Philmont Scout Ranch
Cimarron, New Mexico
Born in 1938 as Philturn Rockymountain Scout camp, today’s Philmont Scout Ranch is a bustling center for high adventure and training. Its 34 staffed camps and 55 trail camps provide an unforgettable adventure in the high country along hundreds of miles of rugged, rocky trails.
The area surrounding the ranch is rich with history, from the Native Americans who made this arid land their home to the land barons of the 19th century. The town of Cimarron boasts a number of historical buildings, including the St. James Hotel—site of at least 26 killings during Cimarron’s wilder days. Visit the Philmont Scout Ranch website here.
Florida Sea Base
Islamorada, Florida
The Florida National High Adventure Sea Base operates 12 different adventures out of three locations: two in the Florida Keys and one in Marsh Harbour, Bahamas. The adventures Coral Reef Sailing, Sea Exploring, Eco Adventure, Florida Fishing, Scuba Adventure, Scuba Certification, and Live Aboard Scuba Adventure operate in the Florida Keys at Mile Marker 73.8 at Sea Base on Lower Matecumbe Key, located 75 miles south of Miami.
The Florida National High Adventure Sea Base is owned and operated by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America to offer educational aquatic programs. Located in Islamorada, the near-shore reefs and clear waters offer unparalleled opportunities for long-term and short-term programs year-round. Visit the Florida Sea Base website.
Northern Tier
Ely, Minnesota
Since 1923, Scouts have been voyaging into the great north wilderness to seek adventure. Eagles soaring overhead, walleye swimming in the depths of pristine lakes, meeting a moose on the portage trail. The Northern Tier High Adventure Program is the ONLY outfitter in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Canada charged by the Boy Scouts of America to deliver the Scouting program to Scouts and leaders adventuring into North America’s canoe country.
Some of the best weather, snow conditions, facilities, and terrain for cold-weather camping in North America are offered through the OKPIK adventure program. OKPIK provides a highly trained staff to help you learn cold-weather camping skills such as dog sledding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, clothing and sleeping systems, snow shelter building, animal tracking, cold-weather cooking, and ice fishing. Visit the Northern Tier website at www.ntier.org.
Paul R. Christen National High Adventure Base at The Summit
New River Gorge, West Virginia
The Paul R. Christen National High Adventure Base at The Summit(SBR) is the newest high-adventure base in Scouting, the permanent home of the national Scout jamboree, and the site of the 2019 World Scout Jamboree. Through outdoor action sports and experiential learning programs at world-class facilities, the Summit fosters achievement, adventure, and innovation in Scouting.
The Summit property is on 10,600 acres adjacent to the New River Gorge National River area. That means access to incredible outdoor terrain in the Appalachian Mountains that provides a home for some of the world’s best whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and mountain biking.
Summit Gauley Season Programs
After numerous requests over the last several years to offer chances for units to visit Summit Bechtel Reserve during off season weekends SBR developed the Summit Gauley Season Programs to meet these needs. The 2019 programs will be from September 5th (weekend after Labor Day) until October 22nd. Ideally a unit could find a weekend with a “teacher workday” on Friday or Monday.
Who can attend? (Participant Eligibility)
Summit Gauley Season is available to registered Scouts BSA, Venturers, Sea Scouts, Explorers and their leaders. It is also open to groups comprised entirely of registered adult Scouters.
Please note that certain programs have age or height/weight requirements. See details in program information provided by The Summit.
Registrations are by individual unit or group of adults
This program runs for 7 weekends starting September 5th (the weekend after Labor Day) and runs through October 22nd.
The model for the Summit Gauley Season is an A-La-Carte menu* of housing, food and activity options, which allows for flexibility in timeframe and pricing. The will spell out all the great opportunities. We think you’ll find options that can fit almost any unit.
*See Summit-Gauley-Season-Info-sheet for more details and registration information.
One of the highlights is the ability to do Gauley River whitewater rafting trips. During this period the Army Corps of Engineers do a dam release from the Summersville Dam that makes the Gauley River one of the top rafting destinations in the world. This is a perfect activity for Venturers and older Scouts and groups of adults. There are also New River Gorge whitewater rafting trips available.
Visit the Summit website at www.summitbechtelreserve.org or https://summit.scouting.org .
