Pack and Den Outings
Alan Houser (troop24@EMF.NET)
Thu, 11 May 1995 17:03:25 -0700
Paul N, who is one of my troop parents and Assistant Cub Scout Roundtable
Commissioner (and just last Friday received the District Award of Merit),
just asked me to dig something out of my old Cub Scout files, and I thought
I would share it here for advice and comment:
GUIDELINES FOR PACK AND DEN OUTINGS
Requirements:
1. A tour permit must be filed for every den outing. The permit must
be signed by the trip leader and a member of the Pack Committee, and it
must be sent to the Council Office at least two weeks before the outing.
2. The trip leader must be at least 21 years of age and registered; the
assistant leader must be at least 18 years of age. Two leaders are
required at all times, and one leader for every five boys. At no time
should a single adult be left with a single boy, except for parent and
child.
3. All persons driving must be listed on the back of the tour permit
with complete insurance information, or on the Pack's master list
attached to the permit.
4. All persons MUST WEAR SEATBELTS. This is California State Law as
well as a BSA requirement.
5. Any outing involving water activities requires Safe Swim Defense or
Safety Afloat certification. If you don't know what that means, find
someone who does or don't go near the water.
Strong Suggestions:
1. Before leaving, designate someone not coming along to be the
telephone contact. If there are any problems, this person would be
contacted by the trip leader or other adult and would then relay
messages to the other parents not on the trip. This person must have
all of the appropriate and current phone numbers as well.
2. During hikes, always lead with one adult and trail with another:
no boy goes ahead of the leader nor falls behind the trailing adult.
3. The trailing adult should carry a first aid kit, and should know
basic first aid.
4. Make frequent head counts to make sure that no one has become
separated. Use the buddy system: each boy has one or two partners
who must stay together through the hike.
5. Stop at all trail junctions so that everyone takes the same route.
This allows the stragglers to catch up.
6. After returning to the trailhead, do not leave until all boys have
returned and have been accounted for. Count them as they are seated in
the cars ready to leave.
7. Make sure that the last vehicle can start before everyone else
leaves.
8. Make sure that your outing is not too strenuous for the age group
you are leading. A rough estimate for hiking is half the age in miles:
thus, most 7-year olds can be expected to hike about 3.5 miles. Some
older Webelos may be able to go farther than 5 miles, but don't plan to
go 10 miles unless you know they can do it without problems.
9. Carry water, at least one quart per person, more for longer hikes.
10. Be prepared for bad weather or darkness. Carry raingear and
flashlights.
Alan R. Houser ** Scoutmaster, Berkeley Troop 24 ** troop24@emf.net
** WWW page ** http://www.emf.net/~troop24/t24.html **
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
