FUTURE HIGH ADVENTURE

High Adventure - Trip Sign-up and Financial Administration Guidelines

Initial Sign-up

·         Announce event at scout meeting and at Court of Honor

·         Place sign-up sheets at Scout Meetings well in advance of upcoming event

·         Sign up sheets are to determine interest only and are not a commitment to attend the event

·         Scout newsletter can be used to communicate important dates (contact Ms. Loftis)

Commitment Process

·         Mail a letter to parents of all scouts interested in attending with important dates highlighted, including:

1) The dates for initial down payment (if applicable)

2) Final balance payment dates

3) “Drop dead” dates for refunding any funds (partial or full)

·          If funds are collected, a scout is considered committed to the event

·         If a scout does not pay for an event by the announced deadlines, their space for the event may be forfeited to another scout who is on the waiting list and who pays the required amount to reserve a space for that event.

·         In no case should the event leader procure and use troop funds to pay for down payments in advance of collecting money from the individual attending scouts.  All down payments will be paid out of the funds received from the attending scouts.  This same guideline will also apply to any other scheduled payments or final balances.

Refunds

·         All cancellations and requests for refunds must be in writing to the trip coordinator.

·         Scouts wishing to withdraw from an event for which they have paid $$$, thus committing to the event, will be given a refund only if it is according to the previously announced refund schedule for the event.

·         In no case will the Troop refund monies paid by a scout, unless it is before the previously communicated deadlines

·         If a scout finds it necessary to withdraw from an event for one reason or another, they may find another scout to take their place, upon approval of the Scoutmaster and/or trip organizer.

Tips for Managing the Process

·         Communicate early and often!  (You may have noticed that some of our scouts have selective memory)

·         Make sure the letter gets to parents soon after the initial sign-up by interested scouts, thereby allowing parents time to fit the event into their family calendar.  Remember, many of these events are summer events and families plan summer vacations and make other plans for the summer well in advance.  This direct communication with parents of dates and deadlines for funds will help ensure that their scout will get registered for the event and that the necessary fund will be paid to ensure their spot.

·         Be firm on your deadlines for payment and build in some lead times to allow for the collection process.  Bottom line, scouts are responsible for getting the money to high adventure leaders by the deadline, but we want to give them ample time to respond.

·         High Adventure trip coordinators may want to call trip participants with a friendly reminder call about a week or so before the deadline for funds.

Calling All Scouts 15 Years and Older!!

By ASM Mr. Kelley

A new patrol is being formed in December for Scouts 15 and older who are interested in learning and participating in high adventure activities.   The patrol will be called the “Venture Patrol.”  Troop 373 has had a venture patrol in the past, but a more formalized BSA high adventure program is now available for us to use.

The patrol will select high adventure activities from the BSA program, which includes whitewater rafting, rock climbing, snow camping, mountain biking, backpacking, canoe camping, survival, and more.  For about ten weeks, Scouts meet as a patrol to train in the activity;  at the conclusion of the training, the Scouts go on the activity.   Training will be educational and fun.  Regular attendance and participation will be critical.

Scoutmaster  Neidt and I completed venture training this fall, and we felt that adding the venture program fit one of the interests expressed by both Scouts and adults.   The venture program can keep older Scouts as active members of the troop at weekly meetings, but allows them to use “patrol time” to learn challenging new activities.

If you’re an older Scout, or a parent of an older Scout, I would encourage you to think about this program.  It can make the end of a Scout’s “Scouting years” a fun time!  They  can learn new skills and have new adventures. … all year long, not just at a high adventure camp for a week during the summer!  Please let me know if you have any questions or would like more information.  Scouts interested should attend the December 7th meeting, or let me know of their interest before then.

Fall Camporee

By Sheldon M.l

On Sept. 24, about 30 members of Troop 373 went to Buckley Air Force Base for the Fall Camporee.  This Camporee was for the entire Denver Area Council.  We set up camp upon our arrival Friday night.  They served ice cream to everyone before lights out.  On Saturday morning after breakfast, we split up into groups within our patrol to compete in different challenging activities.  One of our groups won.  The afternoon was spent doing more games.  Everyone cooked dinner, and then we had a campfire where some Columbine High School Scouts received awards.  During the ceremony, fire trucks and ambulances arrived at the First Aid Station to help all the people with breathing problems because of all the dust and weeds at the camp site.  Also at the campfire was a band that played all different kinds of music.  Sunday morning after church service, we all went home. 

Rangeview Merit Badge College

by Mark P.

Rangeview Merit Badge College was not only a learning experience but it was also fun. Scouts from Troop 373 had many merit badges to choose from. The college provided an easy way to get merit badges that may be necessary to advance. It only took one night and half a day to obtain the merit badges (even Eagle required badges). At times the classes may have been boring, but were helpful in the long run. The counselors, for the most part, were interesting and easy to learn from. I would encourage any scouts in need of merit badges to do it through a merit badge college because it is easier that way.

Top Secret

By Tony B.

It was a high-flying weekend at the Air Force Academy. We started the trip with a tour at Cheyenne Mountain operations center.  The tour started with a briefing and a PowerPoint presentation about the tasks of the facility.  The Cheyenne Mountain Air station commonly referred to as Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center is home to The North American Aerospace Defense Command, United States Space Command, and the Airforce Space Command.  After the briefing we entered the Cheyenne Mountain facility.  It started with a long walk down the main tunnel.  Then through the two main blast doors each three feet thick.  We then toured the industrial area and one of the office buildings before completing the tour of a lifetime, it was very impressive.

We then traveled to the Air Force Academy for a camp out with others from the troop.  The troop was very fortunate to get the campsite next to the B52 bomber.  The night spent was chilly but none the less good old camping, and the food was pretty good.  In the morning the troop split up to attend some of the many activities around the academy  before the game.  Everyone then met at the football stadium to enjoy an exciting football game and some extraordinary pre-game events.  These included fly bys by Air Force F-15's and cargo jets.  There were also sky-divers and cadets doing drills on the field.  To top it all off Airforce beat UNLV.  All in all it was a great time for everyone who went.