Spending time outdoors is an important part of being a Scout. That’s why the early Scouts BSA ranks have advancement requirements that Scouts spend time outdoors. From a five mile hike to a week long backpacking trip or a weekend canoeing down the Allegheny River to a week at Summer Camp, Scouts learn about their outdoor ethics and surviving in the outdoors.
One of the ways our Troop spends time together is by encouraging our members to join us for outdoor events at least once a month. Below are some types of camping and outdoor activities our members can participate in. Click on the cards below to learn more about the various types of outdoor events we participate in.
Car Camping
Most of our Troop campouts are car camping (sometimes called “Front-country” Camping) where we’re never far from where our cars are parked.
Backpacking
A few times a year, our troop will go backpacking in the backcountry. These trips require careful planning because we carry everything we need to a remote, undeveloped area where cars aren’t readily accessible.
Summer Camp
Every summer, our Troop attends Summer Camp at a BSA accredited camp. This 5-7 day overnight camp gives our Scouts a dedicated time to work on merit badges and advancement while getting to know other Scouts in the Troop and at camp.
Special Campouts
Special Campouts are longer camping trips organized by our Troop every few years. This may include a bike ride from Washington DC to Pittsburgh, an extended trip to a National Park, or even a trip to one of the BSA’s four High Adventure bases.
Resources
Packing lists for each type of outdoor activity are provided in each card above, but here are a few additional resources you may want to consider when preparing for campouts.
Where to buy gear:
- Public Lands in Cranberry (they also have a gear rental option that you can use to try out gear before you buy it or supplement your gear with equipment you won’t need that often)
- HikerDirect.com is a program that provides discount camping gear such as tents, sleeping bags, backpacks and other great camping products to members of various scouting organizations in the United States. Registering for the program allows you to browse the camping gear offered at discounted prices exclusive to scouts. (BONUS: Add a fellow Scout or leader’s name to your registration and both of you will receive a $5 referral bonus!)
- ScoutShop.org
- Backcountry.com
- REI.com (they also have a great online Outlet store that sells the prior year’s gear at a heavily discounted price)
- Amazon (definitely check the reviews first)