Table Of ContentPOWDER HORN
Staff Guide
HIGH ADVENTURER
SKILLS RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT COURSE
Powder Horn-High Adventure Resource Management Course-Administrative Section
2002, Boy Scouts of America
October 2007 printing, Revised October 2007
Powder Horn-High Adventure Resource Management Course-Administrative Section
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Purpose 1
Learning Objectives 1
Maintaining Standards 2
How to Get a Course Approved/Certified 2
Basic Course Requirements 2
Attending Multiple Courses 2
Staff Guide Restrictions 2
Course Director‟s Pledge 3
Staff 5
Staff Guidelines 5
Staff Notification 5
Staff Functions 6
Course Director 6
Course Mentor 7
Assistant Course Director-Logistics 7
Assistant Course Director-Instruction 7
Assistant Course Director-Administration 7
Assistant Course Director/Chief Crew Guide 7
Crew Guide 8
Professional Staff Advisor 8
Food Quartermaster 8
Equipment Quartermaster 9
Cooking Crew 9
Medical 9
Program Features 9
Historian 9
Consultants 9
Preparing Consultants 10
Organizational Chart 11
Course Administration-Expanded View 12
The Crew Guide-Expanded View 15
Staff Development 17
Staff Development Sessions 17
Crew Guide Development 18
Health & Safety 23
Participant Information 25
Participant Qualification 25
Participant Notification 25
Course Scheduling 27
Choosing Your Approach 27
Planning & Backdating 29
Scheduling 29
Powder Horn-High Adventure Resource Management Course-Administrative Section
Ranger Award Cross-reference 29
Example Six-day Schedule 30
Example Three– Two-day Weekends Schedule 33
Example Two– Three-day Weekends Schedule 36
Suggested Crew Rotations 39
Food 41
Meal Quick Reference Chart 41
Budget & Cost 43
Budget Worksheet 43
Calculating Your Course Fee 46
Logistics 47
Site & Facility Selection 47
Equipment 48
Uniform 48
Insurance 49
Materials 49
Religious Services 49
Certificates 41
Reflection Period/Using the Pocket Notebook 49
Opening Session 50
Closing Session 50
Course Reports 50
After the Course 50
Supplemental Handouts 50
Safety Handouts 51
Emergency Preparedness Scenario 51
Conservation 52
Powder Horn Supplies 52
Training 53
Sessions Overview 53
Sample Teaching Schedule Summary 53
Session Outlines 55
Backpacking 57
Cave Exploring 61
Communications 65
Conservation 69
Cooking 71
Project COPE 73
Cycling/Mountain Biking 75
Emergency Preparedness 77
Expedition Planning 79
First Aid 81
Equestrian 83
Fishing 85
Hunting 89
Powder Horn-High Adventure Resource Management Course-Administrative Section
Land Navigation 91
Map & Compass 93
Global Positioning System 95
Stars 97
Leave No Trace Principles 99
Lifesaver 103
Mountaineering 105
Outdoor Living History 109
Overnite Adventure 111
Physical Fitness 113
Plants and Wildlife/Ecology 115
Safety 119
SCUBA 121
Shooting Sports 123
Watercraft 129
Canoeing/Kayaking 130
Small Boat Sailing/Sailboarding 132
Wilderness Survival 135
Winter Sports 139
Working With Teens 143
Normal Adolescent Development-Middle School-Early High School 147
Normal Adolescent Development-High School and Beyond 148
Issues Facing Teens in Today‟s Society 149
Behavior Principles 150
Appendix 151
Request for Authorization to Conduct a Course A
Site Evaluation Worksheet B
Course Equipment List C
Participant Equipment List F
Participant Log G
Staff Assignment Worksheet H
Participant Information Sheet J
Special Needs Request K
Alternate Response Form L
Standby Letter, Sample M
Participant Application Letter, Sample N
Fact Sheet to Send Applicants, Sample O
Participant Application, Sample P
Participant Acceptance Letter, Sample Q
Staff Invitation Letter, Sample R
Staff Acceptance Letter, Sample S
Staff Letter Thank You, Sample T
Staff Travel Advisory U
Staff Acceptance Form V
Consultant Letter, Sample W
Consultant Thank You Letter, Sample X
Consultant Status Report Y
Consultant Information Sheet Z
Session Planning Sheet Sample BB
Session Planning Sheet-Blank CC
Powder Horn-High Adventure Resource Management Course-Administrative Section
Typical Menu DD
Sample Schedule Overview EE
Outdoor Skills Resource List FF
Daily Teaching Schedule Summary GG
Suggestions for Religious Observations II
Inter-faith Worship Service, Sample KK
Getting to Know Each Other Games OO
Goal Setting SS
Goal Setting Worksheet TT
Course Evaluation UU
Session Evaluation VV
First Status Report WW
Staff Roster XX
Second Status Report YY
Course Director‟s Close-out Report ZZ
Demographic Summary Report BBB
Powder Horn-The Story CCC
Clip Art DDD
Consultant Certificate EEE
Order Form FFF
Visit the Powder Horn Website
http://www.powderhorn-bsa.org/
Powder Horn-High Adventure Resource Management Course-Administrative Section
INTRODUCTION
The first Powder Horn was held in September 1999 at the Hunting Lodge in Philmont‟s backcountry in
northern New Mexico. Since then hundreds of courses have been held. The common denominator of all the
successful courses was that they were creative in their delivery of the curriculum. Each course was probably
somewhat different and that is a good thing. Usually that innovative approach starts right at the beginning.
Some courses have had their participants go through a “Powder Horn Trail” where all administrative functions
and staff introductions were accomplished. That‟s much better than standing in line at a dining hall to register
and process in. Some courses have had participants come to the course site by canoe, by horseback, by bikes,
or even on skis. Creative is fun too!
It is important to understand that Powder Horn is not a personal development course or a team-building
experience. Its purpose is to educate adult Scouting leaders about specific high adventure skills, to connect
them to resources to deliver those skills, and to get them excited about delivering those skills in an exciting,
challenging way to youth.
Fight the urge to do what you have done in other courses. Don‟t design a crew flag, don‟t have crews design
and give a crew yell. To cover the required Powder Horn curriculum, there will be long, action-packed days
and nights. Use your time effectively.
PURPOSE
The Powder Horn course is designed to help adult leaders in the Boy Scouts of America to safely conduct
outdoor/high adventure activities of a fun and challenging nature. It provides an introduction to the resources
needed to successfully lead their youth through a program of outdoor adventure. This course is based upon the
Ranger requirements giving participants an exposure to some outdoor/high adventure activities and not a
certification event. Even though the course is based on the Ranger program, it still is useful for any adult
interested in delivering a unit-level high adventure program.
• Safely conduct fun and challenging outdoor activities
• Introduction to resources
• Based on Ranger requirements
• Exposure to some high adventure activities
• To help deliver the promise at the unit level
• To help adults be creative when delivering high adventure programs
• Exposure to the Venturing program
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After completing this course the participants should have sufficient introductory information which will
provide the following outcomes.
• Introduction to the skills necessary to operate their outdoor program and the various needed certifications
• and how to obtain them.
• Knowledge of how to identify local resources and consultants for high adventure activities
• Detailed knowledge of the Ranger Award and associated Silver Award requirements.
• Knowledge of the health and safety requirements of the Boy Scouts of America as they apply to outdoor
programs.
• Knowledge of the rules and regulations of the Boy Scouts of America as they apply to outdoor programs.
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Powder Horn-High Adventure Resource Management Course-Administrative Section
This course is not a total training program which enables the Venturing or Boy Scouting unit leader to be an
expert or even self-sufficient in any aspect of outdoor skills. Adult advisors will most likely still need
knowledgeable, trained, and certified individuals (consultants) to help provide a safe and correct outdoor/high
adventure program.
MAINTAINING STANDARDS
This staff guide has been designed to achieve specific results. The course outline should be followed as closely
as possible. All sessions must uphold the practices and policies of the Boy Scouts of America.
This course may be administered by a region, an area, joint-councils or locally by a single council. All
courses must be approved by their region.
HOW TO GET A COURSE APPROVED
To be a certified, regionally approved course, all of the Ranger award core requirements must be presented and
at least ten electives. Also all courses must meet all the requirements stated in the Powder Horn Staff Guide.
Only certified courses may award the Powder Horn device.
Permission to hold a Powder Horn course must be formally requested by the council, cluster-councils or area
desiring to conduct a course. The Powder Horn Request for Authorization to Conduct a Course form located
in appendix A must be filed with the region office 360 days preceding the course date. After receiving regional
approval to conduct a Powder Horn course, the Course Director, staff, and consultants must adhere to the
following Powder Horn guidelines. These guidelines are designed to ensure a high knowledge of the Ranger
program and a high degree of health and safety for our youth and adult participants.
BASIC COURSE REQUIREMENTS
All Powder Horn courses must follow the official Powder Horn staff guide.
Courses must be approved by the region at least 360 days in advance. (See appendix A for course
application.)
Course must be financially self-sustaining.
Minimum course size 32, maximum 48. A maximum of 8 participants in each crew. This permits cost
sharing and justifies the large staff investment necessary to complete the course.
Six full days are required for the course. Combinations in order of preference are full-week, two 3-day
weekends, or three 2-day weekends. No more than 2 weeks should pass between sessions.
At least 10 of the electives and all of the core requirements must be presented. Your choice of electives is
determined by your needs and your resources.
Should not be done in conjunction with other activities such as other courses (i.e. Woodbadge), family
events, or other youth courses. Participants should concentrate on Powder Horn.
ATTENDING MULTIPLE COURSES
Promoting attending multiple courses is highly encouraged. Because each course is different, using different
themes, different staff, different consultants, and oftentimes different activities and locations inviting previous
Powder Horn attendees makes good sense. At your opening session, recognize those who have attended
previous courses and ask them to share how they used the knowledge they got in previous courses.
RESTRICTED DOCUMENT
This staff guide is a restricted document. Only staff members may receive a copy. It is not to be duplicated
or given to participants. Regional Powder Horn directors have the staff guides and control distribution.
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Powder Horn-High Adventure Resource Management Course-Administrative Section
COURSE DIRECTOR’S PLEDGE
Recognizing that a Powder Horn course is a national program and that as Course Director of a Powder Horn
course I will be representing the Boy Scouts of America, I pledge the following…
I will work closely with the host council, staff advisor, and regional Powder Horn
Coordinator.
I will work closely with my region and keep them informed of our progress and of
any concerns by turning in our reports when due.
I have read and understand the basic course requirements and staff guidelines and
agree to abide by them.
I will present the materials in the current Staff Guide. I will personally be totally
familiar with the Staff Guide including the purpose and methods of the course.
I will structure my staff as outlined in the Staff Guide. I realize that excess staff
increases cost and can be a distraction. I will require my staff to be familiar with the
Staff Guide.
I will make every effort to recruit highly qualified consultants rather than assigning
staff members to teach disciplines.
I realize consultants are critical to the success of the course and will set the high
level of quality in the course.
I will follow the back-dating schedule and file forms within 30 days of the
completion of the course.
And, I accept responsibility for the success of this Powder Horn course.
Please sign and date
Course Director ______________________________________ Date __________
Host Council
Staff Advisor_______________________________________ Date __________
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