New families
Your first campout
Nervous about the first campout? Totally normal, for Scouts and parents alike. Here's what to expect.
Before you go
- Sign up on the troop's member site. Trip details, the permission form and the cost are all posted there.
- Get a packing list from your patrol leader or at the meeting before the trip. New Scouts don't need to buy much: the troop provides tents, stoves and patrol cooking gear, and experienced families are glad to lend or advise.
- Shakedown: before bigger trips, Scouts bring their packed gear to a meeting so leaders can help trim and fill in.
- Medical form: every Scout and adult needs a current Scouting America Annual Health and Medical Record on file before camping.
At camp
Your Scout will camp with their patrol, a small team of Scouts their age, led by a youth patrol leader. Patrols set up their own tents, plan their menu, cook their meals and clean up, with older Scouts teaching and trained adults nearby. Scouts share tents with patrol mates, never with adults other than a parent or guardian.
Expect skills practice, games, hikes and a campfire, and expect your Scout to come home tired, a little dirty and talking a mile a minute.
Who's in charge
The Senior Patrol Leader (a Scout) runs the campout program. At least two registered adult leaders, trained in Safeguarding Youth and outdoor skills, are on every outing, and more often many more. When girls attend, a registered female adult leader is there too.
Parents
Parents are welcome to get trained and come along. Many do, and it's a great way to meet the troop. You'll find, though, that Scouts grow fastest when they're cooking with their patrol, not their parents.
Questions parents ask
For parents
Do parents have to volunteer?
It's not required, but a troop this size runs on its families. With 67 registered adults, there's a role for every schedule, from driving to an outing or teaching one merit badge to joining the committee or becoming a leader. All training is provided.
Do parents go on campouts?
Trained adult leaders go on every outing. Parents are welcome to get trained and come along, and many do, but Scouts tent and cook with their patrol, not their parents. That's where the growing up happens.
Safety
How do you keep Scouts safe?
Every adult leader completes Scouting America's Safeguarding Youth training and a background check, and we follow Scouting's two-adult rule: no adult is ever alone with a Scout who isn't their own child, in person or online. When girls are on an outing, a registered female adult leader is there too. Anyone can report a concern to Scouting America's Scouts First Helpline at 1-844-SCOUTS1 (1-844-726-8871). Every activity follows Scouting America's Guide to Safe Scouting, and its parents' guides help families talk with their children about personal safety.
Still have questions?
Ask at a Wednesday meeting, or send us a note. We were all new once.
