Troop 964 is a proud member of Northwest Suburban Council, BSA |
There seems to be a lot of confusion as to what should be brought on a campout. Based on recent outings, a few specific items come to mind:
Battery - We've had flashlight batteries go dead the first night, while we were unpacking the trailer, and no spare batteries had been brought. Always bring a package of new batteries as a back-up.
Chair - Picnic tables and tree stumps aren't always available to sit on at a campsite, so, if you don't like sitting on the ground, bring a chair or small folding stool.
Bottled Water - On every campout, the Troop brings large containers of water, which we use for drinking, cooking and washing. When they go empty, they're re-filled using an available water source. It's the responsibility of each of us, boys and adults, to bring some form of water bottle or canteen for our personal use. Of course, your bottle can be filled and re-filled with water from the Troop containers, but it’s up to you to bring the actual bottle. Preferably, we'd like you to have a Nalgene or similar non-breakable brand (please, no recycled disposable bottles). You can pick one up just about anywhere these days - Wal-Mart, Target, Jewel, Dominick's, Walgreen's, gas stations, etc. This is such a great item to invest in, they're not expensive ($4-$10), they come in many colors, and they'll give you years and years of use.
Boredom can strike at any time. The weather doesn't always permit us to be outside. Sometimes, there's a need to wait out a rain shower by sitting in our tent. Leaders aren't on campouts with the specific purpose of entertaining the Scouts, though we are pretty good at it. Scouts need to keep themselves busy when there's a lull in the activity. Bring a deck of cards, a book (you should always bring your Scout Handbook on a campout), a travel game such as checkers, or perhaps a writing tablet for sketching or doodling. Game Boys, iPods, DVD Players, etc. are not appropriate alternatives and should NOT be brought on campouts.
Lightning - One thing we can't control is the ever changing weather. It is what it is. Be it rain or shine, hot or cold, or somewhere in between. Hats, gloves, boots, rain gear, extra socks and heavy coats will be needed for all upcoming campouts. Check the weather forecast so you can BE PREPARED.
Reading - In your Scout Handbook, you'll find a suggested list of items to pack. Use that as your guide. If you like to bring something on a campout that is unique, let's say a harmonica, write that on the page in your book, so you're sure to pack it each & every time. And, don't forget to label whatever you can.
The bulk of the cold weather camping season consists primarily of months from September through April. I’ve put together a 20 page Cold Weather Camping Guide that is written in a fun format and an understandable language that everyone can appreciate. We’d be happy to email it to you so you may print it and use it as a reference for the upcoming colder camping months. Just shoot an email to webmaster@lztroop964.org
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Troop 964 is a proud member of Northwest Suburban Council, BSA |