A lot of planning goes into a Scouting trip. Contingency plans have to be worked out as well as route planning.

To help guide the novice trip leader and to remind the veteran, we have put together a checklist of things to do in preparation for a trip. This trip leader checklist is available as a pdf file or as a Word document.  You can find quick links to both documents in the “forms” section of Information for Parents portion of the website.

Trailer

The troop's trailer is a Haulmark Cub DS2 purchased in June 2004 with a generous donation from Scotty Mayfield.  See the owner's manual for important information on the operation and upkeep of the trailer. We also have an information sheet that contains important information on towing the trailer and a document concerning the transportation and storage of LP gas cylinders.

Tour Permits

A tour permit must be approved by the local council for each outing. There are two types of tour permits: local and national. The local tour permit is for trips where the destination is 500 or fewer miles away from home.  The national tour permit is for trips to destinations over 500 miles away. Trips not covered by a tour permit are not sanctioned by the Boy Scouts of America.  Since only sanctioned trips are covered by BSA insurance, it is very important for every trip to be covered by a tour permit.

Through the permit process, the trip and unit leaders certify that they have completed certain safety training and that insurance is in place for drivers. The national council provides an online resource that addresses safety in Scouting.  You can find an online and printable version of the "Guide to Safe Scouting."

Forms

The focus of Scouting's forms is on the safety of the youth entrusted to us and should not be taken lightly.

A trip leader must have an Annual Health and Medical Record form in his possession for each Scout accompanying him on a trip. 

He should also have an Annual Medical/Trip Release form signed by a parent or guardian. 
See the forms page for links to obtain copies of the health and release forms.  These forms are collected from our Scouting families at the start of each Scouting year by the troop committee and kept on file for trip leaders

Maps

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest visitor maps provided by the National Forest Service are searchable and very detailed.  If this link no longer works, enter the following search terms in Google to find the maps "Chattahoochee-Oconee visitor maps site:www.fs.fed.us".

Motor vehicle use maps are available for the all national forests.  These maps show Forest Service roads.  They are less detailed than the visitor maps but can be useful if you are trying to find the best way to a trailhead.  Search http://www.fs.fed.us for "motor vehicle use maps."

Topographic maps are available for sale or for download from the U.S. Geological Survey website at http://store.usgs.gov.  Always check trails on USGS 7.5 minute quads with current information.  Many trails change course over time and the USGS maps may be 20 years old. 

georgiahikes.com This is a great website for information on hikes in Georgia
Hunting is allowed in a surprising number of places in Georgia, and hunting season varies by location and by type of game.  For instance, hunting is allowed along the Appalachian Trail.

http://www.gohuntgeorgia.org is a good source to learn more about when and where hunting is allowed.  As of December 2008, the troop had 12 orange safety vests, some orange flags for backpacks and other uses, and ten blaze-orange baseball hats and knit caps.

The southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail is located at Springer Mountain in Georgia.  The trail continues north and east within Georgia for the first 80 miles and then continues for a total of 2,175 miles to Mount Katahdin in Maine. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has information on all sections of the Appalachian Trail. The Georgia Appalachian Trail Club has seasonal updates on the Georgia portion of the trail.