Chester County Council, BSA High Adventure Team 2014 Philmont Expeditions Parents & Participants Orientation

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/20152 Agenda Opening The High Adventure Committee Process & Policies BSA’s High Adventure Bases Mason-Dixon Adventure Philmont, 2014 Overview Q&A Closing

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/20153 The High Adventure Committee The mission of the Chester County Council High Adventure Committee is to provide training, logistics and support to units and individuals desiring to participate in a BSA high adventure program to ensure a safe, enjoyable and memorable ‘mountaintop’ experience. Knowledge, Expertise, Safety and Support.

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/20154 The High Adventure Committee Are Experienced HA Advisors & Unit Leaders Are Subject area experts Offers Comprehensive Training Advisors – Safety, Outdoor Skills, Leadership Crew – Philmont Specific Skills Provides Logisitics Complete package

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/20155 Process & Policy Waiting List Campership Refunds Commitment

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/20156 Waiting List Policy Priority is given to those that have not previously attended. Priority is generally given to youth participants over adults. Adults who are parents/guardians of youth already on the active list will be given priority over adults with no direct youth/family relationship. An Adult not taking a youth or who has already attended a high adventure base has no priority and will be bumped by all others. If a participant withdraws, their position will be filled from the council waiting list, not by a non-waiting list substitute. Once a person in on the active list their position is secure and can only be bumped as a result of a faulty application or serious financial delinquency. Complete policy is at

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/20157 Camperships Letter requesting to HA committee by October 1, Expect $ per request based on need and funds available.

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/20158 Philmont Refund Policy On the application you submitted Copies at Before June 1, We will refund all paid fees less $50. After June 1, 2013 but before March 1, No refunds will be made unless your spot can be filled from the council waiting list. (If someone from the waiting list fills your spot, all fees less $50 will be refunded.) After March 1, No refunds will be made unless your spot can be filled from the council waiting list. If your spot can be filled from a waiting list, we will refund all but $100. (Refund amounts for unfilled spots, if available at all, will vary depending upon non-refundable commitments made for transportation and Philmont Scout Ranch.)

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off Commitment Philmont is not a walk in the park It is an extended wilderness experience It will test you physically It will test you mentally It will test you emotionally Preparation = Success Enjoy the Experience 5/13/20159

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off Adult Commitment Training Three Evenings – October, January, March One Saturday – October, Advisors - 20 Hours CPR/WFA One Weekend – May, 2014 Physical Conditioning Meet requirements for your height minus 1” 5/13/201510

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off Crew Commitment Schedule and hold 3-5 training hikes in the spring of 2014 Backpacking is a team sport Plan ahead, consider other obligations, commit to mutual success 5/13/201511

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off Mason-Dixon Adventure For Older Scouts & Venturers High Adventure Experience in our own back yard – Horseshoe Scout Reservation Excellent Crew Preparation in the Summer of 2013 for 2014 PSR crews 5/13/201512

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/ BSA’s High Adventure Bases Philmont – Backpacking in the Sangre De Cristo range in North East New Mexico Northern Tier – Canoeing in the Boundary Waters between Minnesota and Canada Sea Base – Sailing, Snorkeling & Exploring among the Florida Keys The Summit – Whitewater and Rock Climbing in West Virginia

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/ Philmont Scout Ranch: Cimarron, NM Scouting’s Premier High Adventure Base NE New Mexico 200+ Square Miles 137,000+ Acres

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/ Philmont – History

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/ Philmont – Waite Phillips "The only things we keep permanently are those we give away." (Waite Phillips)

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/ Philmont - Wildlife

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/ HA Kick Off18 Philmont – Grandeur

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/ Philmont – The Ranch Today 34+/- Staffed Camps; 55+/- Trail Camps 60+ Activities Historic Traditional Old West Places of Interest

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/ Philmont Scout Ranch: Cimarron, NM Two Sessions, 5 crews, 54 max each July 5 – July 19 July 19 – Aug 2 $2000 est. cost Deposit (already paid) Payment Coupons in June Payments in July, September November & January 2014

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 5/13/ Chester County Council Crews 707 Crews 7/5-7/19/2013 Troop 220 Troop 76 Troop 83 Troop 53 Troop Crews 7/19-8/2/2013 Troop 78 Troop 181 (2 crews)

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/ What is Philmont? It’s a lot like a cruise !

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/ The Chester County Contingent All inclusive: To / From Philadelphia Air Travel Ground Transportation Pre-Trek Tour Meals Philmont High Adventure Trek

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off Why a Pre Trek Tour? Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) For some otherwise healthy people, Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) can begin to appear at around 6,500 feet above sea level Philmont base camp is at 6,600 feet. 5/13/201524

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off Why a Pre Trek Tour? Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) Symptoms often manifest themselves 6-10 hours after ascent and generally subside in 1 to 2 days. Pre-Trek tour is two days plus one day in Philmont base camp. 5/13/201525

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off Why a Pre Trek Tour? Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) Symptoms include headache, fatigue, stomach illness, dizziness, and sleep disturbance. Exertion aggravates the symptoms Not something to deal with while backpacking. 5/13/201526

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/ Philmont Pre Trek Tour - Saturday Colorado Springs Hike Red Rocks Air Force Academy Indian Dancing Overnight Univ of Colorado at Colorado Springs

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/ Philmont Pre Trek Tour - Sunday Cañon City & Colorado Springs Cog Railway to Pikes Peak Class IV & V White Water Rafting through the Royal Gorge on the Arkansas River Overnight at University

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/ Philmont – High Adventure Trek 35 pre-planned activities Varied difficulty, distance, terrain Varied program offerings Varied points of interest Selected in advance

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/ Historic Programs

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/ Traditional Programs

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/ Old West Programs

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/ Places of Interest

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 2012 HA Kick Off5/13/ Takeaways Preliminary 2014 Schedule Watch for updateswww.cccbsa.org Newsletter, Schedule and Payment 14 months and counting … Start physical training now

Chester County Council, BSA High Adventure Team Questions ?

Chester County Council High Adventure Committee 5/13/ Philmont Inspiration