What to Bring

Other than some basic items, different people and units will bring different items with them. A good exercise is to think about your perfect week at camp, and bring the items that you see in your mental picture. If you want to spend the afternoon fishing on the edge of the lake, don’t forget your fishing rod and tackle box. To help keep you from forgetting those all important items, we have a list below to help you when you are packing.

Personal Equipment

• Complete Scout uniform
• T-shirts
• shorts or long pants
• swim trunks
• any Merit Badge-specific clothing
• underwear
• socks
• insect repellent
• Footware for Boating
• hat, if desired
• sweater or jacket
• extra shoes or boots
• poncho or rain gear
• notebook and pencil or pen
• Scout Handbook
• merit badge pamphlets (if needed)
• watch (very important)
• washcloth and towel
• toiletry items (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc. No glass bottles)
• flashlight with new batteries
• sleeping bag or sheets & blankets
• alarm clock (optional)
• disc golf disc (optional)
• pocketknife
• footlocker or suitcase or backpack
• laundry bag
• hand sanitizer

Unit Equipment

• Unit flag
• First aid kits
• Patrol flags
• Bow saws
• Lanterns
• Rope
• Extra plastic
• Brooms
• Water hose

What Not to Bring to Camp

Personal rifles or other firearms, ammunition, and bows, including paintball guns, are not allowed in camp; only those supplied by the Shooting Sports area are to be used. Sheath knives with blades longer than 4” are also not allowed at camp. Any such equipment brought to camp must be delivered to the Camp Director when the unit checks in; it will be returned when the unit checks out. In addition, no pets of any kind are allowed at camp; this is policy of the Boy Scouts of America and includes visitors. 

Finally, we strongly recommend that items such as mobile phones, radios, music players, electronic games, and other electronic devices not be brought to camp. Summer camp is an outdoor experience, and these items are not appropriate to that experience. Camps are not responsible for personal or Unit items that are damaged, lost or stolen. 

Tips
Have Scouts bring a footlocker or locking suitcase and provide an extra key for the unit leader. That way, if one key is lost, the spare one will be stored safely. With the heat and humidity of June and July, it would be advisable to have a change of clothing for each day of the week. Cell phones for Scouts are not necessary. Considering that there are no provisions to charge them and that reception is weak at best, Scouts are advised to leave them at home.

When:

May 22 at 6:30 PM in the Scout Room

Taught by:

Mr. James

Scouts should do the following prior to this meeting:

·              Learn about the following disabilities awareness terms: disability, accessibility, adaptation, accommodation, invisible disability, and person-first language.

·              Learn why proper disability etiquette is important, and how it may differ depending on the specific disability.

·              Learn how people with disabilities take part in a particular adaptive sport or recreational activity. 

·              Week 2, on May 29, we will have a speaker come in to cover requirement 3 b.

·              This merit badge will also include the opportunity for a field trip.

·               Other details for the remaining meetings will be sent soon.  If interested, please contact Wil James.

·              This is a great badge to earn and not available often.

Troop 400 will be headed to Hemric Scout Reservation on the weekend May 19th-20th. This will be a boat-in camping trip, and all Scouts will need to pack as if they were backpacking. We will not be cooking as patrols, so Scouts will need to plan their own food, as if they were backpacking.

Boat camping requires a few different needs than a typical backpacking trip. See the details below for how to keep you and your gear dry, and to have a good time.

Plan

• Meet at the Scout Shed Saturday the 19th at 7:30 AM, and depart by 8:00 AM.

• Drive to Longwood State Park (about an hour drive) and leave vehicles and boat trailers at the boat ramp

• Canoe to Hemric Island, set up camp, and have lunch

• Play, have fun, eat dinner, and campfire.

• Eat Breakfast, break camp, paddle back to Longwood State Park, and depart home.

To Pack:

• Drybags are nice. There are some good ones available on Amazon:

• 5 gallon Buckets with lids (from Lowes or Home Depot) work well. Two of them should hold clothes, food, and a sleeping bag

• 2 gallon Ziplock bags in day back and day pack in trash bag

• Shoes that can get wet, and an additional pair of shoes

• Sleeping Bag

• Tent  (recommend Scouts double up in tents, or hammock solo)

• Flash light

• Change of clothes & socks (swimming shorts or board shorts work well and dry quickly when paddling).

• Sweatshirt/Fleece for windy conditions/night

• Backpack stove and pot for cooking

• Hat and Sunscreen