Camping Orientation

 

Introduction

This information packet is intended to be a frequently updated guide to assist Scouts and families in Troop 332 in having a positive, fun, and educational camping experience.  In general, the youth leadership of the troop are responsible for camping, with few exceptions.  They will be communicating their expectations with the Scouts for each campout, but remember, they too are learning and growing along the way.  This guide will help fill in some gaps where they may leave off.

 

Communication

Campouts are advertised and announced verbally by the youth leadership at troop meetings and outings.  Each year’s leadership chooses the best method to communicate with the rest of the troop and encourage participation.

The Adult leadership will communicate camping information through electronic means such as email and our website.  We are available to answer questions (in person and otherwise) where the youth responsibilities leave off; such as reservations, medications, special instructions, etc.

 

Youth Protection Training (YPT)

YPT is required of all BSA Leaders.  It is also required for all adults that attend Summer Camp with the Troop.  It is recommended that all adults attending our campouts take this course.  I recommend that ALL parents sign in to My Scouting and take the BSA Youth Protection Training.  You do not need a BSA id to sing on and take this.  By taking this, you will know what the leaders of Troop 332 are required and allowed to do.  You can go to https://myscouting.scouting.org ^[1] and create an account and take the online course.  It will only take you about 20 minutes to do.

 

Signup & Payments

• Permission Slips
  • A permission slip will always accompany a troop campout
  • Permission slips should be filled out in entirety
  • Submit to Mr. Russell & Mr. Wayne
    • In person at a Troop meeting
    • Emailed to both of us. Form must be signed electronically or scanned with physical signature
  • Planned late/early should be noted on permissions slip
  • Number of available seats (including yourself) noted on permission slip if you are able to drive
• Payment Policy
  • Money should be turned in with the permission slip when possible
    • IMPORTANT: It’s much more important to us to get the permission slip so we know who is attending the campout than it is to wait until you have payment available.  This allows us to better plan for the campout.
    • If money is not turned in with the permission slip, please make a note on the permission slip
  • Payment can be in form of check, cashier’s check, scout account, or cash
    • We prefer not to use cash as it’s more difficult to track payments
    • Our treasurer, Mr. Mike Contino, can help validate how much your scout has available in his account
  • Refunds can be made until funds have been spent on your behalf (i.e. registration or food)
    • Some events require registration farther in advance than others.
    • Better to sign up and have to cancel than to sign up at the last moment

 

Grubmaster (food purchase)

Each patrol designates a “Grubmaster” for each campout who is responsible for purchasing and transporting food to the campout.

Grubmaster responsibilities are as follows

• Obtain menu from patrol
• Find out how many people are attending for their patrol
• Identify the food budget per person
  • Typically $13 per person unless otherwise noted. For example, some camps may have a meal or two provided and that would be deducted from the grubmaster’s budget
• Purchase food on the Wednesday or Thursday prior to the campout
• Safely store food until the day of the campout
  • This includes purchasing and using ice to keep food cold
  • The Troop has food containers and coolers that should be used
• Transport food to the campout meeting place (typically the Church)
• Save all receipts to be reimbursed by our Troop Treasurer, Mr. Mike Contino
  • Grubmaster should bring receipts to Mr. Contino during a troop meeting
  • Parents are welcome to do this if they would like to

Transportation

While it’s the Scout (family) responsibility to arrange transportation to and from campouts, Troop 332 does our best to work out carpooling arrangements in advance.  To facilitate this, it’s important to note if you can drive to the campout on the permission slip.  This should include the total number of seat-belted seats available the car, including yourself.

If we are unable to secure enough drivers to or from a campout, we will request additional drivers help with transportation.  Our goal is always to take as few vehicles as possible.

Troop 332 does not reimburse for fuel expenses, with some exceptions.  Typically, we will reimburse the trailer drive a marginal amount on longer trips.  Other exceptions made based on judgement at the time.

Check-In / Check-Out Procedures

• Check-In
  • Standard meeting place is the Church unless otherwise noted (rare)
  • Typically we will meet on a Friday at 6:15 and leave as soon as the youth are ready
    • The longer it takes for ALL Scouts to arrive, the longer it takes us to depart
  • Youth always check in with SPL (or designee) upon arrival
  • Planned late arrivals or special arrangements should be noted on the permission slip or via email in advance
• Check-Out
  • Normally Scouts will be dropped off at home or at the Church
  • Drivers are asked to make sure Scouts call home as they leave camp and again when they are about 10-15 minutes from home/Church
    • Drivers are asked to lend their phone if needed
  • It’s between the parent(s) and the driver to determine if Scout will be dropped off at home or at the Church.
    • If the driver does not have their own child in the vehicle, or another adult, they must drop off at the church due to YPT restrictions
  • Early Check-Out
    • Always check out with both the SPL and the Adult Leader in charge (i.e. Chris, Josh, etc.)
      • Youth Scout is to check-out with the SPL
      • Adult is to check-out with the Scoutmaster
    • Unplanned early pickup should be arranged by a phone call to the Adult Leader in charge
    • NEVER retrieve a scout from an event without speaking with the Adult Leader in charge

Electronics Policy

Troop 332’s electronics policy is designed for the safety and benefit of your Scout.  Our intent is not to keep anything secret or hidden from parents and families, but rather to protect our Scouts.  Above and beyond the potential for lost and broken devices, removing electronics from campouts allows us to have an effective line of communication between Scouts and families, avoid inappropriate use, and provide a quality & enjoyable camping experience for the Scout.

• Absolutely no electronics are permitted on campouts during the event
  • “Contraband” (our electronics camp-in) is the only exception, but restrictions are put in place during this event as well
• Electronics may come along for the ride to/from the campout but MUST STAY IN VEHICLE for the duration of the campout
• If a scout is found to have an electronic on a campout, it will be confiscated and returned at the end of the campout.
  • Repeat offenders will lose the device until the next Troop meeting

Medical Forms

• Boy Scouts of America has an official medical form that must be on file with the troop.
• It consists of three parts: A, B, C
  • A & B are required for any and all campouts
    • Parent signatures only
  • A, B, & C are required for all camps longer than 72 consecutive hours (i.e. summer camp)
    • Part C requires a doctor’s signature
  • Medical forms expire yearly and are valid for 365 days
  • Medical forms must expire after the last day of summer camp in order to attend
    • Avoid signatures in July if possible

Medicine

There is always an adult designated to keep and administer medicines for the youth.  Please bring those to the church on Friday in a labelled Ziploc bag.  We prefer that they be in an original container with the pharmacy directions on the outside.  PLEASE do not send more than your son needs for the weekend.  Going forward, please save at least one extra original bottle.  This way you can use last month’s empty bottle to fill with a weekend’s worth of medicines and send with our adult.  If a parent is going with us, they may hold the medicine.

Tent Buddies

It is a Scouts duty to work with his Patrol and Patrol Leader before a campout to have a tent buddy for the campout.  Patrol Leaders and Patrols should have these plans finalized on Monday before a campout.  A Scout can tent with his parent or legal guardian.  They cannot tent with any adult that is not a parent or legal guardian. This is defined in the YTP Training listed above.

Camping Equipment

Refer to our gear guide for detailed information on equipment Scouts should bring to a campout.  Here are a few basic items

• BSA Handbook– Please protect this in a gallon Ziploc bag to protect from the elements
• Uniform
  • Class A Uniform will be announced in advance of a campout if it’s required
  • Class B Uniform– Scouts should always wear a Class B shirt to a campout
    • Class B is any t-shirt that is BSA related in any way (Troop 332 shirts, BSA t-shirts, t-shirts from previous BSA outing, etc.)
  • Water Bottle– The ideal candidate here is a 1 liter Nalgene bottle.  Send what you have available for this campout
  • Eating Utensils– Nothing fancy, refer to gear guide.  At a minimum, they need something to use as a cup, bowl, plate, and some silverware.  Plan on them getting dirty and getting lost
  • Proper shoes-They will be muddy and soaking wet within the hour on some campouts.  Please plan on getting hiking boots for your son.

 

 

Updated March 2017