Share Your High Adventure Story!

Your Adventure. Your Experience. Your Story.

Has your troop, patrol, or Venturing crew recently completed an exciting outdoor adventure? We want to hear about it!

The Tidewater Council High Adventure Committee invites Scouts and Venturers to share their experiences for possible publication in the council's EK (Electronic Knapsack) newsletter.

Whether it was a challenging day hike, a weekend backpacking trip, a canoeing expedition, a climbing adventure, or a weeklong trek at a national high adventure base, your experience could inspire another Scout or unit to plan their next adventure.

We're looking for stories written from the Scouts' perspective, sharing what made the experience memorable, what challenges were overcome, and what others might learn from the adventure.

Selected submissions may be featured in:

• Monthly EK Updates: Short adventure highlights, photos, and unit accomplishments.

• Quarterly High Adventure Spotlight: Longer stories featuring a unit's adventure, planning, challenges, lessons learned, and memorable moments.

You don't have to be a professional writer! Just tell us about your adventure in your own words.

Adventure Submission Guide

Use the following questions as a guide when submitting your story. Not every question needs a long answer.

1. The Basics

• Unit: Troop, Crew, or Ship number and hometown

• Adventure Name: What did you call your trip?

• Dates: When did the adventure take place?

• Location: Where did you go?

• Participants: How many youth and adults attended?

• Activities: Backpacking, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, climbing, sailing, etc.

• Submitted By: Scout's first name, unit, and role (if applicable)

• Adult Contact: Leader's name and contact information for follow-up

2. Tell Us About Your Adventure

In a few paragraphs, tell us:

• Where did you go? Describe your destination, route, or adventure base.

• What did you do? Give a general outline of your trip, including distances, days, or major activities.

• What made it special? Share an unexpected experience, favorite moment, or accomplishment.

• What challenges did you face? Weather, difficult terrain, equipment issues, teamwork, or something you didn't expect?

• What did you learn? Did the experience build confidence, develop leadership skills, or teach your group something new?

• Would you recommend it? What advice would you give another unit considering a similar adventure?

3. Comments From Your Crew

Some of the best parts of an adventure are the things Scouts say afterward!

Include two or three short quotes from participants, such as:

"That was the best trip ever! I never thought I'd make it to the top." — John, Troop 123

"I can't wait to come back when there aren't clouds. We were so high up!" — Carla, Crew 456

"The hardest part was getting started. By the end, I didn't want the trip to be over!" — Alex, Troop 789

Funny, inspiring, and unexpected comments are all welcome.

4. Help Other Units Plan a Similar Adventure

If another troop or crew wanted to try something similar, what should they know?

Include any helpful information you have:

• Adventure base, park, outfitter, or trail website links

• General route or itinerary

• Trip length, approximate mileage, or paddling distance

• Permits, reservations, or special requirements

• Helpful planning resources or lessons learned

You don't need to provide a complete trip plan. A few useful details can help another unit get started.

5. Share Your Photos!

Pictures help bring your adventure to life!

If possible, include 3–5 photos showing the scenery, activities, teamwork, or memorable moments from your trip.

Please include a short description of each photo and confirm with your adult leader that the photos and names are approved for council publication.

Ready to Share Your Adventure?

Keep it simple! A short submission of 150–250 words is great for a monthly highlight. Longer stories of approximately 300–600 words may be considered for a quarterly High Adventure Spotlight.

Submissions may be edited for length and clarity. Publication is subject to review and available space.

Every adventure has a story worth sharing. Help inspire the next one!

The Tidewater Council High Adventure Committee — Helping Scouts and leaders build the confidence, skills, and connections to explore beyond the ordinary.