(Credit: wikipedia)

At 14,494 feet (4,418 meters) above sea level, California’s Mount Whitney is the highest peak in the lower 48 states. Whitney is part of the Sierra Nevada, a fault-block mountain range formed when shifting tectonic plates led to the cracking and faulting of the Earth’s surface. Limited access (one needs a permit to enter), so not too overrun and quite challenging.

Here is an interesting article on the hike that was recently published in the Wall Street Journal. Link is at the end. Lots of material available on this great hike all over the internet. 

mtwhitney 

From The Scout Association of Ireland

the-scout-beatitudes.doc

This one is ok, but I am looking for something that perhaps is a bit more enlightening.

Backpacker magazine recently did a quick blurb about the best 50.4 miles section of the hike. I couldn’t agree more with their vote - the Mount Mansfield section is a classic trek. Consult you Long Trail Guide Book, then head off to the trail head near the Waterbury area. A nice one week outing with the troop/crew. Backerpacker provides the following visual:

I’d link to the article, but Backpacker Magazine’s website is just difficult. They need rethink the design. Too much clutter and the IE7 web browser I use just has a difficult time bringing in articles before they disappear before my eyes.

Maybe you can use something like this…

brochure1.ppt

These guys also put together a decent brochure if you are looking for ideas:

t97brochure.pdf

See attached, used during a kickoff meeting for a local crew. Maybe you can find your own use for something like this. Venture crews are kid run, but they need help realizing all there is to do out there.

The third doc is not my work, but I found useful. The question always comes up - what is the difference between a venture patrol and venture crew? Well briefly, a venture patrol is a way to single out ‘better’ scouts and make an elitist organization within your troop (not recommended; I don’t know any scoutmaster who does not try to balance the troop). Venture Crew is the organization that is for kids over 14, separate from the troop, no uniforms (but the green shirt is optional), less big production car-camping, you CAN earn your eagle award as a member of a crew, and it is co-ed and predominantly kid run.

crew-ideas.ppt

troop-ideas.ppt

venture-patrol-v-venture-crew.pdf

Trip leaders take this necessary step far too casually.

I’m somewhat scared to death that when I, as a volunteer doing something nice for other people, put myself, home and assets in jeopardy every time some kid jumps in my car for a ride. I am not an attorney so I don’t know if this doc can hold up in court, but I believe it does offer some degree of protection. I reproduced this from the Backpacking MB book. I’ve never seen any trip leader use something as detailed as this, but they absolutely should. Feedback on this one most appreciated. The original actually went so far as indemnifying BSA and council, but I’m not their agent. Parents can go after them all they want.

permission-slip.doc

BSA supposedly offers $2m of insurance, but it is my understanding this is per event (so $2m/# injured parties) and paid after all other insurance pays. Council has never been able to fully explain this to me.

The patrol method is the only way to run a troop. It is difficult if a troop does not have this ingrained in their collective psyche and SOP already. Older scouts often drop the ball, then younger scouts never learn. Maybe this sheet will help when the scoutmaster talks to the new patrol leaders and discusses expectations. I’ve also attached the standard meeting plan template:

patrol-leader.ppt

trpmplan.pdf

Don’t make the mistake I made during my early days as an adult leader in scouting. Often I felt adults were getting too involved in running the troop and I spoke out. I have come to realize that adults have to be involved in most aspects of running the troop because times have changed so much. Kids are involved in so many things these days that if you leave it up to them (meeting planning, trip planning, training young scouts, etc.), the troop will implode. Scouting for most kids is simply not a priority. Scouts still need to take on responsibilities, you just have to be smart about how you set expectations and support their activities. What your priority should be is to get most of the parents on the troop committee so you can collectively figure out how to deliver a quality program to your scouts. Really put thought into your activities so the scouts get something out of them. Don’t settle for just car camping in the local woods and don’t run with every idea that comes up, weekends are too valuable. Seek out fun activities that will be memorable and helpful towards preparing your son for life’s challenges. I used to say any campout is a good campout and any hike is a good hike – but that’s just not the case anymore.