Pack 130

Fort Mill, SC

Hiking Program

 

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Why Do We Want a Hiking Program?

We know that kids need to spend more time outside.  Kids need to unplug and spend more time in nature.

 

A hiking program will:

• Increase opportunities to do more activities towards rank and earn electives

• Improve outdoor skills and provide good exercise

• Educate and teach Leave No Trace, Rules of Hiking and Buddy System

• Develop interactive skills, peer understanding and leadership skills

• Builds pack and den camaraderie

• Improve retention rates!!!!

• Prepares Webelos for the next level

 

Who Can Participate?

• All scouts from any dens on any hike.

• Parental participation is not required except for Lions and Tigers.

• Siblings and their parents.  They must be able to handle hiking. This is not intended for strollers and toddlers.

 

When Will Hikes Take Place?

• Once a month

• Weekends or holidays or occasionally in place of a den meeting.

• 1-3 hour hikes during the school year, longer day trips during the summer

• No regularly set time or date, Saturday or Sunday, morning or afternoon

• Weather-dependent so changes on short notice should be expected

• Will never overlap with other Pack activities.

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Where Will Hikes Take Place?

• Usually, we will go to local and regional area parks within about one hour’s drive from Fort Mill.

• Occasionally we will take hikes that are farther away to take advantage for the mountains and state parks nearby.

• Variety of hiking perspectives: early American & Civil War history, wildlife, bird-watching, plant & aquatic-life, geology, geo-caching, orienteering, scenic and high vistas

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How Does the Hiking Stick Program Work?

Hikes will always follow BSA guidelines and be at least “two-deep”. This means two adults, with at least one parent of a scout on the hike, and a second who is current on all three BSA training courses: Youth Protection, Leadership, and Weather Hazards.  We must have enough adults present on each hike to maintain a ratio of 8:1

 

• Hike distance and list of participants will be reported by hike leader into Scout Book

• Awards handed out at hikes, no separate ceremonies, except for medallions at pack meetings.

 

How Much Will this Hiking Stick Program Cost? 

For our first year, (2019-20 Scout year) we are offering this program for free.  After that we will assess if we need to charge fees. There may be park admission fees for adults or per vehicle. Many parks will admit scouts either at reduced rates or free of charge. Entrance fees will be announced with each hike. 

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HIKING ACHIEVEMENTS

 

Number of Hikes

1  - Hiking Stick (promotional offer for a hike during the 2019 summer only)

3  - Hiking Stick (if started after Aug. 2019)

6 in one year (June-may)  -Rank medallion for current Cub Scout rank

 

Special Awards TBD

 

Miles Hiked (cumulative) Awards

50 miles  - TBD

75 miles  - TBD

100 miles  - TBD

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HIKING CLUB RULES

 

• All hikes will be a minimum of 2.0 miles.

• We will report all hikes in one-tenth of a mile.

• Hiking miles accrued outside of Pack 130 are not counted

• Number of hikes and mileage will be recorded per scout year from June to May.

• Carved totem tops, can be added by Webelos or by Bear Scouts, after earning the Whittlin’ Chip.

• Scouts should not decorate their hiking sticks with any other type of item not listed in the program.

• For hikes during the pack camp-outs, we’ll award a bead of some kind.

• All hiking medallions and miles hiked awards can only be received one time.

 

THINGS TO REMEMBER

 

• Hike lengths typically range 2 – 7 miles, though some may be longer.

• All hikes will depart from the meeting location as scheduled.

• Scouts can choose between their class A & B shirts although we encourage our class B t-shirt. It’s good to be identified as a scout.

• Scouts should wear a hat. Hats provide protection from the weather.

• Wear comfortable shoes, preferably hiking shoes with appropriate socks.

• Scouts will be responsible for carrying their own gear – so keep it light! Bring water. And it is also smart to pack some sort of trail snack.  On warmer weather hikes, a small water bottle is not enough for even the smallest scout so please be sure that the scout and parent-guardian have plenty of fluids.

• On longer hikes we will typically eat lunch on the trail (practicing “Leave No Trace” at all times).

• Don’t forget insect repellent!

• During the winter, hats, scarves, gloves/mittens, coats & boots should be worn. Dressing in layers is always a good idea.

• It’s beneficial to have sunscreen in the winter as well as the summer.

• Consider keeping a rain poncho with you. If it rains you have it, if it doesn’t it makes a good sun shelter.

• Bring an emergency/safety whistle to use should you get lost.

• Siblings may participate. It is up to the parent-guardian to decide if younger children can maintain a consistent pace and are capable of hiking the designated distance. Only scouts will receive hiking awards.

• An adult leader is assigned to the “tail” position. No one is allowed behind this individual. The Pack hikes as a unit. We start together, break together, etc., with everyone following the same trail.

• We may allow an older Scout to “Lead”. We will usually work in map reading and use of a compass with them, where we have a route that can be read. It’s up to the scout to determine which fork to take to stay on the designated route, or if a new trail needs to be transitioned; they will however, have their decision confirmed by a leader.

• Hiking mileage will be awarded only for Pack, Den, or Council sanctioned events.

• All mileage that is earned must be recorded by the hike leader to receive credit.