Tour Permits

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Tour permits are an important requirement for conducting a good safe Scouting program. Sometimes Scouters have questions about why tour permits are required and how to properly use them. This page is just a general collection of Scouting resources that deal with tour permits to help Scouters, new and old, answer questions that may arise about them. Questions not answered by the information posted here should be directed to your local council service center.

If there was just one piece of advice I could give to a volunteer asking about tour permits, it would be this - If you have a question about whether you should submit a tour permit or not, submit one. Tour permits don't cost you anything to submit and they increase the probability of your unit having a safe activity. There are many benefits gained from submitting a tour permit and virtually no justifiable reasons for not submitting one. —Rick

2008 Revised Form – Local Tour Permit Application, No. 34426

Definition

Definition taken from the Language of Scouting web site:

tour permit
Permit designed to (1) assist units in planning to assure safe, healthful, and enjoyable trips and (2) assure that proper procedures will be followed in case of emergency. A local tour permit is filed with the council for a trip of less than 500 miles. A national tour permit is filed with the region through the council for a trip of 500 miles or more.

Why a Tour Permit?

• The safety of our children is the best answer to why a tour permit! Tour permits re-enforce planning, safety, and two-deep leadership.
• The single highest number of injuries and fatalities in the United States and Scouting are caused by motor vehicle accidents.
• A tour permit that has been filed with and approved by the local Scout Council prior to the activity registers the activity as an official Scouting activity. BSA's insurance coverage only applies to official Scouting activities.
• Reinforces driver requirements and insurance requirements and encourages routine maintenance checks on vehicles prior to the trip.

What is the purpose of tour permits?

• Provide the Scout executive with information regarding unit outings and trips - i.e. - a tour permit helps you know "what is going on".
• Tour permits help guide your unit through the required training, planning and resources necessary to provide your Scouts with a safely conducted and well planned enjoyable activity.
• Because it protects the tour leader personally and other participating leaders personally in the event that something goes wrong by providing certain limited insurance coverage.
• Reinforces leader requirements, especially in regards to Youth Protection, transportation, and aquatic activities.
• Tour Permits help ensure that your planned activity is appropriate to your Scouting aged youth.
• They may be used as part of the criteria to help determine the outstanding units in your district at the end of the year.
• Officials in state and federal parks are assured that touring and camping Scout groups have official BSA status. (Some locations may require a tour permit for entry.)
• Can provide information necessary to locate a Scouting unit if an emergency arises and lets the council know point of contact when an emergency situation develops.

In summary tour permits re-enforce planning, safety, and two-deep leadership.

Why is it important to file the tour permit two weeks in advance?

The two-week (in advance) filing requirement helps ensure that trips are well planned. Because of the large number of tour permits filed, late/rush filings cause delays for those who file promptly.

If there are concerns with a tour permit, the two-week filing requirement allows time for correction avoiding cancellation of the trip.

Planning and Conducting a Safe Scout Outing

The Boy Scouts of America has developed a number of supplemental training modules designed to provide orientation beyond the basic training offered in New Leader Essentials and leader-specific training. Each module is a unit of training that can be used as an outline for a group, for personal coaching, or for self-study. Most of the outlines should require about an hour to complete. Consider each unit of study to be an introduction to the subject. Scouters are welcome to download subjects that are of interest for personal or unit use. There are no training credits associated with the completion of these units of study. Additional training units are being developed and will be continually added to this site.

The module on Planning and Conducting a Safe Scout Outing is a good source of information where tour permits fit into planning a safe Scout outing. Safety is the key reason for using tour permits.

[ http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/trainingmodules/planning%20and%20conducting%20a%20safe%20scout%20outing.aspx ]

[ http://old.scouting.org/boyscouts/supplemental/18-628/18-628.pdf ]

Guide to Safe Scouting

An important publications for reference material on Scouting outings is the Guide to Safe Scouting. The tour leaders listed on your tour permit is required to have this publication in their possession and to have read it. Since the safety of our children is so important I would expect that every parent will also want to read this publication. This is very important stuff!

You are required to have in your possession, and have read the Guide to Safe Scouting, No. 34416, for both the Local and National Tour Permits.

Online version of Guide to Safe Scouting [ http://www.scouting.org/HealthandSafety/GSS.aspx ]

If a unit plans a trip within 500 miles of the home base, it is important that the unit obtain a local tour permit. Trips of 500 miles or more one way from home or that cross national boundaries and enter into the territory of other nations require a National Tour Permit Application No. 4419, to be approved by both the local council and the BSA regional service center.

Tour permits have become recognized by national parks, military installations, and other organizations as proof that a unit activity has been well planned and organized and is under capable and qualified leadership. These organizations may require the tour permit for entry.

Tours and Expeditions

The BSA publication Tours and Expeditions, #33737D is recommended reading for leaders before filling out a tour permit application. It covers in detail the key steps for planning and organizing trips, necessary equipment, health and safety concerns (including transportation), and where to find additional information.

This publication is essential when preparing to use National Tour Permits.

BSA Wilderness Use Policy

If you are going on a backcountry trip, you need to know the BSA Wilderness Use Policy. Here is a copy.

Wilderness Use Policy of the BSA

Youth Protection Training

• All registered adults participating in any nationally conducted event or activity must have completed the BSA Youth Protection Training.
• At least one registered adult who has completed BSA Youth Protection Training must be present at all other events and activities that require a tour permit.

Age Appropriate Activities

Not sure which activities are appropriate for your age Scouts? Check out the guidelines B.S.A. has put together to help you.

[ http://old.scouting.org/pubs/gss/ageguides.pdf ]

Principles of Leave No Trace

Principals of Leave No Trace
	Plan Ahead and Prepare
	Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
	Dispose of Waste Properly
	Leave What You Find
	Minimize Campfire Impacts
	Respect Wildlife
	Be Considerate of Other Visitors

"Units going into wilderness or backcountry areas must carry a copy of and abide by the principles of Leave No Trace, No. 21-105." This is a BIN item available through you local council service center. The item covers an overview of the Leave No Trace ethic and the seven principal guidelines to follow at all time.

You can find more detail information on Leave No Trace at:
[ http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/resources/leave%20no%20trace.aspx ]

Teaching Leave No Trace
[ http://www.scouting.org/BoyScouts/TeachingLeaveNoTrace.aspx ]

Principals of Leave No Trace PDF
[ http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/resources/~/media/legacy/assets/boyscouts/resources/21-105/21-105.pdf.ashx ]

Tour Permit Helpful Reminders

• Submit tour permits at least two weeks before the outing. Time is needed to process the permits because missing information, incorrect information or missing certifications slows down processing time.
• Please remember to get all the required signatures (tour leader, member of the committee, & signature on the Guide to Safe Scouting line). The Tour Permits requires the tour leader to sign, attesting to the truth of this statement: "I have in my possession a copy of Guide to Safe Scouting, No. 34416, and have read it.
• Leadership and personnel: Boy Scouts of America policy requires at least two adult leaders on all camping trips and tours. Coed Venturing crews must have both male and female leadership. The adult leader in charge of this group must be at least 21 years old.
• The number of youth & adults needs to be included on the tour permit.
• All the information on the drivers and vehicles including the number of seats in each vehicle needs to be accurately filled out.
• The type of unit (pack, troop, team, crew or ship) as well as the unit number & district should be included.
• Any activity that requires certification should have current copies of the cards attached to the tour permit.

  • Swimming needs 1 Safe Swim Defense card.
  • Boating needs 1 Safe Swim Defense, 1 card per 10 people of Safety Afloat, & 1 CPR.
  • A qualified rock climbing instructor who is at least 21 years of age must supervise all BSA climbing/rappelling activities and units with more than 10 youth in the same climbing/rappelling session must have an additional adult leader at least 18 yrs of age for each group of 10 youth.
  • Archery & Firearms need a copy of the instructor’s certification.
• Boy Scouts of America requires at least one adult going on the trip to be Youth Protection Trained on a Local Tour Permit. Submit a copy of their Youth Protection Trained card or ensure the completed training is on record in your council's computer.
• If you fax in a tour permit, please make sure you put a return fax number somewhere on your permit.
• National publications like the Local Tour Permit, #34426 and National Tour Permit, #4419 are updated routinely. To help identify the most recent update a suffix is attached to the publication number, such as #4419C indicates the most recent version of the National Tour Permit. Ensure that you have and are using the most recent version of BSA publications.

Order of the Arrow

It is important that Arrowmen traveling to and from all Order of the Arrow events abide by the same policies required of units. Within Scouting, the largest number of injuries are from automobile accidents to and from events. Therefore, driver safety is of the utmost importance to keeping Scouts safe.

National and Regional policy is that tour permits are not required only when traveling by yourself or direct relatives. All other travel requires the use of a permit filed with the appropriate council office. Though previously often overlooked for OA events, it should be noted that tour permits must be used for travel to all OA activities, including most lodge, section, region, and national events. Remember, transporting non-family youth members is only permitted by adults age 21 or over. You can direct any questions concerning this policy to your Section Adviser or Region Vice Chairman for your area.

Local Tour Permit

This application must be filed with local council service center two weeks in advance of scheduled activity for proper clearance. It is used for trips of less than 500 miles. If destination is 500 miles or more one way or outside the U.S.A. (local council camp excepted), use National Tour Permit Application, No. 4419. If backcountry trip, be sure to know Wilderness Use Policy of the BSA.

National Tour Permit Application