Troop 691

Camping With Troop 69

“How You & Your Son Can Get the Most Out of the Scouting

Outdoor Experience”

Troop 692

Why Are You Sitting Through This Meeting?

Historically – Poor Communication on How to Prepare for Campouts

• Scouts at This Age Don’t Tend to Get All the Details Back to Their Parents

• No Vehicle to Bring New Parents Up To Speed For Adult Participation

The Typical Troop Will Lose Half the Boys the First Year

• Lack of Parental Understanding, Support, and/or Involvement

• An Unprepared Scout May Not Enjoy Camping

• Too Many Other Distractions

The More You are Prepared, The Better You Can Support Your Scout

Troop 693

Anatomy of a Troop Campout

This Doesn’t Happen by Accident

Friday Eve Assemble at AFUMC around 5:30 & Travel to Destination

Friday EveSet Up Camp

Saturday

Have Fun!

Sunday• Break Camp

• Religious Service

• Return to AFUMC Between 1 & 2

Swimming

Cooking

HikingCanoeing

Camp Fire

White Water RaftingBackpacking

Rock Climbing

Advancement(Bring Scout Handbook)

Troop 694

Patrols Divide by

Age Grouping• 6 – 10 Scouts per Patrol

• 2-3 12 Year Old

• 2-3 13 Year old

• 1- 2 14 year old

• 1-2 15 Plus Year Old

A sst P atro l L ead er

S co u ts

P a tro l L ead er

A ss t S enio r Pa tro l L ead erP a tro ls

Q u arte rm aster

A ss t S enio r Pa tro l L ead erO u tdo o r P rog ram

S cribe

C h ap la in 's A ide

H is to r ian

L ibrar ian

A ss t S enio r Pa tro l L ead erIn d oo r P rog ram

N ew Sco u ts

T roo p G uide

S enio r Tro op G u ide

S en io r Pa tro l L ead er

Staff Assigned Specific Roles

• Elected Positions

• 3 QM – Coordinate Equipment

• 1 Scribe – Communications & Dues

• 1 Historian – Record Troop Activities

• 1 Chaplain Aide – Duty to God

• 1 Librarian – Maintains Merit Badge Books & Reference Material

New Scouts

• 1st 6 months only

• 8 – 10 Scouts per Patrol

• 2 - 3 Troop Guides – Interviewed Position

• Organize

• Train

• Assimilate New Scouts

Boy Led Troop

Patrol Method: Organized to Develop Leadership Skills

Troop 695

• Elections Held Semi Annually: March & September

• Troop Leadership Roles Required for Advancement

• Leaders Not Always Chosen For Skill Set

• Junior Leadership Training Classes

• Scouts Organize & Plan Activities

• Adults Support Scout Leaders

• Scouts Plan Outings – August Planning Conference

• Preparation During Monthly Patrol Leader Council Meetings

• Organize Individual Trips (Menus, Time Tables, etc.)

• Scouts Learn by Doing

• Leadership

• Teamwork

• Communication

• Problem Solving

• Conflict Resolution

• Project Management

• Adults Provide Logistic Support

• Supervision

• Transportation

• Financial Support

Organizing the Troop

“Don’t Do Anything for a Scout that he can do himself” Robert Baden-Powell

Troop 696

Before You Even Think About Camping

What To Buy What Not To Buy

•Boy’s TentTroop Will Supply for 1st Year

•Cheap Mess Kit Never Used

•Any Expensive Equipment Large Lost & Found

•Big Bulky and Fragile Equipment Nothing Is Unbreakable

•Backpacking Backpack, Stove, Water Filter, Etc.1st Real Backpacking Trek Is a

Long Way Away and Your Son Is Growing

•Water Bottle, or Two - Nalgene•Good Sleeping Bag•Sleeping Pad•Durable Flashlight•Clothing You Will Use Everyday• Inexpensive Items• Items That Retain Utility When Your Son Grows

Spend Wisely – If In Doubt Talk with Other Parents

Troop 697

Food

• Patrol Will Supply All the Food You

Need

• Cooking Equipment

Provided by Troop

Shelter/Sleep

• Tent (Smaller is Better – Supplied by Troop for 1st Year Scouts)

• Sleeping Bag

• Air Mattress/Sleeping Pad

• Pillow

Eating Utensils

• Plate

• Fork, Knife, Spoon

• Cup

Weather Gear

• Rain Coat

• Poncho

Comfort

• Camp Chair (Optional, Can Be a Point of Contention)

Basic Camping Gear

• Boy Scout Handbook

• Flash Light

• Pocket Knife (ONLY After Earning the Totin’Chip Card)

• Compass

• Toilet Kit

Clothing

• Change of Clothes Appropriate to Weather

• Coat/Jacket

• Hat (Summer and Winter)

• Closed Toe Shoes – Required

Something to Carry It All In

• Back Pack Not Required

• Duffel Bag is OK

• If You Bring It You Have to Carry It!

What Do You Need to Pack

See Your Boy Scout Book For a Checklist

This is Boy Scouts! No:

• Alcohol• Tobacco• Guns

This is Boy Scouts! No:

• Alcohol• Tobacco• Guns

Troop 698

Do

• Ask Your Son About What He Packed

• Probing & Leading Questions About What He Needs -He Probably Won’t Change His Clothes Anyway!

• Refer Him to His Scout Handbook

Don’t

• Pack Your Son’s Gear

• He Needs to Learn What to Pack

• If He Doesn’t Pack It He Won’t Know It’s There

• Force You Son to Take a Bunch of Stuff He Doesn't Need – He’ll Have to Carry It

• Wait to the Last Possible Minute!

Packing Do’s & Don’ts

Scouts Need to Repack on Their Own Sunday Morning

Troop 699

General

• Arrive at Church With All Gear Ready to Go – 5:30

• Eat Before You Arrive

• Scouts Required to Wear Class A (Field) Uniform

Organization

• Troop Will Assemble & Load Equipment

• Trailer Contains Troop Gear

• Some Personal Gear May Fit in Trailer – Plan on Carrying Personal Gear in Cars

Friday Night Logistics – Getting There

Transportation

• If You Are a Driver (Personal Car or Church Van)

Pass Out Maps

Assign Scouts to Vehicles

Drive to Camp Out

Do Not Caravan

Expect Confusion Until Scouts Understand the Drill – Let the SPL Do His Job

Troop 6910

• Unload Gear

• SPL will Assign Camp Sites

• Adult & Scouts Separated

• Pitch Your Tents

• Help Set Up Adult Camp

• Shelter / Dining Fly

• Kitchen (Patrol Box, Water, Stoves, etc.)

• Check With Chief’s Patrol Leader When All is Ready

• Set Up a Comfortable Chair

• Relax & Enjoy!

Friday Night Logistics – Adult Arrival• Troop Cracker Barrel

• Many Camp Outs – Not All

• Sponsored by Chiefs Patrol

• Light Food (Cheese, Sausage, Crackers, Chips, etc.)

Adults Check With The Chief’s Patrol Leader - Let the Scouts Do It Their Way

ANY Parent Welcome to Camp

Troop 6911

• Immediately Stop Seriously

Dangerous Activity

Fire Knife Fighting

Water Etc.

• Advise the Scoutmaster of Any Health Issues

• Direct Corrective Action to the Scoutmaster or Sr Patrol Leader

• Avoid Initiating Corrective Action – Work Within the Patrol Method

• Alert Scoutmaster of Any Hazing Incidents – Hazing is NOT Allowed

Adult Role On-SiteSafety

If It’s Not Serious Let the Scouts Manage

Troop 6912

Fixing/Managing What is Wrong

• Let the Scout Leaders Direct Their Troop – They Need Our Support

Try to Stick to the Chiefs Patrol Camp Site

Avoid Checking Up on Your Son

• Reinforce the Troop Leadership

• Send Him to His Patrol Leader, Quartermaster, or Sr Patrol Leader

• Serious Concerns – See the Scoutmaster, or Chiefs Patrol Leader

• He is Learning How to Function in the Patrol

• At Best You are a Distraction

• You May Undermine His Image in the Patrol

If a Scout Comes to You

The Most Difficult Job A Parent Has is Letting Go

Troop 6913

Wrapping Up

… Any Questions?

Boy Scout Camping is Fun for the Scouts and The Adults….

Let’s Go Camping!