We would like your feedback on having a Jr. Outdoor Leader Course for Scouts sometime next spring. The course would cover the basic format of the adult course only geared towards 13-17 year old scouts.

The course would cover:

High Adventure Intro - Basic intro into the High Adventure Program

Leadership - Scout leadership responsibilities and resources

Trip Planning - How to plan and carryout a successful trek or outing

Food Planning - Types of meals, menu planning, food buying, nutrition and helpful hints

Equipment - Types of equipment along with how to care for & repair equipment

Map & Compass - How to use a map & compass together

First Aid/Health & Safety - Basic First Aid concerns, Health & Safety issues

Weather - Aspects of weather and weather concerns

The course would run from 8-5 on a Saturday. The best location would be at a large park. The Intro to High Adventure would be done with the entire group; boys would then be broken into small groups and complete the rest of the segments in a round robin. Each segment would run approx. 50min. with 5mins. to get to the next segment. The boys would then all meet back together for a short overview & question and answer period.

Another idea is to have a backpack outing, like the adult Basic Backpack Course, available. We would try to plan on have enough times (1 a month) so that each boy that wanted to attend would be able attend. The hike would be around 6-7 miles round trip, somewhere local. Groups on the backpack would be limited to 12-15 boys, and would be staffed by the Council High Adventure Team.

Course instructors for the Jr. Outdoor Leader Course would consist of HAT Team Members & older Scouts with knowledge and skill experience in the segments that they will be teaching.

Course fee would run approx. $10. This would cover course material, a patch & lunch.

The Backpack outing would be a patrol method trek, with the only cost being food.

If you think that this type of course may be helpful to your unit, please drop us an e-mail or send us a note with your comments. You may e-mail us at highadventure@oocities.com or drop us a note at: HAT % Ventura County Council BSA, 509 E. Daily Dr., Camarillo, CA. 93010.

Timeframe for having this course maybe sometime in March 2000, with backpacking outings in April, May & June, depending on the amount of boys interested in a backpack outing. Just think, a backpack trip for your scouts that you don't have to plan or go on, great concept.

[HOME] [TRAINING] [AWARDS] [TEAM] [LINKS] [E-MAIL]