Home / 2011 Coastal Empire Council Contingent High Adventure Opportunities
The Coastal Empire Council has stepped up the high adventure opportunities for 2011. In addition to the annual backpacking experience to Philmont, the council will offer a canoeing trip into Canada at Northern Tier. Both trips will be in June, when they can be enjoyed at their best, based on the weather and insects encountered during previous trips to both programs during the same time period. Both trips are open to scouts between the ages of 14 (by September 1, 2011) and 21; however, from past experience at both programs, the older scouts and scouts of any age with a solid backpacking background are better suited to the rigors of each program. The backpacking at Philmont is a minimum of fifty miles over a ten day period with council crews typically choosing treks in the range of 60 to 80 miles. The trek includes stops at staffed camps with organized activities. The canoeing at Northern Tier will be through a series of lakes in Canada over an eight day period where the crew will travel between 75 and 100 miles. The lakes are at different elevations which require a portage between lakes - most portages are short and easy, others can be difficult and over a mile in length. There are no scheduled activities during the trek at Northern Tier.
Each trip offers opportunities other than just backpacking and canoeing. The Philmont trip will include a whitewater rafting trip after Philmont down the Arkansas River through the Royal Gorge with Class III and IV rapids and a pizza dinner that night in downtown Canon City. The Northern Tier trip will include a visit to the Sudan Mine, the first iron ore mine in Minnesota, where you will take a cage 2,341 feet underground and then a train 4,000 feet to a former working area of the mine, where you will learn about iron ore mining.
Why go with the council in 2011 or later years:
- Someone else is responsible for planning and making the arrangements.
- Proven companies/businesses are being used - 7th time for Philmont and 3rd time for Northern Tier.
- You don't have to meet the minimum crew sizes - 7 at Philmont and 6 at Northern Tier.
- The only variable cost, the buses from the airport to and from the base camp, is cheaper by sharing buses with other councils. Two Philmont crews require the same size bus as four Philmont crews. Filling up the bus cuts the cost per person in half. The Philmont buses in 2011 will be at the same cost we paid in 2009.
- The schedules allow adults to take their leave during a two-week period.
- The troop lottery for Philmont was over in November. If your troop is on the waiting list, you probably will not get to go.
- The coordinator is extremely knowledgeable of both programs [Philmont (03/05/06/09) and Northern Tier (07)] and understands what you should take and what you should not take - pack shakedowns in basecamp and ranger training on the trek are quick and easy.
Philmont:
Dates - Leave Savannah Saturday June 18 and return on Sunday July 03.
Crews - 2 crews of 12 (majority of scouts with a maximum of 4 adults per crew)
Cost - Approximately $1,200 plus airfare to Denver, CO (The council will provide everything but the transportation (airfare and baggage fees) to and from Denver. Currently, the latest flight schedules are for Dec 2010 and the fare is approximately $375 plus a $23 baggage fee. The final cost will be determined by the number of people going on the trip and sharing the bus cost.)
Deposit - $150 per person
Northern Tier:
Dates - Leave Savannah Sunday June 19 and return on Wednesday June 29.
Crews - 3 crews of 8 (majority of scouts with a maximum of 3 adults per crew)
Cost - Northern Tier has not furnished the cost yet, but in 2007, the total cost including airfare was $1,222 per person. Using the 2010 fee structure, the cost should be approximately $1,000 plus airfare to Minneapolis, MN. (The council will provide everything but the transportation (airfare and baggage fees) to and from Minneapolis. Currently, the latest flight schedules are for Dec 2010 and the fare is approximately $475 plus a $23 baggage fee. The final cost will be determined when Northern Tier releases the 2011 fee structure and by the number of people going on the trip and sharing the bus cost.)
Deposit - $75 per person
Applications are attached for both trips. Please mail the application or bring it to the Service Center with the deposit.
If you have questions about either trip, please email me at hdlupton@comcast.net or call me.
Hunter Lupton
Coastal Empire Council High Adventure
(912) 652-5574 (W)
(912) 897-3026 (H)
