Camping

Troop 6 offers an outdoor experience every month during the scouting year.

Two registered adult leaders are required for each campout.  Troop 6 typically alternates between car campouts and backpacking outings, depending on scout interest, campsite availability, and other factors such as weather and driving distance.  Scouts and parents are required to sign up for campouts on TroopMaster.

Scouts are welcome to attend all campouts (car and backpacking) with or without a parent.  If your scout needs a ride to a campout, please list this in the comments of the registration in TroopMaster.

Car Campouts:

Car campouts are when scouts and registered adults can drive right up to a campsite.  Siblings are not allowed, per BSA regulations.  Only Troop 6 Scouts and Registered/YPT-Trained Adults.  At car campouts, the following applies:

• Scouts are encouraged to camp in their own tents, especially after Tenderfoot rank is reached. 

• Patrols plan and cook meals together at campouts.  Scouts will do this during a Monday night scout meeting.  They will select the meal, list ingredients, and assign responsibilities.  The meal(s) must be planned according to an assigned budget.  Parents should only help with procuring items and not with suggesting, planning, or preparing meals.  Patrols will cook and eat together, and should also invite parents to join them.

• Each patrol has a "chuckbox" of cooking supplies.  The patrol quartermaster is responsible for taking care of the chuckbox.  This includes ensuring that the materials are clean, organized, and restocked as necessary.  The chuckboxes are stored in the Troop 6 shed at Prince of Peace and can be loaded into a car before we leave for the campsite.

• For most car campouts, we meet as a troop at Prince of Peace at 8am on Saturday to check-in.    If you plan to go up at a different time, you must get permission from the Scoutmaster.  

• All scouts and registered adults attending overnight camping events are required to submit Medical Forms A & B prior to attending the event. 

• Car campouts are a great place for scouts to complete advancement requirements, as many of these revolve around outdoor skills.  Scouts should bring their Scout Books to all car campouts.  Older scouts will help younger scouts with these requirements.

• We typically have a Sunday morning event (hike, activity, etc.), and plan to arrive home between noon and 2pm on Sunday from car campouts.

Backpacking Trips

Backpacking involves scouts and one parent driving to a spot and then hiking in and out to the campsite.  Hiking is involved in order to reach the campsite.  Backpacking trips involve the following:

• Scouts pack their own gear and hike with their own backpacks and equipment

• To reduce pack weight, scouts are encouraged to share tents.  Scouts may be no more than two years in age difference, except for siblings.

•  Backpacking trips are for scouts and one parent only.  Scouts are encouraged to attend on their own when they feel comfortable and gain experience.

• New parents should plan to attend the Backpacking 101 meeting to learn more 

See below for Car Campout and Backpacking Checklists