High Adventure Scouting Podcast

As a part of our series highlighting council high adventure programs, we will be featuring Swamp Base in this edition.  Swamp Base is located near Lafayette, LA operated by the Evangeline Area Council. Swamp Base is a unique experience set in the Atchafalaya Swamp.   The excursion ventures through remote swamplands and caters to Scouts and registered adult leaders ·      Designed to highlight adve...

As a part of our series highlighting council high adventure programs, we will be featuring Aqua Base in this edition. Aqua Base is a part of Pfeffer Scout Reservation on Kentucky Lake and a part of the Lincoln Heritage Council. This is a great program for your older Scouts who want a new adventure at Summer Camp. This is a great program as it is a part of Camp Roy C Manchester that offers a tradit...

As a part of our series highlighting council high adventure programs, we will be highlighting Zink High Adventure Base, or better known as Z-Base, in this edition.  Z-Base is located near Tulsa, OK and is a part of the Indian Nations Council.   This is unique high adventure base that combines some great activity areas.  ·      Sporting Clays is an 18 station sporting clays setup with a BBQ dinner....

In this episode we talk with David Ambrozewicz, Camp Director at the Rodney Scout Reservation which is a part of the Del-Mar-Va Council. We talk about the ACE Program: The Advanced Camper Experience.  Designed to offer exciting new experiences to Scouts that think they’ve seen it all. Opportunities include advanced sailing, teambuilding activities, and knife throwing. Scouts will be able to earn t...

5 Things Adults Should Not Bring to Philmont Philmont Scout Ranch is a trip of a lifetime and there are several items that adults might want to avoid taking on the trek. This is the list of the 5 things that adults should not bring to Philmont. Make sure to add your choices or feel free to disagree with my list. Happy High Adventure!

In this episode we explore setting up an independent Boundary Waters trip for your unit using a base camp instead of the traditional different campsite each night.  The Boundary Waters is an awesome place to take Scouts and an excellent way to get off the net.  Canoeing through the Minnesota wilderness is a classic trip.   I interviewed two Scouters from Troop 40 in Shiloh, IL - Greg Gunyon and We...

Floodwood Mountain Scout Reservation has been the ultimate site for High Adventure for over 50 yrs. Floodwood is located near Saranac Lake, NY about an hour west of Lake Placid in the heart of the Adirondacks. With its many lakes, streams, and High Peaks, Floodwood is perfectly located to offer a High Adventure challenge second to none. Choose either a canoe trek from our base located on Rollins P...

The Salmon River High Adventure Base is an adventure with the Mountain West Council. Idaho's Salmon River, known as the "River of No Return," is one of the most unique in the world. Originating in the mountains of central Idaho, it flows through some of the most beautiful and pristine land in the United States before reaching its confluence with the Snake River. It is a free-flowing river, without...

Lenhok’sin is a trek camp. They offer each Crew the opportunity to design their own program tailored to their level of experience and goals. Our primary program is a combination of backpacking and adventure activities. Backpack through the 4,000+ acres of Goshen Scout Reservation and some of the 35,000 acres of surrounding state wildlife game lands. Challenge your Crew to summit up to five peaks a...

Scott Thiessen, Director for the Zink High Adventure Base (Z-base) and Jacob Southwick, High Adventure Director for the Indian Nations Council, discuss the coming 2022 season.  Jack Zink high adventure base (ZBASE) is a high adventure leadership based program that will be operated by the local Indian Nations Council and serve Boy Scouts and Venture Scouts as well as high adventure enthusiasts on a...

This episode of the podcast features an interview with Jason Wilburn, Director of High Adventure Programs at the Michigan Crossroads Council about the 2023 season.  They operate two high adventure bases - Cole Canoe Base and the Great Lakes Sailing Adventure. Cole Canoe Base https://colecanoebase.com/ Our high adventure program provides older scouts an opportunity to stray from the traditional sum...

This episode of the podcast is from the Live discussion from the Philmont Trek Talk Group.  During the August 2022 edition they discussed Tips from First Time Trekkers.  In addition to the regular panelists listed below, a few first time trekkers joined the group to give their impressions.   This is a longer than normal episode, but we wanted to put the whole discussion into one recording.   Our p...

In this episode, we interviewed a lead advisor who had just gotten off the trail at Philmont.  We are calling this a Philmont Hotwash to get the immediate impressions of a trek just off the trail.    We explore what worked, what didn't, and what he would change for another trip.  The lead advisor, Bryan King, organized a crew of 11 for a 12-day trek at Philmont Scout Ranch.  Mr. King is the immedi...

This edition takes us back to the Philmont Trek Talk Group on Facebook.  The crew discusses Shakedown Hikes & Crew Prep for Philmont.  This will be split into two parts to make it easier to listen to in one session.    This is Part 2.   The panel: - Sal Porto is the Asst. scoutmaster with Troop 212 in Lutz Fl and has served in this role for the past 15 years. He is a Master Educator with LNT a...

This edition takes us back to the Philmont Trek Talk Group on Facebook.  The crew discusses Shakedown Hikes & Crew Prep for Philmont.  This will be split into two parts to make it easier to listen to in one session.   This is part 1. The panel: - Sal Porto is the Asst. scoutmaster with Troop 212 in Lutz Fl and has served in this role for the past 15 years. He is a Master Educator with LNT and...

An interview with Stephanie Kelly, Backcountry Trek Manager, for the Northern Lights High Adventure Base.   We discussed the upcoming 2022 season. This is the premier Alaskan High Adventure outdoor experience for scouts. Backpacking, hiking, canoeing, fishing and more!  The Northern Lights High Adventure Base is run by the Midnight Sun Council, Boy Scouts of America, based in Fairbanks, Alaska. Th...

This edition takes us back to the Philmont Trek Talk Group on Facebook.  The crew discusses Trek Selection for Philmont.  This will be split into two parts to make it easier to listen to in one session.   The panel: - Sal Porto is the Asst. scoutmaster with Troop 212 in Lutz Fl and has served in this role for the past 15 years. He is a Master Educator with LNT and teaches LNT for the Greater Tampa...

This edition takes us back to the Philmont Trek Talk Group on Facebook.  The crew discusses Trek Selection for Philmont.  This will be split into two parts to make it easier to listen to in one session.   The panel: - Sal Porto is the Asst. scoutmaster with Troop 212 in Lutz Fl and has served in this role for the past 15 years. He is a Master Educator with LNT and teaches LNT for the Greater Tampa...

For those of you going to Philmont, this will be a good episode to bookmark.  This episode features excerpts from the December 2021 Philmont Trek Talk Facebook Live event.  For this episode, we’ll talk about things to do in Cimarron, NM and on the way to the ranch.   There were six panelists for this discussion.  -       Sal Porto is with Troop 212 in Lutz, Florida and has been on 6 treks to Philm...

For those of you going to Philmont, this will be a good episode to bookmark.  This episode features excerpts from the December 2021 Philmont Trek Talk Facebook Live event.  The event was specific to Getting to Philmont and things to do in Cimarron, NM and on the way to the ranch.   There were six panelists for this discussion.  -       Sal Porto is with Troop 212 in Lutz, Florida and has been on 6...

Birchbark Expeditions interview with Alan Percy. Birchbark Expeditions is a Nationally Accredited week-long, fully guided high adventure canoe experience, steeped in the rich Age of Exploration history. Operated by volunteers from the Greater Niagara Frontier Council of the BSA, the program offers three different options: 1) WNY Waterways - A local one or two-day canoeing expedition on one of the...

Birchbark Expeditions interview with Alan Percy. Birchbark Expeditions is a Nationally Accredited week-long, fully guided high adventure canoe experience, steeped in the rich Age of Exploration history. Operated by volunteers from the Greater Niagara Frontier Council of the BSA, the program offers three different options: 1) WNY Waterways - A local one or two-day canoeing expedition on one of the...

This episode is an interview with Steve Nelson, Director of Camping at Philmont Scout Ranch.  The interview explores the individual programs at Philmont.   Rayado Trek Roving Outdoor Conservation School Trek (ROCS) Order of the Arrow Trail Crew Trek STEM Trek Order of the Arrow Trail Crew Trek Trail Crew Trek Ranch Hands Trek We also talked about the Cavalcade – Equestrian crew program.  A great d...

Maine High Adventure 2022 Update with Keith Nelson, Program and Base Director Opportunities abound for exciting, unique and extended backcountry travel. Every day will involve challenges and rewards. Each bend in the river or change in horizon will bring new possibilities for excitement and relaxation. Take each day as it comes, make your own itinerary that fits EVERYONE'S desires and wishes. Cano...

This episode of the podcast features an interview with Gregg Zdan, Director of High Adventure Programs at the Michigan Crossroads Council.  They operate two high adventure bases - Cole Canoe Base and the Great Lakes Sailing Adventure.  Cole Canoe Base https://colecanoebase.com/ Our high adventure program provides older scouts an opportunity to stray from the traditional summer camp experience and...