The “Adventure of Scouting” … Every Cub, Scout and Venturer delights in the adventure of a hike in the woods. They love to explore caves, climb hills, float a new river, and travel to unknown territory. These adventures become positive, memorable experiences for our youth members only when a unit holds to the Scout Motto to “Be Prepared.”   The Tour Plan is designed to help ensure that your unit is properly prepared to handle the risk factors of your adventure, that qualified and trained leadership is in place, and that the right equipment is available for the adventure of a lifetime.

Effective March 1, 2011, what was previously known as local and national tour permits was superseded by what will be called the tour plan.  The BSA’s online tour permit system via My Scouting has been suspended by the national office.  This update is the accumulation of work by a cross-functional team of volunteers and staff including the Health and Safety Support Committee, Council Solutions, Outdoor Program Group, and Risk Management Advisory Panels.

Here is the definition of the tour plan in the Language of Scouting: “Units complete this form when planning for local, national, or international adventure.  The plan helps ensure the unit is properly prepared, that qualified and trained leadership is in place, and that the right equipment is available for the adventure.”

To assist in the development of your Tour Plan, it should be filed at either the Mechanicsburg or York Council Service Center at least THREE WEEKS (21 days) in advance of the trip and are required for the following trips:

1. Trips of 500 miles or more
2. Trips outside the council borders.
3. Trips to any national high-adventure base, national Scout jamboree, National Order of the Arrow Conference, or regionally sponsored event.
4. When conducting the following unit activities not associated with a council or district events:

• Aquatics activities (swimming, boating, floating, scuba, etc.)
• Climbing and rappelling
• Orientation flights (process flying plan)
• Shooting sports
• Any activities involving motorized vehicles as part of the program (snowmobiles, boating, etc.)
• Trips to facilities that require a Tour Plan, such as military bases, state parks, etc. when units have ­pre-registered to attend a New Birth of Freedom Council or district event (Camporees, Summer Camp, Day Camp, Webelos Camp, etc.) a Tour Plan is not required.

What’s Different?

• The council is the reviewer of all tour plans; there is no regional or national review required.
• The tour plan consists of a tour planning worksheet to be completed by the unit/contingent. It is retained by the council and a tour plan is returned to the unit after processing.
• It’s on standard 8.5 x 11-inch paper!
• There is a 21-day advance notice requested for units to submit the plan for review.
• A single point of contact (not on the tour) for council use is included.
• There is an updated Pledge of Performance.

What Is Not Changed?

• Requirements for qualified supervision, training, insurance, etc., remain unchanged-for example, CPR and Wilderness First Aid requirements for high-adventure camps.

The national council has established a frequently-asked questions page regarding tour plans at http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/TourPlanFAQ.aspx.  The tour plan is available on-line, as a fill-able PDF form at http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/680-014_fillable.pdf.

How To File Your Tour Plan

You have three options that you can use to file your Tour Plan with the New Birth of Freedom Council.

Option #1:  File Electronically -  Easiest and Fastest

1. Download the fill-able Tour Plan Worksheet
2. In the first signature line, type in the Name and BSA Member Number of the Committee Chairman or COR
3. In the second signature line, type in the Name and BSA Member Number of the Adult Leader
4. Save document to your computer.
5. Prepare an e-mail to tourplan@newbirthoffreedom.org, with the saved Tour Plan Worksheet attached.  Hit “Send” and your tour plan will be delivered electronically to the New Birth of Freedom Council.

Option # 2: Complete, Sign and Scan

1. Download the fill-able Tour Plan Worksheet, complete and save on your computer.
2. Print out the Tour Plan Worksheet and get the signatures of the COR/CC and Adult Leader
3. Scan and e-mail the Tour Plan Worksheet and Tour Plan to:  tourplan@newbirthoffreedom.org.

Option #3: Complete, Sign and Mail

1. Download the fill-able Tour Plan Worksheet, complete and save on your computer.
2. Print out the Tour Plan Worksheet and obtain the signatures of the COR/CC and Adult Leader.
3. Mail or hand deliver to either the Mechanicsburg or York Council Service Center.

Other Resources

Tours and Expeditions (#33737), Guide to Safe Scouting (available online from our website) are excellent publications at the BSA, which explain the approved methods for planning and conducting safe Scouting activities.

NOTE: All paper and digital copies of the former local and national tour permits are now obsolete and should be destroyed.