High Adventure Team
The High Adventure Team's (HAT) primary goal is to encourage safe, active enjoyment of the outdoors. Your team offers a broad array of training programs that are designed to aid YOU, the Scout leader, in organizing outings that are safe, fun,and well planned.
The HAT focuses on the correct way to achieve this goal, including our new national policy called "Leave No Trace."
Training sessions are offered by all of the High Adventure Teams in Area 4 (Southern California, Arizona, and Southern Nevada) under standards set by the Southern California Area Intercouncil High Adventure Team. The courses are interchangeable with the exception currently of West Los Angeles Area Council. A listing of course offerings is available at the VHC on-line Training Center.
Since HAT training involves outdoor activities, a health history must be submitted for certain courses.
We also offer a wide ranging awards program that can be used by all levels of
Scouting to enhance their program and ease their planning task.
HAT Incentive Program
The High Adventure Team sponsors many awards for a unit's outing adventures. To ensure prompt handling of those award applications, unit leaders should follow the specified procedure:
Obtain a tour permit approved by the council. The permit number must be entered on the HAT "Award Approval Sheet." (A copy can be downloaded from Forms Library).
Fill in all of the appropriate information on the approval sheet. Note the reverse side of the form. Supply the information that is known before taking the trip, i.e., going where and when, maps and references used, names of participants, award applied for, tour leaders, etc. Remember, at least one adult HAT-trained leader must go on the trip, plus one additional participant must have first aid training. The HAT-trained person and the tour leader do not have to be one and the same. Also, generally one award per participant is allowed for a given outing. There are important exceptions, which your HAT Award "approval person" will be happy to explain.
Review the award application with a HAT member. This ensures that the plans are compatible with specific award requirements, the appropriate awards have been selected, and the request meets HAT general policy requirements. This will help avoid misunderstandings about Scout safety issues or disappointment regarding award expectations. The approval sheet must be signed by an authorized HAT member prior to the outing. Under special circumstances, the process may be partially completed by phone with the HAT member. The tour leader will retain the completed form.
Upon return from the outing, the tour leader should complete the Award Approval Sheet and contact an authorized HAT member for final approval (preferably the pre-trip signator). This authorizes the issuance of the award.
After final sign-off, the applicant may obtain the award patches by presenting the completed form to the council that sponsors the particular award. Sponsors for individual awards are listed in the "High Adventure Awards" book available at the VHC Trading Post.
For more information about HAT awards or the HAT program, contact HAT Chairman,
Bill Thomas, 818-566-6600.
