About the High Adventure Team

Request from the field: "An overview of the High Adventure Team, including courses offered and planned for the future."

In 1973, when interest in backpacking began to "snowball", the San Francisco Bay Area Council Camping Committee organized a Trails And Awards Team to prepare and present training in basis backpacking. Also, to supervise requests for Backpacking awards offered by a number of Southern California Scout Councils. That name was later changed to High Adventure Team and will be referred to as HAT.

The first course was conducted in 1974 at Sky Camp, a Girl Scout Camp on Mt. Tamalpais. That course has been offered annually since that date. Following a National Forest Service revamp of their wilderness use policy, and several fatalities on wilderness trails, suffered by Boy Scout units with untrained leaders, in 1978, the Council Camping Committee submitted to the Executive Board a recommendation that in order to secure a Tour Permit for a wilderness trek, at least one adult leader be certified as having completed a Basic Backpacking Awareness Course. The Executive Board of the SFBAC, after considered deliberation, authorized that plan, and the HAT was directed to provide that training.

The HAT is service organization, an all volunteer group, that welcomes all Scouters who are willing to share their skills and knowledge with others. HAT's objectives are to provide access to opportunity for adult leaders to secure knowledge in the skills needed to provide a safe and productive outdoor high adventure experience for the Scouts they serve, and to give leaders the courage to make that effort.

Over the years, in response to requests from leaders, more opportunities for learning have been added. They have included canoeing, cycling, first aid and mountain medicine, rappelling and climbing, white water safety, and adult winter camping. These courses will be made available when they are requested.

Many councils in the Western Region offer a number if awards that may be earned by local units. Most are on specific trails in the Sierra. HAT coordinates efforts so the awards can be earned by units on an inter-Council basis. The Rim of The Bay and The Ohlone Wilderness Region Trail awards are products of the SFBAC HAT

HAT also publishes Boots & Blisters, our newsletter related to outdoor pursuits, which is distributed to every registered Scoutmaster and graduates of our training.

This bears repeating -- HAT is an all-volunteer group and is constantly in search of new members, Scouters who have a desire to share their skills and expertise. Bolster the existing team and assist in bringing knowledge and encouragement to all of our unit leaders.

Also, if you need assistance on your high adventure activities, including Philmont or other National bases, contact the HAT through the Service Center.

From it's inception, the High Adventure Team (originally The Trails and Awards Committee) has been a service oriented group. It's members, all volunteers, have as their objectives, the providing of opportunities for Scouters to receive assistance in their leadership of outdoor pursuits. Over the 26 years of its existence, the HAT has provided learning opportunities in Basic Backpacking Awareness, Junior Leader Backpacking Awareness, Canoeing, Cycling, Winter Camping, Rappelling, White Water Rafting and Wilderness Medicine.

Ed Davis, Hank Helmholz, and I are the only remaining members of the original group.

All members have other responsibilities in Scouting but they still make the time necessary to provide leadership for those courses and to serve as instructors in their areas of expertise. The commitment of those who have served is evidenced by the recognition of the San Francisco Bay Area Council of their efforts by the award of the Silver Beaver.

We welcome participation by one and call. For more information, contact us.

Members of the High Adventure Team, current and past, who have been recognized for their "distinguished service to youth", the Silver Beaver are:

Current —

Past --

Quote:

"Service is the rent we pay for living. It is the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time."
By Marian Wright Edelman