Essential Outdoor Gear

New scouts will learn from the older boys and adult leaders what they need to bring on each particular outing.  However, while learning from mistakes can be a valuable experience, mistakes can often be dangerous, especially when the weather is cold and wet.  The Scout Handbook is an invaluable resource to use when preparing for outdoor adventures with the scouts.  We have listed here some of the more important information.  Use it as a checklist and go over it with your parent before you leave.

 SCOUT OUTDOOR ESSENTIALS

 These are essential items you should have packed and ready to go on every trip:

  1.                Pocketknife

  2.                First aid kit

  3.                Extra clothing

  4.                RAIN GEAR

  5.                Canteen or water bottle

  6.                Flashlight with extra batteries

  7.                Trail food

  8.                Matches and fire starters

  9.                Sun protection

  10.               Map and compass (where necessary)

 For those new to extended camping, there are a couple of items you should always bring.  It doesn’t matter what the weather is supposed to be that weekend or week, how good your boots are or how smart you are.  Always bring rain gear and lots of extra socks.  Four pairs of socks for a weekend trip would be about right.  You may not need all of those but there is nothing worse than spending the day with wet feet.  Not only is it uncomfortable, but staying wet can lead to hypothermia, even in warm weather. 

PERSONAL OVERNIGHT CAMPING GEAR 

The following list should be used to get ready for a camping trip: 

1.                Scout Outdoor Essentials (see above list)

2.                Clothing for the season (plan to dress in layers)

3.                Pack (can be rented at EMS)

4.                Tent (the troop has some tents or equipment may be rented at EMS)

5.                Sleeping bag (bring a blanket if you have a 40° degree bag and it might be cold)

6.                Foam sleeping pad or air mattress

7.                Ground cloth or tarp

8.                Eating kit (spoon, fork, plate, bowl, cup)

9.                Cleanup kit (soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, washcloth, towel, toilet paper [most of this won’t get used!]

Make sure you bring enough clothing!  Actually, planning on changing your clothes during the trip is a very good idea.  Bring separate clothes to sleep in.  Changing your clothes every night before going to sleep is a very good idea for various reasons.  First, the clothes you have worn all day might be dirty and definitely will be damp with sweat, even in cooler months.  It’s not a good idea to sleep in sweaty clothes, because they will make you cold at night.  You may want to keep the clean clothes you will be wearing the next day rolled up in the bottom of your sleeping bag.  This will keep them warm for the morning.  Bring a sweatshirt in case you get cold.  Mornings can be a little cool outside and a sweatshirt will help until the sun warms you up.  Try to avoid cotton clothes and choose clothing (especially long underwear) that wicks moisture away from the skin (store clerks at REI and EMS can help you select suitable cothing).

Try to keep all your gear dry.  Use a large trash bag over your pack (or a special pack rain protector) to keep your backpack dry.  You can also pack your clothes and other essential gear in trashbags or plastic bags to keep them dry inside your pack (a particularly good idea if you are taking your gear in a canoe or other boat).  Inside your tent at night, keep your gear from touching the walls of your tent.  Condensation at night will be able to wick into the tent if there is something pressing against the nylon.  Always put a ground cloth or tarp under your sleeping bag and gear to keep the inside of the tent dry.  You can put the ground tarp between the tent and the ground.  If you do this, be sure that the tarp doesn’t stick out from underneath the tent.  Otherwise this will help trap water underneath the tent.  The  second method would be to put the tarp inside your tent.  You decide what to do.

If you are going on a backpacking trip make sure your pack is not too heavy.  If you are unsure whether your pack is too heavy, ask one of the adults at the pack-check troop meeting before the trip.

Updated 11-12-01