Important note on
packing
Scouts are big people. Parents must not
pack their gear for them. Doing so will lead to:
"Jimmy, it's raining! Where's your
rain coat?"
"I can't find where my Daddy put
it!"
At most, parents can help their Scouts
lay out their gear and ensure that everything is there. They should never
actually put the gear into the pack. This is for two reasons. Scouts need to
know where something is packed so that they can find it, and Scouts may not be
able to pack their gear as tightly as their parents can, leading to problems
when it comes time to repack at the end of camp.
Camp Gear
Packs
- Backpack/hockey bag
- Day pack: School packs are good
Sleepwear
- Sleeping Bag: Warm as the weather may drop below freezing. Two summer sleeping bags, one inside the other, work well in cold conditions. An extra blanket can be useful as well.
- Insulated Sleeping Pad: Blue foamy, Therm-a-Rest, etc.
Eating Gear
- Unbreakable plate, bowl, & mug
- Knife, fork, & spoon
- Ditty bag: for hanging dishes to dry
Outerwear
- Warm jacket
- Snow pants
Footwear
- Running shoes
- Hiking boots/waterproof boots
- Winter boots
Clothes
- Tee shirts
- Long underwear
- Jogging pants
- Sweater/fleece
- Dry socks
- Dry socks
- Dry socks
- Underwear
- Mittens & gloves
- Toque
Scout Gear
- Small first aid kit
- Flashlight
- Water bottle
- Campfire blanket
Miscellaneous
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Toilet Paper
- Deodorant
- Medication: must be noted on the medical form
- Watch
- Smile
Please do not bring
- Electronic games, iPods, cell phones, or similar devices.
- Non-folding knives
- Family heirlooms
- Anything that might lead one to disregard the Scout Law
Dressing for Winter
Keeping warm in winter requires
attention to a few important details. To start with, one must be dry. This
means not overdressing which leads to sweating, and changing before bed. You
must change all your clothes before bed. You must have extra clothes to change
into.
The other trick comes in layering. A
warm coat on its own is not enough. Insulation must be spread over the entire
body. Your layers should be something like this:
- Long sleeved tee-shirt, long underwear, thin socks.
- Sweaters, jogging pants, heavy socks.
- Winter jacket, snow-pants, winter boots.
- Hat and neck-warmer. Gloves and mittens.
There are certainly many excellent
outdoor clothing products on the market these days. Treated polyester long
underwear, special socks, and just about any piece of clothing made of fleece.
This high-tech clothing is excellent, expensive, and unnecessary for
introductory winter camping. Waffle knit cotton long underwear, jogging pants,
and wool sweaters and socks will be fine for a weekend camp. If one is further
interested in winter camping, then it is reasonable to look at special
equipment. The main difference is the performance of the clothing when it is
wet or damp. Cotton must be kept dry and replaced when it gets wet. No other
piece of advice is as important.
