The High Adventure program offered by the Boy Scouts of America provides the experience of a lifetime. It is offered to members of the Scouts BSA, Order of the Arrow, Venturing, and Sea Scouts programs. There are four featured bases to attend in the program: Philmont Scout Ranch, Summit Bechtel Reserve, Northern Tier, and Florida Sea Base. Each program offers opportunities for adventure, leadership, and teamwork. The OA expands the opportunities at the bases through cheerful service and brotherhood.
Additionally, OA High Adventure offers longer treks at a lower price. It opens up areas and sights throughout the bases that standard high adventure attendees would not see. Furthermore, it offers a chance to grow as a Scout and Arrowman. The experience of adventuring and working with others from across the nation cultivates the values of Scouting and the OA.
Firstly, the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM is an area that has many program elements related to backcountry living. The OA Trail Crew is a fourteen-day program. The first seven days are spent constructing and maintaining trails on the property, and the next week is spent on an adventure designed by the participants. This trek is designed for Arrowmen who are between sixteen and twenty-one years old, and registration costs $450.
Next, the Summit Bechtel Reserve in Glen Jean, WV, has hosted three National Scout Jamborees and one World Scout Jamboree. This property offers many different programs for Arrowmen to enjoy. The OA Summit Experience is an eight-day program. Four days are spent building and maintaining trails at the Summit, while the remainder of the program includes a variety of outdoor adventures. Some exciting activities include whitewater rafting, mountain biking, and climbing. This trek is designed for Arrowmen who are between fourteen and eighteen years old, and registration costs $400.
The Northern Tier base is located near the border of the United States and Canada. There are two different programs offered. The OA Canadian Odyssey takes place on the Canadian side of the border. This two-week adventure consists of portage trail restoration and exploration of the Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario. Arrowmen going on this adventure must have a valid passport.
The OA Wilderness Voyage takes place in Minnesota and is two weeks in duration. During the first week, Arrowmen to help restore portage trails in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. During the second week, Arrowmen plan a trek in the same boundary waters they previously improved. Both the OA Canadian Odyssey and Wilderness Voyage are designed for Arrowmen who are between sixteen and eighteen years old, and registration costs $325. Arrowmen going on either journey must have a record of a valid BSA Swim Test.
If you are interested in any of these programs, register at https://registration.oa-bsa.org/. If you would like more information on OAHA including session dates, check out https://oa-bsa.org/high-adventure. Register today for the experience of a lifetime, the adventure awaits!