Leaders Guide River Quest 2011 Return to the River On the St. John s River The Boy Scouts of America North Florida Council

Leaders Guide River Quest 2011 Return to the River On the St. John s River The Boy Scouts of America North Florida Council

River Quest 2011 Table of Contents General Information Page 2 o Program Dates o Location o Cost o Application Information o Scholarships and sponsorships o Qualifications o Medical Qualifications o Pre Trek Training General Information Continued Page 3 o What to Bring o Advancement o Refunds o Environmental Programs Daily Itinerary Page 4 o Day 1 o Day 2 o Day 3 o Day 4 Daily Itinerary Continued Page 5 o Day 5 o Day 6 o Day 7 Application to participate Page 6

2 River Quest 2011 Return to the River General Information Program Dates o June 19 25 or June26 July 2, 2011 o Participants will arrive at 1 pm on Sunday and depart Saturday at 12 noon. Early departures are strongly discouraged. Location o The trek will begin and end at St. John s River Base(SJRB) @ Camp Echockotee located at 2513 Doctor s Lake Drive, Orange Park, FL 32073 Cost o Cost of River Quest 2011 is only $425 o $225 is due by February 4, 2011 and the balance of $200 is due by May 6, 2011. o Included in the price is a River Quest T-shirt, River Quest patch, food for the week, boat operation costs, and quarters in an air conditioned houseboat. Application Information Please complete the attached application. The first reviews will be December 1. Payment will be made after that time if you are accepted. Only twelve participants will be accepted per trip. Applications will be accepted until all spots are filled. Scholarships and sponsorships We encourage Scouts or Venturers to get a sponsorship or scholarship for this adventure. You may get support from your troop or crew of your chartered partner. Some scholarships may be available. Qualifications o Open to Boy Scouts at least First Class and 13 years old o Open to Venturers. Either male or female o Up to three adults will be considered per crew. Cost and application are the same o All participants must be able to pass the BSA Swim test. Medical Qualifications o All participants must complete the newest version of the Annual Health and Medical Record including a visit to a physician. o Being in good shape is important for a successful adventure. All participants should undertake a fitness program. Swimming and other water related activities are encouraged. o All participants both youth and adult must pass a standard BSA Swimmer test upon arrival at SJRB.

Pre Trek Training o Each crew will have a staff skipper trained in CPR, Wilderness First Aid, Youth Protection, Hazardous Weather and Safe Boating. o Wilderness First Aid, CPR and Florida Safe Boating are encouraged for other adults and youth aged 16 and older. o All participants will be briefed on Leave No Trace. What to Bring o In addition to clothing and personal items each participant should bring sunscreen, swimming clothes, three towels, a working flashlight and extra batteries, and a sleeping bag. Tents will be provided. o Participants may choose to bring their own snorkeling equipment, camera, fishing gear, and their own PFD. o Electronic devices such as cell phones and games are discouraged. Cell phones may be checked in and stored by adults. Advancement Pre Trek Shakedown - Crews will be in contact before the trek and encouraged to hold a camping trip as a group. Arrival and Departure - Arrival at SJRB is Sunday at 1 pm and departure is Saturday at 12 noon. Early departures are strongly discouraged because equipment must be cleaned and returned. Refunds - Due to the many upfront costs of this event refunds will not be available unless another participant takes the slot. In any case only 75% would be refunded before May 6 and 50% after that date. Environmental Programs Each crew will be asked to remove more garbage from the river than they generate on their trek. Crews will conduct water testing and observations each day and discuss their findings before the end of their trip. 3

4 River Quest 2011 Return to the River Daily Itinerary o Day 1 Sunday Arrive St. John s River Base(SJRB) @ Camp Echockotee Check in; Medical form review; Swim tests Leave No Trace, Safety, and Environmental briefing Travel to marina Board "Exploration Expedition vessel; stow gear, supplies, etc.; On-board safety procedures briefing Cruise to Lake George area Paddle Craft Safety & Skills review and practice Swimming and Snorkeling in Silver Glen Springs On-board social with get to know each other activities o Day 2 Monday Canoeing on springs/river runs adjacent to Lake George Cruise to Murphy s Island: Wakeboarding on CFBC; Canoeing Murphy s Creek run and/or Seven Sisters area Swimming and fishing on Murphy s Creek Fireside cracker barrel and stories o Day 3 Tuesday Cruise to Crescent City: Wakeboarding on Dunns Creek; Canoeing on Dunns Creek Cruise to Dead Lake: Canoeing on Haws Creek Swimming, fishing and scavenger hunt on Dead Lake On-board presentation and discovery stories o Day 4 Wednesday Cruise to Welatka Springs: Wakeboarding on Dunns Creek; Canoeing on Welatka Springs run Cruise to Federal Point: Canoeing on Deep Creek Cruise to Six Mile Creek: Wakeboarding and/or tubing Cruise to Trout Creek Outpost: Wakeboarding and/or tubing; Canoeing on Trout Creek Fireside cracker barrel and stories

5 o Day 5 Thursday -- Cruise to Green Cove Springs: Wakeboarding on Black Creek; Canoeing on Lil Black Creek Cruise to SJRB @ Camp Echockotee: Wakeboarding on Black Creek; Canoeing Pecks Creek Shooting Sports, Climbing and Rappelling, and Pool Party o Day 6 Friday Mile Swim Cruise to Jacksonville Landing, Jacksonville Maritime Museum, and/or Museum of Science and History Cruise to Little Talbot Island State Park: Beachcombing, swimming and/or fishing/seining Beach party o Day 7 Saturday -- Sunrise beachcombing, fishing and/or swimming Travel to SJRB @ Camp Echockotee Clean and store equipment Closing celebration Depart NOTE: All activities subject to change, especially considering weather, water conditions, etc.

River Quest 2011 Application Return to the River Check one: Boy Scout Venturer Adult Scouter Name Cell Phone Number Email Address Unit Number and Type Date of Birth Why would you like to attend Riverquest? What Aquatics Related Merit Badges of Venturing Advancement have you completed? What Environmental Badges and Recognitions have you earned? Applications may be emailed to Brian Patterson at brian.patterson@scouting.org or faxed to (904)387-4148 or mailed to NFC 521 S. Edgewood Ave. Jacksonville, FL 32205 or delivered to the council office The first review of applications will be December 1, 2010 Applications will be reviewed monthly until all slots are filled.