Big Trip Guidebook Logo

 

Sample – Rule Book

Copyright 2013 – BigTripGuide.com

 

 

 

Guidelines, Rules & General Information for The Big Trip

 

In order to make the trip a safe and enjoyable trip for all participants there are some rules and guidelines that we need to make everybody aware of.  We have also included some general information about the trip.

 

This is a scout trip, so all scouting rules need to be followed.

 

Leadership - The chain of command:

Non-scout siblings – their parent is immediately responsible

Scouts – should listen to the patrol leaders and SPL (Tom Mueller) is in charge of the scouts.

Major decisions to be made by Planning team members (Jim Conners, Mark Shultes, Paul Welker, Dave Pierce, Wendy Amidon, Kristin Conners, Stacy Romaine, Tom Brickle, Brian Young & John Mueller) onsite.

Scoutmaster has ultimate say on disciplinary actions

All parents & siblings not within the “normal” troop membership are asked to respect the chain of command.  Remember this is supposed to be a troop lead by the scouts and guided by the adults.

 

The Main Leader for the entire trip: Jim Conners, Scoutmaster

The leaders in charge of Flight 1 (Rochester): Mark Shultes, Dave Pierce & Tom Brickle

The Leaders in charge of Flight 2 (Syracuse): Paul Welker & John Mueller

Backcountry overnight – Hike 1 -  Jim Conners, Dave Pierce & Wendy Amidon

Hike 2 – Mark Shultes & Tom Brickle

Hike 3 -  Paul Welker & John Mueller

Rodeo – Brian Young

 

Discipline:

Any problems during the trip will be handled with the above chain of command.  If there is a problem that the patrol leaders can not handle then it will be handled by the leaders in charge of that section of the trip.

 

If there is a major disciplinary issue scouts maybe required to leave the trip at the parents expense.

 

Siblings:

Siblings are to directly supervised by the parent on the trip.  For example - A younger sibling can not go on a different hike, from the parent, that is being offered or they will need to go on the same excursion of either the backcountry or rodeo as the parent and finally they will need to be in the same van as the parent for travel times.

 

Staying At Camp:

Other than for medical reasons no one stays back at camp, this is a trip to get out and see the American West not hang around camp.  Activities like hiking will be allowed to go to the ability level of the person scouts need to stay with an adult and can not go off on their own.

 

 

 

 

Medicine:

Any medicine for scouts will need to be held by an adult (can either be a parent or an assigned leader).  Adults may hold their personal medications as long as it is in a secure location away from scouts/ siblings.  The only medication allowed to be held by Scouts would be emergency medications like Inhalers or Epipens.

 

Smoking & Drinking:

No smoking (within sight of the scouts) &No alcohol drinking (at all)

 

Driving:

Only adults over 21 will be allowed to drive. 

Each van will have 2 drivers preset, with a back up only to be used if there is a major issue to switch drivers.

Driving should be responsible and obeying traffic laws

 

Airplane Rules:

We will not be checking any bags all items will be carry-ons.

Everyone should follow all airplane rules; No liquids in carry-ons, no knives, etc…

Be respectful, it will make security a lot easier. NO JOKING AROUND when around security.

ID’s make sure to have ID’s available for security at the airport.

CLASS A UNIFORMS ARE TO BE WORN ON THE AIRPLANE BOTH WAYS (or Class B trip t-shirts only if you do not own a Class A uniform)

 

Drop Off:

July 14th at 3:00 AM at the CS UMC.  We will be taking buses to the airport.  DON’T BE LATE! As the group will be leaving at 3:30 SHARP if you are late it will be the families responsibility to get your scout to the airport.  Half of the group is going out of Syracuse and half out of Rochester, everybody will meet at JFK airport and be on the same plane into Salt Lake City.

IF YOU CAN NOT MAKE THIS TIME OR ARE DROPPING OFF THE TRIP DUE TO ILLNESS OR EMERGENCY IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILTY TO CONTACT MARK SHULTES ON HIS CELL #.

 

Return:

The return flight comes into Rochester on July 26th at 9:50 AM, everybody is on this flight.  It is each family’s responsibility to pick up their scout or make arrangements for transportation back to Clifton Springs.

 

Uniforms:

Class A uniform is required for the plane rides.  Uniforms will also be expected to be worn at some of the dinners out.  Trip Class B will be required for those adults/ siblings that do not own a Class A uniform when scouts/ leaders are expected to wear Class A uniforms.

 

General Schedule:

Unless a day requires a change for items like a major hike or White water rafting we will follow this general schedule:

“soft” wake up at between 5 to 6:30 AM depending on the day

“Hard” wake up at 5:30 to 7:00 AM depending on the day

Leave campsite by 7 to 8:30 AM depending on the day

Various touring/ activities daily

Get back to campsite at dinner time unless eating out

Cook & Clean up

Squeeze in showers if they are available

Quiet time by 10 or time specified by the campground.

 

Buddy System:

Scouts should follow the buddy system at all times but there will be times within the trip that the Buddy System will be imperative.   Scouts should never go off on their own.  During times like hikes and exploring caves (at Craters of the Moon) scouts could be in serious danger without the buddy system.

 

Duty Roster:

EVERYBODY (Scouts, Leaders, Parents & Siblings) is expected to help with cooking & clean up.  The SPL has ultimate control over this.  A roster will be done in advance if somebody needs to switch arrangements will be made.

 

Gear Drop Off:

Gear will be dropped off either Saturday July 9th or Sunday July 10th.  The only thing that will go on the plane will be a daypack.  All other gear needs to go on the gear truck.

 

Tents:

Scouts are expected to share tents with other scouts.

Scouts will be assigned a tent that they will be responsible for the entire trip.

Adults are given the option of sharing or sleeping solo.

Adults can bring their own tent or can use a troop tent.

If you bring your personal tent, it is at your own risk.  Tents can be damaged by a number of ways.

 

Personal Gear:

Please LABEL EVERYTHING!

Large duffle bags are encouraged instead of backpacks.

Chairs if there is room.

See separate sheet for details.

 

Personal Belongings:

In the tent participants will only be allowed to have: Sleeping bag, pad or cot, pillow, change of clothes for the next day.  All other items will be stored in the gear truck at all times.  Participants will be allowed to get items (like personal care items) out when needed and will be expected to put them directly back into the truck.  At no time should your personal care items (like shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, etc.. anything with an odor) be in the tent, this would attract animals including bears.

 

Craters of the Moon – Gear

While at the Craters of the Moon Park on the 2nd day we will have the opportunity to explore some caves, which are lava tubes.  People entering the caves are expected to have a flashlight (headlamp preferred) and a hat of some sort.  The hat will offer some protection in case you bump your head.  The caves have lots of varying heights, some you can fully stand up in and others that are very low.

 

 

Laundry:

Laundry will be done at least once during the trip, please make sure to have enough clothing to last 7 days without laundry.  Also make sure all items that will be laundered are labeled.

 

Showers:

Will be limited.  The major sites we are staying at Yellowstone and the Tetons have shower facilities available, we will still have to drive a short distance.  The showers are a pay type, the troop has factored in 6 showers but this may not happen based on where they are available.  Most of the campsites have water available and you can freshen up at the sink.  Our hope would be to do showers every other day.

 

Electronics:

Electronics (like Ipods, cell phones, games, etc…) will be allowed for the plane ride.  Any electronics brought at your own risk.  Once we arrive at Salt Lake City there will be bin for storage of electronics in the gear truck.  Games are not encouraged during the van rides, as we would like the scouts to be social with each other and to “see the west”.  Also charging opportunities will be limited.

            Batteries – we highly recommend coming prepared with enough extra batteries for cameras, as they will cost you a lot less at our local stores than at gas stations in Yellowstone.  Also make sure to have enough memory cards for your camera.

 

Cell Phones:

If you are bringing a cell phone please make sure to bring both a regular charger and a car charger (if you have one), we will have some power inverters and there may end up being more regular outlets available vs. car power outlets.  Also we would advise you to update your roaming before leaving NY, last time some of the verizon customers had limited coverage since there roaming wasn’t updated on their individual phone; on verizon this can be done by dialing *228 on your cell phone and pressing option #2.

***Charging priority for cell phones will go to adults and then to scouts.***

 

Menus:

With 43 people on the trip we need to account for what type of food will cook quickly with the least amount of cleanup and will serve the needs of the majority.  There is always the option of peanut butter and jelly if there is food someone can not eat or just doesn’t like.  With the amount of people on the trip we can not cater to the likes of everybody, we will try our best to have well balanced meals with plenty of options.

 

White Water:

The white water will be a full day and is rated for ages above 5 years; the majority of the day will be a low grade scenic float & the rest will be mild rapids.  This will be a full day trip with lunch on the trip.  The company we are using will provide life jackets and wet suits (if so desired).  Every participant will need to have a waiver on file.  People can bring waterproof cameras.  If you wear sunglasses or glasses please make sure to have straps to hold your glasses on. 

Gear – Swim Suit, Water Shoes (or old sneakers) & Strap for glasses

 

Spending money:

Scouts can bring money for snacks & souvenirs; this is not required and will be left to the scout to manage.  If they blow it all on the first day it is their own choice.  Recommended $10 per day.

 

What Costs Are Participants Responsible For?

Snacks & Souvenirs

Airport Food – Leaving -  Breakfast/ lunch in Rochester/ JFK Airport

                        Returning - Late Dinner @ Salt Lake City and Breakfast @ JFK Airports

Scouts who do not have parents with them we recommend giving the troop leaders an envelope with food money in for the return flight, at least $15.

 

Food and tents:

Scouts are not allowed to have food of any kind in their tent.  It can attract any number of animals including bears.   Do not bring anything into your tent that has held food or has food smells on it (like your daypack or clothes with food spills on them).

 

Food in General:

All food and cooking items will be stored in the gear truck or the vans.  If a person buys a snack food they will be required to store it in the van or gear truck.  NO FOOD IN TENTS AT ALL!

 

Bear safety:

Strictly following the above food and personal items policy will ensure that our encounters (if any) with bears are from a distance.   It is important to follow all of these safety instructions.  The number one reason for bear issues is due to improper food storage.

On hikes/ the backcountry overnights we will follow similar rules.  For the hikes if someone is particularly scared of running into a bear they do sell bear bells at stores like EMS.  The noise usually keeps bears away as they do not look for confrontation.  With groups of our size regular noise will be quite present so bears will probably keep their distance.

 

Follow The Fun

During the trip we will be posting information about our adventures.  This will be done on a “secret” Facebook group.  In order to be part of the group you need to be asked by another member, so if you have not been added to the group and you want to be please email Jim Conners or Stacy Romaine and we will get you on the group.  For security reasons we ask to keep this group to family and close friends of the troop. 

 

Van Assignments:

We will not necessarily be assigning vans but the drivers will be set ahead of time, other participants can switch vans as long as they are accounted for.  At the time of this printing the van drivers assignments are:

Gear Truck: Jim Conners & Brian Young

Van #1: Dave Pierce & Jake Amidon

Van #2: Paul Welker & John Mueller

Van #3: Mark Shultes & Tom Brickle

Van #4 Ken Smith & Chris Spooner

We will have back up drivers that can be added if the main drivers are unable to drive for a major reason.

 

 

 

 

Emergency Contacts

During the trip if you need to contact the leaders for any emergencies, the primary contact will be Jim Conners but for sub-sections of the trip there may be different primary contacts.  Please be aware cell phones may not work in all areas.

 

Leader/ Adult Cell Phone List:

Put your list here -  ours was deleted to keep our information confidential.