Camping Rules

Troop 262 Camping Rules

• No electronic games/musical devices/cell phones in camp. They may be used in the car, with the driver’s permission and with the volume turned down or off (or headphones). These devices must be left in the car when we get to camp; they may not be brought into the campsite (even if they are not used there). Neither the driver nor the troop assumes any responsibility for these items.

• No snacks in packs or tents; they attract critters. (Venture backpacking crews carry food on the trail, but it is on their backs during the day and in a bear bag while in camp.)

• No scout may carry a pocketknife on his person until he has earned Totin’ Chip. He may bring a pocketknife in his pack in case there is an opportunity for Totin’ Chip training, but it is to be used only for that purpose until he has earned Totin’ Chip. Pocketknife blades may not exceed 3 ½ inches. No sheath knives at any time by any scout.

• No scout may use matches or other fire-starting implements until he has earned his Fireman’ Chit. No lighters at any time by any scout. No gas lanterns or other sources of flame in a tent at any time. No firearms or fireworks.

• No sodas when camping.

• On some Friday campouts, we will not prepare Friday dinner in camp, and we don’t stop along the way for dinner. Scouts should eat dinner before they arrive at the church. (Bringing dinner to the church and eating it there should be avoided, as the scout is not available to help his patrol during that time.)

• We always wear Class A uniform when traveling to and from campouts. In Troop 262, Class A uniform includes BSA uniform pants. (Either long scout pants or scout shorts, as appropriate.) Class A uniform includes a troop neckerchief and a neckerchief slide, scout belt, and scout socks. A scout may wear a neckerchief that he earned at a scouting event (e.g., Scout Camporee), except at formal occasions such as a Scoutmaster Conference, Board of Review, or Court of Honor; the troop neckerchief is required at those events. A Boy Scout cap is optional in Troop 262. Other types of scout-related caps are allowed to be worn with the Class A uniform (e.g., a cap that the scout obtained at a scout event or facility).

• Raingear is mandatory on all campouts and hikes. Raingear consists of a poncho or rainsuit. A hooded nylon jacket will serve as raingear in the summer, but it is not proper raingear for other times of the year (even May or September), as it does not protect below the hips. Same issue are most coats in the winter—they do not protect your lower body from rain.

• When camping, it can be cold at night as late as the end of April and as early as the beginning of October. Scouts should come prepared for cold weather. Some scouts get cold because they are not dressed properly or do not have an adequate sleeping bag or nightwear. Please refer to the gear guides that you were given in the Boy Scout Handbook pg # 204, or see the Library. A hat and gloves (or mittens) are mandatory in cold weather. Dress in multiple layers, invest in a good synthetic sleeping bag rated to 20 degrees F or lower, and bring extra clothing to sleep in (including a knit sleeping cap and a pair of socks that are only used during that weekend for sleeping).

• Please be prompt when assembling for a campout. When it is announced that we will be meeting at 5:30 for a 6:00 departure, that doesn’t mean arrive by 6:00. Last-minute arrivals delay the entire troop due to uncertainties about whether such persons will be no-shows. That affects the ride plan, gear stowage, etc.

• If a scout will be brought to a campout late or will be leaving early, please let the Scoutmaster-in-charge (SMIC) of the event know about this as early in the process as possible. If the scout will be missing any meals, he needs to let his patrol leader know this, for meal-planning purposes. If a scout will be leaving the campout for several hours (e.g. for an athletic event), the scout needs to check out and back in with his patrol leader, and the scout or parent should check out and in with the SMIC.

• If a parent is planning to camp with us, please let the SMIC know in advance. We need to know how many people we are feeding, we often pay a campsite fee based on the number of participants, and we have to file a BSA Tour Permit application in advance.

• If an adult is camping with us but he or she plans to arrive late or leave early, that adult should inform the SMIC about this as early as possible in the process (several days in advance at a minimum). Once an adult says he or she is coming, it is assumed that he or she will be traveling in both directions with the troop and will be able to carry scouts in both directions unless the individual has advised the SMIC otherwise.

• All scout medications (including non-prescription medications) must be given to the SMIC at the church on Friday evening. The meds must show the scout’s name and must contain instructions on dosage, frequency and any special procedures (e.g., take on a full stomach).

• If a scout has food allergies, he should mention this to his patrol leader before menus for a campout are finalized. About ten days before each campout when menus are planned, or he could mention it privately to his patrol leader before that time. Parents may also feel free to communicate this information to that patrol’s adult Patrol Advisor. (Information about food allergies that might have been included in the boy’s “Scout Personal Data” form might not be available to the patrols in time for a new scout’s first campout, so the scout or parent should be sure to mention this to the patrol leader or patrol advisor no later than the time that menus are being planned for the scout’s first (and even second) campout.

• Scouts should put their name in their Scout Handbook and in their neckerchief, cap, poncho, and any other article of outerware that might be taken off outside or in a car during the course of an event. These things frequently become separated from their owner. The scout’s name can be marked under the bill of a cap. All troop neckerchiefs look alike, and scouts take them off in cars, tents, and elsewhere. The scout’s name should be marked in ink on the back of the neckerchief behind the patch (so the ink won’t bleed through). Neckerchief slides also get misplaced; many of these are found in camp or elsewhere, but we don’t know whom they belong to. The scout’s initials can be marked on the inside of those slides. On campouts, scouts should keep their neckerchief slide on their neckerchief when they get undressed at night.

• When scouts are brought home at the end of a campout, they need to know where they live. Every year we have some scouts who are new to the troop who cannot give directions from Church to their house, and some of those boys don’t know their street address either. We don’t expect scouts to be able to provide complete directions to their house before starting out from the parking lot, but once underway they should be able to tell the driver where to turn at the appropriate places. If necessary, please drive your son between home and the church during daylight several times, and point out turns and landmarks.

• The time that is estimated for scouts to return at the end of a campout is subject to change without notice due to developing events. There are a number of factors that may occasionally cause us to return a couple of hours before or after the estimated time. Every scout must have a means to get into his house (e.g., someone home, or his own key) before and after the estimated return time.

• Each scout should start and maintain a list of every troop activity that he attends other than meetings. In the event of a discrepancy in the troop database, this is a useful backup for things such as the five events needed for the rank of Second Class, the ten events needed for First Class, service-hour requirements for Second Class, Star and Life, and events that count toward certain merit badges (e.g., 20 nights camping for the Camping Merit Badge).

• Buddy system at all times outside the campsite. No scout leaves the campsite by himself.

• Scouts must have a functional pack for their gear: backpack, duffel bag, oversized gym bag or similar. Something with one or two shoulder straps, or at least a one-handed handle. Avoid two-handed containers for weekend campouts.