1. Choosing the tone of the trip
a. What is the theme of the month?
b. What kind of an adventure do we want to have?
i. Big adventure
ii. Strict theme adventure
iii. Location-specific (adventure is based on what is available)
c. What do we want the boys to learn from the trip?
i. Specific scout skills
1. Orienteering
2. Cooking
3. Emergency prep
4. First Aid
5. Plant and animal knowledge
ii. Other fun skills
1. Fishing
2. Water sports
3. Astronomy
iii. Teamwork
1. Competitions
d. Does this adventure provide an opportunity to have a more challenging path for our older scouts?
e. What is the most fun element of the trip?
i. What will everyone remember about this trip?
2. Deciding on a location
a. Is there something specific that we are looking for based on our theme or tone?
b. What type of camping do we want to do?
i. Tail-gate
ii. Backpacking
iii. No Tents
iv. Cabin
c. How does the weather affect our ability to do what we want?
i. Winter – cabin camping is probably the right way to go
d. Considering a location
i. Do we need special permission? Permit?
ii. Is there a place to park our vehicles?
iii. Can we build fires?
iv. Can we choose our own camp site?
v. Is there a locked gate at the trail head?
vi. What other special rules are there?
3. Recruiting Participation
a. Boys - How will we get the boys excited about the adventure?
b. Adults
i. How many adults do we need to recruit? (minimum of 3 adults with each group)
ii. How many people do we need to get to drive or provide transporation?
iii. Do we need assistance to get ready for the trip? (beyond those that are going)
c. Leadership
i. How many patrol leaders do we need?
ii. Who is the SPL and ASPL of the trip?
***SCROLL DOWN***
4. Trip Logistics
a. Timing
i. What day and times will we leave and return?
b. Transportation
i. How many drivers do we need?
ii. Who will drive?
iii. Where do we meet? (At Holy Angels? Or at the adventure start?)
iv. Who rides with whom?
v. Do we all travel together in a caravan or do cars drive up separately?
vi. Directions to the location
vii. Where does the trip start?
1. Parking – where will cars be left during the adventure?
2. Do we all arrive together or do we have a staggered start?
a. This is particularly relevant to backpacking where we sometimes break up in different
groups.
c. Where does it end?
i. Do we need to shuttle cars to the destination location? Is there parking available there too?
d. Camping
i. What will we use for shelter?
1. Tents, lean-to, tarps, build-our-own, under-the-stars
2. If we are backpacking, do we need to split tents?
ii. Where will we camp? (Specifically)
iii. What time should we be setting camp by? (at least 1.5 – 2 hours before dark)
iv. Tent Buddies
e. Food - What is the plan for cooking/eating
i. How many meals?
ii. Individual (hot or cold) or Patrol cooking?
1. Cooking equipment –
a. Troop stoves and cooking supplies OR
b. Personal stoves and cooking supplies
iii. Suggested food
1. MREs for backpacking?
2. Theme food (meat over the campfire? No soup?, etc)
f. Water - Where will we get water during the trip?
i. Is there a faucet somewhere on the trip?
ii. If not, how much water do we need to carry?
iii. How much water does each boy need to bring?
iv. Is there a water source (stream)? Where is it?
1. Do we need to bring water filters and purification?
g. Equipment - What equipment is needed for the trip?
i. Maps
ii. Personal - What does each boy need to bring? (detailed equipment list)
iii. Patrol - What does each patrol need to bring?
1. Tail-gate camping
a. Cooking equipment, Water, jugs, etc, First Aid kit
2. Backpacking
a. Water filter, GPS, Backpacking stoves
b. Hatchet/saw, First Aid kit
iv. Troop – What do we need to bring for the whole troop?
1. Trailer, Garage tent, Boat(s), canoes, kayaks, etc., rope, saws, axes
h. Patrols - How many patrols/groups will there be?
i. Who will lead each patrol (Patrol Leader)? Who will be the Asst. PL?
ii. How many people are in each patrol?
iii. Who is in each patrol
i. Trip Plan
i. What are the primary activities that we will do during the adventure?
ii. What is the route of the trip?
iii. Are there multiple routes? Do the boys choose their own route?
***SCROLL DOWN***
j. Coming and going
i. Can boys arrive late and/or leave early?
ii. If so, how will they be transported?
iii. Where is pickup? Drop-off?
5. Emergency planning
a. What is the emergency plan?
i. Who is in charge if someone gets hurt?
ii. Who will stay? Who will get help? How many people will do each?
b. What happens if we encounter severe weather? (lightning, high-winds, heavy rain)
c. Where is the nearest hospital?
d. How will we transport an injured scout/adult?
6. Trip Communication
a. Notify everyone 3 weeks in advance of the trip
b. What info do you need to send out in advance?
c. When? Where? What to bring, What to wear
d. Example Email to send out