High-adventure bases of the Boy Scouts of America
Encyclopedia
High-adventure bases of the Boy Scouts of America are outdoor recreation facilities located in several locales in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

 operated by the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...

 at the organization's national level. Each facility offers wilderness programs and training that could include sailing, wilderness canoeing, or wilderness backpacking trips. These bases are administered by the High Adventure Division of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Philmont Scout Ranch

Philmont Scout Ranch is a mountainous ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...

 located near the town of Cimarron
Cimarron, New Mexico
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 917 people, 382 households, and 255 families residing in the village. The population density was 479.5 people per square mile . There were 449 housing units at an average density of 234.8 per square mile...

, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...

 covering approximately 137500 acres (556.4 km²) of wilderness in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains
Sangre de Cristo Mountains
The Sangre de Cristo Mountains are the southernmost subrange of the Rocky Mountains. They are located in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico in the United States...

 of the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...

 of northern New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...

. The main part of the ranch, formerly the property of oil baron Waite Phillips
Waite Phillips
Waite Phillips was an American petroleum businessman who created a fully integrated operation that combined petroleum producing, refining and marketing. With headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he also developed several office complexes and engaged in banking and ranching...

 was donated in 1938. Along with other donations and purchases, it is currently in use as a national high adventure base where crews of Scouts and Venturers take part in backpacking
Backpacking (wilderness)
Backpacking combines the activities of hiking and camping for an overnight stay in backcountry wilderness...

 expeditions and other outdoor activities. It is the largest youth camp in the world by size. Philmont's terrain is mountainous, ranging in altitude from 6,500 to 12,441 ft.

Philmont is also home to the Philmont Training Center
Philmont Training Center
The Philmont Training Center , located at the Philmont Scout Ranch near Cimarron, New Mexico, has been the National Training Center of the Boy Scouts of America since 1950. The PTC offers week-long training conferences from June through September for council, district, and unit volunteers, BSA...

, which is the main center for BSA's national-level training for volunteers and professionals. In addition to its BSA programs, Philmont continues to operate as a ranch, maintaining a stock of cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...

, horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...

s, burro
Burro
The burro is a small donkey used primarily as a pack animal. In addition, significant numbers of feral burros live in the Southwestern United States, where they are protected by law, and in Mexico...

s and bison
American Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...

.

Northern Tier National High Adventure Bases

The Northern Tier National High Adventure Bases are a collection of high adventure bases in Minnesota, Ontario, and Manitoba. It is made up of Charles L. Sommers Canoe Base in Ely, Minnesota
Ely, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,724 people, 1,912 households, and 916 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,369.5 people per square mile . There were 1,912 housing units at an average density of 703.2 per square mile...

 operating in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness , is a wilderness area within the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota under the administration of the U.S. Forest Service...

 (BWCAW) and Quetico Provincial Park
Quetico Provincial Park
Quetico Provincial Park is a large wilderness park in Northwestern Ontario, Canada, renowned for its excellent canoeing and fishing. This park shares its southern border with Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which is part of the larger Superior National Forest...

, Don Rogert Canoe Base in Atikokan, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....

 operating in Quetico Provincial Park
Quetico Provincial Park
Quetico Provincial Park is a large wilderness park in Northwestern Ontario, Canada, renowned for its excellent canoeing and fishing. This park shares its southern border with Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which is part of the larger Superior National Forest...

, and Norther Expeditions Base in Bissett, Manitoba
Bissett, Manitoba
Bissett is a community in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Located on Manitoba Provincial Road 304, Bissett is an entry point to Nopiming Provincial Park.-History:...

 operating in Atikaki Provincial Wilderness Park
Atikaki Provincial Wilderness Park
Atikaki Provincial Park is located in Manitoba, Canada, and was partially mapped out by Marc Wermager, and is designated as a wilderness park. This means that there are no roads, logging areas, or major developments in the park. It is located east of Lake Winnipeg, along the Ontario border in the...

 and points beyond. Collectively, it is the oldest national high adventure base operated by the BSA.

Northern Tier offers mostly wilderness canoe trips, although other activities such as cold weather camping exist as well. Typical canoe trips cover 50 to 150 mi (80.5 to 241.4 km) and take 6 to 10 days. With each crew is a highly skilled technician/instructor called an "Interpreter".

Florida National High Adventure Sea Base

The Florida National High Adventure Sea Base is a high adventure
High adventure
High adventure is a type of outdoor experience. It typically is meant to include activities like backpacking, hiking, kayaking or canoeing. It may also include mountaineering, rock climbing, mountain biking, orienteering, hang gliding, paragliding and hot air ballooning.-High adventure in...

 program base in the Florida Keys
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...

. The main Sea Base is located in Islamorada, Florida
Islamorada, Florida
Islamorada, a "Village of Islands," is an incorporated village in Monroe County, Florida, United States. It is located on the islands of Tea Table Key, Lower Matecumbe Key, Upper Matecumbe Key, Windley Key and Plantation Key in the Florida Keys....

 on the end of Lower Matecumbe Key
Lower Matecumbe Key
Lower Matecumbe Key is an island in the upper Florida Keys.It is located on U.S. 1 between mile markers 75--78.All of the key is within the Village of Islamorada as of November 4, 1997, when it was incorporated....

. Other bases include the Brinton Environmental Center located on Summerland Key
Summerland Key
Summerland Key is an island in the lower Florida Keys approximately 20 miles east of Key West.U.S. 1 crosses the island at approximately mile markers 24—25.5, between Ramrod Key and Cudjoe Key. The name appears on U.S...

 (which oversees Big Munson Island located 5.5 miles (8.9 km) southeast) and the Bahamas Sea Base in Marsh Harbour
Marsh Harbour
Marsh Harbour is a town in Abaco Islands, Bahamas, with a population of 5,314.With more than five thousand residents, Marsh Harbour is the third largest town in The Bahamas, and the main focus of tourism in the Abacos. Marsh Harbour is a shipbuilding center, but tourism accounts for most of its...

, Abaco
Abaco Islands
The Abaco Islands lie in the northern Bahamas and comprise the main islands of Great Abaco and Little Abaco, together with the smaller Wood Cay, Elbow Cay, Lubbers Quarters Cay, Green Turtle Cay, Great Guana Cay, Castaway Cay, Man-o-War Cay, Stranger's Cay, Umbrella Cay, Walker's Cay, Little Grand...

, Bahamas.

Main programs include sailing— including open water and reef sailing —island camping, snorkeling, and SCUBA. The Florida Sea Base Conference Center has become an alternative training site to the Philmont Training Center
Philmont Training Center
The Philmont Training Center , located at the Philmont Scout Ranch near Cimarron, New Mexico, has been the National Training Center of the Boy Scouts of America since 1950. The PTC offers week-long training conferences from June through September for council, district, and unit volunteers, BSA...

. Most conferences it hosts are for professionals or national level committees, but it also hosts conferences for outside groups.

The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve

The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve was purchased in 2009 and is being developed as a high adventure base, training center and as the site for the national Scout jamboree
National Scout jamboree (Boy Scouts of America)
The national Scout jamboree is a gathering, or jamboree of thousands of members of the Boy Scouts of America, usually held every four years and organized by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Referred to as "the Jamboree", "Jambo", or NSJ, Scouts from all over the nation and world...

. The property consists of a 10600 acres (42.9 km²) reclaimed mine site near Beckley, West Virginia
Beckley, West Virginia
Beckley is a city in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States, which was founded on April 4, 1838. The 2008 population was estimated to be 16,832 by the U.S. Census Bureau. Early in its history, the town was known as Beckleyville and Raleigh Court House...

. The purchase was enabled by a $50 million grant from Stephen Bechtel, Jr.
Stephen Bechtel, Jr.
Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr. is, with his son Riley, co-owner of the Bechtel Corporation. He is the son of Stephen David Bechtel, Sr. and grandson of Warren A. Bechtel who founded the Bechtel Corporation.-Education:...



The Summit is being developed by Arrow WV, a BSA subsidiary. Consol Energy
Consol Energy
Consol Energy is an energy company headquartered in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, suburb of Cecil Township, in the Southpointe complex. It is one of the US's largest coal mining companies, along with Peabody Energy and Arch Coal...

 donated $15 million to build a 700 feet (213.4 m) long bridge to connect the main activity area to the eastern property.

Northern Wisconsin National Canoe Base

Northern Wisconsin National Canoe Base was opened in 1940 on the site of a former Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...

 camp on the south end of the east shore of White Sand Lake in northern Wisconsin. The closest town to that site is Boulder Junction, Wisconsin
Boulder Junction, Wisconsin
Boulder Junction is a town in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 958 at the 2000 census.-Economy:The town's economy depends heavily on tourism, as do many towns in the surrounding lakeland area...



The base was originally named MIWI after the initials of the four states in the region. In 1943 it was renamed to Region 7 Canoe Base. The base had also been referenced in publications as Region Seven Explorer Canoe Base. Around 1967 it was renamed to Northern Wisconsin National Canoe Base as publications begin referencing the new name during this period.

The primary program was wilderness canoe trips through the lakes and rivers of northern Wisconsin and the southern edge of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the northern of the two major land masses that make up the U.S. state of Michigan. It is commonly referred to as the Upper Peninsula, the U.P., or Upper Michigan. It is also known as the land "above the Bridge" linking the two peninsulas. The peninsula is bounded...

. The base provided training, outfitting, guiding for these trips as well as sleeping and meal facilities for groups as they prepared to start or end canoe trips. They also provided transportation to and from starting and ending points. Training included an intensive Voyageur
Voyageurs
The Voyageurs were the persons who engaged in the transportation of furs by canoe during the fur trade era. Voyageur is a French word which literally translates to "traveler"...

 course for the youth leader of a group during the week prior to the group's trip.

Canoe trips launched from the base utilized hundreds of different lakes and rivers and about 300 camp sites. About half of these were on public lands, the other were on private lands under special arrangements which typically included maintenance by the Scouts. Examples of closer frequently used waterways include White Sand, Lost Canoe, Pallette, Escanaba, Presque Isle, Crab, Trout
Trout Lake (Wisconsin)
Trout Lake is one of the largest lakes in Vilas County, Wisconsin. It is located near the town of Boulder Junction, Wisconsin. It is known in the area for having good fishing, and a relatively large amount of undeveloped shoreline. Trout Lake is one of the few inland lakes in Wisconsin to host lake...

 and Wild Rice lakes and the Trout River. While the tripping area covered millions of acres, most trips were concentrated in the 400000 acres (1,618.7 km²) area going about 12 miles (19.3 km) north, 10 miles (16.1 km) east, 18 miles (29 km) west and 10 miles (16.1 km) south of the base.

The base closed in 1983. Numerous interrelated factors contributed to its demise including lobbying for closure in favor of other bases, declining usage and increased development in the area used for its canoe trips.

Maine National High Adventure Area

The Maine National High Adventure Area was established in 1970 due to the efforts of BSA Scout Executive Bud Jeffrey, Seven Island Lands Company President John Sinclair, and Bill Wadsworth and John Donnell of the BSA National Office. The first of three Maine National High Adventure bases was established at the site of the former Foster’s Matagamon Sporting Camp on the north side of Matagamon Lake, and was called Maine Matagamon National High Adventure Base. This base operated as a single unit in 1971 and 1972. An additional base was established at Pittston Farm on Seboomook Lake in 1973, and a third on Sysladobsis Lake, was operated in 1971 and 1979.

Matagamon and Seboomook bases were the core of the program for many years. It was a highly successful program that exposed thousands of scouts to the lakes, rivers, and mountains of the North Maine woods, providing them with a lifetime appreciation of wild lands, no trace camping, and self sufficiency and safety in the wilderness.

Maine National High Adventure was operated as a national base until 1991, when the National BSA Office shut down the program. In 1993, the Matagamon base reopened as Maine High Adventure, an outdoor program run today by the Katahdin Area Council

There is an active staff association called Maine High Adventure Staff Association that is dedicated to the history of the Maine National High Adventure Area, and to the support of the current Maine High Adventure Area.

Land Between the Lakes National Outdoor Adventure Center

The Land Between the Lakes National Outdoor Adventure Center was a regional high adventure base in Kentucky on the shores of Kentucky Lake
Kentucky Lake
Kentucky Lake is a major navigable reservoir along the Tennessee River in Kentucky and Tennessee. Created in 1944 by the Tennessee Valley Authority's impounding of the Tennessee River by Kentucky Dam, the lake is the largest artificial lake by surface area in the United States east of the...

 near Aurora. It opened in 1973 as a cooperative effort between the BSA and the Tennessee Valley Authority
Tennessee Valley Authority
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a federally owned corporation in the United States created by congressional charter in May 1933 to provide navigation, flood control, electricity generation, fertilizer manufacturing, and economic development in the Tennessee Valley, a region particularly affected...

 and was based on the former Camp Roy C. Manchester, which had opened in 1954. The base offered sailing trips on the 160000 acres (647.5 km²) Kentucky Lake. Land Between the Lakes ceased operation as national base in 1983 and the property reverted to Shawnee Trails Council, which now operates the base at a local level, continuing to offer high adventure related facilities for sailing, canoeing, kayaking and U.S. Coast Guard approved sailing training.

Triple Crown of High Adventure Award

The Triple Crown of High Adventure was founded in 1996 and is awarded by the Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association (Northern Tier
Northern Tier National High Adventure Bases
The Northern Tier National High Adventure Bases are a collection of high adventure bases run by the Boy Scouts of America in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of Minnesota, Ontario's Quetico Provincial Park, Manitoba's Atikaki Provincial Wilderness Park and points beyond...

’s alumni association) in conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America. The award honors those Scouts and Scouters who have participated in at least one program at three National High Adventure Bases operated by the Boy Scouts of America. Award recipients receive a special certificate and small award patch.

Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association, Inc.

The Charles L. Sommers Alumni Association, Inc. (SAA) is a non-profit Minnesota charity with the purpose to provide a continuing interest in and support for the mission and programs of the Northern Tier National High Adventure program, the Boy Scouts of America’s oldest National High Adventure program.

Objectives include preserving and promoting wilderness camping, high adventure, and training opportunities; spreading the spirit of “The Far Northland” throughout Scouting, and offering the time, talent, and treasure of the its membership to the Northern Tier National High Adventure program. Through its members, it has been instrumental as the first alumni association to launch capital campaigns in conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America to enhance high adventure base facilities and establish an endowed seasonal staff scholarship program.

Active membership is open to all persons who have served on the seasonal or permanent staff of any Northern Tier National High Adventure program, including the Charles L. Sommers National High Adventure Base, Donald Rogert Canoe Base (Atikokan, Ontario), Northern Expeditions (Bissett, Manitoba), Northern Wisconsin National Canoe Base, and Maine National High Adventure Base.

Affiliate membership is open to all former adult crew advisors from any Northern Tier National High Adventure program and any adult who wishes to maintain a significant interest in the mission and success of the Northern Tier National High Adventure program.

Philmont Staff Association, Inc.

The Philmont Staff Association, Inc. (PSA) is a non-profit New Mexico charity with the purpose to provide a continued support of Philmont Scout Ranch.

Membership is open to all those who have served on staff at Philmont. In addition to traditional staff positions, membership is also open to those who have served on staff of Autumn Adventure, Kanik, Philmont Training Center, National Junior Leader Instructor Camp (NJLIC), and National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE). The PSA is the only National High Adventure base alumni association that does not offer membership to those who have not served on staff.

Sea Base Alumni and Friends Association, Inc.

The Sea Base Alumni and Friends Association, Inc. (SBAFA) is a non-profit Florida charity with the purpose to provide continued support of Florida National High Adventure Sea Base. Objectives include supporting the staff, programs and interest of Florida Sea Base.

Membership is open to all those with an affiliation to Florida Sea Base, including current staff, former staff, members of the community, volunteers, and past participants.

External links

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