Boy Scouts who like building their own shelters and making survival packs will enjoy the Wilderness Survival merit badge.

In their outdoor activities, Scouts learn to bring the clothing and gear they need, to make good plans, and do their best to manage any risks. But now and then, something unexpected happens. When things go wrong, the skills of wilderness survival can help make everything right again.

Wilderness Survival Merit Badge Requirements

1. Show that you know first aid for and how to prevent injuries or illnesses that could occur in backcountry settings, including hypothermia, heat reactions, frostbite, dehydration, blisters, insect stings, tick bites, and snakebites.
2. From memory, list the seven the priorities for survival in a backcountry or wilderness location. Explain the importance of each one with your counselor.
3. Discuss ways to avoid panic and maintain a high level of morale when lost, and explain why this is important.
4. Describe the steps you would take to survive in the following conditions:
1. Cold and snowy
2. Wet (forest)
3. Hot and dry (desert)
4. Windy (mountains or plains)
5. Water (ocean, lake, or river)
5. Put together a personal survival kit and explain how each item in it could be useful.
6. Using three different methods (other than matches), build and light three fires.
7. Do the following:
1. Show five different ways to attract attention when lost.
2. Demonstrate how to use a signal mirror.
3. Describe from memory five ground-to-air signals and tell what they mean.
8. Improvise a natural shelter. For the purpose of this demonstration, use techniques that have little negative impact on the environment. Spend a night in your shelter.
9. Explain how to protect yourself from insects, reptiles, and bears.
10. Demonstrate three ways to treat water found in the outdoors to prepare it for drinking.
11. Show that you know the proper clothing to wear in your area on an overnight in extremely hot weather and in extremely cold weather.
12. Explain why it usually is not wise to eat edible wild plants or wildlife in a wilderness survival situation.

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Troop meeting tonight with 4 Webelos visiting . Boy Scouts are teaching them how to pack, pitch tents, camp skills, etc.

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To earn the Venturing Ranger award, a young man or woman must complete eight core requirements and four electives. One of the electives to meet the Ranger award requirements is Backpacking

By completing the Venturing Ranger Award requirements for Backpacking, a Venturer must learn many aspects of backpacking – from equipment to cooking on the trail to first aid. Then the Venturer must use these skills and teach them to others.

Venturing Ranger Award Requirements – Backpacking Elective

1. Develop a personal exercise plan and follow it for at least three months, exercising at least three times a week. Set your goals with backpacking in mind and write them down. Keep a daily diary.
2. Backpacks
   1. Try on three types of backpacks. Learn how to choose the proper size frame for your body size. Learn and then be able to explain to others the difference between a soft pack, an internal frame pack, and an external frame. Tell the pros and cons of each type and what kind of trek you would take with each pack.
   2. Explain the different parts of a backpack and their use.
   3. Learn the proper way to lift and wear your backpack.
   4. Describe at least four ways to limit weight and bulk in your backpack without jeopardizing your health and safety.
   5. Learn how you would load an internal frame pack versus one with an external frame.
3. Packing gear
   1. Pack your backpack with your personal gear, including outdoor essentials, additional gear, and personal extras. Pack as though You were sharing equipment with one other person for a three-day, two-night backpacking trip.
   2. List at least 10 items essential for an overnight backpacking trek and explain why each item is necessary.
   3. Present yourself to an experienced backpacker, unload your pack, have him or her critique your packing, then repack your pack. Have him or her critique your efforts.
4. Cooking
   1. List at least 20 items of group backpacking gear. Include a group cleanup kit.
   2. Learn how and then demonstrate how to cook a meal using a backpacking stove.
   3. Demonstrate proper sanitation of backpacking cook gear.
   4. Learn how to properly pack and carry a backpacking stove and fuel.
5. Environmental impact
   1. List at least 10 environmental considerations that are important for backpacking and describe ways to lessen their impact on the environment.
   2. Considering Leave No Trace principles, tell how to dispose of the human waste, liquid waste, and garbage you generate on a backpacking trip.
6. Three treks
   1. Participate in three different treks of at least three days and two nights each, covering at least 15 miles in distance each.
   2. Plan and lead a backpacking trek (can be one of the treks in (a) above) with at least five people for at least two days. This group can be your crew, another crew, a Boy Scout group, or another youth group.
   3. Plan the menu for this trek using commercially prepared backpacking foods for at least one meal.
   4. Check for any permits needed and prepare a trip plan to be left with your family. Have an emergency contact number.
   5. Using the map you used to chart your course, brief the crew you are leading on your trip plan.
   6. Lead a shakedown for those you are leading.
7. Outerwear
   1. Learn about proper backpacking clothing for backpacking in all four seasons.
   2. Learn about proper footwear, socks, and foot care.
   3. Learn and then demonstrate at least three uses for a poncho in backpacking.
8. Health and first aid
   1. Learn about trail health considerations and typical backpacking injuries such as hypothermia, frostbite, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, altitude sickness, dehydration, blisters, stings and bites, and sprains and how to avoid and treat these injuries and illnesses.
   2. Because fluid intake is so important to a backpacker, tell how to take care of your water supply on a backpacking trip. Include ways of purifying water and why that is important.
9. Using all the knowledge you have acquired about backpacking, make a display or presentation for your crew, another crew, a Boy Scout group, or another youth group. Include equipment and clothing selection and use, trip planning, environmental considerations, trail health and safety considerations, food selection and preparation, and backpacking physical preparation.

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To earn the Venturing Ranger award, a young man or woman must complete eight core requirements and four electives. One of the core requirements is Wilderness Survival.

By completing the Venturing Ranger Award requirements for Wilderness Survival, a Venturer must learn how to survive in the wild, focusing on things like hydration, fire making, food, and shelter. The Venturer must also share these skills with others.

Venturing Ranger Award Core Requirement – Wilderness Survival

1. Write a risk management plan for an upcoming crew high adventure activity such as a whitewater canoeing or rock-climbing trip. The plan should include nutrition, health, first aid, supervision, insurance, safety rules and regulations, proper equipment, maps and compass, in-service training, environmental considerations, emergency and evacuation procedures, and emergency contacts.
2. From memory, list the survival priorities and explain your use of each in a survival situation.
3. Learn about and then make a tabletop display or presentation for your crew, another crew, a Cub or Boy Scout group, or another youth group on the following subjects:
   1. Emergency signals used in the outdoors
   2. Search and rescue patterns
   3. Evacuation procedures and value of when to move and when not to move in a wilderness emergency
4. Explain the following environmental exposure problems. Discuss what causes them, signs and symptoms, and treatment.
   1. Hypothermia
   2. Frostbite
   3. Sunburn
   4. Heat exhaustion
   5. Heat cramps
   6. Heat stroke
5. Hydration
   1. Explain dehydration and the necessity of conserving fluids in a survival situation.
   2. Explain at least four methods of obtaining water in the outdoors and demonstrate at least two ways to purify that water.
6. Fire making
   1. Demonstrate at least two different fire lays-one for cooking and one for warmth.
   2. Learn and discuss the use of fire starters, tinder, kindling, softwoods, and hardwoods in fire making.
7. Explain and demonstrate how you can gain knowledge of weather patterns using VHF band radio and other radios, winds, barometric pressure, air masses and their movements, clouds, and other indicators.
8. Knots and lashings
   1. Explain the different rope materials and thicknesses that are best for wilderness use and how to care for them.
   2. Know the use of and demonstrate how to tie the following knots and lashings:
      1. Sheet bend
      2. Fisherman’s knot
      3. Bowline
      4. Bowline on a bight
      5. Two half hitches
      6. Clove hitch
      7. Timber hitch
      8. Taut-line hitch
      9. Square lashing
      10. Shear lashing
9. Food
   1. Explain the usefulness and drawbacks of obtaining food in the wilderness, including things to avoid.
   2. Prepare and eat at least one meal with food you have found in the outdoors.
10. Survival kit
    1. Make a list of items you would include in a wilderness survival kit and then make copies to hand out to visitors to your wilderness survival outpost camp.
    2. Using your list, make a wilderness survival kit. Explain the use of each item you have included.
11. Outpost camp
    1. Set up a wilderness survival outpost camp and spend at least two nights and two days in your site.
    2. Use and demonstrate several knots and lashings from requirement (h) in your wilderness survival campsite demonstration.
    3. Know how to plan a wilderness shelter for three different environments and then build a shelter as part of your wilderness survival campsite demonstration.
    4. Have your crew, another crew, a Cub or Boy Scout group, or another youth group visit you in your outpost for a presentation you make on wilderness survival (at least one hour).

Remember to use the Leave No Trace principles you learned.

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Since I often do reviews when I go camping, I thought I’d do an article about some of our experiences at John S. Swift Explorer Base. Swift is located at S -F Scout Ranch near Farmington,  Missouri.

It is difficult to do a real review of Swift summer camp because their program there is so diverse throughout the summer. They run several weeks of co-ed Venturing camp, Dad ‘n Lad overnights for younger Cub Scouts, three day Webelos mini-week camps, and then special interest weeks like the Catholic Adventure Week for Boy Scouts which we attended. For that reason, I am going to mostly focus on the program opportunities offered for Venturers and Boy Scouts and the camp itself.

Swift’s big feature is the waterfront on Nims Lake. Nims Lake is the largest privately held lake in the state of Missouri. At Swift, Scouts can swim and boat. The swimming area has a sandy beach. Scouts who want to build sandcastles can check into the “sunbathers” section on the buddy board. Boating options include sailboats, canoes, rowboats, kayaks, and stand up paddleboards. Speedboats take campers out tubing and water skiing.

Huck’s Cove, which is just around the corner is a small water park on the lake. It features two large slides on one side of the cove. On the other side there are things like zip lines and rope swings for water fun.

Other program opportunities include horseback riding, shotguns, rifles, and archery. There is also a high ropes course and a low ropes course. And of course for many Scouts, no trip to Swift is complete without a few hours spent rock climbing and rappelling on the cliffs.

Meals are served in a dining hall and the food is good quality and plentiful. There are five campsites at Swift and each site takes a turn for one day being service crew, which involves helping out at the dining hall and some cleaning duties. I like this as opposed to sending people to set tables for every meal. We shared our campsite with a provisional troop, so we only had to send our group up a couple of times for duty that day.

The campsites at Swift Base are spacious and wooded. Each site has a number of wooden platform tents. Most are large three person tents. If those fill up, you can pitch standard wall tents with floorboards. There is plenty of space to pitch additional tents.

The staff at Swift Base are excellent. We had a lot of campers the week we were there, but everything was kept running smoothly. Staff must be 18 or older to work at Swift (probably because they are staffing high adventure activities like horseback riding, climbing, ropes courses, etc.) , and this small but experienced group of staffers put on lots of great program. Since we were there for a Boy Scouts only week, the staff did merit badges in the afternoon.

I’d like to give a special shout out to the aquatics staff. One of our campers was not a strong swimmer but really wanted to pass the swim test. They did instructional swim with him all week, gave him lots of encouragement, and let him keep trying. Finally, on the fourth try on Friday afternoon he passed. This was a tremendous accomplishment for an 11 year old who had some anxiety about even jumping in water over his head at the beginning of the week.

So if you are looking for a camping experience for your older scouts (Boy Scouts or Venturers) or if you are interested in one of the special weeks of summer camp at Swift, I highly recommend it. Swift is a great place to experience the joy of being outdoors and independent and to remember that camping is about the experience as much as it is about earning merit badges.

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My husband and I  along with LC, ZM, and about 10 other Scouts spent last week at Camp Drake. (JD and DS are working on staff at one of our council camps this summer, so they didn’t go with us.) Since ZM has now crossed over to Boy Scouts, my husband and I finally get to attend long term camp together. Yeah!

Our troop does a three year rotation for summer camp. We attend one of the Boy Scout camps at S bar F Scout Ranch one year, Camp Lewallen the second year, and an out of council camp the third year.  We also do a second week of summer camp at Swift Base for Catholic Adventure Week every year, so we make at least one trip to “The Ranch” every year. This was our year to go out of council, and we selected Camp Drake based on some research of camps within about a 4 hour drive and a recommendation from a local troop which attended Camp Drake last year.

Camp Drake Review

Camp Robert Drake is located in eastern Illinois, near Champaign-Urbana. One reason we go out of council on a regular basis is that we want our scouts to have the chance to participate in some program opportunities not offered at our council camps. Camp Drake did not disappoint. They offer a very wide selection of merit badges. Several of our scouts participated in their older boy program, called Vermilion Trex, which  included things like an introduction to scuba in the pool, offsite ziplining and horseback riding, and an overnight canoe trip.

The camp is well administered and we always had plenty of information or knew who we could go ask to find out. And the staff was excellent. These youth worked really hard all week and put on a great program. The camp had way more campers than usual the week we attended, which I know must have put a lot of extra stress on the staff. And it was very hot (over 100 degrees) at the end of the week. But they kept up their energy level and enthusiasm all week and really made it a great experience.

The  program areas used permanent shelters and there seemed to be plenty of room and appropriate equipment for the program. Most of the program areas and the swimming pool are grouped together in the center of camp. The shooting sports range and scoutcraft areas are a just a few minutes walk away. Ecology also requires a walk. The pond, where boating takes place, is the exception. It is a pretty good hike.

Now I’ll take a break in the middle of my review for a story. I only went down to the pond once. One of the bridges you have to walk across to get to the pond is a narrow suspension bridge. I have a tremendous fear of heights/falling and I started out across the bridge and the bouncing was too much for me so I went back after about 15 feet. But then I decided to get courageous and waited until nobody else was around and, walking gingerly but quickly, made it across and went down to the pond. But then I had to cross the bridge again to get back. Once again, I waited until nobody else was coming and softly walked across. So I’m glad I conquered my fear to do it but once was definitely enough.

But enough about my anxiety about heights – back to the review! There were lots of programs for the evenings – games, scoutmaster competitions, etc.. Their favorite was the cardboard canoe races in the pool. The OA callout was very well done and one of the first year scouts couldn’t stop talking about it afterwards.

Meals are served in a dining hall. The food was good and plentiful. For pickier eaters they also provided peanut butter, jelly, and bread. They were careful about allergies and even worked with people with special dietary needs, such as vegetarian. Friday dinner was a luau in the dining hall with music and limbo which was fun.  Saturday morning they served “Lumberjack pancakes” which were giant pancakes which had to be flipped with snow shovels. The scouts really enjoyed that.

Our campsite was a nice wooded area with plenty of shade, several picnic tables, and a fire ring. We had a flag pole and were provided with a flag for daily flag raising.  Many of the troops there used their own tents, but we used the camp canvas tents since that is what we prefer for summer camp. They do not have floorboards, so we brought troop tarps for each tent. The camp provided cots also.

So the bottom line is that we had a great experience at Camp Drake and would recommend the camp to others. If you have additional information,  a favorite memory, or story about Camp Drake, feel free to add it to the comments below.

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Take Me Out to the Forest is a classic Scouting song. Sing it around the campfire, when you’re out on a hike, or when you are camping.

It goes to the tune of Take Me Out to the Ballgame.

Take Me Out to the Forest Song

Take me out to the forest
Let me hike in the wild.
Show me a skunk and a few bear tracks.
I won’t care if I never come back.
But it’s look, look, look at your compass.
If it rains, then it pours.
And it’s ouch, slap, sting and your bit
In the great outdoors!

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Purchasing information: Gerber 31-000701 Bear Grylls Survival Series Ultimate Kit

From the manufacturer:

Bear Grylls and Gerber Team Up
The Ultimate Kit is part of the Gerber Bear Grylls Survival Series of gear. This collaboration brings together Gerber’s 70+ years of knife and gear expertise with Bear Grylls’ extensive outdoor survival and adventure experience to create a one-of-a-kind line of knives, tools, and gear.

From spending time in the British SAS, to scaling Mount Everest, Bear knows what it takes to be a survivor in extreme situations and multiple environments. Now he brings that knowledge to the creation of a range of items that help you make the most of your outdoor adventures.

Heavy-Duty Survival Kit for the Toughest Spots
Ideal for hard-core outdoor adventurers, the Ultimate Kit has everything you need to stay safe and alive until you can be rescued or rescue yourself.

The 15-piece kit includes the Gerber miniature multi-tool, which offers stainless steel, weather-resistant components including needle nose pliers, wire cutters, fine edge and serrated knives, a Phillips screwdriver, small and medium flat drivers, a lanyard ring, a bottle opener, and tweezers. This tool’s rugged construction and external components make it a reliable multi-tasker, even in the harshest environments.

Rugged, Ready-to-Go Tools and Accessories
In addition to the multi-tool, the Ultimate Kit comes with a lightweight ripstop nylon bag with a waterproof zipper for weather-resistant storage and an array of tools and accessories, including a miniature light, a hand saw, a signaling mirror, a survival blanket, a fire starter, waterproof matches, cotton ball fire tinder, a snare wire, an emergency cord, waxed thread, a fishing kit, and a sewing kit.

Includes Survival Guide and SOS Instructions
For added peace of mind and a higher level of preparedness, this kit comes with land to air rescue and SOS instructions. It also includes Bear Grylls’ informative Priorities of Survival pocket guide, loaded with survival basics.

What’s in the Box
Nylon pouch, multi-tool, miniature light, hand saw, signaling mirror, survival blanket, fire starter, waterproof matches, cotton ball fire tinder, snare wire, emergency cord, waxed thread, fishing kit, sewing kit, pocket survival guide, and rescue instructions.

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Purchasing information: 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles Book Series

This is great for Scout units, because you can pick up the book and know you are going to be able to find something within a reasonable driving distance.

Each location is described in detail. The author describes the difficulty level of the various trails. Pay attention to this. If you are going on a Pack hike, you’ll want to pick a trail which is fairly easy and not too long. If you are training for a Philmont expedition, select something challenging.

The book also describes the highlights of each trail, what the environment is like, and what types of wildlife you might expect to see.  It also has comments on how heavily used the trail is, amenities like picnic shelters and restrooms, and other information such as if pets are allowed.

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A few weeks ago our troop camped at Johnson Shut-Ins State Park in southern Missouri. The campground was completely rebuilt following the Taum Sauk hydroelectric power station disaster in 2005.

The water rushing from the breached reservoir destroyed the old campground

In December 2005, the resevoir on top of Proffit Mountain breached, sending a 20 foot crest down through the park. The old campground was obliterated, but fortunately it being midweek in December there were no campers there at the time. The park superintendent and his family did get swept away and suffered serious injuries though. A good portion of the settlement money for the disaster paid for a new campground on property just to the north of the main park. The new facilities are very nice.

We camped in the special use area which is only for group camping. This is by far the nicest special use area I’ve ever seen at a Missouri state park. We had our own pavilion with plenty of tables, a fire ring, and several BBQ pits. The biggest treat of all – we had real bathrooms and a showerhouse right there. Most of the special use areas I’ve been to in the past have only had a latrine and you have to head over to the main campground if you want a showerhouse. This was luxury camping for Scouts! That was nice, because we had some first time campers with us and it made the experience a little easier for them. View some photos of the facilities.

There were lots of people at the Shut-Ins. It was beautiful weather for March - it was actually in the 80's. The water was still to frigid to go in though, so everyone was just perched on the rocks.

On Saturday we went on a day hike at Taum Sauk mountain. (Read about Taum Sauk Mountain State Park in this post.) On our way back, we stopped at the main part of Johnson Shut-Ins park and let the Scouts wade in the upper part of the shut-ins.

Overall, this was a great camping experience. Our troop is planning a float trip in August. The campmaster is considering floating the Black River, so we might use this campground again if it is available.

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The methods of Scouting are the ways that Scouting’s aims of developing character, citizenship, and fitness in youth are achieved. One of the methods for Boy Scouts is “the outdoors”.

Being outdoors presents Boy Scouts with challenges and adventures. Boys enjoy the independence of getting away from home and taking care of themselves.

How can this method be incorporated into a Boy Scout program:

• Lots of outdoor activities – aim for at least one opportunity for Scouts to participate in an outdoor activity each month
• Regular camping adventures – try some different locations
• Ask the youth leadership what they would like to do with your outdoor program and give them the support they need to make it happen
• Encourage adults to attend supplemental training so you can incorporate challenging activities in your outdoor experience – like canoeing, rock climbing, shooting sports

What does your unit do with this method? If you have a creative or unusual idea which you think others could benefit from, add it in the comments below.

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The Boy Scout Roundtable Planning Guide suggests a Camping troop program feature for Boy Scouts for April 2012. BSA provides the troop program feature guides as a resource for Boy Scout troops. A PLC can use these guides to plan a series of meetings and outings around a single theme. My post Troop Program Features for Meetings and Outings has  more information about these guides.

The plans for the Camping troop program feature can be found in  Volume 1  of Troop Program Features from BSA:

Nowhere is the romance of the BSA more evident than in camp. Whether it’s an overnight campout or a week
at summer camp, an outdoor setting promises fun and adventure—two of Scouting’s great attractions.

The focus of this program feature is on outdoor skills. Younger Scouts will work on cooking and camping requirements, along with a few other requirements. Experienced Scouts will work on Camping merit badge. They can also work on Cooking, Hiking, Orienteering, Pioneering, Wilderness Survival, and other nature related merit badges.

The big feature for the program theme is a campout where Scouts can practice their outdoor skills.

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Kim Gilbert of Pack 533 in Andover, Kansas sent me this take on ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas so I could share it with you. She says:

We have used this for years. I often have a den chief read it while the Cubmaster is preparing to hand out Derby car gifts, or surprise snacks from the moms or etc.

Thanks Kim! I’m sure many of the Cub Packs out there will enjoy this.

‘Twas the Campout Before Christmas

By Kimberly Gilbert
With Apologies to Clement C. Moore

‘Twas the campout before Christmas, and all through the Pack
All the parents were sleeping, each one in their sack.
The wet socks were hung up on a half-hitch taut line,
In hopes they’d be sorta dry by den hike time.

The Cubs were all snuggled in cold weather mummies,
With too many s’mores stuffed down in their tummies.
And Ma on the air mattress and I on my cot
Had just settled down – without pillows; we forgot.

When outside my tent there arose such a noise,
I sprang from my cot thinking, “Oh, those boys!”
So I grabbed my flashlight with the non-slip grip,
And fumbled with my front door so hard to unzip.

The moon shone through the treetops so clear and so bright,
I could see like the day time even though it was night.
And what to my red, weary eyes should appear,
But a blue and gold sleigh and a pack of reindeer.

A little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
Much faster than Eagles his den of deer came.
He held up two fingers and called them by name.

“Now, Tiger! Wolf, Bear! Now Weeb and Low!
On Bobcat! On Den-Chief! On Den-Leader! Go!
To the top of the tent, to the dining fly yon,
Now hurry up, hurry up, hurry up. Go on!”

As lightning bugs flit and light like a fairy
On a soft summer breeze that moves through the prairie,
So up to the fire ring the reindeer did glide
With a sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas inside.

And then in a twinkling, I heard them all munch
On all of those carrots left over from lunch.
As I turned on my flashlight and tried to turn round,
I tripped on my tent line and fell to the ground.

And there stood St. Nick – he was dressed all in khaki!
With his red wool patch jacket that looked kinda wacky.
A bundle of goodies he had flung on his back.
He looked like a den chief just opening his pack.

His eyes – how they twinkled! His dimples – how merry!
His cheeks were like hot coals, his nose like a berry.
His lips they were holding a “Hot Hands” aglow,
Which lit up his beard which was white as the snow.

His kerchief was wreath green and rolled nice and tight.
For any good Scout he was surely a sight!
He had a broad face and a round little tummy
That shook when he laughed like a big red squid gummy!

He was chubby and plump – a right jolly, old Scout,
And I laughed and I smiled for I hadn’t a doubt.
A wink of his eye and a two-fingered sign
Soon let me know I would be just fine.

He said not a word but went straight to his work
He filled all the wet socks and then turned with a smirk,
And laying two fingers aside of his brow,
He gave a big belch after sampling our chow!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his pack gave a shout
(Confirming to me he was really a Scout).
But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,
“Merry Christmas to all and to all, a good night!”

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Our Boy Scout troop recently had a family campout at Washington State Park. (This was our first troop family campout. We got the idea from a post on ScoutmasterCG.com, since we too have the issue from time to time of adults being overly involved in the Scout camping.) You can see more pictures from the campout on the portfolio page.

Overall, the park was nice and clean. Our campsites were large. We had sites 26, 27, and 28.  We were close to the playground, which my sons enjoyed. We were also close to the shower house, which I appreciated. The shower house was very clean, although the counter top for the sink in the women’s bathroom was in need of some repair. My husband said the men’s room was also clean.

The park was having a harvest festival the weekend we were there, with lots of crafts on display. The kids enjoyed making ropes. We saw some toys which were basically spoon catapults turned into a basket shooting game. I thought they might make a nice Craftsman project for Webelos.

The park has several hiking trails. We hiked the 1000 Steps Trail, which is a 1.5 mile loop. The trail was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and there are rock steps all up and down the trail which were placed there by them. There is also a pavilion with an overlook on the trail. The trail had some steep spots, but if you are in good shape you shouldn’t find it difficult. I would be careful in wet weather though as it would probably get slippery.

There are two other trails in the park – the Opossum Track Trail which is a three mile loop and the Rockywood Trail which is a ten mile loop. There is a backpacking camp on the Rockywood Trail. We did not have time to hike those trails, but I’m sure we’ll be going back.

We camped in the regular campground, but the park also has three special use sites to accommodate groups. The area is a walk down the road from the shower house, but there is a latrine and water spigots. All three campsites are in close proximity to each other, so expect to get to know your neighbors. There is a parking lot in the middle.

There is also a swimming pool at the site which of course was closed in October. And in the summer you can rent canoes, rafts, or tubes to float the Big River. So we might consider going back with the troop for an August outing.

Another very interesting feature was the petroglyphs. the park has the largest collection of petroglyphs in the state. These are Native American rock carvings in the stones on the ground. My favorite was the Thunderbird. These stone carvings are thought to be the work of people who inhabited the area around 1000 AD.

The Native American carvings inspired later inhabitants of the area. The CCC Corps which developed the park in the 1930′s named their barracks Camp Thunderbird in honor of the unique stonework. And the craftsmen in the all African American CCC Corps carved a Thunderbird into the the stone chimney. The barracks currently serve as the camp store.

So I recommend this campground. There was definitely plenty to do and see there and we had a great time. I’m sure we’ll be going back.

Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting

I recently spent a week at Swift Base at S bar F Scout Ranch with our Boy Scout troop. Swift is normally a Venturing camp, so when they do a week for Boy Scouts, the only merit badges offered by the staff are Canoeing, Swimming, Lifesaving, Rowing, Water Sports, Small Boat Sailing, Climbing, Horsemanship, Rifle Shooting, and Shotgun Shooting.

The week we spent was sponsored by our local Catholic Committee on Scouting, and the CCS asked if any of the Scouters attending would be willing to work with scouts on any of the outdoor oriented merit badges they normally counsel for. So I volunteered to do Camping merit badge with the campers.

When I do this badge with Scouts, I need to know if they have completed requirement 9a and 9b:

9a. Camp a total of at least 20 days and 20 nights. The 20 days and 20 nights must be at a designated Scouting activity or event. Sleep each night under the sky or in a tent you have pitched. You may use a week of long-term camp toward this requirement. If the camp provides a tent that has already been pitched, you need not pitch your own tent.
9b. On any of these camping experiences, you must do TWO of the following, only with proper preparation and under qualified supervision.
1. Hike up a mountain, gaining at least 1,000 vertical feet.
2. Backpack, snowshoe, or cross-country ski for at least 4 miles.
3. Take a bike trip of at least 15 miles or at least four hours.
4. Take a nonmotorized trip on the water of at least four hours or 5 miles.
5. Plan and carry out an overnight snow camping experience.
6. Rappel down a rappel route of 30 feet or more.

Depending on the scouts memories to come up with their 20 days of tent camping is always chancy, so I asked the unit leaders to have any scouts who wanted to do this at camp with me to  fill out a camping information sheet and bring it to camp with them.  This jogged their memories so we could discuss their camping experiences. When I counsel for this badge I like to have the scouts look at their list of camping trips and tell me which one was the most memorable. It is always fun to hear all of their “war stories”. I suspect some of the tales have grown in the telling, but that is part of the fun of Scouting for these guys.

Download printable copy of Camping Information Sheet for Camping Merit Badge

Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting

As I have mentioned before, one thing our troop continues to struggle with is our implementation of the patrol method. Since our troop reorganized a few years ago, it has been inconsistent. We try to train the youth leaders to help them carry it out, but it is difficult since they have never really seen how it is actually supposed to work.

One thing that we’ve noticed over the past few year is that the campmasters  seem to be taking on a lot of the patrol duties themselves. (Campmaster is what we call the Scout who is doing the overall planning for the campout.) Instead of focusing on the activities for the campout they are organizing equipment and purchasing food. And the troop has ended up functioning as one big patrol instead of two smaller ones.

I’m not sure how this has happened. I think the campmasters (and their advisors who are usually their parents) think it is supposed to work. And the youth leaders aren’t really stepping in on their own, mostly because they don’t even know where to start. Now nobody wants to volunteer to be campmaster because planning a campout seems like too much work. Well of course it does with one Scout trying to do everything for both patrols!

So it seems to be time for more specific training and some tangible aids to help. First of all, we are going to try to make clear to the youth leaders and campmasters that the campmaster’s job is to secure a campsite and plan some program for the weekend. So we will be really focusing on this with the SPL, ASPL, and patrol leaders over the next few months.

We have identified three positions that we recommend each patrol should fill for each campout – patrol grubmaster, patrol quartermaster, and patrol transportation coordinator. For each of these positions we are providing slips of paper for the patrol leaders to hand to the people they have assigned to those positions with a brief description of what they should do. And we are also providing a checkoff list for the SPL and ASPL to use with the patrol leaders to help them make sure they are following up and doing a few other things.

The hope is that after a few months, this will provide some consistency so that our youth leaders will do more planning and delegating without as much adult intervention. I think if we provide them with some help and training and they try it, they will see that the patrol method really does provide a way for everyone to share in the duties and makes planning campouts easier.

So to see the patrol planner we gave them to help get them started, use the link below.

Patrol Planner for Camping

Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting

In our Council, adults can register as merit badge counselors for up to four merit badges. I am registered for three – Camping, Cooking, and Citizenship in the Community.

Our scouts frequently do this badge at summer camp. But they often come home from camp with an incomplete because they haven’t complete requirement 9. They often think they have 20 days and nights of camping when they sign up for the badge, but they don’t realize that those must all be tent camping and they can only count one summer camp. So as a registered counselor, I can sign off on this badge when they finally get enough nights and days of tent camping.

The Camping merit badge is required for the rank of Eagle Scout.

Camping Merit Badge Requirements

1. Do the following:
1. Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter while participating in camping activities and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards
2. Show that you know first aid for and how to prevent injuries or illnesses that could occur while camping, including hypothermia, frostbite, heat reactions, dehydration, altitude sickness, insect stings, tick bites, snakebite, blisters, and hyperventilation.
2. Learn the Leave No Trace principles and the Outdoor Code and explain what they mean. Write a personal and group plan for implementing these principles on your next outing.
3. Make a written plan for an overnight trek and show how to get to your camping spot using a topographical map and compass OR a topographical map and a GPS receiver.
4. Do the following:
   1. Make a duty roster showing how your patrol is organized for an actual overnight campout. List assignments for each member.
   2. Help a Scout patrol or a Webelos Scout unit in your area prepare for an actual campout, including creating the duty roster, menu planning, equipment needs, general planning, and setting up camp.
5. Do the following:
   1. Prepare a list of clothing you would need for overnight campouts in both warm and cold weather. Explain the term “layering.”
   2. Discuss footwear for different kinds of weather and how the right footwear is important for protecting your feet.
   3. Explain the proper care and storage of camping equipment (clothing, footwear, bedding).
   4. List the outdoor essentials necessary for any campout, and explain why each item is needed.
   5. Present yourself to your Scoutmaster with your pack for inspection. Be correctly clothed and equipped for an overnight campout.
6. Do the following:
   1. Describe the features of four types of tents, when and where they could be used, and how to care for tents. Working with another Scout, pitch a tent.
   2. Discuss the importance of camp sanitation and tell why water treatment is essential. Then demonstrate two ways to treat water.
   3. Describe the factors to be considered in deciding where to pitch your tent.
   4. Tell the difference between internal- and external-frame packs. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each.e. Discuss the types of sleeping bags and what kind would be suitable for different conditions. Explain the proper care of your sleeping bag and how to keep it dry. Make a comfortable ground bed.
7. Prepare for an overnight campout with your patrol by doing the following:
   1. Make a checklist of personal and patrol gear that will be needed.
   2. Pack your own gear and your share of the patrol equipment and food for proper carrying. Show that your pack is right for quickly getting what is needed first, and that it has been assembled properly for comfort, weight, balance, size, and neatness.
8. Do the following:
   1. Explain the safety procedures for
      1. Using a propane or butane/propane stove
      2. Using a liquid fuel stove
      3. Proper storage of extra fuel
   2. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different types of lightweight cooking stoves.
   3. Prepare a camp menu. Explain how the menu would differ from a menu for a backpacking or float trip. Give recipes and make a food list for your patrol. Plan two breakfasts, three lunches, and two suppers. Discuss how to protect your food against bad weather, animals, and contamination.
   4. Cook at least one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner for your patrol from the meals you have planned for requirement 8c. At least one of those meals must be a trail meal requiring the use of a lightweight stove.
9. Show experience in camping by doing the following:
   1. Camp a total of at least 20 nights at designated Scouting activities or events. One long-term camping experience of up to six consecutive nights may be applied toward this requirement. Sleep each night under the sky or in a tent you have pitched. If the camp provides a tent that has already been pitched, you need not pitch your own tent.
   2. On any of these camping experiences, you must do TWO of the following, only with proper preparation and under qualified supervision.
      1. Hike up a mountain, gaining at least 1,000 vertical feet.
      2. Backpack, snowshoe, or cross-country ski for at least 4 miles.
      3. Take a bike trip of at least 15 miles or at least four hours.
      4. Take a nonmotorized trip on the water of at least four hours or 5 miles.
      5. Plan and carry out an overnight snow camping experience.
      6. Rappel down a rappel route of 30 feet or more.c. Perform a conservation project approved by the landowner or land managing agency.
   3. Perform a conservation project approved by the landowner or land managing agency.
10. Discuss how the things you did to earn this badge have taught you about personal health and safety, survival, public health, conservation, and good citizenship. In your discussion, tell how Scout spirit and the Scout Oath and Law apply to camping and outdoor ethics.

Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting

All four of my boys had their physicals yesterday. And I took along the BSA medical form to have it filled out so they would be ready for camp this summer.

Sometimes this takes parents by surprise. Remind them to make an appointment and get it done if they haven’t already.  The newest version of the BSA medical form can be found on the Scouting.org website:

BSA Medical Form – current version

Parts A and B are required for all Scouts and adults participating in any Scouting events. This is the one the adult or the Scout’s parents fill out. Parts A and B cover things like contact information, insurance coverage, health history, hold harmless release, photo release, and adult or parent signature.

Part C is usually the one that causes last minute scrambling. It is the physical. It seems like no matter how many times you warn the parents that their kids are going to need a physician’s signature on the medical form, there are some who put it off until right before camp. Part C is required for Scouts and adults  if any of the following apply:

• The event will last more than 72 hours
• The event is a high adventure base event
• The event is strenuous and demanding

Part D only applies to Scouts and adults who are going to a high adventure base.

Scouts and adults who will be participating in a back country activity need to pay particular attention to the height and weight regulations on a form.

So if you don’t have your forms ready for your Scouts and yourself, stop delaying and make an appointment today.

Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting

Summer camp is usually the highlight of the Scouting year. It can be particularly exciting for first year Boy Scouts. It can also be a little intimidating.

Many Boy Scout summer camps offer special programs for first year Scouts. In our council, the first year camper program is called Voyager. Brownsea is another common name for this type of program. It might have a different name in your council, but chances are, something special is offered for those brand new scouts.

A typical first year program will offer the opportunity for Scouts to work on their early rank requirements. Many of the requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class lend themselves to the outdoor setting of summer camp. They can practice knots and build fires and learn to use a hand ax.

Your Scouts might get to work on a merit badge or two. Our council programs offers the opportunity to work on Swimming merit badge. Scouts who are not ready for the merit badge can take an instructional swimming class instead. Usually our Scouts also have the opportunity to work on one more merit badge. Wood Carving or Leatherwork are two common options.

But one of this biggest advantages of first year camper programs is not the rank advancement opportunities. It is that your new Scouts will be with their buddies and with other first year Scouts. They are learning basic outdoor skills with others who are at their same level. This will help them adjust to camp life and combat homesickness. The main goal, after all, is for these Scouts to have an excellent experience at summer camp so they want to stick with the Boy Scout program.

Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting

My Webelos had a great weekend at our district Spring Camporee.  Three of my four Webelos attended. Fortunately the severe weather which had been predicted earlier for late Saturday afternoon passed to the south of us, so we did not have to bug out early. The field was wet and muddy and there was some rain, but that didn’t dampen their spirits.

In the past, Webelos and Boy Scouts have usually camped separately at our district camporees. When I got there, I asked which area was for Webelos, and they said we could camp anywhere. I asked “So we can camp with our troop?” and staff said “Yes, we encourage it.”  Yeah!

The Webelos stuck together for the most part, but did interact with the older scouts hanging around the campfire. Plus my son DS, who is a Webelos den chief, was camping with the troop, so he was available a little bit to help instruct them with camp skills. And by camping with them we fulfilled part of Arrow of Light Requirement 4. We will camp again with them sometime before they cross over, but that will probably be cabin camping in December.

The Webelos really enjoyed the camporee games. Their favorite was the fire building. The troop had participated in a fire building competition for Boy Scouts earlier in the day. They had prepared quite a few “snot balls” (cotton balls with petroleum jelly). They gave their leftover snot balls to the Webelos to use at their fire building activity and the Webelos really had fun using them.

Overall, my Webelos den really had a great time. And now all four of them have signed up for summer camp in June. It is fun to take them camping when they are so enthusiastic.

Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting