Camping Trip Guidelines

Our troop has an organized camping activity of some kind every month, varying from primitive to pretty comfortable. Here are some hints, rules, and guidelines to keep in mind:

Who can participate:

1. Scouts in our Troop who have signed up in the red book and attended at least one of the last two meeting before the trip can come on the trip. Some trips require advance sign-up. Some activities have age or rank limitations on them, to make sure that the participants can handle what we will be doing.

2. Brothers and sisters not in the Troop should not participate, per BSA policy. There are several reasons for this, including: this distracts from the Scouting nature of the event, it places an added burden on the adult and junior leaders, and it may not be a developmentally appropriate activity, especially for younger siblings.

3. For the adults: We must always have two-deep adult leadership on any Scout activity. Parents are welcome and encouraged to visit on trips, as long as they follow our troop and trip guidelines. Remember that Scouting is supposed to be a boy-run organization! To stay overnight you must be a fully trained leader.  You must complete the following: Youth Protection, Fast Start, This is Scouting formerly New Leader Essentials, Scoutmaster Specific, and Outdoor Leader Skills. To work with scouts you must have at least Youth Protection training.

Preparation:

4. You must be at least one of the two Tuesday's before the trip. This is when we plan menus and duty rosters as well as make sure we have the payments, drivers, and camping arrangements, plus we give information on what to bring, when to show up, etc. PARENTS who are planning to attend should also be at this meeting.

5. The Menu should be healthy food, which involves preparation--we do not just want to open a can or box and eat out of it! Each meal must include at least one fruit or veggie, preferably more. The Menu needs to fit with the food budget for shopping, as well. NOTE: No Pop-Tarts, no Sodas/Soft Drinks.

6. Each member of the Patrol has Duties during the trip, as is on the Duty Roster. For most meals, this involves either fire building, Cooking, or cleanup. These duties rotate so that everyone usually has every job at least once.

7. One member of the Patrol is the Food Shopper and needs to get a check from the troop and go shopping with the Patrol food list. It is important for the SCOUT to be doing this, not just the parent, as it is a rank requirement and a valuable learning experience. Some hints: Buy generic brands; buy ingredients, not prepared products; do not forget the paper towels. Usually, the shopper should also bring the cooler chest to transport the perishable food.

For the Adults: We have to file a Tour Permit with Narragansett Council whenever we travel out of our Council. For this permit we need to know who is driving, as well as insurance information. The trip coordinator will collect this information.

Packing:

9. For specialized trips (like backpacking, etc.) information will be given during meetings. For regular trips, follow the packing lists in the Scout Handbook or in the Troop guidelines. Remember to bring eating utensils, flashlight, personal toiletries, Handbook, poncho, and appropriate clothing. Bring a campstool if you want to.

10. DO NOT BRING: You should not bring sheath knives, aerosol cans, or dangerous items. You should not bring a lot of snacks, junk food, etc. No sodas, no radios, no electronic devices unless specifically listed. We camp to get away from it all not to carry it all around with us!

11. Consider packing your gear in gallon-sized ZipLoc bags. This keeps the clothing organized and helps keep it dry if it rains. Pack your sleeping bag into a trash bag to keep it dry and clean. Try to pack in a backpack or bag that can be easily carried.

Travelling:

12. Be sure you know the meeting place and the announced time to pack and leave. Please be on time. Scouts need to help the Quartermaster load the troop gear.

13. Many times we wear a Class-B uniform when we travel to and from trips. Uniforms make us look sharp, reminds us we are Scouts and are a group, and lets others know who we are.

14. All passengers must wear seatbelts in the vehicles.

15. On many trips, we either bring dinner or eat dinner before we leave. Be sure to check on this ahead of time. We usually bring snacks that are shared during the nightly crackerbarrel.

16. For the Adults: The trip coordinator needs to know which adults are planning on driving on the trip. Scouts may not drive. Adults are encouraged to combine/consolidate/carpool whenever possible so that we do not have a half-full vehicles. BSA policy states that we cannot caravan.  Please ask the trip coordinator for directions.  Adults should share cell phone numbers in case of an emergency.

On the trip:

17. The Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leaders, and other Junior Leaders should be the ones making sure that work gets done. Adults should work with the junior leaders rather than do things for the Scouts. The SPL should get guidance from the trip coordinator who acts as scoutmaster during the trip. This avoids mixed messages.  Adults should bring their concerns to the trip coordinator.

18. On trips, we eat as a Patrol. Adults eat with the patrol, but don't have to do any work (except for general supervision and occasional direction) . There should be a prayer before each meal. Usually, we let cleanup eat first, and cooks serve, then eat last. Patrol members are responsible for bringing their own plate, cup, bowl, knife, fork and spoon. We have some of these in the Chuck Boxes but their cleanliness is variable. Each Patrol member does his own personal-dishes cleanup. Patrol scouts who are on cleanup must wash dishes, put away food, and pick up the area.

19. We usually return Sundays around lunchtime, depending on the program and the distance. When we return to the drop-off location, scouts can call their parents. All scouts need to help unload the troop and personal gear. Some scouts should help put the troop gear away in the shed.

20. Scouts need to travel to and from the camping trips with the troop. Generally we cannot accommodate requests for Scouts to be brought up separately, or late, on camping trips. Likewise, parents are requested not to take their Scouts home early from camping trips. We want to travel as a group and work as a group. We will try hard to stick to the schedule we have announced.

General:

21. Scouts are expected to live by the Scout Oath and Scout Law at all activities. Disobedient, dangerous, illegal, violent, and/or stupid behavior will not be tolerated. Adult leaders reserve the right to send any Scout home, at the parents' expense, in the event of serious misbehavior.

22. Any changes from this general script will be announced at meetings prior to the trip. If you have any questions, check with your patrol leader, the senior patrol leader, the Scoutmaster, or the adult coordinator of the trip.

Happy Camping!