High Adventure Caving (Sign up before camp using Online Registrations)
Eagle Cave at Chimney Mountain in the Siamese Ponds Wilderness Area, about sixty miles from Read Reservation, is the largest wild cave in the Adirondacks. Participation is limited to mature Scouts, at least fourteen years of age, and their leaders. The activity requires basic knowledge of rock climbing and rappelling. Group size including adults: no more than twelve persons. Payment of the fee accompanied by the parent/guardian signed permission slip (available below) must be received at the Council Service Center at least one week in advance of the Troop's arrival at Camp.

Scheduled for each Wednesday, the timing of these trips is dependent upon the number of cavers signed up for this activity. (The time in the cave will be the same for each group.) The first group will leave Read Scout Reservation by council van immediately after breakfast and return to Read about 5:00 PM. Lunch is provided; the second group will leave Read at about 2:00 PM and return to Camp at about 10:00 PM after having had dinner at a restaurant in Indian Lake hamlet (cost of meals included in the fee).

Each participant should have the items noted on the equipment list, below. Trips will be led by a professional licensed Adirondack guide.  A minimum of five people is needed to operate the trip. These five can be from a combination of units.

Cost in 2011: $45.00 per person, youth or adult.

Permission Slip  [PDF, 7K]

Equipment List

• Personal medical form (from the Health Officer)
• Any medication required
• Hiking boots
• One pair of shorts
• An extra T shirt
• One pair of tight fitting long pants
• One tight fitting sweat shirt or light jacket
• One canteen filled with water
• One lunch pack and a small pack
• A personal flashlight
• Ability to follow directions
   

Whitewater Rafting (No prior registration needed)
Meet the challenges of rapids on the swift flowing Sacandaga River, at Lake Luzerne (Rt. 9N).  Cost in 2011: $20.00 per person, payable in advance to Read Reservation. New for 2011: Units must provide their own transportation for this activity. The Read Reservation no longer owns vehicles to assist with transporting units to and from this activity.  Permission slip (available below) is required for each Scout.

Whitewater Rafting is a half day program . Two deep leadership with one leader at least 21 years of age is required. We encourage you to sign up at one of the leader’s meetings or utilizing our web site. Reservations must be made with the Camp Director at the time of the leaders’ meeting the evening of the first day in Camp. Pre-registered units should also confirm their arrangements and number participating at that time. Detailed paper work and necessary instructions will also be supplied.

The rafting outfitter uses ten person rafts; six persons take turns paddling with directions from the raft guide. If there are ten or more persons from your unit, the adult leader goes free. The leader from your unit is responsible to maintain proper discipline throughout this activity.

It is important to plan appropriately to arrive on time for the rafting experience.

Permission Slip  [PDF, 7K]

Adirondack Challenge (Prior registration recommended)
The Adirondack Challenge program is new this summer and is designed for Scouts who are 14 years or older. The program will run Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and Thursday afternoon through Friday morning. Activities will include climbing on large rock walls outside of the Read Reservation, kayaking on Lake George and hiking with an overnight in the Pharaoh Wilderness. The program is limited to six participants each week. Registration is on a first come, first served basis and is available in the advancement section of our online registration system.

Brant Lake Canoeing (No prior registration needed)
Spend a day paddling on 6-mile long Brant Lake, eating lunch on the water. Transportation and canoes as available. Cost: flat charge of $25.00 for groups of up to 14 persons. Unit leadership must meet the BSA Standards for "Safety Afloat", publication #7368. Most of the shoreline of Brant Lake is private. Thus, put-in and pick-up locations are limited. Reservations must be made with the Camp Director at the time of the Leaders Meeting in the evening of the first day the unit is in camp.

Overnight Backpacking (No prior registration needed)
Summit Base can help outfit your troop for an overnight (or longer) backpacking trip into the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness area. New York State Health Department rules apply. See below: Standards for Day or Overnight Hiking Trips Out of Camp for leadership requirements. Cost in 2008: Food, fresh or trail - $4 per person, per meal (trail food subject to availability, several months notice requested).  Reservations must be made with Summit Base as early as possibly. Bring your own tents, stoves, cooking equipment, etc.  Summit Base can also assist with securing necessary permits - these should be applied for at least a month prior to the planned trip.  Contact Summit Base: infosummitbase.com or (518) 623-0747.

Standards for Day or Overnight Hiking Trips Out of Camp

1. At least two (2) deep adult leadership is required. One adult must be at least 21 years of age. An adult is 18 years or age or older. At least one (1) adult experienced in leading a Scout hike must be included.
2. At least one (1) adult leader must be certified in American Red Cross Responding to Emergencies or the equivalent. A first aid kit must be carried. There must be two leaders who have current certification in ARC CPR for the Professional Rescuer or the equivalent.
3. If swimming is to be part of the program, the leaders must be trained in the BSA Safe Swim Defense Program. At least one (1) lifeguard 17 years of age or older certified in American Red Cross Lifeguarding or the equivalent, must be provided for every 15 swimmers. The ratio of leaders and lifeguards to swimmers shall not be less than 1:10.
4. The individual members of the hiking group should be properly equipped with all of the necessary articles for the trip, considering weather and all other conditions. Map and compass are essential. Adequate water supply for each person is necessary. If overnight, supplies to treat available water must be provided. Depending upon distance and scope of the activity, equipment and supplies to be carried may require emergency food, raingear, small flashlights, additional clothing. "Strike Anywhere" matches are essential to any trip in the Forest Preserve. Leader must carry a whistle. (Consult the Scout Handbook and the Fieldbook for other items).
5. Information in the Camp's check-out log must include the names of youth and adults, their ages, time of departure, time of return. Prior notice to and the approval by the Camp Director is required. Logging back into camp is as important as logging out.
6. If the trip out of camp involves the use of a motor vehicle, all of the BSA standards pertaining to such use must be followed. Also, the log must include the vehicle license number.