Camping
Cub Scout Pack 93 – Guide to Camping
What to Expect
Camping with Pack 93 is meant to be fun and accessible for families of all experience levels. For many of our Scouts, Cub Scouts is their first experience camping, and that’s great! You do not need to be an experienced camper or own expensive camping equipment to join us.
Most of our trips are car camping, meaning you’ll be able to park reasonably close to the campsite and unload your gear. Unlike backpacking, you don’t need to worry much about the size or weight of your equipment. Bring what you need to be comfortable.
We sleep outdoors in tents, share group meals, participate in Scout activities, play games, and spend time around the campfire. Activities vary from trip to trip and usually include a mixture of Scout skills, games, crafts, hikes, and plenty of unstructured time for the kids to have fun.
We generally camp rain or shine and in both warm and cold weather. There are, of course, limits. Scout safety comes first, and trips or activities may be changed or canceled when conditions such as severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, flooding, or extreme temperatures create an unsafe situation.
Campsites used by Pack 93 will have access to toilets and potable water. Many also have showers, although this varies by campground.
Families generally arrive Friday evening, often around 6:00 PM. The exact arrival time and other trip-specific information will be included with each event.
Sunday morning we eat a simple breakfast, break camp, and head home. We’re generally packed up and leaving by 10:00 or 11:00 AM.
If your family isn’t ready to spend the night, that’s okay too. When practical, Scouts are welcome to join us for the daytime activities without camping overnight.
Most camping trips are paid for from the Pack budget. Some special events, such as Cuboree, we may ask families for a small per-person contribution to help cover campsite and food expenses. The cost will be communicated when you RSVP.
New to Camping?
Don’t feel like you need to buy a complete set of camping equipment before your first trip.
If you’re unsure what you need, talk to your Den Leader or Cubmaster. We’re happy to help you figure out what is necessary, what you can probably do without, and what equipment may be available to borrow.
You can camp quite comfortably without spending a fortune on gear.
Meals
Unless otherwise noted for a particular trip, Pack 93 provides the group meals during our camping weekends.
Our menus change from trip to trip, but a typical weekend might look something like this:
Friday Dinner
Eat before arriving or bring your own dinner.
Friday Evening
S’mores or another campfire treat.
Saturday Breakfast
A hot breakfast such as a Dutch-oven breakfast casserole, pancakes, eggs, sausage, biscuits, oatmeal, or breakfast tacos.
Saturday Snack
Something easy for Scouts to grab while they’re participating in activities.
Saturday Lunch
A quick and simple meal such as sandwiches, walking tacos, or hot dogs, usually accompanied by fruit, vegetables, or chips. We intentionally keep lunch simple so we can spend more time on activities.
Saturday Dinner
Our main group meal. We’ve prepared everything from spaghetti and burgers to tacos, chili, baked pasta, chicken, stir-fry, and Dutch-oven meals.
Saturday Dessert
S’mores, Dutch-oven cobblers and cakes, or another camping dessert.
Sunday Breakfast
A simple grab-and-go breakfast such as muffins, breakfast bars, cereal, yogurt, and fruit so families can begin packing up.
Families should bring their own mess kits. At minimum, bring a bowl or plate, cup, and utensils. We try to avoid disposable plates, cups, and utensils whenever possible to reduce waste.
We set up a group dishwashing station after meals and often clean everything assembly-line style. Scouts, particularly our older dens, will frequently be recruited to help. Cooking and cleaning together are part of camping!
What to Bring
The Essentials
If you’re new to camping and wondering what you absolutely need, start here:
Tent
Sleeping bag or other warm bedding
Sleeping pad or air mattress
Weather-appropriate clothing
Rain gear
Sturdy shoes
Water bottle
Flashlight
Mess kit
Camp chair
Toiletries and personal medications
The sections below provide a more complete packing list.
Sleeping Gear
See the guides later in this document for more information.
Tent
Sleeping bag or appropriate bedding
Sleeping pad or air mattress
Pillow, if desired
Hygiene
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Soap
Toilet paper
Hairbrush or comb
Personal medications
Towel
Earplugs, optional
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Soap
Toilet paper
Hairbrush or comb
Personal medications
Towel
Earplugs, optional
Clothing
Check the forecast shortly before the trip and pack accordingly.
Weather-appropriate clothing
Comfortable sleeping clothes
Sturdy shoes
Sandals or Crocs for showers or water activities, if desired
Hat or hoodie
Gloves for cold weather
Extra socks
Sunglasses
Rain gear
Bring more socks than you think you’ll need. Wet feet can make an otherwise great camping trip miserable.
Eating
Mess kit: bowl or plate, cup, spoon and fork at minimum
Water bottle
Any personal snacks or seasonings you’d like to have
Mess kit: bowl or plate, cup, spoon and fork at minimum
Water bottle
Any personal snacks or seasonings you’d like to have
Cub Scout Six Essentials
Scouts should have a small day bag containing their Cub Scout Six Essentials:
Water bottle
Sun protection
Snack
Basic first-aid kit
Whistle
Flashlight
Other Outdoor Gear
Rain gear
Camp chair
Towel
Insect repellent
Rain gear
Camp chair
Towel
Insect repellent
Scout Equipment
Class A uniform
Class B shirt
Scout handbook
Current medical form, if you haven’t already provided one
Pocket knife only for Scouts who have earned the appropriate knife-safety privilege
Class A uniform
Class B shirt
Scout handbook
Current medical form, if you haven’t already provided one
Pocket knife only for Scouts who have earned the appropriate knife-safety privilege
Useful Extras
These aren’t necessary for everyone, but you may find them useful:
Tarp, poles, stakes and cord
Notebook and pencil
Camera
Battery-powered lantern
Trash bags
USB battery pack and charging cables
Any lantern used inside a tent must be battery powered. Never use a flame, fuel-burning lantern, stove, or heater inside a tent.
Basic First-Aid Kit
A small personal first-aid kit might include:
Adhesive bandages
Gauze
Medical tape
Antibiotic ointment
Tweezers
Families should bring any medications they personally require.
What NOT to Bring
Pack 93 follows the Scouting America Guide to Safe Scouting.
Scouting activities involving youth are conducted on a smoke-free basis. Alcohol, marijuana, controlled substances, and other items prohibited by law or Scouting policies are not permitted at Scout activities.
Adults taking prescription medications that could impair their judgment must not participate in activities that could put youth at risk, including driving or operating equipment.
Current policies can be found in the Guide to Safe Scouting:
https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss/
Guide to Tents
There are an enormous number of tents available, and choosing one can be overwhelming. For Cub Scout car camping, the biggest considerations are:
Cost
Size
Ease of setup
Quality
Weight and packed size
Ventilation
Materials
You don’t need an expensive tent to camp with Pack 93. In fact, if you’re just getting started, an inexpensive tent can be a good way to learn what your family likes before investing in something more expensive.
Cost
Inexpensive family tents from stores such as Walmart can work perfectly well for Cub Scout camping. More expensive tents from outdoor manufacturers may use lighter materials, pack smaller, withstand difficult weather better, or last longer, but those advantages aren’t necessary for every family.
For car camping, a simple tent that keeps your family dry and that you know how to set up is more important than an expensive tent.
If you’re ready for something a little more advanced, Chatham Outfitters in downtown Pittsboro carries an excellent selection of tents, sleeping bags, and other outdoor gear. The shop is Scout Friendly, and their staff are knowledgeable and happy to help you find equipment that fits your needs rather than simply guessing at what to buy.
Size
Tent capacity ratings can be misleading.
An “8-person” tent generally means eight people sleeping very closely together with little room for anything else. In real-world family camping, that same tent might comfortably accommodate a family using two queen-sized air mattresses with some room remaining for gear.
Bigger isn’t always better. Very large tents are heavier, take up more campsite space, and can be colder in cool weather because there is more interior air for your family to warm.
Choose something large enough to be comfortable without assuming you need the largest tent available.
Ease of Setup
Many modern family tents are designed for extremely fast setup. Some use built-in poles that simply extend and lock into position.
These tents are convenient, but they tend to be heavier and bulkier when packed.
More traditional tents may take longer to assemble but often pack smaller and can provide a tighter, more weather-resistant pitch.
Whatever tent you choose, set it up at home at least once before bringing it camping.
Learning how your tent works for the first time in the dark or rain is not much fun.
Quality
More expensive tents generally use more durable fabrics, poles and zippers and may perform better in bad weather.
That doesn’t mean you need an expensive tent for Cub Scout camping. A reasonably maintained inexpensive family tent can serve you perfectly well.
Weight
Weight isn’t a major concern for car camping because you won’t be carrying your equipment very far.
Packed size may actually matter more. Large family tents can weigh 20 pounds or more and occupy considerable space in your vehicle, while small backpacking tents can weigh only a few pounds.
Ventilation and Condensation
Tent ventilation is important even when it is cold outside.
Warm, humid air from your breath and body can condense when it reaches a cold tent surface. This can leave moisture on the inside of the tent and occasionally cause water to drip onto people or equipment.
Good ventilation helps reduce condensation.
Most tents also have a rain fly, which should be installed properly whenever rain or condensation is a concern. The fly helps keep rain away from the inner tent and creates another layer between the warm interior and colder outside air.
A properly pitched tent with good ventilation will generally be more comfortable and manage condensation better than a loosely pitched tent with all of its vents closed.
Tent Materials
Most family camping tents are made primarily from polyester or nylon.
Polyester is extremely common in car-camping tents. It is inexpensive, durable, UV resistant, and doesn’t stretch much when wet. It is heavier than nylon and generally requires a waterproof coating.
Nylon is lighter and strong for its weight, which makes it common in backpacking tents. It is generally more expensive and is more susceptible to UV damage.
You may also encounter specialized materials such as silicone-treated nylon, canvas, or Dyneema. These materials have advantages for particular kinds of camping, but aren’t necessary for ordinary Pack 93 car camping.
Guide to Sleeping Bags
Sleeping bags are very personal. What feels comfortable to one person may be too warm or too cold for another.
The major things to consider are:
Style
Insulation
Temperature rating
Cost
Sleeping Bag Styles
Rectangular
These resemble two rectangular blankets zipped together around the sides and bottom. Many can unzip completely and be used like a comforter.
Advantages: Comfortable, roomy, inexpensive and versatile.
Disadvantages: Less thermally efficient than a close-fitting sleeping bag and therefore heavier and bulkier for the same warmth.
For car camping, rectangular sleeping bags are perfectly reasonable.
Mummy
Mummy bags fit more closely around the body and usually include an insulated hood that can be tightened around the head.
Advantages: Very warm for their weight and pack relatively small.
Disadvantages: Some people find the close fit uncomfortable, particularly if they move around while sleeping.
Quilt
Camping quilts eliminate much of the insulation underneath your body and instead attach or wrap around an insulated sleeping pad.
Advantages: Lightweight, compact and versatile.
Disadvantages: Good cold-weather quilts can be expensive, and using one effectively requires a good sleeping pad and slightly more knowledge than a conventional sleeping bag.
They are particularly popular for backpacking but aren’t necessary for car camping.
Insulation
Synthetic
Synthetic insulation is common in inexpensive and moderately priced sleeping bags.
Advantages: Less expensive, relatively easy to maintain, and continues insulating reasonably well when damp.
Disadvantages: Heavier and bulkier than down for the same amount of warmth.
Down
Down provides excellent insulation for its weight.
Advantages: Very warm, lightweight and compresses extremely well.
Disadvantages: More expensive, requires additional care, and loses much of its insulating ability when wet.
For ordinary Cub Scout car camping, either works perfectly well.
Temperature Ratings
Don’t assume the temperature printed on a sleeping bag represents the temperature at which you personally will sleep comfortably.
Some sleeping bags provide separate comfort, limit and extreme ratings, while others provide only a general temperature rating. Individual people also vary considerably in how warm or cold they sleep.
Check the forecast and give yourself a reasonable margin.
Remember that car camping gives you an enormous advantage: you can bring extra bedding.
If it’s going to be unusually cold, you don’t necessarily need to buy a $300 sleeping bag. Bring an extra blanket or comforter and make sure you have adequate insulation underneath you.
Guide to Sleeping Pads
A sleeping pad is one of the most overlooked pieces of camping equipment.
It isn’t only there for comfort.
On a cool night, the ground can pull a surprising amount of heat away from your body. The insulation underneath you in a sleeping bag also becomes compressed by your body weight and doesn’t insulate as effectively.
An insulated sleeping pad creates a barrier between you and the ground.
If overnight temperatures will be cool, particularly into the 50s or below, we strongly recommend having some insulation underneath you.
R-Value
Many sleeping pads have an R-value, which measures resistance to heat transfer.
Higher numbers generally mean greater insulation.
You don’t need to become an expert in R-values to camp with us. The important thing is simply to understand that two pads that look equally comfortable may provide very different amounts of insulation.
Inflatable Pads and Air Mattresses
These range from small backpacking pads to large queen-sized air mattresses.
Advantages: Generally very comfortable and available in many sizes and thicknesses.
Disadvantages: They require inflation, can puncture or leak, and larger models can be bulky.
Be aware that a large air mattress can be surprisingly cold in cool weather if it has little or no insulation.
Foam Pads
Closed-cell foam pads are simple and extremely reliable.
Advantages: Inexpensive, durable, easy to use, and provide useful insulation.
Disadvantages: Less cushioned than inflatable pads and bulky to pack.