Programs for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and American Heritage Girls
Higher Pursuits is committed to providing paddling and educational programs for Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and other youth groups in order to teach paddling and build a love for paddling in the next generation. Learning to canoe or kayak is a lifelong outdoor skill that provides wonderful opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. One of our goals is to teach those paddling skills to as many kids as possible.
We offer several different program options for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and American Heritage Girls Troops:
- Introduction to Paddling
- Merit Badge Program
- Self-Guided Trips
- Primitive Group Camping
During the summer months (Memorial Day to Labor Day), guided trips are only available during the week.
Higher Pursuits now offers primitive camping at our location for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and American Heritage Girls groups. If you have a group and are looking for primitive camping contact us and we can discuss whether we can support your group.
Overview: The introduction to paddling trip focuses on introducing groups to canoeing or kayaking. An experienced guide helps keep the group together, knows all the best swimming spots and will provide an introduction to paddling. The guide(s) will also assist participants with their paddling throughout the day.
Estimated time: Plan on 30 to 45 min at the canoe base to get prepared for the trip. Then 4 to 5 hours on the water and 30 min to return to the base. In general, about 6 to 7 hours total.
Group Size: For groups with 4 to 12 people we must have one guide. For 13 to 18 people, we must have two guides. A minimum of 2 adults is required, but your group may need additional adults depending on the age of participants and types of boats you are renting.
Overview: The Merit Badge Program is a more in-depth program and focuses on completing the merit badge requirements of your organization. This involves an on-land instruction time before your trip and on water skills such as paddling strokes, flipping a boat over and getting back into your canoe or kayak.
Estimated time: Plan on 1 hour at the canoe base for on land instruction and to get prepared for the trip. Then 5 to 6 hours on the water and 30 min to return to the base. In general, about 7 to 8 hours total.
Group Size: For groups with 1 to 6 people we must have one guide. For 7 to 12 people, we must have two guides. Group size is limited to 12 or less for merit badge programs. A minimum of 2 adults is required, but your group may need additional adults depending on the age of participants and types of boats you are renting.
Overview: The self-guided trip does not have a guide. Your group just rents boats from us and paddles down the river at their own pace. Self-guided trips can book their own trip using our online reservation system. You prepay for your trip but can make any changes or cancellations up until the day before the trip for a full refund.
Estimated time: Plan on 30 to 45 min at the canoe base to get prepared for the trip. Then 4 to 5 hours on the water and 30 min to return to the base. In general, about 6 to 7 hours total.
Group Size: Generally, we recommend that you limit your group to 24 or less. This allows for a better experience on the river. A minimum of 2 adults is required. You may need additional adults depending on the age of the participants and types of boats you are renting.
Pricing:
- Below is the weekday pricing for scout program. On the weekends the price is $5 more boat.
- Canoes: $40 per canoe (limit 3 people per boat)
- Basic Kayaks: $25 per kayak
- Premium Kayaks: $25 per kayak
- Tandem Kayaks: $40 per tandem kayak
- Premium Tandem Kayak: $50 per premium tandem kayak
- Shuttle your own boat: $10 per boat
- Guide Fee: $100 per guide
- Please bring a copy of your tax-exempt form for our files or email it to us ahead of time.
Additional Information for Guided Trips:
- Our lead guide is certified by the American Canoe Association as a Level 3 Canoe Instructor, and Level 2 Kayak instructor.
- Every participant must complete a release form. For participants under the age of 18 a parent or guardian must complete the form ahead of time. Download our release form. The Group Leader does not qualify as the legal guardian to complete this form.
- Participants must stay with the group
- All participants (including adults) must wear their lifejacket
- No alcohol is allowed on any guided trip.
- Because Merit Badge programs require detailed instruction, demonstration of skills by participants, and longer instruction time, we do not allow troops to bring younger family members. All the participants in a merit badge program should be in the same age range.
Other Information (Both Guided and Self-Guided Trips)
- For Self-Guided Trips: The group must stay together. As of 2020, TN law requires that anyone under 16 years old must be accompanied by someone at least 18 years old.
- For Self-Guided Trips: TN law requires that every participant have a lifejacket available in the boat. Any participant 12 years old or younger must wear their lifejacket at all times. We recommend that all participants wear their lifejacket.
- We recommend shoes that will stay on your feet (flip-flops tend to fall off in the water and float away). For a list of recommend items to bring on your paddling trip visit our frequently asked questions page.
- Groups are encouraged to bring a lunch and plenty of hydrating beverages. There are several great places to stop and have lunch on the river.
- In the event of inclement weather or water conditions, we will contact your group the day before your trip to discuss rescheduling your trip.
- To schedule your trip please complete the “Request Additional Information” form so we have a better idea of what type of program you want, desired dates and additional planning details. You can also call us with any questions.
- For self-guided trips you can book your trip online using our online reservation system.
Primitive Group Camping
Overview:
Higher Pursuits now offers primitive camping for Boy Scout, Girl Scout, and American Heritage Girl Troops. There is no running water or showers, but we do have outhouses.
10×20 Shelter
Tables for Group
Cooking Table
Drinking Water
Chairs for the group
Mulched Campsites
Designated Fire Ring
Firewood Provided
What is included
- Use of the 10×20 metal shelter
- Use of Campfire ring
- Firewood
- Four five-gallon containers of water (Suitable for cooking and drinking)
- Three folding tables
- Ten Plastic Chairs
- Designated areas to set up tents or hammocks
- Use of outhouses
- Higher Pursuits does not have running water or shower facilities. This is a primitive group campsite nestled in the woods at the upper end of our property
Pricing:
We charge a flat fee of $75 per night for camping with groups that have less than 24 people. A Higher Pursuits staff member spends the night on site at a different location and is available should your group have an issue.
Number of Nights Available:
Groups can reserve the group campsite for one night to three nights. You can reserve the campsites below. If you are not one of our designated types of groups allows to camp, the staff will contact you and cancel your reservation.
Additional Information:
Arrival Time – Arrival time for camping is between Noon and 7 pm. If you plan to arrive later, please contact the office to let us know when you plan to arrive.
Maximum number of Campers – the maximum number of campers including adults and children is 20 total.
Supervision of Campers – Please ensure that your group plans for enough adults to properly supervise the number of children you are bringing on this camping trip. Follow all guidelines for overnight camping required by your parent organization (Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, American Heritage Girls, or other organizations).
Alcohol or other illegal substances – Consumption of alcohol or use of illegal substances is strictly forbidden and is grounds for immediate expulsion from the camping area without a refund.
Higher Pursuits Staff – A Higher Pursuits staff member will stay on the property during the evenings at a separate location and is available in case of an emergency.
Parking – Higher Pursuits has limited parking. It is helpful if your group can carpool as much as possible.
Programming Ideas:
Some of our other scout groups have camped for two or three nights. As an example, those groups spent one day paddling, then on the other days they worked on cooking skills, fire building skills or other camping skills. Additionally, there is a hiking trail at the end of the road that is two miles in length and provides a great place to hike, explore and see a cedar glade.