Camping

NOTE: Under BSA rules, "Family Camping" means all Scouts, other than Webelos/AOL, must have a guardian present.  Parental/guardian consent and the Den Leader's permission is required for the Scout camping alone.  Additionally, another parent/guardian must agree to take responsibility for that Scout.  Pets are not allowed at Scouting campouts.  It must be stressed that attending adults are responsible for their Scouts, siblings, and any other "assigned" Scouts.  They should remain engaged with their charges’ activities and consider accounting for, disciplining, caring, and feeding of those children to be their primary responsibility.

Uniform:  Scouts should wear their Pack 167 Class B t-shirts on Saturday if they have them.  Scouts should pack their Class A uniform without the neckerchief.

Food:  Each family should bring and prepare their own food for all meals.  At a minimum, bring your dinner for Saturday night and breakfast on Sunday, plus any snacks.  Each family must bring its own plates, bowls, utensils, cups, coffee mugs, napkins, etc.  Potable water is typically available near the campsites, but it's a good idea to bring extra.  Please bring something to hold drinking water.
Foil packet meals are one of the most common for campouts, which can be prepared in advance and warmed or cooked on the campfire contained in their packet.  Foil meals are typically beef, chicken, or fish chopped into cubes, along with vegetables, seasoned to taste, and placed in an airtight foil pouch with a little butter or oil.  We recommend that you (meaning you and your Scout!) prepare these ahead of time and double wrap in heavy foil - this fulfills requirements for most Scout ranks.  The pouch is then placed in the coals to cook.  You will find it helpful to mark your names on your foil packs with a permanent marker (they all look the same after they've been turned in the coals a couple of times).  You can get recipes online or just Google “foil pack dinner recipes” and you’ll get plenty of ideas! Hot dogs on a stick are the easiest solution for dinner.
For breakfast the next day, you will see bacon and eggs, pancakes, and many other creative breakfasts being made on camp stoves throughout our campsite. You will also see donuts, bagels, cereal, and fruit. There will be coffee brewing on many camp stoves, but there is no guarantee unless you bring your own.
Service sinks are usually located at the comfort stations.  All dishes and utensils must be washed in the service sinks or in containers. Pour wastewater directly into service sinks and not onto the ground.  Do not use campsite spigots for cleaning, bathing,or brushing teeth.

Activities:  Activities will be organized by Dens or families.  The only organized Pack activity is generally the evening campfire.  We recommend you bring folding chairs.  Dens will be asked to perform a skit and song.

Sleeping:  Bring your own tents/sleeping bags/etc.  The scout closet has limited quantities available to borrow.

Under general BSA regulations:

● Separate tenting arrangements must be provided for male and female adults and male and female youth that are not siblings. Spouses may tent together.
● Webelos/AOL Scouts of the same sex can tent together.
● All other Scouts MUST share a tent with their parents and immediate family members ONLY.
● If a Scout’s sibling comes on the campout, the Scout’s parent/guardian must come along, too.

GEAR: 

Minimum equipment necessary for a typical weekend “car camping" campout (1-2 nights) from mid-April to mid-October.
Sleeping Gear:

_____ Sleeping bag, rated to ~40 degrees

_____ Foam pad (or a Therm-a-Rest pad)

_____ Small pillow

_____ Knit cap (if a cold night expected)

_____ Warm socks (if a cold night expected)

 Mess Kit/ Eating Gear:

_____ Medium-sized bowl and cup, preferably plastic

_____ Knife, fork and spoon kit (trashy kitchenware will do)

Do not bring plastic utensils, or breakable glass/porcelain items, expensive silverware or anything heavy.  Do not bring "everyday" tableware you cannot afford to lose.

 Clothing:

_____ Class B Scout Uniform

_____ Socks & underwear equal to number days camping + 1 day

_____ Wind breawer/rain jacket

_____ Hat with a brim

_____ Small towel (e.g., dish or hand towel)

_____ Dirty clothes bag

* Pack clothes appropriate for the expected weather.  Local camping areas are typically about 5-10 degrees cooler than Arlington.  A pair of long pants, a long-sleeve shirt, and a sweatshirt or medium-weight fleece is a good idea if cool weather is expected. 

Note to Parents: As your scout ages, allow them to do their own packing.  Most parents of new Scouts outfit their scouts with enough clothing to last a week instead of one night. They don’t need any more clothing than the above, which is already more than they'll use!

 Ancillary Clothing and Equipment:

_____ Lightweight daypack

_____ Sunscreen

_____ Insect repellent with DEET

_____ Poncho or rainsuit (>20% chance of rain)

_____ Extra pair of shoes if wet weather forecast

_____ 1 quart (1 liter) canteen (2 if hot weather is expected)

_____ Toothbrush + toothpaste

_____ Flashlight - small/med-sized; avoid Maglites.  LED headlamps with redlight are best

_____ Personal medications – Notify adult leaders if you are bringing an epi-pen, emergency inhaler, or other emergency or controlled medications.

 Optional Equipment:

_____ Games - cards, football, frisbee

_____ Camp Chair/ Crazy Creek Chair

_____ Sunglasses

_____ Small pocketknife (for scouts with their Whittling Chit)

_____ Scout Handbook

DO NOT PACK:  Electronic games or toys; they disrupt the camping environment.  Junk Food/Soda.  *NO food in your tent or personal bags!

Please put your NAME on everything, including hats. This cuts down on lost articles.

Check for ticks.  If you find one, do not panic.  Find one of the leaders, and we will help safely remove it if you do not know how or are unwilling to do so.

***POCKETKNIVES*** ***POCKETKNIVES*** ***POCKETKNIVES*** ***POCKETKNIVES***

Pocket knives are allowed only for Cub Scouts with their Whittling Chip for knife safety (Bears, Webelos, & AOL).  There will be no exceptions to this rule.  With a Whittling Chip, the Scout may whittle within an area safely marked off and an adult must take responsibility to supervise that the rules are being followed.  Again, there are no exceptions.  We insist on maximizing safety in this area as the Scouts learn responsibility and new skills.  An adult member of the family should have a pocket knife.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Medical Forms: All Scouts and leaders must have completed Parts A & B of the Scouts BSA medical forms on file with the Pack.  These forms must be renewed every year.  Form available under Resources tab.

Youth Protection:

● Two registered adult leaders 21 years of age or over are required at all Scouting activities
● A registered female adult leader 21 years of age or over must be present for any activity involving female Scouts
● One-on-one contact between adult leaders and Scouts is prohibited
● Scouts greater than two-years apart, other than siblings, may not tent together
● Separate shower and latrine facilities should be provided for male and female adults as well as male and female Scouts
● The use of alcohol or tobacco products around Scouts and at Scout functions is against BSA policy.

Please contact your Den Leader or the Cubmaster if you have any questions.