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Campouts, cooking, backpacking and Leave No Trace. The outdoors is where Scouting happens, and these posts are full of gear lists, Dutch oven recipes and lessons learned on the trail.
540 posts · 2006–2020
A reading list that spans blogs and years.
As Scouts, camping is an important part of our identity. At some point, you went on your first camping trip… then you went on the next one… and then the next. These experiences became memories which in turn shaped your understanding of the true purpose of Scout camping.
You can spend as little or as much as you like on camping gear and accumulate lots of things you may use once or twice and lay aside. My choices here are all personally tested and proven, with a good balance of cost for value and durability.
We have picked our destination, did a good map survey, know how long we are going be gone, and are super pumped that we will soon be on the trail. The next thing that we need to plan is our food.
Timeless Attraction. The Mission and Purpose of the Boy Scouts of America are and shall forever remain unchanged. By the same token, the contribution that our heritage of outdoor skills makes to the richness of the Scouting experience is also unchangeable.
So, as many of you probably know if you follow me on twitter @scoutdude I just returned from a week of summer camp at Cedarlands Scout Reservation with my troop (@troop50). Here is a recap of our week. So Sunday morning we met bright and early at the local Methodist Church (our charter organization) and…
Klondike Derby: How much fun can you stand? By B. James Voorhies Deseret News Staff This is a fun winter camping story from the Salt Lake City, Utah evening newspaper called the Deseret News February 5, 1987 AIRPORT SOCKED IN?
For our first discussion, Chris and I talk about the merits (or otherwise) of traditional canvas tents versus modern synthetic ones. Traditional Canvas Tents – Nick Canvas tents have been around since the dawn of Scouting, so much so that when people think of Scouts camping, the mental image is of Scouts standing round a green…
WE DID IT!! Something my boys and I have been working on for five years, we finally finished the Hiking Merit Badge . It started in 2008 when they were 11 with our first 10-miler to Dog Lake from Butler Fork .
This travelogue was written while hiking the Appalachian Trail. Every once in a while Afterburner had a chance to let us all know about what he had seen and where he was. You might want to start reading from the beginning of the log.
Hello fellow Scouters, Whether through Scouting or personal camping, dutch oven cooking is a great way to prepare meals in the outdoors. But many don't know how to get started cooking. It can be intimidating at first. If you are interested in cooking with dutch ovens, but don't know how to start, I have one…
Showing 1–50 of 540 posts
fizkes/Getty Images Whenever a Cub Scout meeting reaches what we like to call “maximum fidget,” seasoned leaders know it’s time for a game, song or cheer. As we enter day 15,000 of the pandemic, you’re no doubt looking for new games that might enliven your next virtual Cub Scout den or pack meeting.
Troop 2019’s soon-to-be Eagle Scouts, from left: Lindsay Parker, Kenzie Neal, Taylor Bell and Morgan Phillips. Morgan Phillips was a shy 14-year-old when she attended her first Venturing meeting. She left that meeting unconvinced that Scouting was for her. But her dad encouraged her to keep at it, providing that gentle nudge all teenagers eventually…
There’s a total abundance of choice when it comes to tents. While that is amazing if you are an experienced camper so you can shop for very specific things, sometimes it can be a little overwhelming when you are starting out.
How far would you go for the place you love? For Clint Buxton, the answer is exact: 272 miles. Buxton, 61, is camp director at Mount Norris Scout Reservation, the beloved Vermont camp where he served on staff as a teenager and shared great memories with his Eagle Scout son.
The first time taking your Cub Scout camping can be a little scary, especially if you are a little (or a lot) inexperienced. Here’s the best news: You are not alone! And you’re part of an organization that specializes in teaching kids (and their adults, by default!)
There are plenty of reasons to go camping. It’s fun; you can learn new skills; you can relax — but it also has health benefits. While we love camping, during this time it’s important to follow local and state guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic and remember to read this checklist before starting in-person Scouting activities.
“You were never a Boy Scout,” one character tells another as they prepare to face a villainous vampire. “I, however, always come prepared.” This line, found in Stephen King’s 1975 dark novel Salem’s Lot , is one of dozens of Scouting references in the master storyteller’s works.
Trevor deRosier embarks on the mystery hike devised by his mom, Cindy. Scoutmaster Hassler is missing! Perhaps he’s at Rockville Hills Park, a frequent hiking destination for Troop 482. Or maybe he’s at Cenario’s Pizza, a favorite pre-pandemic meeting spot for the Troop 482 patrol leaders’ council.
This summer, the adventure continues. Families in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA and Venturing can participate in one (or more!) virtual summer camp experiences. With so many typical summer activities on hold or canceled, families are looking for ways to keep their Scouts engaged in fun, rewarding and ( shhh!
Six young men from Troop 746 became Eagle Scouts on the same day in January. The group of six includes five cousins (from right): Jeffrey Dangl, Tyler Gilmore, Caleb Wheeler, Brian Gilmore and Spencer Kettley. They're joined by longtime family friend Elliott Streiff, left.
The Scout Shop is here to make sure that you are ready to camp this year, whether you’re heading off to summer camp or staying home for a backyard campout. First, you can visit Scoutshop.org or your local Scout Shop, and get up to a 20% discount from this Saturday, June 13 through Saturday, June…
Most of you are carrying out your Scouting adventures and fun Scouting activities at home — with help from the resources on the BSA Scouting at Home site. While we know it may be a little while before you’re able to go back to sitting around a campfire with your troop, pack, crew, or ship, it’s…
I have just three words: Camping. Is. Back. After staking out a spot in seventh or eighth place in popularity from 2014 to 2018, the Eagle-required Camping merit badge jumped to third place in the 2019 rankings, released this month.
With Scout Sunday, Sabbath and Jumuah slated for this weekend, it might be an ideal time to examine the 12th point of the Scout Law with your Scouts. Honoring God, being faithful in one’s religious duties and respecting others’ beliefs encapsulates what it means to be “reverent.”
The first rule of Pack 1855’s Hiking Club: Don’t forget the snacks. But a few months after launching their new plan to take a hike every month, Pack 1855 leaders realized something amazing. They saw their Cub Scouts weren’t begging for the next snack break.
Here is our year-end camp summary for 2019: 1) Jan – Cold weather camping at Fivemile Pass 2) Feb – Cold weather camping at Willow Park (Lehi) – CANCELLED* 3) Mar – 5th annual Winter backpacking on snowshoes in Little Cottonwood Canyon 4) Apr – 5th annual Spring outing to White Rock – CANCELLED* 5) May – Rescheduled 5th annual Spring outing…
Picking the best unit website is a bit like selecting the best recipe for Dutch oven cobbler. There are way too many to choose from, and because it’s all about taste, the selection process is totally subjective. But after browsing hundreds of unit websites, I’ve come up with a list of 10 that do it…
Kate Matthews, who authors the Living the Scout Life blog, shares some camping advice from the Scout Shop, the official retailer of the Boy Scouts of America, in this installment of “Scout Shop Tips.” Let’s be honest here: finding the perfect tent can be a bit overwhelming.
Scouts go on outdoor adventures all year long, including around Thanksgiving. We like to call it #Campsgiving , a time when the Boy Scouts of America encourages units go hiking, camping and cooking traditional Thanksgiving meals outside. It’s not a new tradition for some units.
Outdoor skills aren’t just for the monthly campout. There are plenty of ways your Scouts can hone their outdoor skills on a regular basis, like during unit meetings. Here is this week’s tip that the BSA’s national camping subcommittee shared with us.
As the Scouts in Troop 1776 of Plano, Texas, get older, their interest in traditional summer camp activities starts to wane. They want to challenge themselves further, to venture deeper into nature’s mysteries. They want high adventure. A year ago, with that in mind, Scoutmaster David Wille approached the patrol leaders’ council with a suggestion.
You might need a new tent for an upcoming family campout. Or perhaps your son or daughter wants a new backpack — and needs to fill it with some upgraded camping gear. Maybe you know a family new to Scouting and they need some direction on how to prepare for outdoor adventures.
Jamie Bone calls it her “escape from Guadalupe Peak.” While her life wasn’t in danger, Bone’s wind-whipped, rain-soaked experience in this West Texas national park was plenty harrowing. In March, Bone had planned to climb to the highest point in Texas and spend the night about a mile from the summit.
The Philmont Training Center experience you love just got an upgrade. With its new Deluxe Tents — complete with a queen bed with premium linens, electricity and ceiling fan, and covered porch with cozy chairs — the Philmont Training Center is broadening the appeal of its world-class conferences and Family Adventure Camp like never before.
Zack Moore (third from right) and the group prepare to enter the Desolation Wilderness. The statement was equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful. And at just five words long, it encapsulated the profound need for and transformative power of Zack Moore’s Eagle Scout project.
Photo by Alex Zarynow Watch your daughter reel in her first rainbow trout. Join your son on horseback and mosey around like New Mexico cowboys. Hike with your entire family to the site of a Tyrannosaurus rex footprint — one of only two such tracks in the world.
Twilight’s coming and you know a swarm of biting insects will soon descend upon you and your Scouts. How do you prepare for the irritating pests? All you need is a couple of seconds, and faster than you can say, “daddy long legs,” you can have a haven from insects thanks to SansBug .
Hello and Welcome Back! Scouting is camping with your patrol, and one of my favorite ways to go camping is backpacking. Reducing everything you will need to live for a couple of days to what you can comfortably carry on your back is a test of skill, and planning ; it challenges our moral, physical and…
First Aid merit badge extended its reign atop the charts in 2018, while the Exploration , Animation and Bugling merit badges each saw double-digit gains in popularity. And how’s this for unusual: The exact same number of Scouts earned the Search and Rescue merit badge in 2017 and 2018: 10,107.
Here is our year-end camp summary for 2018: 1) Jan – 4th annual Winter backpacking on snowshoes in Little Cottonwood Canyon 2) Feb – Ice fishing on Strawberry Reservoir 3) Apr – 4th annual Spring outing to White Rock near Dugway 4) May – 9th annual backpack outing to Rudy’s Flat 5) Jun – Backpacking to Notch Lake 6) Jul…
Charles Nance (back row, second from left) and Pack 54 take a hike during their evacuation. Imagine going on a Cub Scout camping trip without knowing how long you’ll be gone or whether you’ll have a home to return to when it’s over.
Winter can offer lots of fun outdoor activities, but sometimes, the weather can feel so frigid you might be tempted to plan some of your Scouting activities indoors. That’s fine. This can be a great time to help your Scouts explore your community by visiting a local museum or library, attending a city council meeting…
October 2018 Time to carve: 2 hours Finishing: 1.5 hour Boy's Life - November 1983 Design: Kenneth Koob There is nothing as good as a Dutch oven meal at Scout camp! My first time having anything from a Dutch oven was a peach cobbler at JLITC training at Camp Rotary.
Find out what the best Cub Scout tents for camping are! These 5 tents were the most recommended by Cub Scout families for fun and easy campouts.
The author’s son, who attended his first Boy Scout summer camp this year. When my son crossed over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts earlier this year, the leaders of his new troop made their philosophy on summer camp quite clear: If your kid goes to camp that first summer, it greatly increases the chances…
It’s a great time of year… thousands of Scouts and Scouters across the country are packing their gear and getting ready for some of the most action-packed, adventure-filled days of the year: summer camp, Scout style. This is a time for memory making, for meeting new friends, learning new skills and exploring the great outdoors.
Going camping with Scouts gets you out of your comfort zone, but that doesn’t mean your campsite needs to be uncomfortable. After a full day of Scouting adventures, you’re ready to relax at camp. By following the five tips below, powered by our friends at Thermacell, you can make roughing it a little less rough.
Scouting offers young people a place to belong and build character – a place that represents the best of America and what it means to be an American. For Scouts in Troop 1532, they’ve come a long way from home in hopes of making a new home in America.
Robert Podboy loves Scout summer camp. This month, he’s attending his 59th consecutive one at Sinoquipe Scout Reservation in Pennsylvania. “I do enjoy camping and still go hiking as long as it’s not too strenuous,” the 88-year-old retired optometrist says.
Hiking boots are made for walking, and life jackets are made for canoeing. As for camp chairs, those are made for sitting down at summer camp. In fact, I’m going to say camp chairs are the most important piece of gear an adult leader can pack for their weeklong Scouting sojourn.
BALOO stands for Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation. It’s the introductory training Cub Scout leaders should complete before taking Cub Scouts on an overnight camping trip. Recent updates to this two-part course make the content more impactful, useful and convenient.
Good news, Scout leaders. You now have the perfect response when someone catches you snoozing at camp (or, um, the office?). Just tell them afternoon naps are recommended by the BSA’s Health and Safety team. And that you ensured adequate adult supervision before letting your eyelids fall.
First Aid? First place. Exactly 69,563 Scouts earned the Eagle-required First Aid merit badge in 2017. That’s good enough for a gold medal, and it marks three consecutive years of First Aid dominance. The silver medal went to Swimming (62,057 earned), and Citizenship in the World (55,917) took bronze.
The flames burned so hot that they melted aluminum canoes into silver puddles of metal, rendered camping gear unrecognizable and warped Dutch ovens. The Tubbs Fire, which burned for more than three weeks in October 2017 in Northern California, destroyed 5,643 structures and killed 22 people.
While no Scouter questions the value of Youth Protection training and policies — we all agree on the need to keep young people safe — some Scouters have asked for clarification about implementation. Many of those questions are about policies requiring two-deep leadership and prohibiting one-on-one contact.
Here is our year-end camp summary for 2017: 1) Jan – 3rd annual Winter backpacking on snowshoes in Little Cottonwood Canyon 2) Feb – Last minute change to Fivemile Pass* 3) Mar – Yurt experience at East Fork of the Bear River** 4) Apr – 3rd annual Spring outing to White Rock near Dugway 5) May – 8th annual backpack…
A Scout hike likely conjures up images of journeying by a pristine lake, hiking staff in hand, surrounded by tall trees with a view of snowcapped mountains in the distance. Or for one Ohio Scout, it could mean touring the streets of downtown Manhattan.
Kevin Callan is here, it’s time to go winter camping! Canada’s Happy Camper, our friend Kevin Callan, author of the new Complete Guide to Winter Camping joins us on this podcast with his welcoming way of sharing his knowledge of the woods in winter.
Here’s some advice from Wade Bastian on the Appalachian trail gear he carried on his hike. Wade set out on the 2200 mile trail with fellow Eagle Scout Bucky Kellorg in February. As planned, Wade interrupted his hike to spend the summer employed as a peak steward in New York’s Adirondack mountains (he’s stewarding a…
These Appalachian Trail Lessons come from Wade Bastian, one of two of my old Scouts hiking the 2200 mile trail. Wade and fellow Eagle Scout Bucky Kellorg started in February. As planned, Wade interrupted his hike to spend the summer employed as a peak steward in New York’s Adirondack mountains Bucky completed the trail in…
