Camping 101

Tent Safety

• Discuss the importance of never eating or storing food in tents, and never storing containers that have been used for fuel, drink mix, or food, in tents as the odor will remain even after the food is gone.

• Discuss the dangers of sleeping in clothing that has been soiled or stored with food, or worn while cooking. At night these items must be stored away from the tent.

• “no flames in tents”

• Zip up tent

• Store shoes inside and upside down

• No insect spray on tents

• Look for an area free from insect pests.

• Avoid camping near poisonous plants.

• Avoid situations where sleeping will be unnecessarily uncomfortable, such as in rough terrain, uneven ground, steep hills, or depressions where water can collect.

• Never use heater or any open flame in or near a tent

• The guide ropes along the sides may need to be loosened in the rain. When they are wet, they tighten and put undue strain on the canvas

• Do not hang anything on the ropes. This pulls the tent out of line.

• Roll side walls and door flaps up toward the inside of the tent, so they can be let down from the inside. This prevents water from catching in the roll when in rains.

• Never roll up the side walls or door flaps unless they are completely dry. Damp canvas will mildew when not open to the air.

• Drop the side walls periodically. Mice sometimes nest in the rolled-up flaps

• Never touch the inside of the tent during a rain. Touching the fabric can cause the canvas to leak.

• Do not use insect repellent inside of the tent during the rain. The chemicals can dissolve the water-repellent treatment.

• Do no pin anything to the tent, since this can cause tears and leaking.

• Tie the tapes with a half bow so they can be untied when wet.

• Keep mirrors under cover. Sunlight reflected in a mirror can be hot enough to burn a hole in a tent or start a fire.

• Report small tears and missing ropes or tapes so that they can be replaced.
  
  

Campfire safety

Make a safe fire site. Make sure that nothing will burn except the fuel you feed the flames, the fire cannot spread, and use existing fire sites whenever possible.

• Bare-ground fire site. Protect the ground from the heat by building an earthen pad 2 feet square and 3 inches thick on the bare ground.

• Gather tinder, kindling, and fuelwood. Key ingredients for a successful fire: — Patience — Tinder (dry pine needles, grasses, shredded bark, fluff from seed pods) — Kindling (dead twigs no thicker than a pencil) — Fuelwood (which can be as thin as your finger or as thick as your wrist)

• Arrange the tinder, kindling, and fuelwood so that the heat of a single match can start your campfire.

• Fireplaces. The fireplace holds your cook pots in place above the flames and allows air to keep your fire burning. See the Boy Scout Handbook for surefire wet-weather fire tips

• Putting out a campfire. Extinguish a fire cold out when it is no longer needed—cold enough so that you can run your hands through the ashes.

• Cleaning a fire site. When the fire site has cooled, pick out and pack out any bits of paper, foil, and unburned food left. Leave No Trace.

• Build fires several yards from tents.
  Be sure the fire is downwind from tents.

• Keep cooking fires small enough to do the job.

• Clear an area 10 feet in diameter of all burnable material, or as required by local law.

• Place two fire buckets filled with water at each tent.

• Always extinguish fires and other flame sources before you go to sleep. Put them dead out with water.

• Never leave a fire unattended.

• Emphasize that the Boy Scouts of America prohibits the use of liquid fuel for starting any type of fire. Solid-type starters are easier to store and carry and are much safer.

Camping safety/YPT

• Always two-deep. One registered leader and 1 over 18. Don’t ever be alone with a child unless he/she is yours.

• Don’t invite them into your tent without letting leaders knows

• Don’t take the kids out of camp without letting leaders know

• Buddy system of 3

• Outdoor hazards (snakes, plants)

• Au kids have to be with parents/leaders.

• Stay near group. Don’t wander from the designated camping area.

• Avoid contact with strangers

• Sound an alarm, or whistle, or scream when in trouble

• When feeling threatened or in trouble, move away from the threat and toward people and lights.

• Always carry a flashlight at night.

• Report suspicious sounds, activities, or people to the group leader.

• Practice what to do when an alarm sounds at site.

• If lost

  • • • Sit down and conserve energy. Relax. Try not to panic

      • Find shelter to keep warm to keep as warm and dry as possible and out of the wind.

      • If shelter is safe, leave some sort of sign, such as a piece of clothing, outside of the shelter to alert searchers.

      • Find water.

      • If matches are available and the danger of a fire spreading out of control is low, may want to build a fire.

      • Tie a piece of brightly colored cloth to a high branch or rock

      • Flash a mirror or other reflective surface at any passing aircraft

      • Make a smoky fire in a safe, open place

      • Draw large signs on the ground that could be seen from the air

      • Stay in the area. Don’t wander.

• Yell or whistle if someone is heard nearby.

Outdoor Code/Leave no Trace

• Leave animals/plants/rocks alone

• Single-file line, stay on trail

• Pack it in/Pack it out

• Leave no trace

  • • Plan Ahead and Prepare. Planning ahead helps prevent unexpected situations and makes compliance with area regulations more manageable.

    • TRAVEL AND CAMP ON DURABLE SURFACES. That helps prevent soil erosion and keeps damage to land in check.

    • DISPOSE OF WASTE PROPERLY (PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT). Accept the challenge of taking home everything you bring.

    • LEAVE WHAT YOU FIND. Allow other visitors a sense of discovery, and remember that good campsites are found, not made.

    • MINIMIZE CAMPFIRE IMPACTS. Use lightweight camp stoves whenever possible—they make camp cooking much easier and more desirable than harmful campfires do.

    • RESPECT WILDLIFE. Considerate campers help keep wildlife wild.

    • BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHER VISITORS. Thoughtful campers are considerate of other campers and respect their privacy.

Other camping tips:

• Wear shirt inside uniform so you can quickly take off and put in backpack.

• Pack all personal toiletries in one bag so you can easily grab

• Pack things along with your kids so they know where everything is and not find you.

WHAT TO PACK:

*Label everything with your name and Lien Doan Name. 

*Do not bring anything that you are afraid to get lost or dirty.

*Medications should be clearly marked with Scout's name, medication name, dosage

*Pack all items in a backpack and/or duffle bag/luggage

Official Uniform:

*Mostly wear at the ceremony (open, close, interfaith)

❑ Uniform Shirt

❑ Shorts/Pants

❑ Belt, if applicable

❑ Troop Neckerchief, if applicable

❑ Neckerchief Slide, if applicable

Clothing:

❑ Socks (5 pairs)

❑ Scout T-Shirts (4)

❑ Underwear (5-7)

❑ Hat (1)

❑ Pair of Long Pants (2)

❑ Pair of Shorts (2)

❑ Sleepwear

❑ Swimwear

❑ Tennis shoes - make sure you have a comfortable shoes (you will be walking a lot)

❑ Closed toed sandals (open toed only for showering)

❑ Rain gear/Poncho!!!!!!

For Evening Weather:

❑ Sweatshirt/Sweater

❑ Jacket

❑ Long sleeve T-Shirts (2)  (LD shirt = aka activity uniform)

❑ Hat/beanie

Toiletries:

❑ Soap in a carrier (or plastic bag)

❑ Towels and washcloths

❑ Toothbrush & Toothpaste

❑ Shampoo/Conditional (follow TSA Guidelines)

❑ Comb or Brush

❑ Deodorant & personal hygiene

❑ Tissues
❑ Hair tie

❑ Sun block

Camping Gear:

❑ Backpack/Duffle bag

❑ Sleeping Pad (Au)

❑ Sleeping bag

❑ Pillow or camp pillow

❑ Flashlight (Head lamps preferred but not mandatory)

❑ Water bottle (reusable) Water stations available.

❑ Extra Batteries

❑ Cup/mug

Other Items:

❑ Medications - Clearly labeled

❑ Notebook and pencils

❑ Card Games (optional)

❑ Camera (Optional)

❑ Battery Pack

❑ Power Cords

Dressing for the weather

Wear layers of clothing instead of one or two heavy one

Each layer must provide warmth and ventilation without hindering mobility

In cool weather

First layer should be made of breathable material so that body moisture will not be trapped.

Second layer provides insulation and may consist of several pieces of clothing. Could be long-sleeve shirts, t-shirts, sweaters, fleece – depending on the temperature.

The final layer should be a jacket that gives protection from wind or moisture

Protect your extremities so hats, socks, and gloves are necessary. 

Hat helps retains as much as 40% of your body heat.

Hot weather: Hat to protect from the sun

Fabric: Wool provides warmth even when wet

Cotton is good at allowing air circulation, a plus for staying cool.

Other tips

Wear clothing that allow for freedom of movements during strenuous activities

Wear old clothes or clothes you are not afraid of being dirty

Dangling or flapping clothing can be a hazard, especially around campfires and stoves. Do not wear flammable clothing such as plastic raincoat near stoves and fires. Clothing that covers arms and legs will provide protection from biting insects, ticks, poisonous plants, and sunburn. It also help guards against bruises and scrapes.

Properly fitting, sturdy shoes with non-slip soles will protect feet on rugged, rocky terrain.

If there is a chance of getting wet, a water-repellent jacket and pants should be worn, especially in cooler days or when wind will evaporate moisture from the skin.