Try to plan for every possible problem so you will be prepared should one actually occur. You can’t think of everything on your own, so be sure to refer to the Safety Activity Checkpoints!
Be sure the girls are emotionally ready for a camping experience. If a girl’s parent(s) are unsure of her readiness, perhaps she can arrange for an overnight with a friend before the campout, or the parent could be one of the accompanying adults.
Homesickness is the most common problem encountered by first time campers. Know which girls will be spending their first night away from home and which are experienced “overnighters.” Remember, bedtime is when most cases of “I miss my Mom or Dad” will occur. Sometimes reading a bedtime story alleviates this situation as many girls will fall asleep before the completion of the story.
Encourage all girls to bring a favorite small stuffed animal. (Adults can bring one too).
Discuss bedtime routine with girls when planning the trip and again after you arrive. Music or singing helps girls relax.
Leave a light on. The girls may need to find the bathroom or a leader in the middle of the night. Camping outside? Leave a night glow stick hanging from the leader’s tent and another one on the latrine.
Have activities for different energy levels from which the girls can choose.
Have friends sleep together. If using small tents, limit friends to two and fill the other tent spaces with another two-some.
Establish a “sleep circle” around the leaders so that the leaders are equal distance from all girls.
Plan an active game to tire the girls followed by a calm transition time such as a campfire, quiet games, or a night hike, and no ghost stories before bed!
Encourage each girl to do her own packing. When someone else does the packing, she doesn’t know what she has or where it is. Practice packing at a troop meeting.
Give each girl a checklist to use as she packs. Have her bring it with her as a reminder of what she brought. It saves a lot of time!
Have girls pack in soft-sided bags such as duffel, backpack, or laundry bags. They are easier to work out of, easier to store, and usually easier for girls to carry!
Pack items in reverse order of use with raingear and flashlight on top.
Have girls assemble each outfit and roll it together. It takes up less room, is easier to find, is ready when needed, and doesn’t get as wrinkled.
Remind girls to identify all clothing with a sew-on or iron-on name tag, or clothing marker. It’s fun to share, but disappointing when she gets home and doesn’t have everything she originally took.
Each girl must carry what she packs, so plan carefully. Practice packing and carrying at a troop meeting.
Never pack snacks of any kind, including gum with clothing. Bugs and animals always find them and even when the food isn’t there any longer, the smell remains to attract unwanted visitors.
Discourage girls from bringing jewelry that might get caught in something or which might get lost. This also includes other items of value such as a tablets and cell phones!