Camping with Cub Scouts: Keep the “OUTING" in Scouting. 1 Dan Hardesty Pack 98 and Troop 19 Hornets Nest District

What We Will Cover 2 Why Camping? Cub Scout Camping Opportunities Planning Registering Safety Resources

Why Camping? 3 Camping is the great outdoor adventure of Scouting Camping is educational Camping helps develop self-reliance and resourcefulness Camping contributes to social development Camping is an experience in citizenship training It’s FUN!

Why Camping? 4 Cub Scout camping provides experiences that are age appropriate for Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, Webelo Scouts, and their families. The ideal method for Cub Scouts involves parents/guardians. Cub Scout camping introduces boys to the knowledge and skills that they will learn and apply more thoroughly as Boy Scouts.

What’s Available Through the Mecklenburg Council and our Districts Tiger Cubs –Trailblazers –Family Camping Cub Scouts –Trailblazers –Cuboree –Family Camping Webelos Scouts –Webelos Adventure Camp –Webelosree –Family Camping 5

Cub Scout Camping Opportunities 6 Cub Scout Day Camp Cub Scout Webelos Scout Resident Camp Webelos Den Overnight Camping Council-Organized Family Camps Pack Overnighters

Planning Planning is the most important element for a successful Camping Trips. FAIL TO PLAN, PLAN TO FAIL! 7

8 Who is Responsible for Planning the Camping Trip Pack Committee Outing Chairperson Subcommittee Cubmaster Den Leaders (Activities Only)

9 Help the Cubmaster plan and arrange for outdoor activities. Arrange for property, fire, and tour permits when required. Locate new picnic areas. Arrange for safe transportation when needed. Plan first aid for emergencies. Help Webelos den leaders plan Webelos overnight camp � outs. Help arrange for equipment, as needed. Arrange for Safe Swim Defense implementation for all outings involving swimming. Plan outings to help pack and dens qualify for the National Summertime Pack Award. Help inform parents and guardians about opportunities for family camping. Ensure that at least one adult has completed Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) before any pack campout. Help promote day camp and resident camp opportunities. Be aware of BSA health and safety requirements and see that they are implemented. Know and carry out BSA outdoor program policy related to Cub Scouting. Review all activities to ensure that unit leaders comply with BSA policies in the Guide to Safe Scouting. Committee Position- Outings Chair

Planning a Pack Overnighter – Leadership Preparation 10 Take Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) Select the date and location during annual planning meeting. Make reservations and turn in Tour Permit. Create an Emergency Plan. Enlist help from others in the planning details, such as menus and necessary equipment Attendance Count Communicate!

11 Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation

12 BALOO TRAINING CURRICULUM Apply the six steps of planning to planning a pack campout Understand the camping equipment needs of an individual and a group of Cub Scouts. Demonstrate the proper ingredients of a successful campfire program. Describe applicable safety standards for fire, water, and weather considerations. Explain how the outdoor program runs progressively through different age levels of Scouting.

13 Demonstrate knowledge of foil cooking practices. Understand the focus of Cub Scout level outdoor cooking. Describe health, safety and sanitation procedures for outdoor activities. Organize and lead different types of nature hikes with confidence. Demonstrate and supervise the lighting and operation of different styles of camp stoves and lanterns. Describe the advantages of using stoves over campfire style cooking. Have fun on a campout. BALOO TRAINING CURRICULUM

Where to Camp 14 Cub Scout camping should be conducted only at sites approved by the local council. Check with our council service center for locally approved sites before planning your trip. Complete the appropriate tour permits. When required. When in doubt, file one! A location that has a tested water supply, toilets, cooking facilities, space for tents, and an area for indoor activity is appropriate.

Mecklenburg Council Camps 15 Mecklenburg Scout Reservation 383 Vein Mountain Road Nebo, North Carolina (828) (828) FAX Belk Scout Camp 9408 Belt Road Midland, NC Telephone: acres in the foothills of the South Mountains near Marion, North Carolina 286 acres located east of Mint Hill

Where Has Your Pack Camped? 18

19 Trips of 500 miles or more Trips outside of council borders not to a council-owned property Most short, in-town den trips of a few hours do not require a tour permit; however, it is recommended that dens obtain permission slips from parents. Times when a tour plan must be submitted for council review include:

Emergency Plan 20

21

Menu Items 22

23 Achievements and electives Hiking and nature walks Knot tying Carving and whittling (3rd grade and older – boys who have earned their Whittling Chip) Prepare and practice campfire skits and songs Helping around the Den campsite: - Service Project - Leave No Trace Participating in all Pack activities and programs Participating in park or campground organized activities and programs Suggested Activities for Cub Scouts on Campouts (all supervised):

Planning a pack Overnighter – Boy Preparation 24 Prepare a checklist, and go over it with the boys Provide the checklist and a letter giving details of the campout to the parents/guardians Teach fire safety Review the Outdoor Code Plan ahead for campfire activities

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26 As an American, I will do my best to - Be clean in my outdoor manners. Be careful with fire. Be considerate in the outdoors. and Be conservation minded The Outdoor Code

Outdoor Campfire Safety Rules 1. Follow all rules of your campsite 2. Clear all burnable materials from your 10-foot fire circle. Don’t build the fire under overhanging branches of trees or shrubs or near roots of trees. 3. Place fire inside a circle of rocks. Allow no one to walk inside that circle. 4. Once a stick is placed in the fire it must STAY in the fire! 27

Outdoor Campfire Safety Rules 4. Once a stick is placed in the fire it must STAY in the fire! 5. NEVER leave your fire unattended. A responsible adult must be present at all times. 6. Have a pot or bucket of water nearby in case sparks start a fire away from the fire circle. 7. Have a bucket of sand and a shovel near the fire to extinguish it. 8. Make sure the fire is DEAD OUT. Spread the coals and ashes and sprinkle them with water. Stir and sprinkle until the site is cold. Feel it with your hand to make sure the fire is completely cold. 28

29 Sample Agenda

30 Sample Agenda

Safety – Two-Deep Leadership 31 It is the policy of BSA that trips and outings may never be led by only one adult. Two registered adult leaders or one registered adult leader and a parent of a participant, one of whom must be 21 years of age or older, are required for all trips or outings.

Safety – Age Guidelines for Camping Overnight camping by Tiger, Wolf, and Bear Cub Scout dens as dens is not approved and certificates of liability insurance will not be provided by the Boy Scouts of America. 32

Safety – Age Guidelines for Camping Tiger Cubs may participate in boy-parent excursions, day camps, pack overnighters, or council-organized family camping. 33

Safety – Age Guidelines for Camping Wolf and Bear Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts may participate in a resident overnight camping program operating under BSA National Camp School-trained leadership and managed by the council. 34

Safety – Pack Overnighters These are pack-organized overnight events involving more than one family from a single pack. At least one adult on a pack overnighter must have completed Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO, No A) to properly understand the importance of program intent, youth protection guidelines, health and safety, site selection, age-appropriate activities, and sufficient adult participation. 35

Safety – Safe Swim Defense 36 Before a BSA group may engage in swimming activities of any kind, a minimum of one adult leader must complete Safe Swim Defense training, have a commitment card (No ) with them, and agree to use the eight defenses in the plan – 1.Qualified Supervision 2.Physical Fitness 3.Safe Area 4.Lifeguards on Duty 5.Lookout 6.Ability Groups 7.Buddy System 8.Discipline

Safety – Safety Afloat 37 Before a BSA group may engage in an excursion, expedition, or trip on the water (canoe, raft, sailboat, motorboat, rowboat, tube, or other craft), adult leaders for such activity must complete Safety Afloat Training, No C, have a commitment card, No A, with them, and be dedicated to full compliance with all nine points of Safety Afloat – 1.Qualified Supervision 2.Physical Fitness 3.Swimming Ability 4.Personal Flotation Equipment 5.Buddy System 6.Skill Proficiency 7.Planning 8.Equipment 9.Discipline

Safety- Shoot Sports Archery and BB Shooting 38 Cub Scout shooting sports programs may be conducted only on a district or council level. Archery and BB gun shooting are restricted to day camps, Cub Scout/Webelos Scout resident camps, council-managed family camping programs, or to council activities where there are properly trained supervisors and all standards for BSA shooting sports are enforced. Archery and BB gun shooting are not to be done at the pack level.

Safety 39 These 16 safety points are applicable to all activities - 1.Qualified Supervision 2.Physical Fitness 3.Buddy System 4.Safe Area or Course 5.Equipment Selection and Maintenance 6.Personal Safety Equipment 7.Safety Procedures and Policies 8.Skill Level Limits 9.Weather Check 10.Planning 11.Communications 12.Permits and Notices 13.First Aid Resources 14.Applicable Laws 15.CPR Resource 16.Discipline

What Should I Have on the Camping Trip 40 Guide to Safe Scouting First Aid Kit (Make sure it’s current) All Medical Forms for Boys and Leaders BALOO Trained Leader/Parent CPR Certified Leader/Parent Copy of Tour Permit- if required

41 Keep the boys hydrated – adults, too Keep the boys busy at all times - Don’t allow them to run wild - Always have an adult assigned to be being in charge - Have a plan “B” for activities if the weather is bad No pocket knives on campouts before they have earned the Whittling Chip – 3rd grade or older. - And then only for supervised activities Camping Tips for the Den:

42 Resources THE CAMPFIRE PROGRAM PLANNER GUIDE TO SAFE SCOUTING

43 “THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A BAD CAMPING TRIP, JUST BAD EQUIPMENT” Arthur Unknown