 Our Motto: GOD, COUNTRY and SCOUT LAW.
Outdoor
adventure is the promise made to boys when they join Scouting. Boys
yearn for outdoor programs that stir their imagination and interest.
In the outdoors, boys have opportunities to acquire skills that
make them more self-reliant. They can explore canoe and hiking
trails and complete challenges they first thought were beyond their
ability. Attributes of good character become part of a boy as he
learns to cooperate to meet outdoor challenges that may include
extreme weather, difficult trails and portages, and dealing with
nature's unexpected circumstances.
Scouts plan and carry out activities with thoughtful guidance
from their Scoutmaster and other adult leaders. Good youth
leadership, communication, and teamwork enable them to achieve goals
they have set for themselves, their patrol or squad, and their troop
or team.
Learning by doing is a hallmark of outdoor education. Unit
meetings offer information and knowledge used on outdoor adventures
each month throughout the year. A leader may describe and
demonstrate a Scouting skill at a meeting, but the way Scouts truly
learn outdoor skills is to do it themselves on a troop outing.
 Patrol
Method
Troop
713 uses the patrol method to teach skills and values.
Scouts
elect their own patrol leader and they learn quickly that by
working together and sharing duties, the patrol can accomplish far
more than any of its members could do alone. The patrol succeeds
when every member of the patrol succeeds and Scouts learn that good
teamwork is the key to success.
Exercise and fitness is part of the outdoor experience. As Scouts
hike, paddle, climb, bike, or ride, their muscles become toned and
their aerobic capacity increases. When they work as a patrol to plan
menus for their outings, they learn to purchase cost-effective
ingredients to prepare flavorful and nutritious meals.
Service to others and good citizenship is learned through such
outdoor activities as conservation projects, collecting food,
building trails and shelters, and conducting community service
projects that promote healthy living. Through helping other people,
Scouts learn to appreciate how they can share themselves and their
blessings to those in need. By giving service to benefit others,
Scouts gain a sense of personal satisfaction.
Types of Outdoor Activities
Troop 713 offer a
vast variety of outdoor adventure. We camp 10 months a year and
attend BSA summer camp or a special High Adventure Trek over the
summer. Troop 713 other activities may include:
 Day hikes—Reasonably short hikes (3 to 10 miles) in
terrain without a lot of elevation gain or loss.
Service projects—Daylong projects that may be related to
conservation, food collection, building shelter, or healthy living
activities.
Patrol activities—A Boy Scout patrol or Varsity Scout
squad may hike or camp with other patrols or squads in the unit or,
with the permission of their Scoutmaster and parents or guardians,
may hike or camp on their own.
Weekend overnights—Troops that plan and carry out
outings once a month attract and retain boys at a much higher level
than those that have fewer outings during the year.
Camporees—Councils and districts plan camporees and
other outings during the year that give Scouts an opportunity to
test their knowledge and skills in competitive events with other
troops and patrols.
Summer camp—Summer camp is what many Scouts enjoy most.
Camp programs provide numerous opportunities for Scouts to earn
merit badges along their advancement trail. Resident Scout camping
includes at least five nights and six days of fun outdoor
activities.
Jamborees—Every four or five years, the Boy Scouts of
America hosts a national Scout jamboree. More than 40,000 Scouts and
leaders from across the country participate in this 10-day event
filled with the most popular and highest quality outdoor activities
Scouts enjoy. To participate, a Scout must be at least 12 years of
age by July 1 of the jamboree year and be a First Class Scout.
Council high adventure—A high-adventure experience
includes at least five nights and six days of trekking in wilderness
and other rugged, remote locations. Trekking may include
backpacking, canoeing, mountain biking, horse packing, mountain
climbing, ski touring, rafting, kayaking, or a host of other outdoor
adventures. Participants must be at least 13 years old by January 1
of the year they participate.
 National high adventure—The BSA operates national
high-adventure bases and programs. With two locations in the Florida
Keys, the Florida National High Adventure Sea Base offers a variety
of aquatic and boating programs. The Northern Tier National High
Adventure Program, based in northern Minnesota with two satellite
bases in Canada, provides a variety of canoe treks and programs.
Philmont Scout Ranch and the Double H Ranch in the mountains of New
Mexico provide excellent backpacking treks. Age requirements for
these programs vary, but most programs are rugged and designed for
older Scouts.
Unit high adventure—The highest level of challenge for a
troop or team is to plan and carry out its own high-adventure
experience. These activities for more experienced Scouts are planned
and implemented by youth members with coaching from their adult
leaders.
 Qualified
Leadership
/ Two-Deep Leadership Required
It is the policy of the Boy Scouts of America
and Troop 713 that trips and
outings may never be led by only one adult. At a minimum, two
registered adult leaders or one registered adult leader and a parent
of a participant, one of whom must be at least 21 years of age, are
required for all trips and outings. Sufficient adult leadership must
be provided on all trips and outings based on the total number of
youth attending.
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