High adventure in scouting refers to activities that are beyond the usual scouting activities. They generally require significant previous scouting experience and skills. These included extended length backpacking and canoeing trips, for example.

There are existing programs for high adventure in scouting. These include:

• Philmont Scout Ranch - backpacking in New Mexico
• Seabase - Sailing in the Florida Keys
• Northern Tier - canoeing in Minnesota
• Sabbatis Scout Reservation - backpacking and canoeing in the Adirondacks

In addition, troops often make their own high adventure outings, backpacking in New Hampshire and the Rocky Mtns, etc.

The troop has recently been to both Philmont and Seabase. We have not "made up" our own high adventure trip recently, but that is always possible if there is sufficient scout demand.

The general rules are that the scout must be 14 yrs old when the trip starts and at least first class. The scout must also be deemed mature enough and capable of handling the trip.

Philmont is a 143,000 acre Scout Ranch in North East New Mexico. Scouts from all over the country go there every summer to partake in one of the best experiences a scout will ever have. Trips to Philmont are 15 days long and may include (depending upon the particular trip

• backpacking (they all include this
• rock climbing
• shotgun loading and shooting
• black powder rifle loading and shooting
• horse back riding
• exploration of old gold mines
• spar pole climbing, using boot spikes and a safety belt
• much, much more

Essentially the scouts backpack from camp to camp. At each camp there is an activity similar to the ones listed above that the scouts can partake in. For more information about Philmont, please see the Philmont website.
For those that are interested in going to Philmont in years that the troop is not going, it is possible to go with a crew from another troop from our Council. Our council runs 20 crews a summer to Philmont. If you have an interest please talk to your scoutmaster or see the Council website for Philmont
Applications for individuals wishing to go to Philmont (with a crew from our Council can be found here

Seabase is a Scout Ranch in the Floriday Keys. Scouts that go to Seabase will spend a week sailing in the Florida Keys. The boat has a professional captain and the scouts serve as the crew. Trips to go scuba diving are also possible through Seabase.

To go to Philmont of Seabase requires that we be able to put together a "crew". For Philmont this means 12 (including the adults) and for Seabase, it is generally 8. We hope to be able to do a trip to Philmont in 2013, when we should have a sufficient number of scouts that are old enough and strong enough to make up a crew. A trip to Seabase will depend upon the demand level from the troop.