car camping vs. backpacking

[gwd-scouter]

I've been revieweing a lot of the very early posts. In 2003, someone posed the question:

 

Are you a car camping troop, or a backpacking troop? Which do you prefer? Since it seems that none of the folks that answered that post are involved in the foum any longer, thought I'd ask again.

 

Our troop has always been a car camping troop, with maybe one backpack trip a year. However, in the Scout's planning session last August they mentioned they'd like to do more backpacking, so we're going next month for first time in 2 years.

 

What do you guys do?

[scoutingagain]

Up until a couple of years ago the unit I belong to hadn't backpacked in at least a generation of scouts. Last summer we took a crew to High Knoll. Prior to the trip we did a couple of shake down trips, including at least one that would be a qualifying hike for Backpacking MB. This year, the scouts have elected to take another Backpacking trip to complete the MB.

 

We still mostly car camp, but now we do one or two backpacking trips a year. In my opinion, scouts really don't get to appreciate LNT principles until they get out of the state park and council group campsites and see what it takes to really LNT.

 

SA

[GernBlansten]

We are primarily a car camping unit. We try to attend Philmont every three years and do a few backpacking prep treks on those years. My intention is to try to get more backpacking scheduled on the off years.

The biggest problem is we normally schedule one troop campout per month and many of those are district events which are car camping. We are trying to spark interest in our patrols to do patrol backpacking overnights in addition to the troop wide campouts. So far, no takers. Its sad, we live in a wonderful backpacking area. In fact, my back yard backs up to the Pike National Forest and they could base from my house if they wanted to. I'll keep mentioning it at every PLC though.

[CA_Scouter]

Similar to Scoutingagain, our troop hadn't done any backpacking trips in several years until I joined up. I managed to get them to do one trip the first year, and then last year we did two, including a trip to Half Dome in Yosemite. After that trip, they were 'totally stoked' on backpacking. This year, we are up to three, including a full week through the Yosemite backcountry.

 

Even with our car camping trips now, we try to reduce the amount of equipment to a minimal level, and this year we are going to push LNT pretty heavily.

 

Getting out into the woods gives the scouts so much more personal experience with nature and reinforces 'being prepared'. You can't run back to the car to get your jacket if the car is 5 miles down the trail. We spend plenty of time planning logistics, meals, trails, activities, etc., and the guys get really involved in it.

 

One of the other nice things about it is we are away from the general public, so we can make a little noise and not worry about it. We also don't have to deal with 'neighbors' who drink, smoke da ganga, play music loudly at night, teenagers running around topless ( yes, this did happen to us last year ), etc..

 

I heartily recommend a heavy emphasis on backcountry skills, LNT, and the experience and confidence that comes with learning self-sufficiency in the woods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Eagle69]

I have done both, but for years have been car camping oriented. I agree with the post that says Backpacking creates a more prepared scout, but you have to adjust your program to what the boys what to do, what the adults can do, and what the boys physically can do. The physical part is why we stopped. I had a generation of boys that were on the small side and trying to find a hip belt small enough would be one problem and the limited amount of gear they could carry was the other.

 

There is something to be said for both styles. We do most of our camping in the months when most people aren't out so the crowds aren't a problem. There are times when I think about starting to backpack again, but then I think nah, if I'm giving up a weekend at least I want to eat good and sleep comfortable.

[Herms]

We do a mix of both and usually get in about 3 backpacking trips a year. There is some spectacular back country to see! The boys are able to develop a different skill set than normal car camping, plus there is something about exploring new country that just appeals to the boys (and us big kids)!

 

We are going to Havasupai (the Grand Canyon) next month, which is a favorite of both boys and adults.

 

I think that one of the reasons some troops don't backpack as much is that it takes much more preparation to do a backpacking trip than a simple car camp, but once you get the boys trained it seems they enjoy it so much more.

 

[DugNevius]

Our troop does almost all backpacking, with the exception of a ski trip. If we can work in a way to backpack on a trip we do it.

[hikeoholic]

Our troop being located where it is we have 1 backpack and 1 tailgate outing per month on average. We usually also have the summer council ran long term as well as a week long backpack long term in the summer. also during the boys easter vacation we do a weeklong backpack to places that wouldn't be quite possible during the summer such as the grand canyon, zion, etc.

[Vigil-Hiker]

At the moment I am with a pack that goes camping 1-2 time a year. We do car camping, but we have camped where we had to carry everything ~1 mile in. Needless to say we had a few wagons on the camp fire road.

 

One of the troops we feed does both. They will do an occaisional overnight backing trip on a section of our state parks with 200 miles of trails. Every 2 years they do a high adventure trip (backpacking and/or canoing) and try to get to Philmont every 3-4 years. They usually have at least a couple of scouts go to Jambo as well.

 

I hope I hold up physically to take my son to Philmont. I loved my trip there, but would have been easier if did not have to have stitches removed from my knee the day before hitting the trail. Otherwise a great trip I would do in a heart beat again.

[EagleInKY]

We mostly do car camping, but I'm slowly trying to get them to change it. We did a backpacking trip last year and are doing a survival campout this year. I'm trying to get the guys to understand that variety is good. I wouldn't want to be in a troop that only backpacks any more than I want to be in a troop that only car camps.

[frankj]

We do a mix of both. Backpacking trips usually take place between late spring and early fall. They are more difficult to arrange but worth the effort it takes, I think, to introduce the Scouts to an activity that truly, they might not be introduced to, but for Scouting.

[Beavah]

when I think about starting to backpack again, but then I think nah, if I'm giving up a weekend at least I want to eat good and sleep comfortable.

 

Time to go find a local troop or outfitter and learn some new tricks, '69! It isn't hard to eat great and sleep better while backpackin' these days. Especially since it's got some extra seasonin' from the scenery and the healthy hike in!

 

I agree, though, that smaller kids and out-of-shape kids and adults are an issue when considerin' backpackin' trips. Takes more work gettin' gear straight just because the troop doesn't do it that often. But I expect a troop like Dug's gets as good at it as the rest of us are car campin' and ice fishin'.

 

 

[anarchist]

WE try to be multifacted and program for all ages of scouts. For many years now our troop has done a bunch (three per year)of camporees (car camps) and several drive in long distance (i.e., Gettysburg, Assateague Island National seashores type troop car camps but only one true multiday back pack trip. We also usually plan three or four canoe camps and one bike hike camp.

 

Much of the program was driven by a group of older scouts (boy led remember) who simply didn't want to hike -so when the annual planning meeting came around- they (As active PLC members) didn't schedule backpack trips...hikes were ok...but being a pack mule wasn't high on their personal hit parade...Not bad guys or couch potatoes mind you;(5 eagles,who were mullti-sport H.S. atheletes-including two football players, several cross country runners, wrestlers, and many soccer players)...they just didn't like 'packin'...

 

This year we have scheduled two backpack trips-one weekend and one four day A.T. trip(older boys only)...(this is being driven by two adult leaders and a more maliable(sp?)PLC)and I hope we do more next year. We are also "leading" the patrols to "double up" on their own outdoor programs so we have even more opportunities for "packin" to catch on!

 

My personal preference?- canoe camping -hands down! Having only one lung...it simply allows me to have more fun camping.

Anarchist

[OneHour]

It varies in our troop, but the majority of the times we are car camping. The junior leaders usually do squeeze in 1-2 backpacking trips a year for the troop as well as 1-2 canoeing trips. This year is mostly car camping.

 

Let's see 2005-2006 school year:

Aug - car camping at State Park

Sept - car camping at State Park - spelunking

Oct - car camping at State Park - hiking

Nov - hike at State Park

Dec - lock in

Jan - Web transition car camping

Feb - overnight at local battleship

Mar - car camping - fishing

Apr - car camping District Camporee

May - car camping - canoeing

June - summer camp

July - none

August - tbd

 

Our high adventure guys are planning some pack and paddle trips in preparation for their trip to Boundary Water.

 

1Hour(This message has been edited by OneHour)