A Local Tour Permit Application must be completed and filed with the Council Service Center for trips of less than 500 miles when units travel overnight or outside the Council territory. If the destination is 500 miles or more one way or outside the U.S.A., use the National Tour Permit Application. These permits should list the driver’s names and limits of automobile liability insurance carried. Most short, in town trips of a few hours do not require a tour permit; however, it is recommended that units obtain permission slips from parents.

APPLICATIONS FOR NATIONAL TOUR PERMIT REMINDERS

It is required that applications be mailed to the regional service center at least 30 days in advance of the tour; you could save yourself a lot of frustration by applying at this time if your trip is already planned. The regional service center is pleased to accept applications up to 12 months prior to the tour. This is just a reminder on some of the important information you need to pay special attention to when you fill out your application:

1. Make sure all of the needed information is there. You will need the tour leader’s name, type of unit, unit number, round trip mileage, dates of the trip, starting point and destination of the trip. The number of boys and the number of adults going, the itinerary, type of transportation planned, the amount of insurance carried if traveling by private vehicles, and the address and phone number (fax no.) of the tour leader.

2. There must be at least two (2) adult leaders going on every trip. One of these leaders must be at least 21 years of age. After that, there must be one adult leader for every 10 boys.

3. Insurance requirements are listed in the tour permit application. You must have information as to how many are traveling in each vehicle so that you can look at the insurance requirements. This applies only to private or borrowed vehicles. Commercial vehicles are not required to list their insurance.

4. If the tour consists of a Troop, Pack, Explorer Post, Venture Crew, etc. the applications must have 3 signatures (Scout Executive, Tour Leader and the Chairman of Committee). If the tour is a council contingent, the application is required to have only two signatures (the Scout Executive and the Tour Leader).

5. A NATIONAL TOUR PERMIT is required for all groups traveling to areas 500 miles or more one way (1,000 or more miles total), or crossing national boundaries into the territory of other nations.

6.Youth Protection Training is now required (effective 1/01/03) for adult leadership on all local/national tour permits.

If all of the above requirements are not met, the application will be returned to the local council for correction, which could result in delays to obtaining the tour permit in time.

Thank you for your co-operation and “Happy Camping”! If you need further assistance with the National Tour Permit, please contact Pearl Suggs @ 713-865-9123; fax # 713-865-9199 or email: pearl.suggs@shac.org.