MID-AMERICACOUNCIL,BSA

TRI-STATEHIGHADVENTUREBASE

MISSOURI RIVER TREK PARTICIPANT GUIDE

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WelcometoT-SHAB!WelcometotheTri-StateHighAdventureBase,or“T-SHAB,”theMid-AmericaCouncil’snewestcampingexperience.BasedoutofLittleSiouxScoutRanch,andstaffedbytrainedTrekGuides,thisistheULTIMATEadventureforScoutsandVenturersinNebraska,Iowa,andSouthDakota.Launchedin2015,T-SHABbecamethecountry’snewestNATIONALLYACCREDITEDCouncil-operatedHighAdventureBases.Nowinourthirdyear,weareofferingtwodifferentexperiences:theMissouriRiverCanoeTrekandtheLoessHillsBackpackingTrek.Bothwillbeequalpartsfunandchallenging,andwillmakelifelongmemoriesforyouandyourcrew.BysigningonfortheMissouriRiverTrek,youwillbeamongthefirsttotravelthisstretchoftheMissouribycanoesinceLewisandClarktraveleditbykeelboat!Alongtheway,youwillseeadiversemixofhabitats,bothnaturalandman-made,givingyouauniquelookattheareaweallcallhome.FromyourfirstdayatLittleSiouxScoutRanch,youandyourfellowScoutswillexperienceadventure.YouwilltrainwithexperiencedTrekGuides,whowillteachyoubasicskillsneededtonavigatethesometimesfast-movingwatersofthe“Mighty-MO”.YouwillalsolearnfromexpertsfromtheArmyCorpsofEngineersaboutrivernavigation,aswellasrepresentativesfromtheDNRwhowilltellyouaboutthelandandwateryouwilltravelthrough.YouwillthenlaunchyourcanoesinVermillion,SouthDakota,startinga5-dayexperiencewhichcouldcoverover150miles!Inthisguide,youwillfindalistofsuggestedsuppliesyoushouldbring,alongwiththesupplieswithwhichyouwillbeprovidedbytheT-SHABStaff.Wewillalsogiveyouanoverallsuggestedtripitinerary,asetofdetailedprogramoutlinesforeachday,andsomeinformationonhowtocustomizeyourtrip.Attheend,youwillfindasneakpeakofwhatweplanonofferinginfutureyears,aswedevelopT-SHABintoaversatileandexcitingprogramforScoutswithvariedinterest.WelookforwardtohavingyoutakepartintheTri-StateHighAdventureBaseandwehopeyouradventureisthehighpointofyouryear!

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Contents2 Welcome4 WhattoBring5 EquipmentProvidedatBase6 Itinerary11 DetailedProgramOutline15 CustomizationOptions

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WhattoBringTheTri-StateHighAdventureBase(T-SHAB)willprovideyouandyourTrekCrewwithallthesuppliesyouneedtonavigatetheriver,includingtentsandcookinggear(seelistonnextpage.)However,eachScoutmustprovideclothingandsomelimitedoptionalgeartomaketheirtripcomfortable.2–3 T-shirts1-2 Longsleevedshirts1 Sweatshirt,fleece,orlightjacket2 Pantsand/orshorts(zip-offtypehighlyrecommended)3–4 Pairssocks(wool,hikingrecommended) Underwear

SwimmingSuit(trunksforguys,one-pieceforgirls) Bootsordurabletennisshoes WaterShoesorCLOSEDTOEDsandals(NOFLIP-FLOPS)

RainGear(jacketandpants,notponchostyle)SleepingBag(compressiontypeHIGHLYrecommended)SleepingPad(NOCOTS)Wide-brimmedHatorBaseballCapSunglassesBowl(plasticormetal)Sierra-stylecup(couldbeusedINPLACEofbowl)Eatingutensils(sporksworkGREAT!)PocketKnifeCamera(waterprooforinwaterproof,WITHLANYARDorFLOATATIONDEVICE)

2 WaterBottles(oronebottle/Camelbakholdingatleast2liters)LimitedToiletries(toothbrush,sunscreen,aloe,bugspray,soap,etc.)$25-$50inspendingmoney(forsnacks,souvenir,etc.)

NOTE:ByROLLINGyourclothingandpackingtightlyingallon-sizedzipperstoragebags,youshouldbeabletofitallclothinginabackpacksimilartowhatyouwouldbringtoschool.AllclothingwillbetransferredtoT-SHAB“drybags”beforeembarkingonthetrek;thesizeofyourtotalgearisimportant.Duringapre-Trek“shakedown,”itemsdeemedunnecessarywillbeleftinasecurestorageareaatLSSR.

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SuppliesProvidedatBaseAsaNationallyAccreditedHighAdventureBase,T-SHABwillprovideeachTrekCrewwiththeequipmentneededforasuccessfultrip.ThefollowingitemswillbefurnishedforyouruseduringtheMissouriRiverTrek*:ParticipantGear:1 Canoe(onepertwoparticipants)1 Paddle1 Type–IIIPersonalFlotationDevice(PFD)2 “DryBags”(oneforclothing,oneforsleepingbag)RiverCrewGear:

WaterproofStorageCase(onepertwoparticipants)Cooler(onepertwo-fourparticipants)CookKit:pots,pans,etc.(oneperfourparticipants)Stove(oneperfourparticipants)Tent(onepertwoparticipants)FirstAidKit(onepercanoe)EmergencyRope(onepercanoe)Back-upPaddle(onepercanoe)

*Quantitiesareperparticipant,unlessotherwiseindicated.

Whileparticipantsareencouragedtopackbasictoiletries,andsimpleover-the-counterfirstaiditems,likesunscreen,theRiverCrewwillhaveasupplyoftheseitems.RiverGuideStaffwillalsocarryalargeremergencykitandfirstaidkit.Asmuchaspossible,RiverCrewswillsharebasicsuppliestolimitspaceused.

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ItineraryYourMissouriRiverTrekwillinclude5-daysontheriver,butyourexperiencebeginswithcheck-inatLittleSiouxScoutRanchandendswithaclosingcampfirebackatLittleSioux,afteryourtrek.HereisthebasicschedulefollowedforallRiverCrewsattheTri-StateHighAdventureBase:Day1: Sunday10:00AM-11:30AM ArriveatLittleSioux;CheckinatWelcomeCenter

MedicalRecheck10:00AM-12:00PM MoveintoT-SHABCampsite&MeetRiverGuide12:00PM LunchatDiningPavilion1:00PM LakefrontTraining

SwimChecksCanoeDrillsEmergencyWaterRescues

4:00PM GearCheckTrekGearCheckOutPersonalGearShakedown

5:30PM DinneratDiningPavilion6:30PM DNR/CorpsofEngineerMeeting

RiverNavigationInstructionRiverRouteReview

8:00PM ItineraryReviewPackandPrepare

9:00PM Campfire10:00PM LightsOut

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Day2: Monday5:00AM Awake5:30AM Breakfast6:00AM DepartLSSR8:00AM ArriveatVermillion,SD

FinalGearCheck;PutinRiver12:00PM ExpectedarrivalatPoncaStatePark,NE

Lunch1:00PM Set-upCamp3:00PM HorseRides

ArcherySwimmingHiking

5:00PM Dinner6:30PM “FreeTime”(Hiking,etc.)9:00PM LightsOutDay3: Tuesday6:00AM Awake6:30AM Breakfast

PackandPrepare7:30AM PutinRiver12:00PM ExpectedArrivalinSiouxCity,IA

Lunch1:00PM Set-upCamp2:00PM VisittoLewisandClarkInterpretiveCenter

VisitotherHistoricalSites/Monuments5:00PM Dinner6:00PM ClimbingatLongLinesRecCenter8:00PM ReturntoCamp9:00PM LightsOut

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Day4: Wednesday6:00AM Awake6:30AM Breakfast

PackandPrepare7:30AM PutinRiver12:00PM ExpectedArrivalinDecatur,NE

Lunch1:00PM Set-upCamp2:00PM ServiceProject4:00PM BeginPreparingCrewCookout5:00PM Dinner6:30PM “FreeTime”

Showers8:00PM RiverCrewCampfire9:00PM LightsOutDay5: Thursday6:00AM Awake6:30AM Breakfast

PackandPrepare7:30AM PutinRiver12:00PM ExpectedArrivalat

LittleSiouxCampgroundLunch

1:00PM Putbackinriver5:00PM ExpectedArrivalinBlair,NE

Dinner6:00PM Set-upCamp7:00PM Movie(Optional)9:00PM LightsOutDay6: Friday6:00AM Awake6:30AM Breakfast

PackandPrepare7:30AM PutinRiver12:00PM ExpectedArrivalatNPDodgeParkMarina

Lunch1:00PM PutBackinRiver

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5:00PM ExpectedArrivalatOmahaMarinaRiverCrewPhotosDinner

6:00PM PackVehicleReturntoLSSR

7:30PM ArriveatLSSRReturnT-SHABGear

8:30PM ClosingCampfireOptionalNightHike

10:00PM LightsOutDay7: Saturday7:00AM Awake7:30PM BreakfastatDiningPavilion8:30PM CheckOut

DepartLittleSioux

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DetailedProgramOutlineEachday,yourRiverCrewwillexperiencesomethingnewanddifferent.AsyoumakeyourwaydowntheMissouriRiver,youwillpassthroughtownsandcities,golfcoursesandresorts,aswellasareasseeminglyuntouchedbymodernman.Therewillbeaprogramofferingateverystopalongtheway.Herearesomedetailsforeachday’sprogram:Day1: SundayMedicalRechecksAllparticipants(youthandadult)mustturninacompletedBSAHealthForm,partsA,B,andC.AllparticipantsmustalsocomplywithBSAstandardsforHighAdventureactivity,outlinedintheform,includingtheheight/weightratiosrecommendedforHighAdventure.Participantswhodonotmeetrequirementsorwhopresentahealthrisktothemselvesorothersmaybeaskednottoparticipateinthetrek.AllallergiesandmedicationsmustbereviewedindetailwiththeCampMedic.SwimChecksAllparticipants(youthandadult)mustpassaBSASwimmerTestandachievethehighest(“Blue-Swimmer”)level.PrequalificationswillNOTbeaccepted;allparticipantsmustcompletetheirswimtestoncampproperty,underthesupervisionofourAquaticsDirector.Participantswhodonotmeettheswimmingstandardmaybeaskednottoparticipateinthetrek.CanoeDrillAllparticipants(youthandadult)willbetakenoutontothelakeatLSSRtopracticemaneuversthatwillbeneededontheriver.Eachparticipantwillneedtoshowproficiencyinbasiccanoeingstrokes(seeappendix)fromboththefrontandrearpaddlingpositions.Ofparticularimportancewillbeproficiencyin“Jstroke”and“Cstroke”aswellascompleting90degreeturns.Allparticipantswillneedtoshowproficiencybeforebeingallowedontotherivertrek;TrekStaffwillassignpaddlingpositions(front&rear)basedondrillperformance.TrekStaffandAquaticsDirectorreservetherighttorestrictorprohibitparticipationbasedonproficiency.EmergencyWaterRescuesAllparticipants(youthandadult)willbeaskedtodemonstrateseveralemergencywaterrescues.Ofspecificimportancewillbethrowingrescueropestoparticipantsaroundacapsizedcanoe,recoveringfree-floatingcanoeandparticipants,andnavigatingbothtoshore.DrillswillNOTincludestandardCanoeingMeritBadgerescuework(suchasrightingacapsizedcanoe,takingpassengerson,etc.)dueto

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thespecificconditionsandhazardsofnavigatingariver.EmergencyproceduresoutlinedbyTrekStaffwillbefollowedatalltimesontheriver.GearCheckAllparticipants(youthandadult)willparticipateinanequipment“shakedown.”AllpersonalitemswillbereviewedbyTrekStaffandsomepersonalitemsmaybedeemedunnecessaryforthetrek.Manyitems(suchastoothpaste,soap,etc.)canbesharedbetweenRiverCrewmembers.AllitemstobeleftatLSSRwillbestoredsecurelyandbereturneduponthecompletionofyourtrek.DNR/CorpsofEngineersThebestwaytolearnisfromtheexperts.T-SHABhasarrangedtohaveexpertsfromtheDNRandtheArmyCorpsofEngineerstohelpsupportourprogramsandourCrews.Representativesfromatleastoneoftheseagencieswillbeonsitetoreviewimportantconceptsofrivernavigation,naturallandforms,andwildlifealongtheway.Theseexperts,alongwithourRiverGuideStaff,willteachtheRiverCrewhowtoidentifynavigationalaids,whathazardstoavoid,andwhathistoricornaturallandmarksyouwillseealongtheway.Itinerary/RouteReviewBeforegoingtobedonDay1,allparticipantswillreviewtheweek’sitinerarywiththeRiverGuideandotherT-SHABStaff.AdjustmentscanbemadedependingontheCrew’sreadinessandinterestinspecificareas/distances.Guideswillhelpgiveadvice,andyouthandadultleadershipshoulddecideonthebestkindoftripfortheirgroup.Adjustmentstotheoverallschedulecanbemadeeachdayalongtheriver,givingyoumanyopportunitiestocustomizeyourexperience.Adjustmentsmayalsobemadeeachdaydependingonweather.CampfireAsmallfirecanbelaidandtheRiverCrewcanenjoysomefellowshiparounditontheirfirstnightatcamp.Whiletherewillnotbeaformalprogramforthisfire,theRiverCrewisencouragedtousethisasachancetobettergettoknowtheirCrewmates.Day2 MondayClayCountyBoatRamp;Vermillion,SDStartyourTrekinthenorthern-moststatecoveredbytheMid-AmericaCouncil.ThismarksthestartofeveryT-SHABRiverTrek.PoncaStatePark,NEAfterthefirst20milesontheriver,yourfirststopisthisbeautifulStatePark.Oncecampissetupinoneoftheirprimitivecampsites,yourRiverCrewwilltaketohorsebackforafewhoursoftrailrides.Then,checkoutthePoncapool,hikeoneofseveraltrailsontheir10+milesystem,shootarcheryattherange,orjustkickbackatcamp.

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Day3 TuesdaySiouxCity,IASetupcampatthe50milemarkeroutsideofthehistoricLewisandClarkInterpretiveCenter.Visitthecenter,tolearnthedynamichistoryofthismajorwaterwayandthemenandwomenwhomadeitwhatitistoday.Visitothersurroundingmuseumsandhistoricsites,beforeventuringdeeperintothecity.Then,afteracampsitedinner,visittheLongLinesRecreationCenterandclimbtheirindoorclimbingwall...40feetintotheair!Enjoyaprivate,2hoursessiononthewallbeforebed.Day4 WednesdayBeckMemorialPark;Decatur,NEStoponyourthirddayontheriverinthevillageofDecatur,atBeckMemorialPark.Afterestablishingcamp,yourRiverCrewwillgivebacktothetownbycompletingasmallserviceprojectatthepark.Then,fireupgrillsandcastironcookwareandprepareafeastfitforkings,usingmethodsandingredientsfamiliartoLewisandClark.Day5 ThursdayLittleSioux,IAThefirstoftwodaysofheavypaddling,yourRiverCrewwillcover40milesontheriverinasingleday.Alongtheway,youwillstopforlunchattheriversidecampsiteatLittleSioux,meremilesfromtheLittleSiouxScoutRanch.Butthisisjustabriefstop,beforereturningtotherivertowardBlair.Blair,NEAfteryourarrivalinBlairandaquickcampsitedinner,yourRiverCrewcanchoosetoeitherrelaxatcamporgointotownforamovie.(AmbitiousCrewscanpushontoWilsonIslandandcover50milesinasingleday,ifdaylightallows.)Day6 FridayNPDodgePark,Omaha,NEWiththeskylinealmostinsite,yourRiverCrewcanstopforabitetoeatatthislovelypark.Alternatively,youcaneata“floatinglunch”alongtheriver,andpressontothefinish.

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OmahaMarina,Omaha,NEBypassingundertheBobKerreyPedestrianBridgeandnavigatingintotheOmahaMarina,youwillhavecrossedthefinishline,marking162totalrivermilesontheMissouriRiver.RiverCrewscantakepictureshereandenjoyadock-sidemeal,beforeloadingupthetrailertoheadbacktoLSSR.ClosingCampfireRiverCrewscanshowerandsettleinupontheirtriumphantreturntoLittleSioux,andtheneitherparticipateintheeveningprogramwiththeCubScoutResidentCamp,orenjoytheirownfinalcampfireprogram,ledbytheirRiverGuide.NightHikeCrewMemberswithalittleextraenergycanenjoyanighthikeuptheLSSR“HopeTrail”toseethestars,aswellasthelightsofdistanttownsandcities,someofwhichtheCrewpassedalongtheriver.

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CustomizationOptionsSomecustomizationoptionshavebeenoutlinedabove.However,theRiverTrekexperienceishighlycustomizable,abletobefittotheenduranceandinterestsoftheCrew.Possiblecustomizationsinclude:LayoverDaysMostlocationsarefitforanadditionaldaylayover,specificallyPoncaStateParkandSiouxCity.YourCrewcanstayanadditionaldayinanylocationandenjoylocalsites/attractions.(Layoverswillreducethetotalnumberofrivermiles.)EarlyRemovalfromRiverThenumberofboataccesspointsalongtheMissourimakeitpossibletoremoveCrewsfromtheriverevery5-10miles.Ifneedarises,eitherbecauseofweather,participantexhaustion,orfirstaidneed,theCrewcanberemovedbeforethescheduledstopandtransportedinwholeorinparttothescheduledcampsite.(Earlyremovalwillreducethetotalnumberofrivermiles.)ExtendedFloatsIfyourCrewisambitious,andwishestofocustheirtimeonpaddlingandforgoprogram,youcanracedowntheMighty-MO.Itispossibletocoverthecomplete162milesin4days,byskippingsomeprogramstops.YourRiverGuidecanhelpyouaccomplishthisfeat;uponarrivingatLSSRonThursday,yourRiverCrewwouldbeabletoenjoysomeprogramatcamp,includingswimming,fishing,climbing,andarchery...andevenCANOEING!(Byextendingyourdailyfloat,youwillmissoneormoreoftheprogramofferingsabove.Youmayalsobeprohibitedfromextendingaday’sfloatiftheRiverGuidedeterminesthereisnotenoughdaylighttoreachyourcampsitethatnight.)