Campout guide.
Everything a family needs before a Troop 9871 campout: what to pack, how to get ready, how we deal with ticks, and the details for the next campout.
Pack it, then check it off.
A full Trail Life uniform is expected at every campout (a Trail Life tee or polo if you don't have one yet). Bring your Trail Life Handbook in a zip-lock bag, and clothing that fits the weather, including for hiking. Lay everything out and check it off as you pack.
Camping equipment
- Tent (with stakes, ground tarp and rain fly)
- Rubber mallet for tent stakes
- Sleeping bag, pillow, air mattress or sleeping pad
- Mess kit: cup, bowl, plate, knife, fork and spoon in a mesh bag with your name on it in permanent marker
- Water bottle
- Flashlight or headlamp with fresh batteries
- Whistle
- Personal first-aid kit
- Sunscreen and insect repellent with DEET (see Ticks below)
Clothes
- Trail Life uniform
- Rain coat or rain gear
- Warm jacket or coat
- Pajamas, or a sweatshirt and sweatpants
- Underwear and socks (bring extra)
- Durable shoes suitable for hiking, plus an extra pair
- Hat for the weather
- Cold-weather campouts: gloves or mittens, snow pants and winter gear
Toilet kit
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, comb or brush
- Washcloth and towel
- Soap in a container
- An extra plastic bag for wet or dirty things
Nice to have
- Bible
- Notebook and pencil
- Camera, binoculars, sunglasses
Depending on the campout
- Swimsuit and towel when there's water time
- Fishing gear
- Work gloves for service projects
Before you leave the house.
Clean, dry sleeping bag
Wash it well ahead of time. A bag washed the day before is still damp, and a damp bag is a cold night.
Treat with Permethrin
Treat your tent and outer clothing as the product label directs. It's the best tick protection we have.
Label everything
Mark all gear with your last name (first name too if you like) in permanent marker. Unlabeled gear rarely finds its way home.
Medications in original containers
Prescriptions must be in their original bottle with the boy's name on it. Over-the-counter meds keep their store label.
Protect yourself from ticks.
Tick-borne illness is serious. Nothing prevents every bite, and not every tick carries Lyme, but these habits cut your exposure by most accounts to a fraction. They take a few minutes and we expect every trailman to follow them.
Dress to discourage ticks
- Wear long pants and long sleeves when you can
- Tuck pant legs into your socks, or wear pants with elastic cuffs
- Wear light colors so you can spot a tick on you
Use repellent with DEET
- Each trailman brings his own can, approved by his parent
- Spray before setting up camp, so pack it somewhere you can reach it
- Re-apply daily and after swimming or washing
Permethrin
- Treat your tent every year, or more often if you camp in the rain a lot
- Treat outer clothing as the product label recommends
If you find a tick on you
Young ticks are almost impossible to see, and even adult ticks get missed. If you find one:
- Tell your leader immediately, within a couple of minutes. If no adult leader is nearby, tell your patrol leader or another youth leader and get to an adult leader as soon as you can.
- Let an adult remove it the proper way with the proper tools. Do not pull it off with your fingers and do not try to remove it yourself.
- Save the tick in a container, without crushing it, so a doctor can identify it.
- See a doctor within 24 hours if at all possible, ideally one familiar with current research on tick-borne illness (the ILADS directory is a good place to look). The standard Lyme test is only about half accurate.
Signs to watch for after a campout
- Flu-like symptoms: nausea, headache, joint pain, dizziness or fever. Two or more of these right after a campout is reason enough to see a doctor.
- Many bites never show the bull's-eye rash.
- Treated in the first 24 to 72 hours, tick-borne illness is far easier to deal with. Untreated, it can spread and become chronic.
Grab a role for the next campout.
Grub masters, devotions, Friday dinner, the trailer: the sign-up sheet shows what's still open.