per crew is due October 1. (Note: If you register a crew after October 1, then the $1,300 is due within three weeks after the phone reservation.)
The final payment is due March 1 for June crews April 1 for July crews May 1 for August crews Winter A deposit of $300 per crew is due within three weeks of making a phone reservation. (Note: The Cold Weather Training deposit is $50 per person.) The first payment is due August 31 in the amount of: Two- or three-day trips – $200 per crew Holiday Stay, Presidents Day, Martin Luther King Day, Dogsled Trek, Musher Camp – $500 per crew Cold Weather Training – $100 per person Final payment is due – 45 days prior to the crew arriving on base. How do I get to the base from the airport? Do you provide transportation? Where can I stay while traveling? What airports can I fly into? Many crews travel by car or van to the canoe bases. There is plenty of parking at each base to leave your vehicles. Crews going to Ely or Atikokan may fly into either the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport or the Duluth airport. If going to Bissett, crews fly into Winnipeg, Canada. Transportation to the base is up to each crew. Northern Tier does not provide a shuttle service but can recommend appropriate travel services. See our Expedition Planning Guide for travel services.
There are many places to stay and sights to see along the routes to the bases. Many crews take advantage of the museums and exhibits in Ely or the special experiences available to a Canadian adventure. For crews flying into the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport, please consider program opportunities that Northern Tier recommends at the Northern Star Council Base Camp. How far in an average day can I travel? Summer Crews travel an average of 10 miles per day. But some crews take advantage of a layover day(s) along the way to truly absorb the North Woods wilderness. Winter Depending on the Okpik adventure you select, you will travel at least one to two miles out on a day trip, and for crews selecting a more rigorous Okpik experience, you might travel three to five miles a day, voyaging from one remote campsite to another remote campsite. What is the minimum and maximum number of people in a crew? Summer The minimum number of people in a crew is six and at least two adults. The maximum number of people in a crew is Ely: eight people (plus one interpreter for a total of nine) Atikokan: If going to Quetico Parks, eight people (plus one interpreter for a total of nine) If going to the crown lands, 11 people (plus one interpreter for a total of 12)
Bissett: 11 people (plus one interpreter for a total of 12) Winter The maximum number of people in a crew is: If going into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, eight people (plus one interpreter for a total of nine) If staying in the Superior National Forest, 12 people in a crew (plus one interpreter for a total of 13) Dogsled Trek, seven people Musher Camp, eight people What do I need to bring, what should we pack in, and where can we store our items we leave behind? Summer Each person needs to bring a couple sets of clothing, a pair of hiking boots that cover the ankle, a mess kit, and a summer sleeping bag. Refer to our Trading Post to purchase our recommended boots. While on the trek, items left at the base may be stored in personal vehicles or a small locker (one per crew). We recommend a soft-sided duffel bag to bring your personal gear to and from the base. Winter Each person needs to bring two winter hats, two pairs of long underwear, two pairs of socks, and a summer sleeping bag. The rest of your gear will be provided by Northern Tier at no additional charge. For a complete packing list, please click here. Visit our Trading Post to purchase items. Extra items can be stored in your cabin or car. My son/daughter wants to attend but not his/her unit. How can he/she do this?
There are four programs offered for individuals to attend at Northern Tier: Lone Voyageur Program: 13- to 18-year-old Scouts and Venturers to attend (parents can attend as well with their Scout) on a six-day canoe trip for $412 per person. Forest Corps: 14-day trip for 16- to 21-year-old Scouts and Venturers for $464 per person. The first seven days are spent doing service work for the Forest Service and the last seven days are a canoe trip. Order of the Arrow: If you are between the ages of 16 and 21 and a member of the Order of the Arrow, you can partake in a 14-day trek. What length of canoe trip should the crew choose? How long are we on the water? We recommend a 10-day trip to fully experience this wilderness adventure. Our past experience follows: The average length of trip for a crew is seven days. The length of trek chosen (six to ten days) means you are at Northern Tier for a total of six to 10 nights. Please note Bissett trips are seven to 10 days in length. On seven-day 7 day trip, you will spend five nights and six days on the water. There is no need to plan your trek until the crew has arrived on base. It is advisable to consider your desired activities such as fishing, 50-miler or more, leisurely travel, etc. Your interpreter will help you plan a specific route based on experience and personal desires of your crew. When do we need to plan our trail itinerary? It is advisable to consider your desired activities such as fishing, 50-miler or more, leisurely travel, etc. Your interpreter will help you plan a specific route based on experience and personal desires of your crew.
If you are in the wilderness, how you do call the base camp? Northern Tier uses emergency radios for the BWCAW and satellite phones for Bissett and Atikokan that are manned at base 24 hours a day, seven days a week. What is the fishing like? Unbelievable. With so little fishing pressure, the bite is almost always on. Every cast could be your next monster walleye, northern pike, or smallmouth. And your Northern Tier interpreter will show you all the hotspots along the way. Oh, and be sure to bring plenty of fishing leaders – those northern pike and walleye get a little toothy. Do Scouts really learn to feed and handle sled dogs? Yes, our Musher Camp and Dogsled Trek is a full-immersion program. What special things do the Canadian bases have to offer? The biggest difference the Canadian bases offer is a more remote wilderness the farther you go north. It is incredibly likely you will only see a few other crews while you are at Atikokan. At Bissett, you more than likely will not see anyone after you leave the canoe cache. Do I have to fly to the bases? No, however, in Bissett, Manitoba, you must take a floatplane to our canoe cache, which is an additional cost. What is the floatplane option? What does it cost? $180 CAD funds in Atikokan, Ontario $200 CAD funds in Bissett, Manitoba Do we need boots? YES! Northern Tier requires all participants to wear boots for summer and autumn canoeing trips. Portage trails are notoriously treacherous – muddy, rocky, and wet – so all boots should provide ankle support. Also, because of the nature of canoe traveling, all boots will get wet every day. For this reason, we recommend jungle boots, which have built in instep drainage.
Born in 1938 as Philturn Rockymountain Scoutcamp, today's Philmont Scout Ranch is a bustling center for high adventure and training. Youth and adults take advantage of the ranch's camping, training, and work programs. Most activity takes place during the summer, but Philmont also offers Autumn Adventure and Winter Adventure programs. More than 950,000 Scouts, Venturers, and leaders have experienced the adventure of Philmont since the first camping season in 1939. Throughout its existence, conscientious attention to low-impact camping techniques have helped maintain the ranch's wilderness flavor. The area surrounding the ranch is rich with history, from the Native Americans who made this arid land their home to the land barons of the 19th century. The town of Cimarron boasts a number of historical buildings, including the St. James Hotel—site of at least 26 killings during Cimarron's wilder days
Overview Philmont Scout Ranch is the Boy Scouts of America's largest national highadventure base. Its 34 staffed camps and 55 trail camps provide an unforgettable adventure in the high country along hundreds of miles of rugged, rocky trails. Philmont History Philmont has a unique history of ancient Native Americans who chipped petroglyphs into canyon walls, Spanish conquistadors who explored the Southwest long before the first colonists arrived on the Atlantic coast, the rugged breed of mountain man like Kit Carson who blazed trails across this
land, the great land barons like Lucien Maxwell who built ranchos along the Santa Fe Trail, and miners, loggers, and cowboys. Over the course of many years, Philmont has been the home of Jicarilla Apache and Moache Ute Indians, a famous stop on the Santa Fe Trail, a prospecting community, and a working cattle ranch. All these people left their mark on Philmont. Wildlife Wildlife is abundant at Philmont. Deer, elk, coyote, antelope, mountain lion, buffalo, beaver, wild turkey, bear, and others all live here. Philmont's hills and canyons teem with birds, and its streams abound with fish. Its cool mountains harbor a wilderness of bounty - trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses. Beauty Philmont is rich in natural beauty, including the soaring Tooth of Time, sunrise from lofty Mount Waite Phillips, the blue water of Cimarroncito Reservoir, the panoramic sweep of the plains from Urraca Mesa, and sunlight filtering through the aspens along the rippling Rayado. Program Philmont Scout Rank provides an unforgettable adventure in sky-high backpacking country along hundreds of miles of rugged, rocky trails. Program features combine the best of the Old West – horseback riding, burro packing, gold panning, chuckwagon dinners, and interpretive history with exciting challenges for today, such as rock climbing, burro racing, mountain biking and .30-06 rifle shooting. It’s an unbeatable recipe for fast –moving fun and the outdoors.
Fellowship Philmont means camping with your own unit as well as meeting and sharing experiences with other crews from all over America and from other countries. This is an opportunity for fellowship and understanding unequalled anywhere in America.
Camping & Adventure Philmont Scout Ranch provides an unforgettable adventure along its hundreds of miles of rugged, rocky trails. Program features combine the best of the Old West—horseback riding, burro packing, gold panning, chuckwagon dinners, and interpretive history—with exciting challenges for today—rock climbing, burro racing, mountain biking, and rifle shooting—in an unbeatable recipe for fast-moving outdoor fun. Planning Your 12-Day Trek The most successful Philmont expeditions require many months of planning. Attendance Requirements & Advisories View guidelines for crews, health and medical requirements and youth adult requirements Traveling To Philmont Traveling to and from Philmont is an important part of the high-adventure experience. Most contingents will find transportation the largest expense in the budget, so it's important to study the various travel options before making a final decision.
Information for Hikers The most successful crews that hike the trails at Philmont spend months preparing. Upon your arrival at Philmont, your crew will check in and prepare to hit the trail. Cavalcades Philmont Cavalcades are similar to regular expeditions except that, instead of hiking, crews ride horses through the rugged mountain wilderness. Individual Programs In addition to regular expeditions for crews of seven to 12 members, Philmont offers several programs that are available to individuals and smaller groups. Fall/Winter Programs While Philmont is best known for its popular summer programs, the Scout ranch is open year-round, providing high-adventure expeditions through the Autumn Adventure and Winter Adventure programs. Preserve The Wilderness Philmont is a magnificent wilderness camping area with an immense network of trails and camps tied together by service roads designed for service and protection of both campers and land. Philmont Tips These tips and techniques, developed from the experiences of staff and campers, are provided to make your Philmont experience safer and more enjoyable.