The four bases
- Philmont Scout Ranch (New Mexico) — backpacking treks across 200+ square miles of rugged mountains, plus horseback, climbing, and mountain biking.
- Florida Sea Base (Florida Keys) — sailing, scuba diving, kayaking, fishing, and island camping on the ocean.
- Northern Tier (Minnesota/Canada) — canoe expeditions through the Great North Woods, and winter camping treks.
- Summit Bechtel Reserve (West Virginia) — whitewater, climbing, zip lines, BMX, and mountain biking; it also hosts the National Jamboree.
How to get there
- 1Pick a base by the adventure you want — backpacking, sailing/scuba, canoeing, or action sports/whitewater.
- 2Check the requirements — age minimum and physical fitness for that program.
- 3Book far ahead — popular treks fill via a lottery or registration well in advance.
- 4Train as a crew — build fitness and practice the skills for months.
- 5Do a shakedown — a practice trip to test gear, fitness, and teamwork.
- 6Go — and use everything Scouting taught you.
Notes & safety
- Rugged and demanding — preparation is safety. These are strenuous programs; physical fitness, training, and the right gear are safety requirements, not extras.
- Age and health minimums exist for a reason. Each base sets its own age and medical requirements (the Summit Experience is 13+); verify all requirements against the current base websites — don't assume other age minimums.
- Aquatics under BSA safety — Sea Base and Northern Tier water activities run under Safe Swim Defense / Safety Afloat with trained staff.
- Trained base staff guide the treks — follow their instructions and the buddy system.
Going deeper
- Four bases, four adventures. Mountains (Philmont), ocean (Sea Base), lakes (Northern Tier), action and whitewater (Summit) — pick your element.
- The top of the trail. High adventure is what the whole outdoor program builds toward — the fitness, skills, and planning you learn are for trips like these.
- Train, don't just show up. Crews prepare for months, with a shakedown trip — the mountain or the sea doesn't care if you skipped the training.
Official source
National High Adventure Bases — Scouting America →The four bases and their activities are from Scouting America. Age, fitness, and medical requirements vary by base and change — verify each base's current requirements and booking process before relying on them. No dosages appear here.