Troop 201 camps at least one weekend a month and attends one week long camp during the summer. The camping schedule is printed on every monthly newsletter. Each camp has a theme to follow. The themes range from canoeing to the Civil War. The theme of each camp is printed next to the date of the campout on the monthly newsletter. Before camp consider the theme/camp schedule, and then check your list of advancement requirements and plan what you can do during advancement time at camp before you get to camp.
Standard Schedule:
Friday Night:
1. Meet at the Troop Storage Building and carpool to campsite.
2. Set up camp. This includes troop gear and tents if needed. Tents and cooking equipment are supplied by troop.
3. Snack. A good feeding of sugar is just what a scout needs to sleep. Note: Dinner is NOT provided on Friday nights. Please make sure your scout has eaten before you drop them off at the Troop Building.
4. Bedtime
Saturday:
1. Wake up 7’ish. Prepare, eat, and clean up breakfast.
2. Activity, game, and or scout craft as it relates to the theme.
3. Prepare, eat, and clean up lunch.
4. Activity, game, and or scout craft as it relates to the theme.
5. Prepare, eat, and clean up dinner.
6. Advancement time.
7. Campfire with skits, songs, cheers, and scout spirit.
8. Snack. Can’t let them go to sleep without lots of sugar.
9. Bedtime.
Sunday:
1. Wake up 7’ish. Prepare, eat, and clean up breakfast. This meal is generally a cold meal requiring minimal clean up.
2. Break down camp. Pack troop gear in trailer.
3. Assign troop gear to scouts. The scouts are assigned one of the following a tent, or Dutch oven. The scout is to clean and return to the troop gear at the next meeting. Cleaning instructions are below.
a. Tent. Set up or hang on clothesline with doors and windows open to allow air to dry. DO NOT USE SOAP ON TENTS. Just let them air dry and brush dirt off. Report any rips or damage you notice to a Quartermaster when you turn it in.
b. Dutch Ovens: The Dutch ovens are simmered with hot water after use on Saturday and cleaning is relatively simple. DO NOT USE ANY PAD OR TOOL THAT WILL SCRATCH THE INSIDE. Wash by hand using a sponge and NO SOAP to wash and then dry completely. DO NOT USE SOS OR ANY OTHER ABBRASIVE PADS.
4. Church Service: A passage from the bible is read and discussed. A closing prayer is said. Time for personal reflection and or prayer. GO HOME.
Packing List:
A complete packing list can be found in the Scout Handbook or you may use the one below.
Being a new scout can be very overwhelming! Therefore, this list has been constructed to help you pack for your campout. As with any campout, you as the scout should check weather forecasts for the week to ensure you have packed properly. First, here is a list of things you should bring to EVERY campout:
-Large backpack
-Scout book
- Knife (Make sure you have totin’ chip!)
-Firem’n chit
-A filled water bottle
-Mess kit with eating utensils
-First aid kit
-Flashlights
-Extra batteries
-Sleeping bag
-Sleeping pad
-Pillow
-Rain poncho
-Any toiletries
-Good quality, broken-in hiking boots
-Insect repellent (Non-aerosol)
These are camping necessities and should be brought to every campout to ensure that you are prepared for any scenario.
In the spring, it is common for it to rain. If your clothes get wet, you need to make sure that you have extra clothes to put on. Walking around in wet socks can cause trench foot, and walking in wet underwear can cause monkey butt, a red, painful rash on your butt. Both are serious injuries and should be reported to an adult as soon as possible. It is also important to dress in layers when appropriate so that you do not get cold. Here is a complete list of things to pack during the spring:
-Long sleeve shirts (1 extra)
-Long pants (1 extra)
-Socks (2 extra for every 3 days)
-Underwear (2 extra for every 3 days)
-Long pajamas
Summer camping is far different from spring camping. Normally, it is very hot on these campouts and you should make sure you drink plenty of water. Lack of water can lead to dehydration. Symptoms of dehydration may include headaches, confusion, and extreme thirst. Dehydration is a serious condition and you should drink water and tell an adult if you have any of these symptoms. Things that should be in your pack include:
-T-shirts
-Shorts
-Light socks (2 extra for every 3 day)
-Underwear (2 extra for every 3 days)
-Short pajamas
-Sunscreen (Non-aerosol)
-Swimsuit (If needed)
Camping in the winter can be very cold. Snow is always possible on these trips and it is important to pack extra clothes in case they get wet. As always, make sure that you dress in layers so that you stay warm. Some things you will want to pack include:
-Winter coat
-Snow boots
-Wool, or any other warm socks (2 extra for every 3 days)
-Sweatshirts
-Long sleeve shirts
-Long pants
-Underwear (2 extra for every 3 days)
-Winter hat
-Winter gloves
-Snow pants (If applicable)
-Hand and foot warmers
Weather at the beginning of fall can be quite mild, while the end of fall can be very cold. When packing for a fall campout, you should check the forecast to determine what type of clothes you should pack. If it is cold, make sure you dress in multiple layers to stay warm! Follow the guidelines for any of the seasons mentioned above based on the forecast.
Any shirts you wear throughout the week should be Dri-Fit. Dri-Fit shirts allow for your body to breath even when they are wet, unlike cotton shirts. Smart Wool socks are great as they keep your feet warm but allow them to breath. You should pack Smart Wool socks in the spring and summer and wool socks in the winter.
Following this packing guide will get requirement 1a signed off for the Tenderfoot rank. Make sure you have everything on this list in order to be prepared.