Cub Scout Camping ?

[littlek]

There is a lot of good advice given here already. Utilizing council and district campouts is a good introduction for new scouts. However, the programs and activities tend to be somewhat repetitive. Parents tend to balk at expense due to the same events offered at each camp. Boys just want to be outside and never tire of BBs, archery, fishing, etc. and will always have a good time. It is important to promote the age specific camps (i.e. Tigers - family, Cubs family and resident camps, Webelos Webelos resident camp).

 

Now then, IMO there is nothing that can replace the well planned and ran pack family overnighter. It helps build pack cohesiveness (parents and scouts), provides leadership opportunities to Webelos, creates an excitement in the pack that can draw new scouts in and a host of other positives. So a few important things to consider:

 

1) Have an active and supportive pack committee

2) Get BALOO trained

3) Find council approved site

4) Allow plenty of time for planning

 

A simple list, but critical. If you do not have an active committee then it will be an uphill battle (doable but tough). They will provide the framework for the campout as explained through BALOO training. If some of them will go with you to get BALOO that will make it easier. Site choice is important as well. There are several BSA requirements that a site must have to be acceptable for cubs to camp there. All this stuff is given at BALOO.

 

As long as your committee helps, you get trained, implement that training, and allow enough time to plan all should go well. It did on our first Pack overnighter just 3 weeks ago!! Good Luck!!

 

 

[SeattlePioneer]

Hello kittle,

 

 

I was just involved in a Pack Overnight camping trip June 4th and 5th. It was a great experience for the Scouts, and the adult leaders learned a lot too.

 

Here are a few comments:

 

Since your Pack doesn't have experience with campouts, investigate the Cub Scout camping opportunities available by your council. Usually, councils organize resident camps for Cub Scouts, providing most of the planning, facilities and leadership needed. All that's needed is for properly equipped parents and Cub Scouts to showe up to participate. People can participate in resident camping as boy-parent teams, but organizing your pack to go on one together would give your pack experience camping together.

 

Often, Districts have summer daycamps ---this might be a place to start too.

 

Thirdly, Family Camping is permitted for Cub Scouts. This is when families in a Cub Pack are responsible for themselves, but camp together at Scout Camps or other approved locations. The Cub Pack often has a program to bind people together, but families have the primary responsibility for looking after themselves.

 

Lastly, Pack Overnights are when the Cub Pack leadership takes the primary responsibility of organizing food, shelter, and program. This is the most demanding on Pack leaders ---they have to be on the ball.

 

These different options are described in Guide To Safe Scouting ---Section III Camping.

 

 

 

Seattle Pioneer

Can you tell I took BALOO training this year?