Campouts and Events
Getting out and having fun
The first thing people often think about with Scouts is camping. It’s understandable, as attending campouts (or just getting out and doing some hands-on activities) is what we want to spend most of our time doing.
As discussed in the troop meetings section, our weekly troop meetings are an important part of our routine. One of their primary purposes is to give the Scouts an opportunity to plan our outings. Our goal is to do at least one event a month. Sometimes we succeed, and sometimes we don’t. (That’s how goals work!)
Events require planning, so the troop meetings are an important part of the whole process. However, they are just a means to enable the real goal…the actual outdoor events.
On this site and in various BSA documents, you may hear the phrase “Main Event”. That’s the name the BSA uses for the troop’s monthly campout or activity. It’s the main thing they plan for each month.
Practicing leadership skills
As mentioned in the youth-led page, teaching leadership skills is one of the primary goals of Scouts BSA. Our campouts and other activities are a GREAT way for the Scouts to practice and fine-tune these skills.
As with our meetings, the campouts are the Scouts’ events. They run them. Adult leaders are there, of course, to help out, but they are NOT there to do the work for the Scouts. Whether it be settings up camp, cooking meals, cleaning up, or running some activities during the day, the Scouts are responsible for making sure things get done.
This is where the more experienced Scouts, as well as the elected youth leaders, can really help out the troop. They can use what they’ve learned over the years to teach things to the younger or less-experienced Scouts.
Events for new and experienced Scouts
Most of the events and activities hosted by our troop will involve the entire troop. That is, they will be suitable for new and experienced Scouts.
At times, we may plan separate events for each patrol. This is especially true if a patrol is hoping to complete a rank requirement or is working on the prerequisites of a specific merit badge. Even then, the activity will likely be well suited for new and experienced Scouts.
There are some council or national level events that have an age restriction. Activities that include the phrase “high adventure” often come with age requirements. For example, the Scouts often have to be 16 in order to drive ATVs or jet skis.
We usually try to participate in national high-adventure activities once every other year. These can include activities such as Sea Base or Philmont. These events typically have a minimum age requirement, therefore some of our younger Scouts will have to wait a bit before they can participate in these activities.
What do the Scouts need for campouts?
A Scouts BSA camping event is much different from the camping events hosted by a Cub Scout Pack. New Scouts (and their parents) often have lots of questions about what they need to bring along on our camping events.
We have a few pages on our website to help our new (and experienced) Scouts. The packing list for campouts page covers the basics of our camping trips. That page also includes links to a few additional pages that provide more details about similar events.
Our troop is fortunate… Over the years, we’ve been able to acquire a lot of equipment that we’re able to bring along with us on our camping trips. Tents, cooking gear, stoves, and many other items are all crammed into our campout trailer. This helps minimize what the Scouts need to bring.
Regardless of how well they prepare, there will likely be something that a new Scouts forgets to bring on his first camping trip. (This still happens to some of the veteran campers, too!) The best advice… Don’t worry! We have a lot of “extras” tucked into the trailer for these situations. Plus, when we’re out on an event, we’re like one big family in that we take care of each other. If someone has a need, we’ll find a way to address it with what we have.