Tour Plan Information

New BSA National Tour Plan

Effective March 1, 2011, local and national tour permits will be superseded by what will be called the tour plan.

*The online tour permit system will be suspended*. This update is the accumulation of work by a cross-functional team of volunteers and staff including the Health and Safety Support Committee, Council Solutions, Outdoor Program Group, and Risk Management Advisory Panels.

Units will be required to complete the Tour Plan form when planning for local, national, or international adventure. The plan helps ensure the unit is properly prepared, that qualified and trained leadership is in place, and that the right equipment is available for the adventure.

What's different?

  1. The council is the reviewer of all tour plans; there is no regional review requirement.
  2. The tour plan consists of a tour planning worksheet to be completed by the unit/contingent. It is retained by the council and a approved tour plan is returned to the unit after processing.
  3. It's on standard 8.5 x 11-inch paper!
  4. There is a 21-day advance notice for units to submit the plan for the council's review.
  5. A single point of contact (not travelling on the tour) for council use is included.
  6. Defined reasons/times when a tour plan must be submitted for council review:
    1. Trips of 500 miles or more
    2. Trips outside of council borders not to a council-owned property
    3. Trips to any national high-adventure base, national Scout jamboree, National Order of the Arrow Conference, or regionally sponsored event (not local council events)
    4. When conducting the following activities outside of council or district events:
      • Aquatics activities (swimming, boating, floating, scuba, etc.)
      • Climbing and rappelling
      • Orientation flights (process flying plan)
      • Shooting sports
      • Any activities involving motorized vehicles as part of the program (snowmobiles, boating, etc.)
      • At a council's request (allows council to add review times based on local needs)
  7. There is an updated Pledge of Performance.

What has not changed?

  1. A council can still define "local" tour plan review conditions in addition to the above.
  2. Requirements for qualified supervision, training, insurance, etc., remain unchanged.
  3. (CPR and Wilderness First Aid requirements for high-adventure camps)