2011 Tour Plans
(http://www.nwmtbsa.org/wiki/2011_Tour_Plans)
(John Manz, Montana Council Risk Management Chairman)
The former Tour Permits, including the Montana Council Annual Tour Permit, the Local Tour Permit, and the National Tour Permit are history – in their place are the new Tour Plans.
Contents |
Two New Documents
The Montana Council BSA utilizes two (2) types of tour plans in the conduct of Scouting activities, the Montana Council Annual Unit Tour Plan and the Montana Council Specific Tour Plan. Both require planning, training, leadership, good judgment, and the acceptance of responsibility at the Unit / Contingent level to ensure that BSA guidelines are followed as stated in the Guide To Safe Scouting and other applicable publications or by specific Montana Council BSA policies and procedures.
The Annual Unit Tour Plan and the Montana Council Specific Tour Plan are important documents that support the Unit and the Chartered Partner in the conduct of appropriate activities following the guidelines as published by the Boy Scouts of America and the Montana Council BSA and uses best practices, participant training, appropriate equipment, safe and appropriate transportation with required insurance and qualified drivers, and ensures that leaders are qualified and trained. It is recognized that the Tour Plans may not address all possible challenges that may be encountered during the activity but does provide the basis for making activity risk management decisions in the field as the situations require.
A Unit (Pack, Troop, Team, Crew) must have a valid Tour Plan as required for scheduled activities, must have a copy of the appropriate Tour Plan with them, and the Tour Plan must have the Montana Council stamp on it to be valid.
Differences
What are the differences between the two types of Tour Plans and when are they required?
- The Montana Council Annual Unit Tour Plan is valid for all trips within the Montana Council boundaries (defined as the borders of the State of Montana) for travel to and participation in Unit activities except as specified, participation in all Montana Council and District official events, Montana Council long-term camps, and District day camps. The Montana Council Annual Unit Tour Plan:
- Must be submitted in a timely manner annually with updates as required for approval to the Montana Council BSA service center, Great Falls, Montana
- Covers all applicable Unit activities and travel for the period 1 October of the current year through 30 September of the following year, i.e. 1 October 2011 – 30 September 2012.
- The Annual Unit Tour Plan will be reviewed for completeness, discrepancies resolved with the Unit and the Chartered Partner and returned to the Unit Committee Chair when approved.
- A copy of the Annual Unit Tour Plan will be retained at the Montana Council service center.
- A copy / copies of the Annual Unit Tour Plan and all specified documents must be carried in accordance with the requirements of the Montana Council BSA and made available to Scouting officials and others when requested. The required individual participant permission and health documents as specified in the Guide To Safe Scouting must be in the possession of the trip leaders.
- In the event of any reportable incident occurring during the activity / tour, the leader in charge of the activity or the designated point of contact for the Unit is required to immediately notify the Montana Council BSA (406) 761-6000 or as designated.
- The Montana Council Unit Tour Plan does not cover certain specified Unit conducted activities – these activities require a Montana Council Specific Tour Plan as stated in the next section.
- The Montana Council Specific Tour Plan is valid for a single tour as specified in the Tour Plan document. The Montana Council Annual Specific Tour Plan:
- Is required for specified Unit activities as stated in paragraph 2.9.
- Is required for all tours involving Montana Council or District official or Montana Council authorized contingent events as stated in paragraph 2.9.
- Must be submitted in a timely manner (not less than 21 days prior to the start of the activity / tour) for approval to the Montana Council BSA service center, Great Falls, Montana
- Covers the specific activity / tour as specified by Montana Council BSA policy. In the event of complex tours or travel, especially International travel, the Unit is advised to notify the Council when planning begins so that the Council can provide timely support and assistance on an ongoing basis prior to the submission of the Montana Council Specific Tour Plan.
- The Montana Council Specific Tour Plan will be reviewed for completeness, discrepancies resolved with the Unit and the Chartered Partner and returned to the Unit Committee Chair when approved.
- A copy of the Montana Council Specific Tour Plan will be retained at the Montana Council service center.
- A copy / copies of the Montana Council Specific Tour Plan and all specified documents must be carried in accordance with the requirements of the Montana Council BSA and made available to Scouting officials and others when requested. The required individual participant permission and health documents as specified in the Guide To Safe Scouting must be in the possession of the trip leaders.
- In the event of any reportable incident occurring during the activity / tour, the leader in charge of the activity or the designated point of contact for the Unit is required to immediately notify the Montana Council BSA (406) 761-6000 or as designated on the tour plan.
- The listed activities requiring a Montana Council Specific Tour Plan for a Unit or a Montana Council or District official contingent are:
- Climbing / Rappelling
- Mountaineering
- Shooting Sports
- High Ropes
- Orientation flights
- Activities requiring a protective helmet / headgear (see Guide To Safe Scouting)
- Overnight camping
- Hiking more than 30 minutes from a trailhead
- Aquatic activities, i.e. swimming, boating, canoeing, floating, SCUBA, etc.
- Activities involving motorized vehicles as part of the program, i.e. snowmobiles, ATV’s, personal watercraft, water skiing, etc.
- Trips to a National High Adventure Base
- Trips to National / World Jamborees
- Trips to Area, Regional, National Order of the Arrow activities
- Trips to any other Area, Regional, National event
- All International trips
- As the Montana Council directs
The Pledge of Performance
Montana Council youth and adults want to maintain quality standards for all our activities at all times. On all of our activities and tours:
- We will submit changes to notify the local council in the event our itinerary changes.
- We will plan our activities by and adhere to the policies contained in the Guide to Safe Scouting and the Sweet 16 of BSA Safety.
- We will use the Safe Swim Defense in any swimming activity, Safety Afloat in all craft activity on the water, and Climb On Safely for climbing activity.
- We agree to enforce reasonable travel speed (in accordance with national, state, and local laws) and use only vehicles that are in safe mechanical condition.
- We will apply for a fire permit from local authorities in all areas where it is required.
- We will be certain that fires are attended at all times.
- We will at all times be a credit to the Boy Scouts of America and will not tolerate rowdyism or un-Scoutlike conduct, keeping a constant check on all members of our group.
- We will maintain high standards of personal cleanliness and orderliness and will operate a clean and sanitary camp, leaving it in a better condition than we found it.
- We will not litter or bury any trash, garbage, or tin cans. All rubbish that cannot be burned will be placed in a tote-litter bag and taken to the nearest recognized trash disposal or all the way home, if necessary.
- We will not deface natural or man-made objects.
- We will respect the property of others and will not trespass.
- We will not cut standing trees or shrubs without specific permission from the landowner or manager.
- We will, in case of backcountry expedition, read and abide by the Wilderness Use Policy of the BSA.
- We will notify, in case of emergency, our local council Scout executive, our parents, and our single point of contact.
- If more than one vehicle is used to transport our group, we will establish rendezvous points at the start of each day and not attempt to have drivers closely follow the group vehicle in front of them.
The key to the Tour Plan process is to plan the activity or tour carefully, seek help and guidance as needed, apply for the necessary Tour Plan in advance, and follow the recommended guidelines for the BSA programs to ensure a challenging, fun, and safe experience.
