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Camping Skills
The outdoor program is one of the main reasons that boys join BSA. Scouting promises adventure, learning, and responsibility. This promise is delivered through camping, hiking, backpacking, canoeing, swimming, and other outdoor experiences. The camping experience fosters independence and self-reliance while providing adventure. The outdoor program also helps scouts learn to appreciate the beauty of nature and respect the environment.
As part of a patrol, scouts learn to work as members of a team to meet outdoor challenges — finding a campsite, pitching their tents, preparing meals in the open, and following the principles of Leave No Trace. They become more independent and self-disciplined as they solve problems and use new skills (often new to urban boys and the indoor generation). These include:Footnote
- Properly packing
- Choosing clothing and dressing properly
- Selecting a tent site
- Pitching a tent
- Preparing bed (and pad or mattress)
- Putting up and taking down camp structures
- Taking down a tent
- Putting away a sleeping bag
- Use of axe, hatchet, knife, and saw
- Gathering fire starting materials
- Starting a fire
- Completely putting out a fire
- Latrine setup (and usage)
- Using a camp stove
- Meal planning, preparation, and cooking
- Cleaning dishes
- Repacking while at campsite
- Camp cleanup
- Adjusting to weather
- Carrying gear
- Proactive safety
- Managing accidents and injuries
Camping is the arena where the values of scouting are put into practice. Because scouts have fun in the outdoors, they absorb knowledge and skills that couldn't be conveyed as well in troop meetings. The outdoor program keeps a troop alive and vibrant. Without a strong outdoor program, troop meetings can lose focus and fail to sustain boys' interest.
The outdoor program is also an attraction for adult volunteers. Helping scouts to plan and carry out a full and exciting outdoor program is one of the most satisfying parts of Boy Scout leadership.
- ...Footnote
- Adequately covering all these outdoor and camping skills would take another book. Consult the Boy Scout Handbook for camping tips.
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