BEARPAW Unit Leaders Guidebook

Transcription

1 Instructions to Print-Out this Guidebook 1. Verify orientation (landscape) after clicking printer icon in Adobe Acrobat; Print ODD pages ONLY first and wait for the 4 sheets to finish printing 2. Take the 4 sheets printed on one side, do not change the order if they came out in forward order (re-order if came out in backwards order); re-insert them in the printer with the same orientation as in step 2 so that the blank side will be printed on (to make four 2-sided printed pages) 3. Now Print EVEN Pages 4. Staple the finished Guide Book in the middle and fold it in half (Done) SILICON VALLEY MONTEREY BAY COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA HIGH ADVENTURE TEAM PRESENTS WINTER CAMPING TRAINING BEARPAW 2018 Unit Leaders Guidebook This is a Two-Part Program Part 1: INDOOR SESSION WINTER AWARENESS SEMINAR Saturday, November 11, 2017, 8:00 AM. to 3:30 PM Local Indoor One-Day Training Program for Adult and Junior Leaders All Scouts & Venturers Welcome! Cost - $15.00 (includes snow camping CD manual, patch, and lunch) Santa Clara High School 3000 Benton Street, Santa Clara CA Part 2: OUTDOOR SESSION SNOW CAMPING EXPERIENCE Friday 10:00 AM Sunday 11:00 AM, February 23-25, 2018 Snow Camping for all Scouts & Venturers, Troops & Crews! Cost - $18.00 (includes patch, ribbon, and camping fee) Cisco Grove Campground and RV Park (Soda Springs, CA) Highway I-80, Exit # NOTE: Changes have been made from prior year sessions Please read this manual carefully

2 Take 880 North toward Oakland to Mission Blvd, Fremont. Take Mission Blvd. East 1.2 miles to Hwy 680. Take Hwy 680 North (58.3 miles) to Hwy 80 at Cordelia Junction. FROM SACRAMENTO: 1. Take I-80 East towards Reno, approx. 78 miles, driving through Sacramento. 2. Drive to Cisco Grove, Exit Turn Left onto Cisco Road. 4. Turn Left onto Hampshire Rocks Rd. Check-in will be in the parking lot on Friday at the ranger station. Please follow directions of BearPaw staff directing traffic and parking; quickly unload and move the car so others may unload in a limited parking area. If arriving on Saturday, check in at the office, tell them you are with BearPaw and then drive to the site or drive into the site if you know where we are located from past participation. You must check-in with the Event Director who will be somewhere on site or at the Headquarters tent. Do not pay for parking as this should have been pre-paid. If he is not at HQ, please call him on his cell phone: (great cell service up there). Please pre-pay for your parking permit along with advanced unit registration. We will have a windshield parking pass waiting for each car upon arrival. This is a SnoPark mandate and all fees collected are passed along to them

3 WINTER CAMPING EXPERIENCE SCHEDULE Friday Feb. 23, 2018 (Arrival, Registration, Set-Up Campsite) 10:00 AM Begin check-in, set up campsites 12:00 PM Lunch or whatever 4:00 PM Prepare dinner and be cleaned up by 6:00 PM 7:00 PM Leader s campfire and orientation, SPLs, Scoutmaster and Advisors Location: BearPaw Headquarters 8:00 PM Lights out Saturday Feb. 24, 2018 (Fun!) 7:00 AM Rise, prepare and eat breakfast, clean-up 9:00 AM Opening ceremony and assembly, location: athletic field 9:30 AM Fun in the snow or out-of-camp activities up the hill Camporee type competition games: Athletic field Out of camp travel is permitted for skiing, etc. 12:00 PM Lunch 4:00 PM Prepare dinner and be cleaned up by 6:30 PM 7:00 PM Campfire program, location: athletic field Sunday Feb. 25, 2018 (Clean-up and Depart) 7:00 AM Rise, prepare and eat breakfast, clean-up 10:00 AM Campsite and park clean-up 11:00 AM Check-out, receive patches, ribbons, etc. 12:00 PM Must be on the road and vacated from site INCLEMENT WEATHER MAY AFFECT TIMES & EVENTS In case of a blizzard that may develop during the event, emergency evacuation will occur as safety is our primary concern. If weather conditions ahead of time are severe before the event starts, emergency cancellation will occur with a phone call from the Event Director to the person s name provided on the registration form with status information. PURPOSE OF BEARPAW The purpose of BEARPAW is to: (1) train everyone (adults and youth) in the fundamentals of winter/snow camping; (2) provide a safe, supervised outdoor experience for practical application of winter camping; (3) to attain a council-wide high-adventure perspective and fellowship; and (4) to have lots of fun which is a unique experience from summer camping. OUTDOOR LOCATION AND PARKING DETAILS BearPaw is held at Cisco Grove RV Park and Campground on Hwy I-80. Directions on the location are provided elsewhere in this Leader s Guide. The campground is located at 6,500 feet. Please check-in when you arrive with the BearPaw Event Director. You must have a parking pass for each vehicle spending the night. There is no charge for drop off or pick up. Please pay for your pass with registration in advance; we will issue your pass when you arrive. The unit leader must ensure each and every vehicle has a pass. The Park Ranger can and will issue parking citations if vehicle is left overnight without a windshield pass prominently displayed. Check weather conditions on the internet before you leave for BearPaw at or other similar site. Due to serious inclement weather (i.e., a major storm or blizzard ), the event may be cancelled or evacuated at any time. If a regular storm occurs, the event will still be held, after all, this is winter camping, hopefully in the snow! WHAT TO DO (AS SOON AS POSSIBLE) READ THIS GUIDEBOOK CAREFULLY. DOWNLOAD FROM COUNCIL WEBSITE REGISTRATION FORMS FOR BOTH THE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SESSIONS. TURN INTO THE COUNCIL OFFICE WITH APPROPRIATE FEES (if faxing in the form, please bring check on arrival). ENTER DATES ON YOUR UNIT S CALENDAR. PLAN NOW TO MAKE SURE YOUR UNIT IS PREPARED!

4 REGISTRATION FEES Participation is open to all registered Scouts, Venturers (co-ed), adult leaders and parents (only if required to meet youth ratio requirements or drivers for very large units). Webelos-II who will be bridging into a troop may participate however this is highly discouraged due to the maturity of these younger scouts and the fact they may not have received pre-training in winter camping. ABSOLUTELY NO YOUNGER SIBLINGS! Everyone must be registered for BSA insurance purposes. Register early for both the indoor and/or outdoor sessions. Indoor Session Cost to attend indoor training is $15.00 per person. This includes a CD containing a large winter camping manual and support documentation, lunch, a BearPaw patch and Indoor Clinic rocker. For anyone who helps with the presentations or works as staff, they will receive an additional Indoor Staff rocker. Please register in advance at the Scout Service Center, 970 W. Julian, San Jose, or online at Outdoor Session Cost to attend the outdoor wilderness session is $18.00 per person, plus $10.00 per car. This includes the SnowPark fees (paid to the Campground on a per-person per night basis), a creative BearPaw patch, an Outdoor Clinic rocker and unit ribbon. Those who host an activity or help staff will receive a second Outdoor Staff rocker. Corrections to number of actual participants and cars will be made on site for accounting purposes with payment taken on site or refunds to be issued later.. LEADERSHIP/STAFF OPPORTUNITIES If a unit has previously participated in BearPaw, we invite you to assist with an activity or program, or help out on staff. There may be training opportunities on winter camping given. Each unit should plan to present one element of winter camping skills or host a game on Saturday. Contact Monte Crawford, Event Director, at montecrawford@yahoo.com for details BearPaw Wilderness Snow Campout DO S AND DON T S DO... Drink plenty of water often... Carry out all garbage and ashes... Leave No Trace... Use the portable toilets for all sanitary needs... Camp at least 15 yards away from groomed trails/paths... Collapse snow caves completely when you leave... Spread out (units) preserve the wilderness feel... Be extra courteous to others (non-scouts) in the area... Burn only fire wood which you have brought... Have fun! DON T... Bury garbage or anything else in the snow... (Don t poop in the snow!) Bother snowmobilers or skiers in the area (this is a public facility)... Climb on top of any building or structure... Cross or go near water sources... Go anywhere without a buddy... Put any garbage in or down the portable toilets... Build a fire without a protective metal catch basin... Cut or remove any tree limbs of any kind... Sled or toboggan without permission of unit leader... Camp on or build snow structures on or near any of the roadways or groomed trails/paths

5 The meaning behind the name: BearPaw is a high adventure training program offered to all Scouts consisting of three parts, 1) a one-day indoor seminar, 2) a three-day, two-night outdoor snow camping adventure, and 3) an introductory wilderness trek. Indoor Seminar Agenda Saturday, November 11, 2017 The indoor seminar is based on training material from the Council s High Adventure Training Staff and other authoritative sources, presented by highly experienced winter camping instructors. Each participant will receive a CD, patch and rocker. The exact time of each session or topic to be presented is subject to change. 8:00 AM Registration, Pre-Opening Exhibits 8:30 AM MORNING SESSIONS Opening & Overview, 8:30-8:45 How to Dress for Snow, 8:45 9:30 Shelter in Snow, 9:30 10:00 Break, 10:00-10:15 Menu Planning for Snow Camping, 10:15-10:45 Cooking in Snow, 11:00-11:30 11:30 AM Lunch 12:15 PM AFTERNOON SESSIONS What and How to Pack for Snow, 12:15-12:45 Hauling Your Gear, Packs vs. Sleds, 12:45-1:15 Travel on Snow, Skis & Snowshoes, 1:15-1:45 Break, 1:45-2:00 Winter First Aid, 2:00-2:45 Leave No Trace, 2:45-3:15 Driving In Snow Country, 3:15-3:30 3:30 PM CLOSING (PATCHES and ROCKERS) The indoor segment of BEARPAW, is typically held on the second Saturday of November and is a winter-camping fundamentals training course. At least one Scouter (adult leader) from each unit which plans to attend the wilderness snow campout must attend the local indoor session. (Attendance in a prior year also qualifies the unit to attend the outdoor session without the need to retake the course). Two or more junior leaders from each unit (SPL, ASPL, Instructors, Patrol Leaders) should also attend. The idea is that the junior leaders will take what they have learned and methods presented back to their home troop, and use this knowledge to train their fellow scouts and adults. The outdoor segment of BEARPAW, held on a three-day school holiday weekend in the Sierra-Nevada mountains (normally the weekend following the President s Day holiday since most Scouts are out of school that week). This winter campout provides adventure and training for the entire unit. It is similar to a Camporee in the snow; putting what the scouts have learned in training to practical use for camping in snow. ARRIVAL and DEPARTURE to and from the campout is flexible some units may come on Thursday and leave Saturday; others arrive Saturday and leave Sunday. Units that have attended in past years are invited to host or teach a session in both the indoor and outdoor events

6 HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Winter camps and all-weather hikes are a comparatively new phase of Scouting, but they have grown so rapidly in interest that some communities report more boys in short term and winter camps during the school year than in all the outdoor activities of the summer vacation period. James E West, 1927 Some better-known BSA winter camping programs include: KLONDIKE DERBY. A competitive event, similar to a Camporee in the snow conducted by patrols to demonstrate proficiency in Scouting skills. Patrols move from station to station pulling equipment on home-built Klondike sleds. KANIK. Snow camping program offered by Philmont BSA High Adventure Base during the winter months: (ski touring, snow shelters, winter ecology, etc.); name derived from Inuit word for Snowflake. OKPIK. Winter adventure training program offered by Northern Tier BSA High Adventure Base (cross country skiing, ice fishing, snowshoeing, expedition travel, shelter building, etc.); started in 1974, the name derives from the Inuit word for Snowy Owl. BearPaw, formerly known in Santa Clara County Council as California Okpik, Winter Awareness Clinic and Deep Freeze has been the designated name for our local council s annual winter camping training program since The name was chosen to distinguish our unique local program from those described above. Winter camping training has been sponsored as a Council event under the direction of the SVMBC High Adventure Team since It was founded under the able leadership of Raimo Vahamaki, continued by Craig Bassett from 1995 to 2001; George Denise from and then Mark Montrose beginning in 2007 to present. The BEARPAW icon combines the snowshoe design with the footprint of the polar bear, evoking the winter prowess and spirit of the polar bear. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS RULES PARKING. Park only in the designated parking area. If you cannot find a place to park, please first obtain direction from the Event Director or Park staff to park elsewhere. It is absolutely imperative that we minimize the number of vehicles by using vans, full cars, etc. A pre-paid parking pass is required. In order to minimize the space we take up, cars will be packed in, restricting some vehicles from leaving without others moving their car(s). Some will be able to come and go at will. If it snows heavily, there is a snow plow on site, but it may take some time before it completes its job. When you arrive at the campground, please FOLLOW DIRECTIONS AND THE PARKING SUPERVISOR! CAMPSITE. Please choose a campsite at a reasonable distance from other units to give the event the wilderness feel. Use low impact methods. See map on page 8 for the general location of camp sites. CAMPSITES MUST BE AT LEAST 15 YARDS AWAY FROM THE EDGE OF TRAILS. FIRE AND WATER. There are to be NO open fires allowed, except under certain strict conditions. This means use of a metal cauldron or equivalent. Bring your own wood. Use of liquid fuels should be under the direct supervision of an adult at all times per BSA policy. Scouts should do their own cooking. Bring water, but plan to melt snow. Absolutely NO fires directly on the snow! All ashes must be packed out. SANITARY FACILITIES. Please use the portable toilets at the site for ALL purposes at all times. Remember, this is a campground in the summertime (NO SURPRISES!). LOST AND FOUND. BearPaw Headquarters will be the collection site for lost items. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. Seek help immediately! Notify Headquarters and the Event Director, who will have a mobile phone for medical assistance if required. TRASH. All units must carry their garbage home. The ethic of "pack out what you pack in" applies in full force to this event. Please do not bury any garbage in the snow or use the SnoPark s trash bins - not designed to hold any significant amount of trash!

7 SUGGESTED WINTER EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST Backpack. Use a large-capacity, internal frame backpack (at least 4,000 cubic inches). Attach straps to hold skis and/or snowshoes to the outside or use a sled to pull in equipment if doing Trek Gear sled with poles and wood insert with reinforcements. Four-Season Tent. Self-standing modified dome, with vestibule. Sleeping Bag. Use a synthetic sleeping bag rated to 20 degrees or lower. Sleeping Pad. Closed cell foam pad or Therm-a-Rest works best; or one of each preferred (one for thermal insulation, the other for comfort)! Long Underwear-Polypropylene or Capilene (wicks moisture from the skin. (NO COTTON CLOTHING UNDER ANY CONDITION)! Fleece Jacket or Sweater. Insulating layer to hold body heat in. Outer Shell (Jacket/Pants). GoreTex or high-tech fabric is best, however others will do fine. Snow suits or equivalent are excellent (NO COTTON BASED OUTER SHELL) Socks. Synthetic, plus polypropylene or therma-sock liners with extras of both. (NO COTTON SOCKS). Bring several pairs! Boots. Pac-type snow boots with liners; maybe an extra liner. Sock Hat/Beanie/Bomber Hat. Fleece cap and turtle-neck fleece neck warmer. (NO COTTON) Gloves or Mittens. Thick liners with shell. Waterproof these before use! (NO COTTON). Bring a second or third pair Sunglasses/Goggles. Dark lenses, polarized, 100% UV protection with side-panels. Headlamp. Bring spare batteries and bulb. Candles. Several; for fire starters, emergency lighting, etc. Snow Shovel. For building snow caves and shelters. Sunscreen. Minimum of SPF 30. Snowshoes. Metal frames with crampons. (Optional) Skis and Poles (waxless cross-country type). (Optional.) A good idea on any snow campout. Note-skis will be provided on site. Garbage Bags. Three or four, plus one or two waterproof stuff sacks. Stove/Fuel. Check to see whether your stove works in freezing conditions. Bring lots of fuel to make water and cook with. Food. Appropriate for winter camping-lots of carbohydrates. Minimize use of sugar based products, such as soda EACH UNIT SPONSORS A SNOW EVENT OR GAME It is requested that each unit sponsor an activity on Saturday or come up with an event of your own. Each unit is also expected to provide a skit, song, or reading for the campfire program Saturday night. We may have Camporee type competitions on the athletic field. To ensure maximum fun and a learning experience, please host an event Saturday, your choice. All equipment and supplies for the event must be supplied by the unit. There will be ten pairs of assorted size cross-country skis with poles available for use by anyone who has never strapped on a ski. Please inform the Event Director what event you will host so that event signs can be provided to identify you activity on wooden stakes, if we are notified in advance what the event will be. Medical/Permission Slips. Don't forget your medical forms, and parent permission slips. Forest Service and emergency medical personnel may request to see them in case of a situation that may develop! These will not be turned into the Event Director but remain with the unit leader should a situation develop. The Unit leader is responsible for any situation that may arrive, with help from the Event Director. - 7-

8 Welcome to BEARPAW! Winter snow camping is a fun, but challenging experience. We invite you and your unit to join us for BEARPAW BearPaw winter camping is sponsored by the High Adventure Team (HAT) of the Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council, BSA, and consists of an Indoor Winter Awareness Seminar, an Outdoor Winter Snow Camping Experience, and an optional Winter Wilderness Trek. If you have not experienced winter camping this is the year to get out and brave the challenge! If you are a seasoned winter camper, these activities are an opportunity for you and your Scouts to hone your skills and knowledge, as well as to have FUN. In 2017 we had almost too much snow and 420 campers! Winter camping does require some special training and extra care. Our volunteer staff will prepare you with the necessary tools and instruction to help make your winter tours enjoyable and safe. At least one adult leader from each unit who has completed the Indoor Winter Awareness Seminar must accompany the unit on the outdoor sessions to ensure no problems develop in the cold. Note: In case there is minimal or no snow, BearPaw converts into a winter camping experience instead of snow camping. Regardless, we are camping in the cold for two nights. Units are encouraged to leave the SnoPark and go up I-80 for other winter activities and events. Thank you for your support and volunteer service! If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Event Director. We look forward to your participation in BEARPAW Yours in Scouting, Monte Crawford Event Director (408) (cell) montecrawford@yahoo.com TABLE OF CONTENTS LETTER OF INTRODUCTION 2 PURPOSE OF BEARPAW 3 WHAT TO DO (AS SOON AS POSSIBLE) 3 HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE 4 DEFINITION OF BEARPAW 5 REGISTRATION FEES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEADERSHIP 6 EACH UNIT SPONSORS A SNOW EVENT OR GAME 7 PLANNING TIPS 7 MEDICAL/PERMISSION SLIPS 7 MAPS 8, 9 WINTER EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST 10 DOS AND DON TS 11 INDOOR SEMINAR AGENDA 12 CAMPOUT GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS RULES 13 PARKING CAMPSITE FIRE AND WATER SANITARY FACILITIES LOST AND FOUND IN CASE OF EMERGENCY TRASH WILDERNESS SNOW CAMPOUT AGENDA