[lonescouts] Tour Permit Questions

Michele wrote and asked a great question, which supports what I and some others state here that some Councils are “lone Scout friendly” and others are, well, let’s just say that they “need practice” *smiling*.

She asked us:

“Is it written anywhere that Lone Scouts should/ could get tour permits? I have asked at my council office and was told a couple of times that Lone Scouts do not need tour permits because everything is done as a “family.” “

While you’re doing things as a “family”, Michele, you’re ALSO doing things “as a unit”.  Anytime a BSA unit does a trip outside of their local community, they are supposed to file a Local Tour Permit with the local Council.

There’s plenty of official BSA references which state that units should file a Local Tour Permit.  Lone Scouts are considered a “unit of two” by the BSA.

The form, a single-page (front and back) form which actually is a half-page application, is sent to the local Council by fax, email or surface mail.  On the form, it tells the local Council (and anyone else, more on that in a minute) where you’re going, when you should be back and who’s in charge of doing the activity.  It also tells them what kind of activity it is.   When the form’s received at the local Council office, someone (the camping director or executive in charge of camping or outdoor programs should be the person…but most frequently it’s the Registrar or the Associate Scout Executive) reviews the form, STAMPS IT (important!!) or ANNOTATES IN THE STAMP BOX with the Council’s information and faxes/emails/surface mails you the half sheet. 

The “stamp” or “annotation” is important, because they have to also either photocopy (best) or write down (second best) in a log book that the Tour Permit is approved and other information.  You want to have that stamp or annotation on the sheet. Why?

Because (and NONE of this is written down anywhere….but it basic knowledge among Scouters (it’s also taught at basic Scouter volunteer training courses) ):

– many city, state and federal parks give a DISCOUNT for approved Local Tour Permits on the entrance fee.  I’ve been to some state parks whereby the entrance fee was WAIVED simply because I had an approved Local Tour Permit.

– military installations will go OUT OF THEIR WAY to assist you upon your showing them a Local Tour Permit.  I know — I work at a military base and when some Scouter provides me with a copy of a validated Local Tour Permit, they get the “royal treatment.”  I get them into the dining facility and pro-rate their meals; I find a Sergeant or Specialist to find them a camp site on the base (if available), I provide a copy to our law enforcement folk and they provide additional “protection” for the Scouting unit (they aren’t supposed to do this…) — in short, the stamped/validated Local Tour Permit tells us that the “BSA blessed your trip” (not in reality, but that’s how WE look at it…)

– many “tourists attractions” bring you to the front of the line, or provide special things for you….

– if you’re having vehicle problems, many garages will treat the Local Tour Permit like it’s AAA insurance….and either will bill you when you get home or bill the local Council (Councils DO NOT like this, but many smile and take it in the shorts!) for reasonable costs to get you back on the roadway

– and state and city police officers are more apt to give you a “warning” instead of a “ticket” if you’re enroute or heading back from a Scouting event or activity and the “roadway police” pulls you over.

– a lot of places will “stamp” your Tour Permit…it could be fun to do and something to add to the scrapbook.  Somewhere I have a National Tour Permit (which is required if you’re going 500 or more miles or outside your local Council) with stamps from four or five camps, eight local Council offices, a sit-down restrurant and an Air Force Base.  I kept it as a reminder of the great time we had doing that trip!

Someone also mentioned the BSA liability insurance “kicks in” which is partly true — the BSA’s liability insurance policy actually kicks in before you depart for the event and ends when you return home.  It’s *secondary insurance* however….

The Local Tour Permit also has data on it which the local Council uses in their bi-yearly stats that they have to send to National — the number of campers, the number of days, etc.

Finally, by filing a Local Tour Permit, it gives the local Council the opportunity to let you know that there are some places which are dangerous and that the local Council doesn’t recommend going to.  I had that happen to me as a Varsity Coach once; we filed a Local Tour Permit to go to a school in southern Georgia over a weekend.  I wasn’t paying attention to the fact that the location had a really bad storm a few days back and that the bridge going into the town was out and the campground where we were going to be staying at was flooded (neighboring Councils send information back and forth to each other….).  We decided to do the “Plan B” trip instead and filed a Tour Permit for that event instead.

“I believe my son who is currently a Webelos scout is our council’s only Lone Scout so I don’t know how familiar they are with the program. I know we were known by higher ups as Lone Scouting our youngest son and yet others were told that our council did not allow Lone Scouts by the same people. My son is very active in multiple districts and council activities/ events/ fundraiser/ service projects and we never hide that we Lone Scout him.  I would like to make sure that we are covered under the scouting insurance but an unfamiliar with how it should work. I know our council pays for insurance for each unit that is registered.”

To insure that you and your son has a great Scouting experience, you should file the Local Tour Permit any time you’re doing a Scouting activity or event. It’s just a piece of paper, and it helps the local Council as well as yourselves.

Glad you asked the question, Michele!

Settummanque!