A.J. Steinbring

Effective March 1, 2011, what are currently known as Local and National Tour Permits will be superseded by what will be called the Tour Plan, this includes paper and online formats.

 The council is the reviewer of all Tour Plans; there is no longer the need for permits to be sent to the National Office for approval.  There is no separate Local and National Form. All trips will use one single form.  The Tour Plan consists of a Tour Planning Worksheet and Tour Plan Approval Form to be completed by the unit/contingent. It is retained by the council and a Tour Plan is returned to the unit after processing.  It's on standard 8.5 x 11-inch paper!  There is a 21-day advance notice requested for units to submit the Plan for our review.  A single point of contact (not on the tour) for council use is included.  Defined reasons/times when a tour plan must be submitted for council review.  There is an updated Pledge of Performance.

 The Council can define “Local" Tour Plan review as they wish.  The Council requires a Tour Plan for all trips that meet qualifications.  Requirements for qualified supervision, training, insurance, etc., remain unchanged-for example, CPR and Wilderness First Aid requirements for high- adventure camps.

 Required per the Guide to Safe Scouting.  Guide your unit through the required training, planning and resources necessary to provide your Scouts with a safely conducted and well planned activity.  Help ensure that your planned activity is age appropriate.  Protect you personally and other participating leaders personally in the event that something goes wrong by providing certain limited insurance coverage.  Informs the council office where to contact unit members in case of emergencies.  Assures officials in state and federal parks that Scout groups have official BSA status. Some locations may require a Tour Plan for entry.

If a unit travels without a Tour Plan (on a trip that would require one), that unit and its leaders will be evaluated and reviewed by the Council’s Camping Committee on an individual basis.

 Any trip that is out of Council boundaries  Any day trip that involves one or more of the following: Aquatics activities (swimming, boating, floating, scuba, etc.) Climbing and rappelling Orientation flights (a separate permit is needed) Shooting sports Any activities involving motorized vehicles as part of the program (snowmobiles, boating, etc.)  Traveling to another country  Attending a BSA High Adventure Base (Northern Tier, Philmont, and Sea Base)

 Attending one of our camp properties, your Camp Facility Permit Application serves as your Tour Plan. This includes Base Camp. If you are traveling from our camp to another location outside of our Council boundary you need a Tour Plan.  A overnight trip that is within Council boundaries and does not include swimming, boating, or climbing.  Any district or council conducted events located at one of our properties.

Minnesota Counties: Anoka, Meeker, Carver, Ramsey, Chippewa, Renville, Chisago, Rice, Dakota, Scott, Hennepin, Washington, Isanti, Wright, Kandiyohi, Yellow Medicine, Lac Qui Parle, Stearns (portions), Le Sueur, Swift (portions), McLeod Wisconsin Counties: Pierce, Polk, St. Croix, Burnett

Tour Plan Not Required:  Baylor Regional Park (Carver County)  Lac qui Parle State Park (Chippewa County)  Lake Maria State Park (Wright County)  Willow River State Park (St. Croix County) Tour Plan Required:  BWCA (Cook County)  Eagle Cave (Richland County  Frontenac State Park (Goodhue County)  Minneopa State Park (Blue Earth County)

Paper  Offered in a fill-able PDF format on org org  Can be printed and filled out by hand.  Requires an electronic or physical signature. Online  The online system is temporarily down while the National Office is changing the format to fit with the new Tour Plan process.

 This system is created by National Office.  Automatically applies permit rules according to a unit’s travel plans.  notifies each person required for Tour Plan approval: the Tour Plan creator, tour leader, assistant tour leader, and council.  Approved permits are returned via and are available through  Saves transportation and training information for re-use for future permits.

 Unit submits completed Tour Plan to council.  Council either approves and sends permit back to the unit or if not then returns permit back to unit for corrections/additional information.  Tour Plans are returned to the unit either in person, fax, , or by mail.

The Tour Plan should be turned into the Council 21 days in advance of the trips departure date.

 Fill out the form completely before submitting, incomplete forms may delay processing.  Provide a detailed itinerary, from the moment the Scouts leave their home to the moment they return. Addresses for overnight stops is required.  Accompanying leaders must be appropriately and currently trained for the trips (i.e. CPR, Hazardous Weather, Safety Afloat).  All leaders attending must be Youth Protection trained.

Effective on January 1, 2009 all units attending High Adventure Bases must have at least one adult in attendance complete Planning and Preparing for Hazardous Weather training. The training takes about forty minutes to complete and covers eight different modules. You can find the training at

When driving personal vehicles, you must take an overnight rest stop once you have reached either 700 miles or 10 hours of drive time. This is per leg, whether or not you switch drivers. Distance is measured by online mapping systems (like Google Maps or MapQuest) and the common route taken.

A.J. Steinbring Customer Service Representative in Golden Valley Donna Christianson Customer Service Representative in Saint Paul Council Fax Number:

Director of Camping and Properties Director of Field Services

 Guide to Safe Scouting  Council Calendar  Tours and Expeditions #33737 / Scout Shop