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Tour Permits & Travel Safety
 It is important that Arrowmen traveling to and from all Order of the Arrow events abide by the same policies required of units. Within Scouting, the largest number of injuries are from automobile accidents to and from events. Therefore, driver safety is of the utmost importance to keeping Scouts safe.
National and Regional policy is that tour permits are not required only when traveling by yourself or direct relatives. All other travel requires the use of a permit filed with the appropriate council office. Though previously often overlooked for OA events, it should be noted that tour permits must be used for travel to all OA activities, including most lodge, section, region, and national events. Remember, transporting non-family youth members is only permitted by adults over age 21. You can direct any questions concerning this policy to your Section Adviser or Region Vice Chairman for your area.
Download electronic PDF forms of the tour permits here:
Tour permits are formatted for legal size paper. If it is printed on letter size it will be compressed.
The below excerpt from the Guide to Safe Scouting clearly outlines the tour permit requirement for all Scouting activities:
If a unit plans a trip within 500 miles of the home base, it is important that the unit obtain a local tour permit. A national tour permit is required for trips in excess of 500 miles from home or outside the continental United States. (See samples of both in the appendix.)
Tour permits have become recognized by national parks, military institutions, and other organizations as proof that a unit activity has been well planned and organized and is under capable and qualified leadership. These organizations may require the tour permit for entry.
Most short, in-town den trips of a few hours do not require a tour permit; however, it is recommended that dens obtain permission slips from parents.
The Western Region Committee of the Order of the Arrow encourages each Section to promote the use of trip permits for all Order of the Arrow events. However, it is not the Region's or Section’s role to decide the exact implementation of this National Policy. That implementation is the responsibility of the individual Lodge and its Supreme Chief of the Fire. Each Lodge is responsible for meeting with its Scout Executive and setting up their own internal guidelines for implementation of this National BSA policy.
Kieran Thompson, Region Chief
Mike Bliss, Region Chairman
Gene Wadford, Region Staff Adviser
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