Scout Camping List

[Kai Larson]

Here's the list I use for multi-day scout backpacking trips. It's been tweaked and changed over the years. This is the current iteration.

It's in two parts: The first is the part that goes out to the scouts and parents regarding the scouts' personal gear. The second part is the group gear.

Some notes:

Our troop has 3 Black Diamond Guiding Light tents. They hold 4 boys and weigh about 5 and 1/2 pounds including stakes, guylines etc. I also have 4 Kelty Cosmic Down 20 degree sleeping bags that I use as loaners for the boys that don't have appropriate sleeping bags.

No doubt someone will point out that liquid fuel stoves are forbidden by the Boy Scouts. I realize that, but we use alcohol stoves (Trail Designs Ti-Tri) anyway. In my experience, alcohol is the safest fuel there is. We generally use alcohol for breakfast, and wood fuel for dinner. (lunch is generally not cooked.)

Here's the list:

Necessary Equipment: Anything not on this list must be approved by me. This is a long and very strenuous trip, and only the essentials should be carried. DO NOT BRING iPods, radios, gameboys, or other useless stuff. Also, because we will be out for so long, more than 20 miles from the trail head, all of this equipment is necessary. If there are some items you don't currently have, I can let you know where to obtain them at the lowest cost. I may also have items which may be borrowed.

Pocket knife
2 Sports drink bottles A 2 quart “Camelback” or similar bladder is also good. (If using a Camelback, just bring the bladder, not the pack for it.)
Flashlight A small headlamp is best. Do not bring a big, heavy flashlight. If you conserve batteries, an extra set of batteries will not be necessary.
Sunscreen
Insect Repellent. NOT a metal aerosol can. SMALL pump spray bottle. Best is Ultrathon brand.
Backpack Must have either an internal or external frame, and a padded hip belt which will support the weight on the scout's hips, NOT his shoulders.
Sleeping bag (NOT a big heavy bag. Should weigh less than 3 pounds.)
Sleeping pad. Closed cell foam sleeping pad (i.e. Ridgerest, Z-rest, blue pad) is best.
Plastic or aluminum bowl Don’t bring a big army mess kit. All you need is a bowl. The best bowl is a light plastic bowl with a lid, made by Ziploc. You can get them at the grocery store for about 3 dollars for a package of them. (only bring one.)
Spoon (get a lexan-plastic spoon at the Walmart sporting goods section for $1.50
Cup (lightweight plastic cup)
Toothbrush
Small tube of toothpaste (get a trial size tube)
Small travel pack of diaper wipes.
1 ounce bottle of liquid Soap (camp suds, or similar biodegradable soap)
1 ounce bottle of Purell hand sanitizer.
First Aid kit with lighter and tinder

Clothing:
Sunglasses
Baseball Hat or other sun hat
Bandanna or “Buff”
Warm hat
Warm fleece sweater/jacket NOT a cotton sweatshirt, jean jacket, etc.
Rain jacket with hood and Rain pants (One of the lightest and least expensive options for rain pants and rain jacket are “DriDucks” rain suits, which can be purchased for $20-$40 depending on which model you buy.)
Shirt(button up with collar is better than t-shirt, as it keeps bugs and sun off your neck) NOT cotton.
Swimming suit (also to be used as shorts for hiking)
2 pair underwear
2 pair WOOL hiking socks NO COTTON SOCKS!
Trail runners or other running shoes. Waterproof trail runners are the ideal footwear.
Synthetic or wool Long john top and bottoms (these will be worn for sleeping; evenings; and for cold days. NO COTTON.)
Pants NOT COTTON. NO JEANS. Polyester or nylon hiking pants. Best ones have zip-off legs that double as shorts, but any comfortable, non-cotton pants will work.

Snacks: Some between-meal snacks are a good idea. Bring something that won’t crush or melt or go rotten. Also, bring a 1-quart powder Gatorade mix.

Optional Items:
Camera
Lightweight liner gloves (if you have them, they can be nice on cold evenings)
Hiking poles (If you have these, bring them. They really help, especially on the downhill sections)
Light-weight camp shoes (teva sandals, Crocs, aqua-socks etc. for creek crossings)
Sheath knife

Group Gear
Black Diamond Guiding Light Tents and stakes (1 per 4 boys
Water purifier chemicals (Micropur tablets, 2 per person per day)
Platypus gravity water filter system
Trail Designs Ti Tri stove with Inferno insert and Open Country 2 Quart pot (1 per 4 boys) (Use Trangia burner in place of stock burner.)
Pot lifter
Alcohol fuel (1.5 oz per day per person)
Titanium grill
Line and sacks for bear bags
2 Maps
2 compasses
Android cell phone with GPS software
inReach communicator
Leader first aid kit

[ed dzierzak]

"No doubt someone will point out that liquid fuel stoves are forbidden by the Boy Scouts. I realize that, but we use alcohol stoves (Trail Designs Ti-Tri) anyway. In my experience, alcohol is the safest fuel there is. "

The Guide to Safe Scouting (aka "The Bible") just states that "home-made" stoves are prohibited. Commercially made stoves are OK. Likewise, alcohol is merely on the "Not Recommended" list.

Having said that, some Councils impose stricter requirements.

[Michael Ray]

I'm impressed it will do that well with a 2 qt pot.

Pretty decent list overall.

[Kai Larson]

Actually, I'm glad you pointed that out.

I generally use Trangia or Evernew burners with my Trail Designs stoves over 1 liter. I have found that the burner that comes with these stoves takes too long to heat more than a quart of water.

(Edited the list to reflect this.)

[Bob Shaver]

Items to be worn:

Shirt,Nylon T shirt
Nylon Pants
Belt
Hat
Sunglasses
Boots (check fit of boots)
2 pr of socks, one thin, one thick (not cotton)
Underwear
Pocket knife or Mora knife

Spending money for food and gas
Pack
Sleeping bag and stuff sack
Sleeping pad,
Insulation layer long sleeve Shirt
Raincoat and stuff sac
Extra pair of socks, one thin, one thick
Extra t shirt
Water bottle with water
Cup, bowl, spoon (all plastic) (no plate)
Dry Bag stuff sac for washing clothes
Flashlight (new batteries)
First Aid Kit (per BSA Handbook pg 289)
Moleskin, 3”x 6”
6 Bandaids
Rubber gloves
2 sterile gauze pads, 3”x3”
small bar of soap
small roll of adhesive tape
small tube antiseptic
small scissors
pencil and paper
eye protection
butterly bandages
antibacterial cream
mouth barrier device

Adult Meds:
motrin
ES Tylenol
Benadryl
Immodium
Alka seltzer extra
Prescription meds, antibactial
Survival gear
Plastic garbage bag big enough to cover pack
Compass, Map
Waterproof matches
Signal mirror
Whistle
Fire starting steel
Cigarette lighter
Mosquito repellant
Sun block
Duct tape

Toilet kit:
Tooth brush
Tooth paste (baking soda preferred)
Alcohol wipes
Hand sanitizer
Toilet paper in zip lock bag
Dental Floss
Camp Soap for washing clothes and bathing
Dry bag stuff sack for washing clothes

Troop Supplied Gear
Tent (check for poles, stakes, footprint)
Cook set (check for pot gripper, lighter, spatula, oil, scrubber pad, small bottle of soap, salt and pepper shaker, 1 paper towel per meal)
Stove, fuel canisters
Water filter (bring pre filter and hoses)

Optional Items
Light gloves
Small deck of cards
Camera
Fishing gear
Small book
Rain pants
Day pack
Fry pan and oil for fish
Screw top bottle and butter for cooking
Folding spatula
Clean clothes for drive home
Drinks to put in creek
Hiking poles
Altimeter watch
Mora knife
Small book
Camp shoes (Teva, Keene, flip flops, Crocs)
Splenda, sugar, tea, coffee, coffee maker
Lemon pepper for fish
Bulk powdered milk
Bulk cocoa

For drivers and adults:
Mp3 player for car
Cell phone
Money, debit card
Check engine oil
Lemon pepper for fish
Cell phone charger

[Kai Larson]

A couple of comments:

I really prefer blister dressings to moleskin. Like these:

http://www.amazon.com/Band-Aid-Adhesive-Bandages-Multi-Day-Protection/dp/B005CPGN1S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1327519493&sr=8-2

They stay on better, have low friction compared to moleskin, and are just all around better.

Rainpants seem like a necessary item rather than an option if it's really raining.

[Tad Englund]

Stay tuned… rumor has it that BPL has tentative plans for a two part article on this subject in a few weeks.

[Author]

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