It's Almost Time To Camp!

One of the things boys all look forward to in Cub Scouts is CAMPING and it's almost time! Save the date for November 3-5 to camp with Pack 1910! A ScoutBook invite was sent out to all current members, if you haven't received it, please check your spam folders!  The deadline to register for the campout is SUNDAY, October 15!

While this is a Pack campout, we will be doing something extra cool this time -- touring the State Capitol AND visiting the Bullock Museum to help our scouts earn their TEXAS BADGE!

For Pack camping, unless you have an open-ended bank account, don't feel the need to run out and buy every piece of gear you think you need at REI (but if you want to and do, please let me know and I'll give you my list, too!) The best thing to do when beginning to acquire camping gear is to start small and simple so that you can discover what your family needs... and grow from there. There are plenty of seasoned camping veterans in our pack that have gear to spare so don't hesitate to put the word out if you need to borrow something.

Cub Scout family camping is also referred to as "car camping." With a large enough vehicle, you're fortunate enough to be able to take just about everything AND the kitchen sink with you. But for the amount of time you'll be there, it's really not necessary. A few creature comforts, however, are definitely worth it!

For our campout at Camp Tahuaya, however, you won't necessarily need a ton of supplies.  You DO need to register, however... have I mentioned that?

RSVP on Scoutbook and be sure to submit your registration form by October 15.

Are you a little “camping-shy”? Don’t let it hold you back!! Do it for your scout– he’ll love you for it!!  Camping is truly the highlight of a Cub Scout's year!! Campouts are always fun occasions and the kids and adults have a blast.

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 and Youth Protection Training (YPT) guidelines 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 tobacco products may be utilized within 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 (and don't bring soda or sugary drinks anyway -- ants are NO fun!)
• Tigers and Wolves are not permitted to have pocket knives. Bears and higher ranks may bring pocket knives ONLY if they have completed the “Whittling Chip” pocket knife achievement and have their Whittlin’ Chip card on their person ready to produce to any leader who requests to see it. 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).

It sounds like a lot but trust me, it gets to be old hat after a time or two!  So, now I ask -- are you ready for some….FUN?!?!?! We will deliver! Our focus is on age-appropriate Cub Scout activities for the scouts and their siblings. We’ll picnic, camp, hike and more!

To begin, you need something to sleep IN, something to sleep ON, something to wear, personal toiletries and light. (Oh... and toilet paper! Don't forget the toilet paper!)

Your Cub Scout should bring both his field and activity uniform to any over-night experience. Sturdy shoes, suitable for hiking will be useful. The following is a list of suggested equipment that may be useful on the campout:

BE SURE EACH CAMPER HAS A REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE AND A MESS KIT OR SOMETHING TO EAT ON AND WITH (no paper plates, disposable cups, etc.)


CAMP

• Tent (should come with stakes and guylines)
• Plastic mallet (I keep this in my tent bag)
• Tent footprint (this is a tarp to place beneath your tent to protect it from rocks, cactus, etc.)
• Sleeping pad (unless you're okay with the ground) or air mattress (check the batteries on your pump -- we usually do not have electricity at camps. I've seen people use those cheap blow-up pool floats for their kids... they're quick, easy and if you pop a hole in them, no love lost as they're easily replaceable)
• Cot (you won't want to use this in cold weather as the air circulating beneath you will make you colder)
• Sleeping bags (with liners if it's chilly)
• Extra blankets to keep in the car (just in case)
• Pillow (though you can use your sweatshirt as a pillow as well to minimize your packing list)
• One folding chair per person (there aren't always picnic tables)
• Pop up shade (optional)
• Folding table (though your cooler may work in a pinch, again, optional)
• Lantern / fuel 
• Small dustpan and brush (I love having this in my tote to help clean up all the leaves, dirt and debris tracked into the tent)

CAMPING KIT
I like to keep a small tackle box prepped with various items that someone always seems to need including:

• Multi-tool or knife
• Glow sticks
• Batteries (for flashlight or headlamp)
• Bandana
• Duct tape (it fixes everything)
• safety pins
• Caribeeners
• scissors
• q-tips
• lighter
• multitool

GEAR

• Daypacks (to carry your gear for the day -- lightweight backpacks)
• Headlamp (I find these are much better to use than flashlights because they keep your hands free)
• Reusable water bottle (EVERYONE ATTENDING NEEDS ONE)
• Reusable mess kit and eating utensils (EVERY ONE ATTENDING NEEDS ONE)
• Matches/lighter
• Compass
• Whistle
• Sunglasses
• Hammock
• Rope

CLOTHING
The best motto here is BE PREPARED. I always keep an extra change of clothing in a bag in the car WITH socks and shoes that we hope to just put away at home when we return. However, if there is a surprise downpour, a slip and fall in the mud or a spill, we are prepared. Happy kids = happy parents = great campout!

The weather forecast is your friend. Be sure to check it the day before you pack and then check it again the morning before you leave.

• long-sleeved shirts (moisture wicking is great, flannel is great - these are great to protect from the sun, bugs and to take the morning chill off)
• sun-shielding hat
• bandana (these are handy for just about everything including makeshift first-aid)
• Close-toed shoes suited for the terrain (NO open toed shoes, flip flops or sandals)
• socks
• sleepwear
• rainwear (a poncho in the daypack can be a lifesaver!)
• weather-appropriate change of clothes (could be cold weather / could be shorts)

FOOD AND DRINKS

• Water - BRING WATER FOR YOUR FAMILY with a reusable bottle for each camper. The Pack will have 5 gallon coolers but they empty FAST and they have to be used for cooking and cleaning. Your best bet is to bring at least a gallon of water per person per day for your family with you as we aren't always near a site with potable water. Walking to fill up from an outdoor spigot with a hot, thirsty scout isn't always fun -- plus it helps the leaders keep the 5-gallon jugs full for cooking and heating up water for cleaning. Having your own personal iced beverages helps keep everyone happy. Camping hack:  Freeze two gallons of water and you can use them as ice in your ice chest too!
• Snacks - While the Pack provides a snack Friday night we do NOT provide Friday night dinner. If you know you'll be hungry upon arrival at the site, please plan accordingly. Also, we do not buy lots of snacks so if your kiddo is like mine and could graze all day -- please bring some snacks for your family. We do have Scouts with SEVERE NUT ALLERGIES so please help us maintain a NUT FREE SITE.  Snack ideas that travel well in the cooler: individually wrapped cheese, boiled eggs, sugar snap peas, carrots, apples, frozen individually wrapped yogurts or even indivually wrapped packages of hummus and pretzels.  Some great non-perishable snacks are dried fruits, protein bars, pretzels, and even instant oatmeal (you can eat this cold!)
• Marshmallow roasters and s'mores fixin's for your family

TOILETRIES

• toilet paper
• sunscreen
• chapstick
• insect repellent
• hand sanitizer
• First aid kit
• Toothbrush/toiletry kit
• Brush/comb
• Soap/washcloth (I like to take a small bar of soap OR cut up a large bar of soap into quarters and put it in a zip loc bag with the soap. Use that to wash your face, wring it out and put it back in the ziploc.
• Deodorant (please and thank you! ha!)

OPTIONAL CAMPING SUPPLIES

• Fishing gear (and license if over age of 17)
• solar phone charger
• binoculars
• maps/guidebooks/local bird or wildlife field guide
• books
• decks of cards
• frisbee
• walkie talkies
• umbrella
• balls (soccer, football -- nerf is best, baseball/glove)
• Hacky sack
• kite
• geocaching kit with receiver (yes, I realize I just said NO electronics, but this is like treasure hunting!)
• portable fan with batteries (yes, yes I have used this and NO, I'm not ashamed)

There are some fun websites out there with camping hacks that are super cool. Check those out HERE and HERE

Again, the Registration Form can be found HERE. This is required component for anyone attending be sure to note that it includes signatures of ALL ADULTS attending indicating that they have read and agree to abide by the rules and regulations of Pack overnighters. HEALTH FORMS Parts A and B are also required for everyone attending.

Registration fees are $23 per youth, $32 per adult. Payments can be made via cash, check payable to Pack 1910 or PayPal. Deadline for registering and payment is SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15.  Fees include snacks Friday night, all meals Saturday, your entrance into the museum as well as Sunday breakfast.

There is a place on the form where you indicate if you are camping Friday night, Saturday night or if you're just attending for the Pack activities on Saturday. Please mark this. Once we have an idea of attendees, we will make and publish the menu. Friday night dinner will be on your own.  If there are food allergies, please indicate that on your form. While we will do our best to accommodate those, we can't always accommodate picky eaters.  We will do our best, the menu will be published before we leave so you can plan accordingly.

When the BSA realigned the Cub Scout program a couple of years ago, they made being outdoors an integral part of advancement. Thus, camping is actually a required component for earning your Wolf, Bear, Webelos and Arrow of Light ranks. 

All Pack 1910 camp outs are family friendly events so the whole family is welcome!