1. Troop 216 Boundary Waters 2017
13 Feb 17

2. Agenda Boundary Waters Overview The Week The ‘Actors’ Typical Day
Skills Training
Costs
Timeline
Questions

3. Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA)
Over 1 million acres of lakes and wilderness along the Minnesota-Canada border
Part of Superior National Forest
Open to the public (not just a Scouting location)
Canoeing (over 2,000 miles of canoe routes)
Camping
Fishing
Hiking
Swimming

4. The Week
Fri Depart First Christian; overnight midway (12-13 hour total drive)
Sat Arrive; prep; bunkhouse
Canoe Sun-Mon, Basecamp Tues, Canoe Wed-Thur
Thur Return/unpack; bunkhouse; shower!
Fri Depart; overnight midway
Sat Arrive First Christian
Forever Memories & personal growth!

5. The ‘Actors’ Outfitter (Packsack) Crews
Books dates and permits; helps plan routes
Provides: canoes, camp equipment, tents, cooking gear, food (freeze dried)
Gets crews to/from launch & recovery points // Bunkhouse Sunday & Friday
Crews
BWCA limits crew #s and routes to reduce environmental impact
Limited to 9 people per crew (adults and youth) // we have 2 crews
The Environment – Primitive and Remote
Primitive campsites: cleared site near lake, fire ring, open air latrine
No electricity, no running water, no roads, no picnic tables
Portages
No communications (will have emergency satellite phones)

6. Typical Day Early Breakfast/Depart Canoe & Portage
Leave No Trace
Canoe & Portage
Canoe in ‘loose formation’ (never alone) / navigate
Expect multiple portages, trails but ….
Lunch ‘on the road’ (pull off or maybe in the canoes)
Select/Pitch Camp Early Afternoon
Primitive: small clearing; fire ring; open air latrine
Need to purify water (no wells or faucets)
Tents & dining fly; 3-4 per tent; bear bags/boxes
Freeze dried food (but good)

7. What You Will See …
From a Distance We Hope!

8. What You Will Not See ...

9. Skills & Training Merit Badges Training – Skills & Endurance
1st Aid merit badge completed
Canoeing merit badge will be started (key skills required to go)
Everyone: pass swim test in clothes with life jackets
Key skills from the Camping & Swimming MBs
Training – Skills & Endurance
Canoeing & Navigation skills
Portage skills (canoe and packs)
‘Shakedown camp outs’
Adults – Additional Training
Wilderness 1st Aid (1 per crew)
We will discuss later

10. Costs (Per Person) – 2014 Numbers
Estimated Total $521
Group Costs (Paid to Central Fund) - $421
$335 Outfitting
$26 Permits & Camping Fees
$20 Travel Gas
$40 Contingency Fund
Personal Money (Carried by Individual) - $100
$100 En Route Meals
Souvenirs
Fishing Licenses ($39 Adult / $6 Scout)
Clothing / Boots (Tents, pads, sleeping bags, etc. are provided)
Bug spray
Etc.
Non-refundable deposit due To Be Determined… details to follow

11. Swim Training Capsized Canoe Test Endurance Swim Test
Jump in water full clothes (with boots + life jacket)
Swim to capsized canoe / right canoe
Enter canoe
Endurance Swim Test
Complete swim test in full clothes with life jacket (no boots)

12. Portage Training How to carry a yoked canoe
How to switch off canoe carriers
How to carry the packs
Duties/sequence of a smooth portage
Strength training

13. Shakedown Campouts Expect 3; Will Use Scout Camps
Scout camp plus basic canoeing skills
Canoe to scout camp (gear in canoes)
‘Graduation Exercise’ Longer canoe to campsite with ‘BWCA-like’ gear

14. Questions?

15. Resources Packsack http://www.packsackcanoetrips.com/
BWCA

16. BACKUP SLIDES

17. Driving Route

18. Outfitter Provides Eureka nylon tents
Therm-A-Rest sleeping pads (full length)
Slumberjack sleeping bag (freshly laundered)
Kondos Nylon Packsacks with Padded Shoulder & Hip Straps
Coleman Powermax Double Burner Gas Stove
Peak II Single Burner Stove
Fire Grate (for Quetico trips)
Campfire starters
Rain Tarp
Mirro cook kit & eating gear
First Aid Kit
Water Purifier
Extra Lightweight Rope
Bear Ropes(For Food Packs)
Axe (Optional)
Lightweight Saw
Complete Food Provisions

19. We Bring For summer time canoeing a clothing list might include:
2 pairs of slacks -or- l pair of slacks +1 pair of shorts
1 lightweight shirt
1 warm shirt
1 medium weight jacket with hood
1 cap or hat
1 pair sturdy shoes or boots (these will get wet)
1 pair lighter shoes or tennis shoes (for wear in camp)
Changes of socks & underwear
Swimsuit
In addition to personal items we suggest you remember:
Personal Water Bottle
Flashlight (Head Lamp)
Duck Tape
Small bungee cords
Insect repellent
Insect Head Net
After Bite
Rain Gear (Sturdy)
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Compass
Pocketknife
Camera & extra film
Binoculars
Towel
Chapstick (with sunscreen)
Pain Reliever
Antihistamine (Benedryl)
Personal Medication
Personal Medical Information

20. Generic Menu – Breakfast
Fresh Eggs, Fresh Bacon, Hash Browns, Juice (1st Day)
Pancakes
French Toast
Sausage
Omelets
Hash Browns
Eggs (powdered?)
Fryin’ Pan Biscuits and Gravy
Energy Bars
Instant flavored Oatmeal
Granola
Milk, Apples & Spice, Juice

21. Generic Menu – Lunch
Trail Lunch: String Cheese, Beef Sticks or Jerky, Candy Bar
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches
Summer Sausage & Cheese Sandwiches
Tuna Fish Sandwich
Energy Bars / Granola Bars
Soup, Crackers & Cheese
Soup, Fryin’ Pan Bread
Sloppy Joes w/Fryin’ Pan Buns,
Fresh Bagels with Cream Cheese, Fruit
Turkey or Ham and Cheese Wrap
Chicken & Almond Salad w/Crackers
Beans w/Cheese Wrap
Cookies

22. Generic Menu – Dinner
Beef Steak, ½ lb. Gnd Beef Patty, Veggie Burger or Chicken Breast (1st Nt)
Pork Steak, Ham Steak, or Veggie Chicken Pattie (2nd Nt for trips of 5 + days)
Beef Stroganoff
BBQ Beef w/Mashed Potatoes
Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
Beef Stew w/Dumplings
Lasagna with Meat
I Can’t Believe it’s Sausage Pizza
Chicken Stew w/Dumplings
Rice with Chicken (Chicken, Rice, Peas in a blend balanced meal)
Mandarin Orange Chicken

23. Timeline
Pending