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Until the new families are set up in Scoutbook and can view our full calendar, we wanted to share some key dates that we have on the books for 2020. If you're unable to read this clearly, you can click the image so it opens to a window, which you *should* be able to print:
People have also asked what kind of gear their scouts need. As mentioned in >> this post << the troop provides: tents, cooking equipment, and canopies. Your scout will definitely need a sleeping bag and sleeping pad. We recommend bags that are temperature rated to at least 20F. My rule of thumb is to add 15 degrees to a temperature rating. For example, I'd be warm in a 20F bag if the temperature dipped to 35. But if the mercury dropped below that level, I'd be chattering.
That's where a fleece liner can come in handy. Doesn't add much weight to your bag, but if you need it - it will add another 15F to your bag warmth, so I'd be in OK shape if the temperatures were to drop to actually drop to 20F.
Here's a >> great write-up << for more information on sleeping bag ratings.
And here's a >> great write-up << for more information on sleeping bag liners.
One of the MOST IMPORTANT PIECES OF GEAR that you can invest in, aside from a sleeping bag that will provide sufficient warmth .... is your sleeping pad. Please pay heed when I gently suggest:
DO NOT GO CHEAP ON YOUR SLEEPING PAD!!
The absolutely coldest nights I've ever spent in my entire life were on ineffective sleeping pads. The yoga mat that my mother loaned me for my camping trip to the Smoky Mountains in 1985 comes to mind. Or the time I slept on a cot in the Sierra Nevadas in March of 1993. It would have been warmer to sleep directly on the snow. Worst of all, perhaps, was the night we slept on an air mattress on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. With nearly 40 years of camping experience under our belts, we thought we were So Smart, because air would circulate in that space and keep us warm.
Alas, our logic regarding thermodynamics was dashed when we realized at 2 AM that as the temperature dropped to the low 30's all of the warm air from our bodies was lost to the frigid conditions that blew down from the arctic and circulated beneath our tushies.
Unless your name is Frosty and you like to dance around with a broomstick and corn cob pipe .... it was dreadful. ⛄
The good news is that there are an abundance of fantastic sleeping pad options out there, that will help keep your scout toasty warm and ensure the best possible sleeping conditions for a good night's rest. (Which is critically important when you're camping!)
Yet again, I will defer to the experts at REI who can sum it up a lot better than me. Without further ado, here's a >> great write-up << for more information on sleeping pads.
In addition to the sleeping bag and liner, and sleeping pad, here are some other things that we'd recommend for your scout:
- A sturdy backpack or duffel bag (with hearty zippers!) that can tote their gear
- Packable / lightweight camping chair
- Flashlight (I'd suggest a headlamp - we love our Black Diamond brand)
- Clothing: thermal underwear (NOT cotton); warm hat, gloves, rain coat, wide-brimmed hat, hiking shoes / boots; socks with liners, water shoes that they can wear in to water and come out with again (e.g., Tevas, Keens, etc. with back support unlike Crocs which will slip off). Sandals are also useful for camp showers.
- Mess kit - while the troop has supplies, it's nice to have your own, particularly a good insulated cup with lid for hot chocolate in the morning (yay!)
- Durable water bottle & pocket knife
There are a lot of references for more exhaustive lists for camping gear. In fact, here's one from BSA >> Packing Checklists for Camping Trips. But the best way to figure out what you need - is to get out there and do it and then add / remove as you become more experienced.
One thing is for sure.... with Troop 890's monthly camping schedule - there will be an abundance of opportunities to refine and perfect the gear list.
Nature is wonderful, awesome, and heals the soul.
So. Get. Out. There!
