family Camping Guide

What Should I Expect?

For Pack 1859 camp outs we reserve a large group campsite at a local camp ground.  There will always be a wash house with toilets and showers, a short walk from our site.  The pack provides all the food and equipment with which to cook on.  If a member of your family has any special dietary requirements, please let your den leader know so that we can accommodate you. 

Each family needs to provide their own tents, as well as personal gear.  Due to youth protection concerns, we cannot accommodate a scout without a parent, or another adult family member. All members of the scout's family are welcome to attend.  We always have several older/younger siblings, as well as grandparents come with us.  

What kind of a tent do I need to get? 

Target, LLBean, Dicks, Cabelas, and REI all sell decent family tents for under $200.  A general rule of thumb when selecting a size is to divide the advertised number of persons in half.  So two people can comfortably sleep in a four-person tent with their gear.  A family of four can comfortably sleep in an six or eight-person tent.

What kind of sleeping gear do I need? 

Overnight lows on our camp outs may dip into the upper 40's, so a lighter-weight (40 degree) sleeping bag is all that is needed.  However, as your scout graduates to Boys Scouts, they may find themselves camping in cooler conditions, perhaps into the 30's.  It may be worth paying a little more now for a 20 degree bag.  Bags with lower ratings are not usually needed in scouts, and usually cause you to overheat in warmer weather.  You will also need a sleeping mat.  A foam or self-inflating mat is all your scout should need to insulate him from the cold/hard ground.  Many parents prefer to bring a large air mattress.  If you do, don't forget a battery operated pump.  Electricity is rarely available in our sites.  

What other special gear do I need?

Sturdy shoes, a flashlight, and a decent duffel bag or backpack to transport your belongings.  Rolling bags are not recommended as you will need to unload your car at the road and carry them a short distance, and the gravel or dirt trail make these impractical.

What not to bring?

Electronics.  Of course parents will want to have their phone available, and perhaps something for late night reading, but children should be able to enjoy their time outdoors free from distractions like these.  Bears and older scouts are permitted to have a pocket knife, provided that they have completed the whittling chip requirements, but they rarely need them.  Unless needed for a specific activity, these are also best left at home.