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Camping

We always look for new ways of keeping our scouts engaged.

Our troop schedules weekend campouts every month during the school year, providing opportunities for scouts to hone their scouting skills and build camaraderie with their fellow scouts. Campsites for these are typically a 45-minute to 3-hour drive away from Sugar Land, departing late Friday afternoon and returning by Sunday noon.

Summer camps are usually week-long, are located in or out of state, and are planned months in advance.

Forms and Resources

Contacts

  • Camping Coordinators Mr. Jon Domsalla
  • Medical Records Coordinator Mrs. Danielle Garcia

Scouts BSA Camping List

1. BSA Gear

We’ve learned that every new Scout needs the following outdoor essentials.  All of this camping & outdoor gear can really become expensive if you purchase it all at one time.

*Amazon affiliate links added for your convenience. Clicks on words in italics for links.

Essential Scout Gear:

  • Official Class A Scout uniform – (uniform shirtconvertible pantssocks)
  • Official Scout BSA Handbook – Only purchase the newest version.
  • Rain jacket– Camp is outside 24-7, scouts will need good quality, closed seams, and breathable jackets.
  • Mess Kit for meals
  • First Aid Kit
  • Flashlight or headlamp + extra batteries
  • Compass
  • Pocket knife – Here is an example love this one, but it is super sharp.
  • Clear Water bottle – Nalgene brand is a great one.
  • Hiking boots 
  • Sleeping Bag – This really depends on the climate your child will be camping.  Tip:  It’s always better to be too warm when you’re sleeping outdoors, than too cold.

2. What Your Scout Will Wear to Camp:

3. Scout Packing List

Tip:  Make this scout camping list below into a packing checklist for your scout.  Let them gather all their supplies and pack themselves.  Packing “themselves” means that they gather supplies and we call out the checklist while they pack it in the box.  We usually keep most of their supplies in one large box and then pull out what’s needed each month.

We have zero tips on getting kids to change underwear while they’re gone.  Funny-but-not-funny.  

Clothes for Summer/Winter Camp:

  • 5 Wick away t-shirts – Official Scout gear is not required at camp, but keep t-shirt decorations appropriate for scouting.  Tip:  Cotton clothes often get wet and stay wet, wick-away shirts dry quickly.
  • 2-3 Lightweight shorts – Official Scout gear is not required.  The uniform’s convertible pants are top-notch.  Many scouts will wear them and (this is important) only open up the knees to vent.  
  • 7 Socks
  • 7 Underwear – Wick-away underwear dries fast.  I cannot guarantee that they will change their underwear daily – sorry!
  • Rain jacket (good quality, closed seams, breathable)
  • Water shoes or closed-toe sandals 
  • Hiking boots 
  • Old sneakers
  • Hat
  • Fleece or non-cotton sweatshirt
  • Swimsuit, Swim Shirt & Goggles
  • Old Towels (2)

Toiletries for Scout Camp:

  • Medicine – All medication needs to be in its original bottle and turned over to an Assistant Scout Master.
  • Sunscreen – Stick, Spray, or Lotion  – just buy something they’ll use.
  • Bug spray
  • Toothbrush & Toothpaste
  • soap/shampoo
  • Deodorant – for the sake of all humanity, please don’t forget this!
  • Body Wipes – Showering tends to be limited, send some of these to help with hygiene.

Gear for Scout Summer/Winter Camp;

  • Official Scouts BSA Handbook – Only purchase the newest version.
  • Rain jacket– Camp is outside 24-7, scouts will need good quality, closed seams, and breathable jackets.
  • Mess Kit for meals
  • First Aid Kit
  • Hiking boots – This type of boot has a great feature for kids – they have an insole that you can remove to add about 1/2 size to make them last longer).
  • Sleeping Bag – This really depends on the climate your child will be camping.  Tip:  It’s always better to be too warm when you’re sleeping outdoors, than too cold.
  • Camp pillow – Get this kind, not the inflatable ones.
  • Pen or pencil
  • Flashlight or headlamp + extra batteries
  • Compass
  • Pocket knife
  • Water bottle 
  • Mess kit & Eating utensil
  • Camp Chair (an inexpensive foldable one) – Watch local sports store ads for good deals, the chairs do not come back in good shape after being outdoors all week.  

Optional Gear for Scout Camp:

  • Money – suggest around $20 – $40 for visits to the General Store (snacks or forgotten gear).
  • Mosquito netting – Purchase the double size to have enough space to move around.
  • Small lantern for tent
  • Battery-powered fan
  • Games:  Playing cards, small football, frisbee, etc.
  • Nylon Bag – somehow everything expands at camp.  This bag collected all the random stuff at the end of camp.  Not neatly, but it came home.

To haul and store your stuff, we’ve found that two Rubbermaid Roughneck 10 gallon storage boxes work well – one for clothes, one for gear.  They slide right under the cot. Rubbermaid boxes (This size is perfect for scouts to carry and stash their gear in.  They also fit under the cots at most scout camps. Packing Tip– Use gallon size ziploc bags for socks, underwear, handbook, toiletries, and swimsuit.

Parent Tips for Sending Your First Child to Scout Camp

  1. Depending on you or your child, it may help to go the first 1-2 nights of camp.  This is usually only an option for Assistant Scout Masters.  If you do go, be generous and send back pictures to all of the other new parents.  Do not promise this to your child until you have checked with the Scout Master.
  2. If your child calls crying, just listen.  If they can make it until Wednesday (halfway), they’ll make it the rest of the week.  No Scout really wants to leave camp.  Scout Camp teaches perseverance, independence and develops their sense of grit.
  3. Even if your troop or camp allows technology, do not plan on relying on this as a source of contact for your child.
  4. Everything expands at Scout Camp and somehow does not fit back into the original container.  This is where a laundry bag comes in handy.  I originally thought that a trash bag would be best, but they can easily get confused with the trash and end up in the dumpster.
  5. Showering and Teeth Brushing are minimal.  
  6. Label all things.  No fancy labels needed, duct tape and a permanent marker work well too.
  7. Have low expectations when your child returns.  They will feel older, wiser and may even look taller, but they are also exhausted.  Be prepared for this, don’t plan anything except feeding them and showering for the first 48-hours.  They’ll recover and come back to being your child.
  8. Do expect growth.  Your scout will have had a different level of independence while at camp.  Use this to your benefit.  Increase their responsibilities around the home and in the caring of their things.
  9. Still struggling on whether or not you did the right thing sending your child to camp?  You’d probably like to read Homesick and Happy.

Above all else, celebrate the accomplishment of going to camp and finishing camp! 

© 2024 Troop 442 – Sugar Land, TX - Boy Scouts of America | WordPress Admin
© 2024 Troop 442 – Sugar Land, TX - Boy Scouts of America
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