Camping Blog

Pack this in a footlocker or large duffle: 

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Extra Shirts (long-sleeves for some programs)
Extra Pants (needed for various programs)
Extra Shorts
Extra Socks
Extra Underwear
Jacket
Rain Gear
Sleep wear
Sneakers
Hiking Boots (needed for various programs)

(Optional) Fishing Gear, Bait
Swim Suit

Stationary & Stamps
Extra Towels
Toilet Items (washcloth, soap, comb,shampoo,
toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, toilet

paper.)
Sleeping Bag or Blankets
Pillow
Personal First Aid Kit
Flashlight, Batteries
Wallet, Money
Pocket Knife (2 1/2 " blade or less)
Handkerchief
Notebook, Pen or Pencil
Scout Handbook
Merit Badge Books
Materials for your merit badge classes
Non-Aerosol Bug Repellent
Bug Net
Laundry Bag
Watch
Water Bottle
Sun Screen Lotion
Scout Uniform

Camera (Optional)

Sunglasse

Winter Camping is my favorite type of camping. Scouts of all ages can enjoy the chilly weather by: sledding, skiing, throwing snowballs, performing skits, etc. But if you're not prepared it can be the difference from having the time of your life or being the most soggy, freezing, and miserable you've been in your entire life. Here are 16 of my essentials. The red colored ones on the list are the most important.

1. A negative degrees sleeping bag (Higher is fine, if you also bring some or lots of blankets, depending on the degrees, or another sleeping bag to put inside the other. I believe zero degrees is okay too.)

2. TOILET PAPER (More important than you think.)

3. A flashlight or lantern (bring extra batteries)

4. A pillow (if your sleeping bag doesn't already have a built in one)

5. Flint and Steel, Water proof matches, or another water proof fire starting tool. (Above all the rest)

6. A pocket knife

7. A first aid kit (with a whistle)

8. A large glow stick

9. Something to keep you busy

10. A compass

11. A good back pack

12. Money

13. A water bottle

14. A mess kit

15. Good winter clothing

16. Clothing

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In the following I will explain the use of items listed above:

1. A good sleeping bag, will keep you warm and dry during a winter night. The bags degree range should be 10 degrees or below.

2. During a campout you're bound to need to the bathroom. If you don't have toilet paper at the right time, it gets ugly (I've experienced this!). This item is a must bring if you're camping out side or inside without a bathroom.

3. Some may argue that a flashlight is highly important, on this list it is not top priority, because it's batteries could die and they are highly common on campouts. So if you happened to forget to bring one you could ask someone if you could use theirs. Still they are important and key for vision.

4. A pillow just helps with comfort, if your sleeping bag has one built in you can already check this off your list.

5. Water proof fire starting gear is extremely high on this, a good fire can warm you up quickly, dry off your clothing, and cook food. If it's waterproof you can always light fires, where if you use a normal wet match there is about 97% chance it won't light.

6. A pocket knife can be a substitute for steel in flint and steel, it can be a weapon to protect yourself or a hunting tool, it can be use to whittle and create other useful items, and it can be something to keep you busy. You never want to be inactive while camping in the winter, less activity leads to coldness. Also, some pocket knives have even more tools than just a blade making it even more useful.

7. A first aid kit can be the difference between life and death. A good one can even help you become found or not lost, if you are lost. It is highly important that scouts train themselves with the tools in their own first aid kit.

8. This item is the item that beats the flashlight. A good glow stick can last 8 hours a shed a great amount of light. And to get it ready all you do is crack it and it glows, it dims as the hours go by though, but fresh the light shed is amazing, it lasts longer than most flashlights do too.

9. You never want to be inactive while camping in the winter, less activity leads to coldness. As long as you have something (preferable not electronic) to keep you busy you won't get cold as quick, you might even warm up depending on what the item is.

10. If you get lost in you know how to use it, it can save your life. If not you should learn.

11. Winter hikes can be extremely tiring, if you have a good pack it can make them a little easier. They are also good for organizing your stuff. If you don't bring a bag your stuff is more prone to getting lost.

12. If you get lost, and you find a town or city, a couple bucks could buy you a ride back or closer to your home or a meal. Money is important, even when camping.

13. A water bottle, while full, keeps you hydrated on hikes and fun activities so you don't miss out on the fun. Dehydration is not fun.

14. A mess kit simply can hold your food and your drink while you eat them. It also minimizes your eco footprint because you are not using paper cups or bowls.

15. Comfortable, warm winter clothing not only keeps you warm, but also allows you to enjoy your winter activities even more.

16. Above all the rest, bring clothing! It's that simple.

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If there is something else that should be on the list please notify me.

- Dylan Anderson, Saco, Troop 310 Scribe, Proud member of the Tree Patrol
Be Prepared...

Every year at camp hinds, the water front staff hold the mile swim at the water front near the mess hall. The mile swim is a swimming period, before lunch, where people swim laps around the swim area. You must be present all for 4 days to complete it, and to get the patch for it. The staff builds you up each day to improve too. So on the first day you do 3 laps or a 1/4 of a mile, on the second you do 6 laps or a 1/2 of a mile, and so forth, adding a 1/4 of a mile each day, until the final day, where you do the full mile. The following is my experience with the mile swim:

I enjoyed the mile swim a lot last year, 2016. I am so excited to see new faces try, to complete this impressive swim. The swim, for me, was hard at first, but with each day it got easier, because I grew strong and conserved my energy. Last year only 2 of the 5 participants from our troop, completed this swim, and only 1 of those participants was a boy scout, myself, and the other was our Scoutmaster, Mr. Anderson. This year I would really like to see new scouts to give it a shot, and older scouts do it again and teach others, or complete it for the first time. I am looking forward to seeing you all, this year at Camp Hinds.

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- Troop 310 Scribe, Dylan Anderson

When camping in the spring, summer, and fall, protection from bugs is very important. Bug spray is okay but that's made of chemicals, which can hurt wildlife, yourself, and possibly plants. A more natural alternative is the best way to go, for example All natural bug spray (check labels carefully) or lemon, mint leaves (something I tried while hiking Ossipee Hill, works really well for 10 - 20 minutes and then fades). Another alternative is a bug net. A good bug net protects you from bugs, and has extremely small holes, only so you can breath, if it rips or gets a big hole in it, you can just us duct tape (just don't wrap the whole net in duct tape). Some good hiking and camping gear, equipment, and clothing have built in bug nets. In the following I am going to give you an example of a time someone forgot their bug protection and refused to use other people's bug spray:

On a Camp Hinds campout not so long ago, a new scout forgot about bringing bug protection and left home defenseless to these tiny pests. At camp, some other members of our troop, offered him bug spray. He refused it, claiming that it attracted the bugs, instead of repelling them. He stood corrected at the end of the camp out, and he stood defeated from the army of mosquitoes, that seemed to put a huge target on his back. Hopefully next time he'll bring at least some protection from the bugs. In conclusion, don't forget about the bugs.

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- Troop 310 Scribe, Dylan Anderson