A Camping We Will Go!

We are so looking forward to this weekend's campout at Worth Ranch!  The weather is going to be beautiful!  Please be sure you've checked your e-mail for the maps. It was sent out yesterday.  

Camping Do's:

• Practice setting up your tent before you get on the camping trip. Make sure it is complete and you know how to put it up. Of course we will help you but you don’t want to get out there to realize you don’t have stakes or poles!
• Plan on it getting colder than you think – you can always take off a layer or remove a blanket. Put a sheet inside your sleeping bag it keeps it clean inside and will give you a layer of warmth or a layer of cool.
• Bring rain gear – you never know what the weather will be
• Change clothes to sleep in. (will keep you from getting cold due to moisture in the fabric from the day and you never know what you have on your clothes that you are bringing into your tent…poison ivy)
• Always have a tarp under your tent. Make sure none of it sticks-out from the bottom of the tent or it will collect rain and make the inside of your tent wet.
• Allow your son to do as much of the work while camping as possible (help putting up the tent, carrying stuff, etc). HE CAN DO IT!! And will be proud that he did it.
• Store food, candy, toothpaste in your car or animal proof container but NOT your tent. They can smell it!
• Maintain the buddy system & Youth Protection Training (YPT) at all times

Camping Don’ts:

• Never sleep in a tent with a child who is not your own. – BSA rule
• No alcohol anywhere, anyhow, anytime. – BSA rule
• No smoking in sight of Cub Scouts. – BSA rule
• Never leave candy/chips or candy/chip wrappers or food of any kind in your tent or in your clothes in your tent. Animals can smell it. This includes toothpaste, open Gatorade and other soda cans, etc. If in doubt leave it in your car.
• Cub Scouts should not have/use knives in Tiger & Wolf ranks. Bears and higher ranks may bring pocket knives if they have completed the “Whittling Chip” pocket knife achievement and have their Whittlin’ Chip card or badge. No knives with a blade longer than the width of a child’s palm. – BSA rule.
• Avoid 100% cotton clothing…think wool or synthetics. Cotton stays damp and makes you feel cold.
• Leave behind Nintendo DSs, iPods, or other electronics/game systems. This is the boys’ opportunity to get away from all that. Besides, they could get damaged or lost.
• No precious toys/ jewelry – could get damaged or lost.

After camping:

• Air-out your tent, tarp, and sleeping bags as soon as you return home to allow condensation to dry-out (otherwise you get a musty smell that is hard to get rid of).
• Store your sleeping bag loose when you get home, not in its stuff-sack, or it will lose loft (loft gives it warmth).

Reminder that registration fees are $10 per youth, $15 per adult. Payments can be made via cash, check payable to Pack 1910. Take care of this at camp if you wish!

Again, please note that camping out Friday night is completely optional but many families enjoy the extra night in the spring air. Many, however, do come in Saturday morning after breakfast. Whatever works for your family is great -- JUST LET US KNOW so that we can adjust for the food! Just get them there!! Because, let's face it -- camping is a HUGE reason why boys WANT to be in Scouts!

When the BSA realigned the program for Cub Scouts, they made being outdoors an integral part of advancement.  Thus, camping is a required component for earning your Wolf, Bear and Arrow of Light.  Bring their books -- lets go over it!

All Pack 1910 camp outs are family friendly events so the whole family is welcome! Can't make this one?  We'll be going again in the fall!  Make plans to join us then.

Completed BSA Health Forms Part A & B are required for all parties attending. If you haven't turned yours in yet, please turn those in upon arrival.