Camping With Troop 69 “How You & Your Son Can Get the Most Out of the Scouting Outdoor Experience”

1. Camping With Troop 69 “How You & Your Son Can Get the Most Out of the Scouting Outdoor Experience”

2. Why Are You Sitting Through This Meeting? • Historically – Poor Communication on How to Prepare for Campouts • Scouts at This Age Don’t Tend to Get All the Details Back to Their Parents • No Vehicle to Bring New Parents Up To Speed For Adult Participation • The Typical Troop Will Lose Half the Boys the First Year • Lack of Parental Understanding, Support, and/or Involvement • An Unprepared Scout May Not Enjoy Camping • Too Many Other Distractions The More You are Prepared, The Better You Can Support Your Scout

3. Anatomy of a Troop Campout Friday Eve Assemble at AFUMC around 5:30 & Travel to Destination Hiking Canoeing Cooking Rock Climbing Swimming White Water Rafting Backpacking Camp Fire • Sunday • Break Camp • Religious Service • Return to AFUMC Between 1 & 2 Saturday Have Fun! Friday Eve Set Up Camp Advancement (Bring Scout Handbook) This Doesn’t Happen by Accident

4. Boy Led Troop • Patrols Divide by • Age Grouping • 6 – 10 Scouts per Patrol • 2-3 12 Year Old • 2-3 13 Year old • 1- 2 14 year old • 1-2 15 Plus Year Old • Staff Assigned Specific Roles • Elected Positions • 3 QM – Coordinate Equipment • 1 Scribe – Communications & Dues • 1 Historian – Record Troop Activities • 1 Chaplain Aide – Duty to God • 1 Librarian – Maintains Merit Badge Books & Reference Material • New Scouts • 1st 6 months only • 8 – 10 Scouts per Patrol • 2 - 3 Troop Guides – Interviewed Position • Organize • Train • Assimilate New Scouts Patrol Method: Organized to Develop Leadership Skills

5. Organizing the Troop • Elections Held Semi Annually: March & September • Troop Leadership Roles Required for Advancement • Leaders Not Always Chosen For Skill Set • Junior Leadership Training Classes • Scouts Organize & Plan Activities • Adults Support Scout Leaders • Scouts Plan Outings – August Planning Conference • Preparation During Monthly Patrol Leader Council Meetings • Organize Individual Trips (Menus, Time Tables, etc.) • Scouts Learn by Doing • Leadership • Teamwork • Communication • Problem Solving • Conflict Resolution • Project Management • Adults Provide Logistic Support • Supervision • Transportation • Financial Support “Don’t Do Anything for a Scout that he can do himself” Robert Baden-Powell

6. Before You Even Think About Camping What To Buy What Not To Buy • Water Bottle, or Two - Nalgene • Good Sleeping Bag • Sleeping Pad • Durable Flashlight • Clothing You Will Use Everyday • Inexpensive Items • Items That Retain Utility When Your Son Grows • Boy’s Tent • Troop Will Supply for 1st Year • Cheap Mess Kit • Never Used • Any Expensive Equipment • Large Lost & Found • Big Bulky and Fragile Equipment • Nothing Is Unbreakable • Backpacking Backpack, Stove, Water Filter, Etc. • 1st Real Backpacking Trek Is a Long Way Away and Your Son Is Growing Spend Wisely – If In Doubt Talk with Other Parents

7. What Do You Need to Pack • Shelter/Sleep • Tent (Smaller is Better – Supplied by Troop for 1st Year Scouts) • Sleeping Bag • Air Mattress/Sleeping Pad • Pillow • Eating Utensils • Plate • Fork, Knife, Spoon • Cup • Weather Gear • Rain Coat • Poncho • Comfort • Camp Chair (Optional, Can Be a Point of Contention) • Basic Camping Gear • Boy Scout Handbook • Flash Light • Pocket Knife (ONLY After Earning the Totin’Chip Card) • Compass • Toilet Kit • Clothing • Change of Clothes Appropriate to Weather • Coat/Jacket • Hat (Summer and Winter) • Closed Toe Shoes – Required • Something to Carry It All In • Back Pack Not Required • Duffel Bag is OK • If You Bring It You Have to Carry It! • Food • Patrol Will Supply All the Food You Need • Cooking Equipment Provided by Troop • This is Boy Scouts! No: • Alcohol • Tobacco • Guns See Your Boy Scout Book For a Checklist

8. Packing Do’s & Don’ts • Do • Ask Your Son About What He Packed • Probing & Leading Questions About What He Needs -He Probably Won’t Change His Clothes Anyway! • Refer Him to His Scout Handbook • Don’t • Pack Your Son’s Gear • He Needs to Learn What to Pack • If He Doesn’t Pack It He Won’t Know It’s There • Force You Son to Take a Bunch of Stuff He Doesn't Need – He’ll Have to Carry It • Wait to the Last Possible Minute! Scouts Need to Repack on Their Own Sunday Morning

9. Friday Night Logistics – Getting There • General • Arrive at Church With All Gear Ready to Go – 5:30 • EatBefore You Arrive • Scouts Required to Wear Class A (Field) Uniform • Organization • Troop Will Assemble & Load Equipment • Trailer Contains Troop Gear • Some Personal Gear May Fit in Trailer – Plan on Carrying Personal Gear in Cars • Transportation • If You Are a Driver (Personal Car or Church Van) • Pass Out Maps • Assign Scouts to Vehicles • Drive to Camp Out • Do Not Caravan Expect Confusion Until Scouts Understand the Drill – Let the SPL Do His Job

10. Friday Night Logistics – Adult Arrival • Unload Gear • SPL will Assign Camp Sites • Adult & Scouts Separated • Pitch Your Tents • Help Set Up Adult Camp • Shelter / Dining Fly • Kitchen (Patrol Box, Water, Stoves, etc.) • Check With Chief’s Patrol Leader When All is Ready • Set Up a Comfortable Chair • Relax & Enjoy! • Troop Cracker Barrel • Many Camp Outs – Not All • Sponsored by Chiefs Patrol • Light Food (Cheese, Sausage, Crackers, Chips, etc.) ANY Parent Welcome to Camp Adults Check With The Chief’s Patrol Leader - Let the Scouts Do It Their Way

11. Adult Role On-Site Safety • Immediately Stop Seriously • Dangerous Activity • Fire Knife Fighting • Water Etc. • Advise the Scoutmaster of Any Health Issues • Direct Corrective Action to the Scoutmaster or Sr Patrol Leader • Avoid Initiating Corrective Action – Work Within the Patrol Method • Alert Scoutmaster of Any Hazing Incidents – Hazing is NOT Allowed If It’s Not Serious Let the Scouts Manage

12. Fixing/Managing What is Wrong • Try to Stick to the Chiefs Patrol Camp Site • Let the Scout Leaders Direct Their Troop – They Need Our Support • He is Learning How to Function in the Patrol • At Best You are a Distraction • You May Undermine His Image in the Patrol Avoid Checking Up on Your Son If a Scout Comes to You • Reinforce the Troop Leadership • Send Him to His Patrol Leader, Quartermaster, or Sr Patrol Leader • Serious Concerns – See the Scoutmaster, or Chiefs Patrol Leader The Most Difficult Job A Parent Has is Letting Go

13. Wrapping Up Boy Scout Camping is Fun for the Scouts and The Adults…. … Any Questions? Let’s Go Camping!