a cubs and parents guide to cub camps

Tracks Publishing [email protected]

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Tyler Armstrong

Record setting young Mountaineer

Tyler Armstrong of Orange County, California, set the World Record on December

24, 2013 at the age of 9, as the youngest person ever to climb Mt. Aconcagua

(22,841 feet). Mt. Aconcagua is the highest mountain in South America, and the

highest mountain in the Western and Southern Hemispheres. Tyler also has the

record for the youngest person to climb Mt. Whitney (14,505 ft) in a single day

(age 7), and the second youngest to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,341 ft) (age 8). In

addition to these more notable climbs, Tyler has successfully climbed numerous

10,000+ foot mountains. Tyler takes mountain climbing so seriously that he

works out 2 times a day and has a personal trainer. He has taken

mountaineering classes and is proficient in ropes, ice axes, and cramp-ons. In

short, despite his age, he is an experienced mountain climber.

Tyler now wants to break 4 more World Records over the next few years as he

completes the Seven Summits. His goal is to set the records as the youngest

person to climb Mt. McKinley, Mt. Vinson, Mt. Everest, and complete all Seven

Summits.


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Tyler climbs mountains for the love of it, but also to raise awareness for

charity. Tyler raises awareness and funds research to find a cure for Duchenne

muscular dystrophy. Duchenne is a devastating muscle disease that afflicts

300,000 boys worldwide. Three of Tyler's friends in Orange County have

Duchenne and Tyler wants to help find a cure for his friends. Tyler climbs for the

Duchenne boys who can’t. Boys are usually diagnosed with Duchenne by the age

of 5, in a wheelchair by 12 and most don’t survive their mid-20s.

Tyler's story has been covered numerous times in the media, nationally, locally

and internationally. Tyler has given interviews on television, radio, newspaper,

magazines, and the internet. Tyler is even a published author. He provides

presentations on mountain climbing and inspiring children and adults to achieve

their own goals. For more information on Tyler, please visit:

www.topwithtyler.com or www.facebook.com/TopWithTyler

or www.youtube.com/user/TopWithTyler

Thank you for your support.

Tyler

I would like to take this opportunity of thanking Tyler and his father Kevin for

taking the time to read through this booklet and add their comments to it. It is

important that we recognise and listen to our youth and empower them to

achieve their dreams and aspirations.

This is even more important when attached to these dreams are the hopes and

aspirations of those young men with Duchenne. who I am positive would have no

greater desire then to be walking along side Tyler as he conquers these

mountains.

Help support Tyler by liking his Facebook page or subscribing to his You Tube

Channel, both of which you will find links to at the bottom of Tylers background

information above.

I totally support Tyler in all his ventures and hope through a little positive action ,

the scouting community worldwide can help Tyler reach his goals and those who

suffer from Duchenne to achieve their dreams through him and one day find a

cure for this disease.

You’ll find Tyler’s thoughts and comments within “ ” and with the initials TA

http://www.topwithtyler.com/

http://www.facebook.com/TopWithTyler

http://www.youtube.com/user/TopWithTyler


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Hi, my name’s Paul, I’ve been the Cub Section Leader at Chartwell Cub Pack for

the last 7 years, although there are days when it feels so much longer and others

when I wonder where the time has gone.

I’ve written this guide for Parents and Cubs, to try and help you through your first

Cub Camp, whether it’s a sleepover, a static camp or a light weight camp

following a short hike.

When a camp is organised by your Group or Pack, Parents are usually given a list

of things that that your son or daughter needs for the camp, but there is very

little guidance about what to actually get, where to buy it from etc and so

naturally as parents you will possibly do a couple of things:-

1. You dig around at home and see what you actually have that’s on the list.

2. What’s not on the list, you either look at purchasing or find a compromise,

something that’s close enough and hoping it will be ok.

3. You purchase everything, making sure it will be big enough for them to grow

into for the next few years, but are still not sure what to get.

4. You go, wow haven’t got any of that gear, or the spare cash to purchase it, so

your child just doesn’t go on camp.

5. Your not sure what too buy, then it gets to late and you pull out.

So what I’ve done here, is to provide some guidance with regards to what

happens on a Cub camp, what’s the best sort of clothing for the kids is to wear

during the camp, the right direction to look with regard to obtaining equipment,

ie the reasons why some things are better than others and purchases to avoid etc.

Please remember, the manufacturers in this booklet are not the only ones out

there, shop around, check the sales, plan ahead and you will save yourselves a

considerable amount of money. Shopping off season is the best way.

If you don’t have something, ask the Group or other parents for help, we have

quite allot of gear we can lend, and Cubs are growing out of clothing all the time,

footwear is a classic example, long before it has worn out, so don’t be proud ask

around. You can save yourself a small fortune and provide the right equipment

for your childen and at very little cost.

You’ll note that there are some chapters marked with a (P) these have been

written specifically for Parents, whilst some are maked (P & C) Parents and Cubs

the remainder have been written to help Cubs, but read on, there’s useful

information for you there as well.


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What is Camp Craft for a Cub?

Well it is the knowledge that you need as a Cub to plan, prepare, partake in and

enjoy camping in safe and fun way.

Sounds so simple doesn’t it? But for many this can be a daunting and challenging

time as a Cub and for them, if it is not an enjoyable experience, then they will not

wish to repeat it again.

So how do we ensure we have a good time on camp, well most of what we need

to do, actually happens well before we even take one foot out of the door to leave

for the camp.

Put very simply, we plan and prepare!

1. Planning ahead for the camp

2. What you need to know

3. Types of Camps

4. Clothing making the right choices

5. Bedding what to buy or take

6. Personal and General Hygiene

7. Tents, Types and Uses

8. Pitching a Tent

9. Bags and Stuff

10. Checking the weather

11. What are we drinking

12. Personal Equipment : What you need

13. Food and Meal Times

14. Camp Traditions and Ceremonies

15. The Pack Up and Tidy away

Additional Practical Advice

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At the beginning or preferable just before the

start of a term, you should have been

supplied with a program of the planned

activities, some of these may be for large

scale camps a long way in the future, but you

need to make sure your prepared for what’s

coming up.

To properly plan for yourself, try to find out as

much as you can about the proposed camps,

is it lightweight or static, will we have to

tramp to the location of the camp site, or can

we get there by car, what time of the year is it

and how long will we be camping for.

Then take a look at what you have and may

need to acquire before the date of departure.

You will be supplied with a kit list, have a

good read through it and check off what you do have, what may need to be

replaced because it is broken, damaged or because you simply have grown out of

it?

When you have your list, make sure your parents know what you need as soon as

possible, some things can be quite expensive and if your parents haven’t had time

to plan for it they may find it difficult to obtain. Also if you don’t have something

you’ll be amazed how many of your friends may have things hidden away that

you could borrow, but remember if someone lends you something, look after it.

Important: Check with your parents if they have plans for you or them that may

clash with the upcoming camp, sometimes it may mean that you will not be able

to attend, but letting the leaders know a long time in advance what your plans

are will make their job that much easier. Alternatively, you may find that a friend

of your parents who they trust or another Cub’s parents may be able to get you

there and safely home, but you need to plan ahead and make sure everyone

including the leaders are aware who you are traveling with.

“Always make sure someone knows where you are going and when you will

return, include a route and emergency procedure to follow if you are overdue”

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To plan ahead you need to know some basic

information:-

When is the camp?

Where is the camp?

How long is it for?

What sort of camp is it?

What equipment do I need?

How much is it going to cost?

When is the Camp?

Most Cub camps are planned to take place during the spring, summer and

autumn terms, this means that in most cases it will occur during the warmest

seasons of the year. You should be ideally given 4-6 weeks advance notice. Make

sure you use this time to prepare as much as possible. Timings are also important

to know, when you have to be at certain locations, when you have to leave and

when you are due to return even at the earliest stages of their planning.

Where is the Camp?

Cub’s tend to do very little of what is known as green field camping, this is

because we have to have an alternative building for you to sleep in if the weather

becomes so inclement that in the view of the leaders responsible for the camp

you should not be sleeping outside. Therefore, most if not all camps, take place at

Scouting New Zealand Camp Sites, or other approved sites where Cubs can sleep

out overnight and contain facilities, such as showers, toilets, bunkrooms and

kitchens etc.

How long is the Camp for?

Knowing how long the camp’s for will allow you to decide how much clothing,

food, medicine etc you will need. This, with the equipment list you have been

supplied, should mean that you will be able to make good decisions. Having too

much gear can weigh you down on a light weight camp, having to little may

mean that you will have to miss out. Getting it right only comes with practice.

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The majority of the camps you will encounter as a Cub will be of three types:-

Sleepovers at a Scout Hall

Static Standing Camps

Lightweight Camps

Sleepovers are used to get you prepared for sleeping away from home,

sometimes for the first time, you will normally be sleeping on camp beds or air

mattresses, cooking will be done in the kitchen by the leaders and most of the

activities will take place in and around the hall.

Static Camps are large scale camps utilising large family tents or Marquees,

they normally take place at established camp sites and run for a minimum of two

nights, this is because of the length of time it takes prepare them. You can usually

get 6 Cubs to into a tent on camp beds/stretchers and therefore it’s a nice way to

take that next step in camping. These camps are preferably set up by the leaders,

prior to you arriving. Following your arrival you are allocated to a tent, this is

where you’ll be sleeping for the duration of your stay.

Lightweight camping is normally reserved for the more experienced Cubs,

you’ll be using two or three person hike tents and you will be sleeping on

camping mats rather than camp beds. If you’re lucky, you may even have to walk

in with the tent and all your gear in an overnight pack. You will need to know

how to set these tents up, how to take them down and also how to clean them

afterwards.

What Equipment will I Need? A list of equipment you’ll need to take on

any camp will be given to you by the Leaders and what it consists of will be

determined by the type of camp you’re on, the duration and any activities that

may be planned during that camp.

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It is important that you only bring what’s on the list that’s been provided for you,

if you are packing in for camp, then weight is paramount and too much weight

will make it difficult for you to hike in and out of your camping location. I’ll be

getting into much more detail with regard to equipment in the later sections.

How much is it going to Cost?

Sometimes it is the very cost of a camp that will determine if you will be attending

or not and this is normally driven by a few things:-

The type of camp

It’s duration

Planned Activities

How far away it is from the scout hall

Hire of equipment

Hire of facilities

Food and materials for activities

These are the factors which determine the cost of the camp to your parents and to

you as a Cub. Please understand that every effort is made to keep the costs down,

however, the more activities you have, the more expensive it becomes etc etc.

The average cost is about $20.00 a night away from home, you’ll be notified

exactly how much it will be in the Camp information and it’s also shown on the

parental consent and gear notice. So bear that in mind when you’re thinking

about taking part in a camp.

You’d think this would be a no brainer, however, very often Cubs will turn up to a

camp in totally inappropriate clothing for the conditions and the type of activities

they will be taking part in.

What decides what you should be wearing?

Weather conditions and time of year

Activities as laid down in the camp information.

Duration

Personal Preference

As a general rule of thumb, try to choose man made, fast drying materials, even

for the summer months, cottons should be avoided where possible as they take a

long time to dry and absorb and retain moisture (sweat) from your body.

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Layers are the key here, from your underwear to your top layer, thin manmade

fabrics in layers have better thermal efficiency then a single heavy layer, also if

your too hot, you can always take a layer off, or if too cold add another, here’s a

few pictures and explanations to help you out.

Base layer (Underwear)

Well here’s what is called a mid-compression

base layer, thermal layers and materials have

changed to make them a lot more comfortable

to wear, a lot more flexible with the addition of

materials such as lycra. The majority are now

seamless or have flat seams, this means that

they create less point pressure on the skin

preventing sores and abrasions due to friction

or loading.

The more flash they are, like the one to the left,

the more they are going to cost. Ignoring the

very nice design, the materials used to create

these garments affect price as well.

I would advise not to wear anything else under

these, boxers and briefs may well bunch and

create sores in places that can be difficult to

manage and

This is a full long, but short versions can be

worn and are sometimes are more suitable.

Materials that cubs find uncomfortable normally have a significant amount of

wool in them like Merino, the material you choose must be one that you as a Cub

feel happy in, these need to be worn, not stashed in the bottom of your bag.

“Warmth is key - Do not sweat or get clothes wet. If so change out. Prevent

sweating by using layers and knowing when to add or remove layers. When

hiking, start with less than you think you will need because after you move you

will get warmer.”

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Mid Layer (Jumper/Fleeces and Pants)

The Mid layer is unsurprisingly the

next layer on top of the base layer

and a conventional take on this is a

fleece top of jacket like the one

pictured here, this like the base layer

is fast drying, light weight and in

many cases now has elastin built in

to improve flexibility and ease of

movement for the wearer.

Careful choices should be made with

regard to your pants/trousers, again

choose light weight, fast drying

trousers or shorts; suitable for the

activities which have been planned

for you.

They should not be too tight and

definitely not made of cotton, many

people and youngsters wear trousers

that convert into shorts by simply

unzipping the legs. These are a great

idea and for a young man or girl who is growing, as the shorts can be use long

after they have grown out of the legs. See examples below.

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http://www.kathmandu.co.nz/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/2000x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/1/2/12356_patekev2_913.png


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Socks and Shoes

Now this is one of the hardest things to

deal with for parents, purchasing good

walking shoes for a young person is a

big financial commitment. especially

when the person they are buying them

for (you) may well only use them for 1 or

2 camps before they have grown out of

them. However, manufacturers are

cottoning onto this and are producing

cheaper, lightweight walking shoes for

children.

It is really important that whatever

shoes your parents buy for you, that

you are present when they make the

purchase. Also make sure that you

have a pair of walking socks with you,

so that when you try them on, they

will fit and feel the same as when you

put them on to go on a tramp or hike.

The pair above are high/mid boots to

provide extra support to the ankle, the

pair to the left are low shoes. Parents

tend to buy these as their children can

use them for other activities, or wear

them around the town.

Whatever the choice is you make, ensure that you wear them in before you go on

camp; I’ve seen some really nasty blisters being brought about by brand new

boots or shoes on a hike.

A good pair of socks are a real advantage, merino socks with elastin built in offer

flexibility and stay warm even when they are wet, however always carry a spare

pair of socks that you can change into, as prolonged damp feet can lead to trench

foot and other foot conditions. Good socks aren’t cheap, but are well worth the

investment, avoid cottons again, as these can take a long time to dry even under

ideal conditions.

“Heavy boots for cold weather and lightweight for warm weather, socks –two

layers (thin liners of silk or pol), second layer wool “

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Top Layer Raincoats and jackets

The top layer is normally used

during the winter, however, they

should always be carried in an

easily accessible place in your

day pack or overnight pack, just

in case the weather changes.

Try to choose waterproof but

breathable materials, so that as

you get warm, the moisture

generated by your body as it

heats up, has a chance to

escape through the fabric,

rather like a one way door.

The jacket should be long

enough to cover your backside,

this should stop rain water

running off the back of jacket

straight down the back of your

trousers.

There are allot of manufacturers out there for you to choose from, but again ask

around, you’ll be amazed how many of these can be found sitting in cupboards

after the owners have long since grown out of them.

Another option of course are

2 in 1 jackets or even 3 in 1,

these have removable fleece

liners, so they can be still

used in the summer, these

are a really good option due

to their multi use and they

just unzip to make two

useable jackets. I haven’t

seen so many here in New

Zealand but the internet

now makes these available

through overseas suppliers.

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Caps and Beanies

A hat in the winter really makes a difference to the level of comfort we experience

on camp or on a hike, we lose a surprising amount of heat through our head and

loosing body heat can lead to hypothermia. Let have a look at this thermal image

of a boys head.

You can see in the above image how even the

thickest layer of hair is actually reducing the

body heat radiated from the head, so with a

little additional insulation we can see that we

can retain allot more warmth in our bodies.

Peaked caps are

also often worn

during the day to

reduce glare, but

should not be worn

instead of this if the

weather remains

very cold.

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In the summer heat is our enemy, but we still have to be prepared for the worse

kind of weather as well. Layers are again the key, however, if it’s not raining we

can normally dispense with the top layer, but still have it at hand if needed.

Underwear

Ok as crazy as it sounds, there are

good boxers and bad ones, The loose

type to the right offer little or no

support to your personal items, they

also have the tendency when they

get damp to bunch and create sores

between your legs. Now this isn’t

going to kill you, but if you’re on a

long hike, it could ruin the trip for

you and make what should be an

enjoyable experience into one you’d

rather forget.

Again materials are important, go for

manmade fibres that can wick sweat

away quickly or dry if they get wet,

choose carefully and also remember

to change them on a regular basis.

Dirty or damp underclothing can be

uncomfortable and smelly at best,

respect yourself and respect others

sense of smell.

Again as with the winter light compression

base layer shorts and tops can be worn,

these offer superior support and do not tend

to bunch as much when they get damp. They

are fast wicking and dry really well. Again I

would look to buy these off shore where they

are half the price of the New Zealand

companies. The top is optional but if you

have it with you can always take it off or put

it on if you get to hot or too cold, if you don’t

you won’t be able to do either.

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Middle Layer – Shorts, Pants and Shirts

The middle layer in summer is the one

you’ll be standing in; this need to be made

from lightweight, fast wicking, and

breathable materials. In summer the things

we have to watch are heat and UV from

the sun, so we need to protect ourselves,

but try and stay cool at the same time.

Man-made materials are great for this and

modern garments especially those

specifically designed for outside summer

use come with a UV rating, in short they

should be loose fitting, comfortable and

breathable.

Children are not very heat efficient and as such, do not shed or release body heat

that well. The body temperature of a young child is also a little higher than an

adult, but they don’t have the same body surface area to shed that heat from.

This can lead to several dangerous conditions, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Watch for the points in the day where the UV is at its worse and take appropriate

precautions. See chart above for guidance if you’re unsure.

Now we’ve seen these shorts before and

these highlight one of the advantages of

trousers that you can unzip the legs from;

they really do tick all the boxes.

You can of course just zip the legs back on if

the mosquitos are too friendly, or the

temperature drops as the day wears on. Just

remember to put them into your bag that

you’re carrying. The waist on these is

elasticated; this is also an advantage as it

allows the wearer to breathe a little more

freely, allowing the heart to work more

efficiently whilst it tries to keep the body

cool.

Shirts range from tee-shirts to polo’s, football tops to rash vests, I’ve seen them all

on Cubs. If they’re carrying a pack, make sure the shirts don’t cause chaffing on

the shoulders, some synthetics with a lot of nylon are quite abrasive and under

load can lead to sore spots.

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On the right is a good example of a

shirt designed for carrying a pack, there

are no seams on the tops of the

shoulders and the materials used are

fast wicking and breathable, the

manufacturer claims that it will dry 4

times faster than cotton.

The V neck is also better than a crew

neck, mainly because it keeps the

airway free and makes it easier for the

wearer to breathe when his or her body

is working under load or stress.

Here’s another shirt, again fast

wicking materials and this one

comes with a UPF 40 rating for UV.

Unlike the shirt above this is a crew

neck, but has been cut generously

to allow the wearer to breathe

freely. The red dots are holes

stitched in to the shirt to increase

breathability, not sure how effective

they are though?

This has a flat stitched seam to

prevent the chaffing mentioned

previously, but these shirts are not

cheap.

I haven’t mentioned thermal tops, however, you’ll often find Cubs wearing rash

vests under their shirts, on a mild day this isn’t a problem, but they can act as a

very good insulator as well as sun protection, watch these Cubs for overheating, if

they start getting flushed, it may be a good idea to tell them to drop a layer.

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Top Layers, Caps and Hats:

Now the top layers are covered on the winter pages and are worn as and when

required as the conditions dictate, however, hats are a must in New Zealand and

in most schools are compulsory.

A good wide brimmed hat like this one are

probably one of the best choices to make for a

Cub during the summer, if he or she is going to

be in the sun for extended periods of time.

Remember, it may not be their personal choice

but these hats protect the ears, nose, back of the

neck and if their not to tight and with good

ventilation, normally in the form of mesh, allow

the heat to get away, keeping the wearer cooler.

Baseball caps are the most common sort of cap

you’ll find on a Cubs head during the summer

like this one on the right, unfortunately it

leaves the neck and ears exposed and unless

these are covered with appropriate sun screen

can lead to some quite nasty sunburn and

problems later in life.

You can see from these pictures that these two

Cubs are feeling the heat and can also see

how much extra shade and protection the wide

brim hat is providing, when compared to the

baseball type cap.

Materials are important again, some offer excellent

UV protection and are breathable, others are

heavier and take forever to dry when they get wet.

Sometimes this can provide a welcome relief for the

wearer on a hot day, after it’s been dipped in a

stream and replaced on their head. Whilst

Chartwell has a Cub Cap, it is not one I recommend

to wear on camp, although every now and then one

does. These cubs were having a good time honest,

However, Temps were in the 30’s & it shows!!

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Protective Eyewear, Sun glasses:

I’ve been chatting to Tyler Armstrong

about this booklet and one of the things

both Tyler and his father brought up

was Sun glasses or suitable eye

protection for the Cubs, something that

had never actually crossed my mind.

However, I’ve spent a little time reading

up on this subject and in my opinion

just as Tyler and his father suggested,

they appear to me less now as a

fashion item but more so now as a necessity, especially here in New Zealand

where UV levels are extremely high.

“Children under 10 are at high risk of skin and eye damage from UVR. The skin

on their eyelids and around their eyes is more delicate and vulnerable than adult

skin. Until the age of 10, the lens of a child’s eye is clear, allowing greater solar

penetration and thus greater UVR induce ocular changes. As the children get

older this lens starts to get opaque providing better protection.

UVR exposure causes 90% of skin cancers; in addition, retinal exposure to UVR is

associated with cataracts and macular degeneration, both causes of vision

impairment. UVR damage builds over time, so the sooner you start protecting

your children’s eyes from the sun, the lower the risk will be of ever developing

future eye problems” (Skin Cancer Foundation)

So the basic rules are:-

Find glasses that block both 99-100% of both UVA and UVB rays.

Look for large wrap around glasses, (to

cover maximum skin area).

Choose impact resistant, scratch proof

lenses.

Choose glasses with your children, they

are far more likely to wear them if they

chose them.

Make sure they fit well, Cubs are very active, sports style glasses are good

in this respect and often come with different lenses, for UV and HD in poor

light.

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There are many things that dictate what sort of bedding a Cub will need to take

with them on camp, these are driven by the following factors:-

The type of camp, light weight or static

The camps duration

The time of year and prevailing weather conditions.

If it’s a sleepover at the Scout hall.

What they are sleeping in and where it is.

Ok let’s look at the most basic thing, but it’s the very thing that may well dictate if

your son/daughter will feel like going camping again in the future.

The Sleeping Bag: Now this is where a lot of people make a mistake, the size

of the bag. Giving a Cub a full size adult sleeping bag creates a few issues; the

first is how much extra space there is around the Cubs body when they are lying

in it. Because of the size of a child’s body compared to that of an adult is so

different, this extra volume of space around the Cub creates air pockets and

reduces the efficiency and thermal properties of the bag.

Here’s a couple of Kea’s on a

sleepover at the hall, not Cubs but you

can see the point here, unless the boy

on the left is another couple of feet

longer than he appears to be, he will

get lost in this sleeping bag and the

same can be said for the boy on the

right of the picture.

Whilst these boys are younger than

Cubs you can see the issue, they

would have probably woken up cold if

this had been a winter sleepover.

Fortunately it was held during the

summer, so they were fine.

My recommendation would be to buy your Cub a youth sized bag, this will last

them until they are 12-13 years of age and even for a good three season bag,

they can be relatively cheap, far cheaper than an adult bag.

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Now over the last few years, the manufacturers of sleeping Bags are being

innovative and this is one of the newer products on the market.

This is a Selk Bag and yes it is what it looks like, it’s a sleeping bag suit, which

allows the Cubs to move around in the night if they have to, me I’d prefer to find

the cubs where we left them, and I can see 30 Cubs in these having a massive

bundle session and not getting a lot of sleep. You also have to be aware of the

rating of allot of these innovative bags, whilst they look cool, they don’t have the

comfort rating that allot of other bags, in some cases half the cost of these have

so be warned.

Rating of Sleeping Bags: As well as the size of the bag being important, the

next thing you have to look at is the rating, now Cubs don’t normally winter

camp, but scouts often do so bare this in mind when you make your selection. The

lower the rating the cheaper the bag tends to be, a good investment now will

make the camping experience for your child a far more memorable and

enjoyable experience.

Sleeping bags are commonly rated by seasons:-

1 Season which is indoor/summer

2 Season Summer/Autumn

3 Season Autumn/Winter

The Technical Stuff: The temperature information and labelling has

information that will show four test results – upper limit, comfort, comfort lower

limit and extreme.

“Upper limit” - This is the highest temperature at which an average male user

should experience a comfortable night’s sleep.

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‘Comfort’ - This is the temperature at which an average female user should

experience a comfortable night’s sleep. On average women sleep colder than

men, so this rating is some degrees above the ‘comfort lower limit’ for a man.

‘Comfort lower limit’ - This is the lowest temperature at which an average

male user should experience a comfortable night’s sleep whilst lying in a curled

up body position. Under the previous tests this would have been known as the

‘comfort temperature’.

‘Extreme’ - This is a survival rating where the user is likely to suffer health

damage such as Hypothermia. It should be treated with the utmost caution and

not be relied on for general use.

Compactness, Fill and Weight: Ok

with the temperature ratings of the

sleeping bags covered briefly, we now

have a couple of other things to consider.

The first is what the filling is, ie feather

down, hollofil etc, it’s weight and also

compactness.

The materials used in a bag drastically affect a couple of important things apart

from its temperature rating, these are:-

Weight

Breathability (Shell)

Bulk when packed

Now you can guarantee that the better

the fill and shell is, the more the bag

will cost you, but there’s a few things

we have to understand about the

properties of the fill used in sleeping

bags.

Natural Down: Feathers have great loft,

are light, compressible but also very

hard to get dry if the Cub’s bag gets

wet for whatever reason, they’re also

difficult to clean.

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Synthetic: All the same properties of

down bags, but can dry quicker

and be washed easier. Dependent

on material used can be easily

compacted.

Ok, why are weight and bulk so

important? Well the simple answer

is, the bigger the bag the more

space it will take up in a pack, the

heavier it is, the less other kit your

Cub may be able to carry, Cubs

and Scouts have very strict weight restrictions with regard to what they can or

should be carrying in their packs.

If you can’t really stretch financially to the ideal bag, but you have a nice compact

one, you can significantly raise the rating by getting your Cub to use a silk liner

with it, this will not only keep your Cub warmer but also the inside of the bag a lot

cleaner.

So the general rule of thumb for sleeping bags is: small and compact, with a good

rating minimum -5 Degrees C, from manmade materials and the right size for the

Cub, ie a youth bag.

Stretchers/Cots and Camping Matts: Stretchers and Cots are usually

used on standing camps or long term camps like summer camp for Cubs and

Jamboree for Scouts.

If your going to buy a stretcher, this is the type I’d recommend, also shop around,

there are allot of manufacturers out there, however, be warned, some

manufacturers use paper thin aluminium in the legs and strutts, I’ve seen these

break so many times when cubs and scouts are putting them away or up it’s gone

beyond a joke.

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These things, called a Roman Stretcher, I’d avoid like the plague, Cub’s have a

real issue putting these up and they tend to fall apart in the middle of the night.

They are however significantly cheaper than the stretcher mentioned previously,

but again look around, there are some manufacturers using very poor materials

out there.

Now the first stretcher (recommended) has the advantage of not only being off

the ground, but by far enough to allow you to get all your kit underneath it, this

reduces the Cubs physical footprint in the tent and keeps all his/her gear in one

place.

Bear in mind that because both of these types of stretchers are off the ground

they allow the cold air to circulate beneath the occupant, so make sure you have

a blanket or roll matt to put beneath the Cub’s sleeping bag, they will stay far

warmer.

Both of these stretchers fold down fairly compactly,

however, you would not take them on a light weight

camp, or where space for sleeping is restricted. This

will be when you’ll need either a self-inflating roll

matt or a good old fashioned roll mat. Ok what’s the

difference…well put simply, price, compatibility and

weight.

The Thermarest self-inflating mat to the left here is a

great camping mat, but also carries a hefty price tag. They basically self-inflate,

saving a lot of puffing and blowing. The thicker the mat the heavier and bulkier

they are.

I personally use a very thin air mattress that I inflate with the bag it comes in, the

mattress is full of down and hence provides great insulation and warmth, light

compact buts as you’d expect, also comes at a price.

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This inflatable mat to

the left is a DownMat

9, by Exped. The pump

is now built in as you

can see, which makes

the mat even more

compact, but again a

little pricy.

Well here it is the most common

camping mat your find with Cubs,

the good old fashioned foam roll

matt, these are light, compact..ish

and very cheap compared to the

two above. Avoid the ones with

the straps attached these always

come off, most come with two

elastic bands to keep them rolled,

I’d advise throwing an extra couple of bands in your Cubs pack as they will

invariably loose one of them on camp, I’ve got quite a collection now.

So the choice between, camp bed/stretcher or roll mat, really depends on the type

of camp you’re going on. For a static camp or sleepover you will probably be able

to use a stretcher, for light weight camping or where space is restricted and the

Cubs have to walk in with their gear, then a roll mat would be the correct choice.

Prices of these options vary, depending on warmth offered (thermal efficiency)

materials, lightness (weight) and compatibility. Remember a good night’s sleep

will result in happy campers who will want to go camping again. If you don’t have

any of these, or can’t afford them, ask around, you’ll be amazed how many of

these are sitting in garages unused.

Pillows: Pillows are great on any camp and with modern day materials they

don’t have to take up too much room. They come in inflatable, self-inflating and

high compaction low weight models. If you’re in the hall a pillow from home will

do, but in a tent, they can suck up moisture like a sponge, making them feel cold

and damp. So think again man made, here’s a few options.

Inflatable

Self-Inflating

Highly compactable, low weight

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All of those pictured above will do exactly what we need them to do, they are

compact, light and provide that little extra comfort that a rolled up sweater can

never provide.

So in conclusion, think about the following when determining what bedding you

need to take or provide for your cub:

What time of year is it that they will be camping in and what are the ambient

temperatures for that area during the night?

Duration, how long will they be camping for.

Where will they be sleeping, in a large tent, light weight tent, Bivy (Probably

not in Cubs cases) or a hall?

How are they going to get there, walking with a pack, being dropped off in a

car or van, how will they get back.

You really need to consider all of the above and depending on the variety of

camps that your Cub Pack provides, you may end up with quite a bit of kit. You

will never go wrong buying good quality gear for your child because if it’s looked

after it can always be sold on when they’ve grown out of it to another young

camper or indeed used by a younger brother or sister.

Now this is a subject that is always hard to deal with for leaders and indeed

parents looking after other people’s children on a camp, ie you Cubs, but it may

be easier to address in a booklet like this then in a field somewhere. Cub leaders

are forever being told after they have returned from a camp that “Billy” came

back with all his changes of underwear in exactly the same location in his pack

that he went to camp with, his soap was still wrapped, his toothpaste unopened

and his flannel was dryer than the Sahara Desert.

Now that may raise a smile, but as Cubs you should be of an age where you can

look after yourselves without being told. If you are not keeping yourself clean on

your own, then it needs to be built into the routine on camp to ensure you do

wash, brush your teeth and change your clothing. If you get the habits right now,

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when you get to scouts, things will be so much easier for you to deal with if you

know the basics of how to look after yourself.

Ok here are some of the problems I have come across with you Cubs and I’ve

broken these into a few categories. They are: Things you can control, Things you

can’t control and Medical.

Things You Can Control:

Some Cubs are very shy about getting changed around other kids, in fact I’ve

seen a queue of Cubs waiting for their turn to get changed standing outside a

tent? If you’re shy get changed in your sleeping bag.

A leader cannot in reality check that you have been changing your clothes

physically like your mum or dad can, so he or she may ask you, if you haven’t,

don’t lie, just get it done. Put your dirty clothing in a separate bag.

Cubs and most adults do not know how to wash their hands properly, see

diagram for help

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Washing requires privacy for Cubs, how much you

need is of course dependent on how thoroughly

you wash, if your just washing from the waist up for

boys privacy should not be a major issue, however,

if you have a mixed gender group then you do

require separate wash areas or blanked off spaces.

Cubs don’t generally know how to have a

field wash, at home you mostly jump in a

shower or bath and simply soak off the dirt

or let the water wash it off. You will need to

be shown.

Cubs take a lot longer to wash, then an

adult, always allow adequate time and for

female Cubs, add a little longer, although

though you will find that the female Cubs are far better prepared than the

boys…sorry lads.

Cubs will brush their teeth, it gives them a reason to stay up a few minutes

longer (all done that) but they will need reminding. Again routine.

Cubs rarely wash their hands when they go to the toilet on camp, they are

too busy and going to the toilet is purely an interruption to their fun. (Wash

them)

Using hand sanitizer on visibly dirty

hands reduces its efficiency markedly. Hands, if

carrying visible dirt, should be washed first, only

then should sanitizer be used. Cubs and leaders

often think just using a sanitizer is ok, it’s not,

do a visible check first. If their hands are dirty,

tell them to wash them first.

Dirty fingernails, make sure you keep

your fingernails clean, especially if you nibble

on them, underneath your nails is a great place

for bacteria, you can get some nasty infections

and tummy upsets for dirty nails. We will check.

Cut your nails before camp, long nails

can tear and be really painful, cut them and

you’ve solved the problem, this goes for feet as

well.

Cubs generally don’t need deodorant, if you do, bring a roll on deodorant

it saves it being sprayed around the tent.

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Things You Can’t Control:

Cubs can get very nervous on camp and sometimes because they are in

unfamiliar surroundings will find it difficult to go to the toilet and will hold

on until they get home if they can. On a one night camp that may not be

too much of an issue, but any longer and it can turn into a quite serious

condition. Leaders will be on the lookout for lethargy, stomach cramps,

headaches, and in extreme cases foul breath and burps. If there’s a toilet,

and you need to go, don’t wait, just get yourself there and use it.

If you have an accident, you may naturally become really embarrassed and

will often try and hide the problem rather than tell a leader, hoping no one

will notice. Leaders will check the forms that your parents give them; often

they will have notes regarding this. Have a plan for dealing with it and

make sure all relevant staff are aware, that need to be aware.

Some Cubs will still be using pull-ups at night, this is a private matter and

does not concern any other members of the pack, if you’re camping with a

friend, he or she will probably know already, which can save a little

embarrassment. The leaders will respect your privacy, but let them know if

something goes pear shaped or any other shape.

If you are feeling home sick, tell a leader, but try and stick it out, you’ll be

amazed what a good night’s sleep will do.

Medical:

“Sun block is a must have” and Bug spray, some Cubs have very delicate

skin and need to ensure you cover up on even an overcast day in the

summer, make sure you bring your own gear, we do have Cubs who have

allergic reactions to some ingredients, so don’t share, if you’ve forgotten

yours see a leader.

Medications, if you have them, the designated first aider must know about

them, where they are and if necessary how to administer them in an

emergency, this is up to your parents, but also you can help by talking to

your leaders.

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Chafing, between your legs, under your arms etc, this is caused by friction

either skin to skin or clothing to skin, if you are getting sore, talk to a

leader about it, get it sorted early, the longer you leave it, the worse it will

get, believe me I know, it can turn a really good weekend into a forgettable

experience. “Body Glide is a great product, use on feet to prevent blisters”

Headaches or migraine, if you suffer from these, please bring medicine

with you with clearly marked instructions, most leaders will not give

headache tablets to cubs, so bring your own.

Ritalin, if you are taking these, make sure you have it with you and that

leaders know when it’s due and you take it on time.

What do you need to bring on Camp?

We’ve looked at a few things that can go wrong on camp. Some things you can

control, some things that you can’t, many of which can be down to medical

conditions and medical issues as well as things that you treat with medicine.

But to stay clean what do I need to bring? Well here’s a basic list:-

Wash Bag

This is a Deuter wash bag and basically rolls up; importantly it has a hook

so it can be hung up and a mirror. These should be waterproof or as good

as, because if something is left open or breaks, then it gets everywhere.

Tooth Brush and Tooth Paste, it’s

always a good idea to have a

toothbrush for camping and a tooth

brush box to put it in, this stops it from

fouling the rest of the bag and your kit.

Or you can get one of these called a

“Toob” toothpaste is in the handle of

the brush. Put simply.. Very cool.

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http://www.bodyglide.com/


CUBS

Soap, this can be in a bar or in liquid form, to save weight you don’t need

a huge bar of soap, you can buy some small little bottles from the $2.00

shop and fill them with liquid soap from a dispenser, just make sure you

put the lid on tight when you’ve finished. I would recommend

hypoallergenic soap regardless if your son is allergic or not, it’s a lot easier

on their eyes generally, which you will inevitably shove some into.

Shower Gel: If there are shower facilities on site you’ll be encouraged to

use them, only bring this if there are, otherwise it’s just another thing that

can bust or be left undone. Also bring only as much as you need.

MUST HAVE - use to clean body, hands, everything. Use

after toilet paper to keep backside clean. Hiking with itchy bottom is

terrible.”

Flannel: This is one of the most important things on a camp because you

can wash everything with it, synthetic ones are great, because they dry

quickly after use and unlike cotton flannels do not rot.

Towel: Towels have in the past been bulky

and generally take a long time to dry, new

technology allows us to use micro fibre towels,

these are light, very easy to compact and dry

faster than conventional towels. Generally

you’ll only need one of these types of towels,

but always remember to hang it up to dry, so

pack a couple of clothes pegs in your bag, they

are really handy to have around.

Brush or Comb: Keeping tidy and clean is

all part of the Scouts discipline and applies to Cubs even on camp. There is

no reason that you can’t brush your hair and after seeing some of you guys

in the morning you really need to get this done. It should form part of your

routine. A small comb can also get mud out your hair, but do not share

combs or brushes, great way spread head lice.

Mirror: Now if your wash bag doesn’t have one make sure you get hold

of one, a small plastic mirror will do and can be used in loads of different

ways. Make sure it has a hole in to enable it to be hung up. “No Glass

Mirrors Please”.

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Sun Block and Bug Spray: As we said earlier a lot of you have skin

conditions that require specific creams, make sure you bring them and use

them. Slip/Slop/Slap.

Toilet Paper: Just as it looks, it always handy to

have these in your wash kit and in your day pack, you

never know when you might need them. You could

get caught short outside on a tramp or settle down

and realise there is no toilet roll in the cubicle you’re

in.. There’s no shouting “Mum .. Mum I’ve run out of

bog roll!!” on camp. Be prepared.

There will be many different types of tents you will end up sleeping in, carrying or

erecting as a Cub and a Scout. Each type of tent has its use and is normally

designed around a specific type of camping, from static camps to light weight

adventure camping.

Static Camps, Patrol Tents and Frame Tents In Cubs, very often, as you are young you will arrive on camp and the tents will

be already set up for you by the advanced party, a group of adults, leaders and

parents who arrive at the campsite several hours or some times a day earlier than

you do to put up your tents ready for your arrival. These larger tents used to be

called Patrol tents and could comfortably accommodate 6 Scouts, now you will

find a mismatch of Dome tents, Frame tents and larger ridge tents that provide

approximately the same number of spaces but are alleged to be easier to put up?

Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

Here are some of the tents you may encounter on a Static Camp:

The tent on the left is referred to as

a frame tent, this is not very user

friendly because of the amount

of poles required to set the

tent up. These are normally

set up by the advanced

party and can be quite

challenging, especially if

you haven’t put them up for

a while.

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This tent is a family dome tent,

they are normally made out of

synthetic materials, unlike the

frame tent on the previous page,

which are normally made from

rip stop canvas. The poles on

these tents are generally made

from fibreglass and quite fragile,

so don’t muck around in this

type of tent or the poles will

break.

The Patrol or ridge tent, gets its

name from the ridge on the

top of the tent running from

the front of the tent to the

back, these come in all sizes,

the one pictured to the right is

a 6 man ridge, a Scout patrol

normally sets these up on their

own and its big enough for

them all to sleep in it. You

would struggle to get six

stretchers in here though,

despite it having vertical side

walls. This particular tent type

has no built in ground sheet.

These can be put up by Scouts and even Cubs at a push, they normally only have

two poles, which are sectional for ease of transportation at the front and the back,

or for the larger tents, unlike this one, may well have a sectional ridge pole and

an intermediate pole to prevent sag. They are normally made from canvas and as

a result are quite heavy. It is this weight rather than the complexity that can

prevent Cubs from erecting these, but it has been done many times.

The reason these tents are generally used for static camps is due to their weight,

even the synthetic dome tents can weigh a significant amount and make them

totally unsuitable for transportation on foot even over a relatively short distance.

For this reason they are normally transported to the camp site and dropped off by

vehicles near where they are to be erected.

Also because they provide accommodation for a large number of youth and

subsequently have a large footprint, they need a fairly level surface to allow them

to be set up properly, otherwise, you can end up with drooping ends of tents

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leaving hollows where water can collect and eventually seep through into the

accommodation area.

You will recall from the earlier pages of this guide, I mentioned that you may be

allowed to take a stretcher or camp bed on camp, for static camps using these

types of tents this may well be opportunity. However, always check with your

leader as it may be the case that space is limited so a bed roll might be the

preferred option. This again will be also dependent on the amount of time that

you will be staying.

Couple of general tips for sleeping and living for a few days in one of these

tents:-

Do not wear shoes of any kind inside the tents, this will reduce the amount of

dirt and grass that gets deposited inside it.

Be respectful of other people’s property and space, you have a set amount of

space, do not impinge on anyone else’s because you are lazy, tidy up all the

time. Do not leave things on the floor.

If you are using a camp stretcher, ensure it has rubber feet, if these are

damaged do not use your stretcher otherwise you will puncture a hole in the

sewn in groundsheet.

Do not place your stretcher or sleeping bag right up against one of the walls of

the tents, where your stretcher/sleeping bag makes contact the tent the tent

may leak or transfer moisture to your bedding.

Be very careful using the zips and how you cross the threshold into the tent, this

means the bottom of the door. Cubs often tread on this and this weakens the

tent and can break the zip, if you can’t shut the door it can make the tent very

cold and drafty.

If you damage the tent, or notice damage, tell a leader right away.

Make sure you air your tent in the morning after you are dressed, depending

on the weather open the side panels and allow air to flow through the tent.

Be respectful of other people’s privacy, some Cubs are very shy and don’t like

to get changed in front of others, if you are changed leave the tent to allow

them to get changed, or if there is a partition, allow them to get changed

behind it. Definitely do not make a big thing about it.

Do not leave dirty laundry around, place it in your dirty linen bag and do not

leave food in the tent, this can attract insects and vermin.

“Set up tent at home before any trip to ensure you can recall how to do it and

that everything is working. Terrible to fumble through bad weather”

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Light Weight Camps or Short Stay Camping

For non-static camps, otherwise known as lightweight camps you will in all

probability be staying in smaller two or three person tents. These are called hike

tents, adventure tents etc. Some examples of which are shown below.

The main feature of these tents is their lightness, compact size, speed and

simplicity of erection. All of which for Cubs may not seem very important at first

glance, but when you consider the following it will become more than apparent

why they are:-

The maximum recommended weight a youth of Cub age may carry in a

backpack is 10% of their body weight.

Children’s or youth’s backpacks are not as large as adult packs, tents are

designed to fit in an adult pack not a youth pack.

Light weight/ Adventure tents come

in several different types, a dome

tent like these two are the most

popular, but there are lightweight

ridge tents as well. To keep the

tents weight down, high tech

materials are used not only in the

fabric of the tent, but also in the

poles which support them, making

them light and relatively easy to

transport. But remember, even the

most light weight tent for two Cubs

will weigh in at between 2.5kg’s

and 3kg’s. These are not cheap,

with costs starting at the $400.00

mark.

As these tents are lightweight, if

you are prepared properly, you can

carry these in your backpacks if you

are hiking into a site. Or the tents

could be easily erected by the

advance party before you arrive. If

you are going to be putting the

tents up yourselves as Cubs, then

you need to practice putting them

up before you go on camp.

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If it is raining or dark when you arrive, you will want to spend the minimum

amount of time getting these set up as possible, that will keep you, the tent and

your belongings far dryer than if you were working through an instruction

booklet.

These tents are not the type of tent that you

can use a stretcher or camp bed in, as they

only have limited room for you and your

backpack. Some adventure tents like the one

on the right here, have an external room or

vestibule that allows you to keep your gear in

leaving most of the area within the tent for

sleeping. Most modern tents have a mosquito

net built into the door and ventilation to allow

condensation out, but again the same basic

rules for living in a big tent should apply to

these. The exception being that the poles are

very light weight, whilst they are designed to

withstand the wind and the rain they are not

strong enough to prevent you from breaking

them if you’re mucking around. Remember

these tents cost a lot of money to buy and

maintain, treat them with respect and care.

Groundsheets are built in for these type of tents, which keeps them fairly water

tight, however, all tents have their limits with regard to how much water they can

keep out, this is called their hydrostatic head. You will find that the fly and the

ground sheet will have different ones based on their prices and where they are

expected to be used. So it never does any harm to take a spare conventional

ground sheet to go under the light weight tents if you have capacity in your pack,

this will keep them cleaner, prevent or reduce damage to the groundsheet and

reduce the likelihood of water seeping through the tent into the living space.

There are good and bad places to pitch tents even on a purpose built camp site.

Most of the campsites you’ll visit as a Cub are owned by the Scout Association,

but that does not mean they will all be flat and level fields that you will be

camping on. It should also be noted that is you are on a Cub camp as discussed

earlier; the camp may well have been set up before you arrive and set up a

certain way to suite the ability and age of the campers that will be attending. Let’s

have a look at these examples on the following pages.

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d

The first is an oval layout with the camp fire, council rock, flag staff at the centre

of it. You will note that the leaders/adults tents are all together, and the Cubs or

youth tents are separate, but still all viewable from the leader’s tents.

The latrines or toilets are set up away from the main camp site, as are the cook

and store tent. The idea behind this layout, is that when you wake up in the

morning you can all see each other’s doorways from your tents, this provides

security and if there is a camp fire at the centre it also makes the whole

experience far more enjoyable. With the leaders in one place it’s always easier for

you to find them if things go wrong, which can happen. The toilets for staff and

youth should be ideally separate and if there are female Cubs on camp, they

should have a separate toilet form the boys. The above layout is shown using light

weight tents; the next example is a standing camp layout which hasn’t changed

much since Roman Times.

Staff

WC

Cub

WC

33

Cook House, Dining

Shelter and Camp Store

Cub Tents

Leaders Tents

Council Rock or

Flag Pole


CUBS

The layout above is for larger tents and used for static camps. Again the layout is

very formal. The emphasis is for security, whilst maintaining separation for adults

and youth members. This time the tents face towards each other, with an

“avenue” or “road” up the ctr. The leader’s tents are at one end of the avenue

and a gateway is at the other end. Again this allows the leaders to see all the

entrances to the tents from their location and for the Cubs to see each other.

There is no central focus like in the previous layout; however, a flag pole is

normally erected. Now around the site you will often find a rope or string line

indicating the boundary of the site, do not go under or over this rope, you must

use the formal entrance to leave and enter the site. There are two reasons for

this; the first is so that you can be seen leaving and returning to your tents.

34

Cub Tents

Leaders Tents

Cook House, Dining

Shelter and Camp Store

Boundary

Fence


CUBS

The second is that you will find some hand cleanser or a wash bowl at the

gateway. Always wash your hands when entering or leaving the camp or

contingent site. The cook house and the store tent are within the site layout this

time, however, the toilets are still separate and outside the site. You will probably

be camping on a site very similar to the above on Summer Camp and if you are

lucky a New Zealand or even a World Jamboree in the future.

Both of the above layouts require large, flat, open fields to allow you to camp like

this, but often other considerations come into play and affect the camp layout,

some of these are of course the activities that may have been planned for you, or

the shape of the field. The undulations in the field you’re in, natural water flow

paths and slopes. Most of this will be looked after by your advanced team,

however if you are to put up the tent yourself here’s a few basic rules.

Avoid Hollows in the Ground Where water will collect or there is a natural Water Path

Avoid Camping on Slopes If at all Possible

Tree’s may drop sap and dead fall on to your tent whilst a hedge can provide a wind break

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Now you have selected a place you’d like to put your tent, here’s a few points to

consider further.

1. Will my tent’s footprint fit on the location I have chosen?

2. Am I too close to a tent that has been or is in the progress of being put up?

3. Am I too close the fire pit or too close to a stream?

4. Is the ground clear and suitable for the pegs I have with me?

5. Which way is the prevailing wind and where will the sun rise and set?

6. Is this a location that your leaders have said a tent can be set up on?

Explanations: Tent Footprint: The tent footprint is the space that your tent

takes up excluding the guy ropes, but bear in mind where these will have to be

secured, nothing worse than guy ropes all over the place. They are a hazard in

themselves to cubs; take it from someone who learnt at Cub age how bad it is to

run around a tent with guys, I very nearly lost my head.

Proximity of other Tents: Tents should not be placed closer than 6 feet or

2m from another tent and a minimum of 3 meters from the cooking tent. The idea

is to prevent fire from spreading easily from tent to tent, this spacing also allows

for the guys to be set properly. So talk to the other Cubs when you are in the

process of choosing your location.

Proximity of Fire Pits and Streams: Tents are by their very nature

flammable, sometimes their flammability is increased by the coatings which have

been put on them to enhance their water resistance. Being too close to a fire pit,

whilst it may keep you warmer, will increase the chance of embers blown by the

wind landing on the fabric of your tent. Try and keep at least 10 metres from a

fire pit, this should reduce the chance of this occurring. The best thing that will

happen if an ember lands on your tent is that it will melt a hole through the

fabric, the worst is a fire.

Be aware when you camp in a valley especially if there is a stream running

through it that the levels of the stream can change in minutes. It may not even be

raining where you are camping, but it may well be in the catchment area that

feeds the stream. So the best thing to do is speak to the local park rangers about

the stream and find out if it has a history of flooding, pay attention to the weather

in the run up to your camp. Check the area you’re camping in to see if there is an

apparent flood plain and if there is, camp above that level.

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Ground Suitability: If you are just sleeping on a bedroll on the floor of your

tent, the condition of the ground underneath it will determine how well you sleep

and the comfort levels you experience. If the ground is uneven, lumpy full of

tussock grass, getting a level area to camp on is always difficult. Make sure there

is nothing on the ground like stones, metal, glass, or other things, that may

puncture or damage your ground sheet, so carefully do a hand search. It may

take a few minutes, but can save you a fair amount of money and time trying to

fix your tent or make a running repair.

Check that you’re not placing your tent on an animal run. A “animal run” is a

beaten track in the grass or foliage which animals travel along regularly and have

been doing so for some time, if you camp here, you may get a few uninvited

guests around your tent at night.

Check the ground is not saturated, if you’re on a peaty or boggy ground, when

you place your tent it may feel relatively dry, however, you will find your

movement into and out of the tent will through capillary action draw allot of water

up from the ground, increasing the likelihood of water seeping through the

ground sheet.

It’s always worth checking the ground conditions before you camp at a site to see

if the pegs you have will actually go into the ground, or remain there. Make sure

you bring a spare set of pegs with you just in case which are suitable, bear in

mind though, pegs are a designed failure point for tents, if they are two strong,

your tent may rip as a result in a strong wind.

Prevailing Winds and Sun Rise and fall: Being aware of the prevailing

wind at a site is always very useful, if you are free camping and your leader has

given you consent to camp where you like in a field which is fairly unlikely to be

honest at your age, you can orientate your tent to ensure that it provides

minimum wind resistance ie end on to the wind. Or if available use either the lee

of a hill, bank or hedge to provide shelter from the wind.

Always check how much sun you are likely to get, basically it’s great to get the

sunlight on your tent in the morning, it helps dry it out initially but will probably

mean that you will also not be under the full glare of the sun at midday. The one

big disadvantage of modern tents is that they heat up really quickly, even though

they provide some shade. The larger canvas tents are far better for staying cool in

the summer in this respect.

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Location, Location, Location: There are many reasons why your leader will

have designed a camp layout in a certain way, some have to do with safety, camp

security, privacy and practicality. Access is another consideration for emergency

services, you and for leaders vehicles, so if you are told you can or cannot pitch

your tent in a certain area make sure you do as you are told, if you do have a

question as to why, just ask your leader, he or she will help you or perhaps

explain why you cannot camp in a certain location.

Baggage is an interesting thing for

Cubs, often Cubs arrive on site with a

large backpack with all their gear in it.

Unless you are a seasoned camper, who

has used these before, they are as crazy

as it sounds, very impractical. This is

because they have only one point of

access and to get to anything, Cubs tend

to hook everything out and where it

lands is often where it stays. One of the

best types of bags for Cubs and Scouts is

this one to the right, a duffle bag, this is

the one the Scouts going to the 2013

US Jamboree were supplied with as part

of their kit, whilst this one is cool, one

with wheels is even better.

A cricket bag is a great choice in this

respect. Now with two end pockets and

access over nearly the entire top of the

bag, it makes access really easy for

Cubs and allows them to pack their

bags in the order they will need things,

based on the camp program or just for

practicality. The one on the right here is

at the time of writing was only $26.00

which makes it an affordable option

and it has wheels. Buy on line, a lot

cheaper.

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Day Packs and Backpacks

On the last page I specifically said that backpacks

should be avoided where possible, especially for static

camps, but for lightweight camps, they really can’t be

avoided. If possible, it’s always worth taking a day

pack as well, but only if there’s a means of getting it

there. This negates the need for a Cub to carry

around all their kit, only talking what they need for

the expedition or planned activity.

But if a Cub does have to take a backpack, here a few

basic rules:-

Make sure it’s their size.

Make sure it’s adjusted to fit you properly.

Make sure they’re not carrying too much weight.

Make sure the Cubs pack it and pack it in the order they’ll need to access it in.

Make sure they can get all the equipment they need into it.

The above basic rules apply to both backpacks

(Overnight) and day packs. Ok let’s make sure

they fit you.

The backpack being carried in these two

pictures by a young boy is a youth pack, this is

allot smaller than an adult pack and is designed

to fit a youth’s smaller frame. Simply buying an

adult back and pulling it tight will not help with

their comfort or allow them to travel any

distance, without possibly generating pressure

sores.

His pack is made by Deuter, Osprey also make

a quality youth pack and it should be these

types of backpack you should consider when

purchasing. The basic rule of thumb for children

of Cub age is that they should not be carrying

more than ten percent of their own body

weight. This is to prevent injuries, sores and

discomfort.

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Here are a few examples of some backpacks specifically designed for use by

children or youths, they are adjustable and should be correctly fitted. They

normally cover an age range of between 8 and 12 years of ages depending on

how big you are and easily carry the maximum carrying weight for Cubs.

Day packs are allot smaller although, these packs featured can double as both to

save money, all have attachment locations on the outside of the pack and all have

expandable pockets. The Deuter bags invariably have a pack cover built in, which

is located in a pocket underneath the bag which saves you having to carry

another piece of kit.

However, whichever bag you use, it needs to be packed carefully, by the Cub who

is going to use it, too many times do we have young Cubs claiming they don’t

have something from the kit list only to find it in their bag later.

“Tyler asked me to add these in and makes a very good point that these are

incredibly useful, they can be used obviously to aid stability as can be seen from

the young man on the previous page, but also to test the ground, check the depth

of water and support a leanto or even a ridge tent if your pole should break.

Prices vary based on materials and you guessed it weight.”

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Youth Day Packs

Here are a couple of Osprey day packs, not designed for overnight stays but

suitable for around town or day hikes, these two are for ages 5 -10 years of age

and 8 -13 years of age respectively.

The biggest difference between these two packs is their capacity, the first is 18L

and the 2nd

25L, the later can carry a hydration pack, which for Cubs is a really

important feature and which can be found on most of the bigger back pack

systems.

How to Pack these Packs:

I’ve mentioned before that the Cubs should pack

their own bags or packs so they know where

everything is, but we also need to think about

access to essentials, weight distribution and its

location with the backpack. Here’s a diagram that

may help.

The camp/hike itinerary/program will give you an

idea of the order Cubs will need to access their

gear in, but you also need to ensure that items,

such as water, snacks, raincoats, sunblock,

medication etc are in easy to access locations,

preferably those which they can reach without

removing the backpack itself.

Looking at the diagram to the left, as a guide,

please ensure that all the heaviest parts of the

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their equipment are carried as close to the centre/middle of their back as

possible, with lightest stuff at the top, basically working out from the centre to the

outside, heaviest to lightest.

This should be done as stated earlier, taking into account the activities that have

been planned and the expected order the gear will need to be accessed by the

Cubs. If you don’t have an itinerary, ask the camp of hike organiser, they should

be able to provide one, otherwise they won’t have planned the whole weekend

and will need to review the information they provide for parents.

In conclusion, chose the correct pack or bag, depending on the type of camp and

size of your child. If you do go for a backpack, make sure it is of the correct size,

fitted correctly and loaded to no more than 10% of your child’s body weight and

that they pack it themselves, under your supervision.

Pack Liners and Dry Bags:

Although some of the backpacks come

with covers, they will invariable let water

in eventually, leaving the Cubs clothing

and the rest of their possessions wet and

damp. The first thing we can do to,

combat this, is to use a pack liner. This is,

in its simplest form, a large plastic bag,

fairly heavy gauge, within which

everything sits inside the backpack or

bag. This will prevent water from entering

it from the outside.

However, you are also better off

separating the things that can leak inside

the bag or pack from the rest of the gear.

This can be done by using dry bags or

sacks, a dry bag is a 100% waterproof

bag with a seal to prevent liquids form

leaking from within and from getting in

from the outside. A Zip lock bag for small

items as an effective and cheap option.

“Bring a Few Large Trash Bags as well,

Bright orange if possible, for rain covers,

shelters, clean up, water collection etc”

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This really has an effect on everything mentioned in this booklet, and needs to be

done by the camp organiser/leader in the week preceding the camp, the night

before the camp and on a regular basis during the camp itself.

But don’t just leave it up to the

organiser, think smart, keep an eye

on the weather yourself, be aware of

the season within which the camp is

being run and the prevailing

conditions for the area the Cubs are

going to be camping in.

Historical data is also beneficial as

well, especially for valleys where

water flow can affect stream levels.

You can see from this picture to the

left the large amount of debris carried

during a flash flood in the area this

young man is negotiating. This is a

good indicator that the water may rise

significantly in a short period of time,

so always camp above this debris line.

But where do you check the weather?

Well in New Zealand we use the Met Service on line for up to date forecasting.

You can check this at http://www.metservice.com/national/home from this home

page you can navigate to local weather.

For historical information, if your Cubs are going to a

National Park, you can chat to the Park Rangers who can

provide invaluable local knowledge about prevailing

weather conditions. The local Scout office or Regional

Office can also offer advice on the area you’re going to.

Wind is one element of nature that is often overlooked, in

New Zealand we are fortunate enough to have in most

locations, quite predictable weather patterns.

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The best way to look at weather is to always plan for the worst and hope for the

best. But please check with the leader if you are at all concerned. He or she

should always put the safety of your children first and make a decision based on

the weather information they have in the interests of all concerned.

This is one of the very real reasons that on Cub camps, there normally has to be

an alternative building or structure that can serve as accommodation that the

Cubs can use if the weather becomes too extreme. This happened on Summer

Camp with the Cubs in 2013, when the Cubs from most groups were moved into

the theatre on a school camp site, due to high winds.

The Cubs in our contingent

stayed in their tents as they

were more sheltered and

the tents had been

appropriately storm lashed,

because we were aware of

the tendency for high

winds in the vicinity during

the summer as fronts

pushed through. Some

other contingents were

unfortunately not so well

prepared and their tents

suffered quite a lot of

damage during the week.

This sounds like a totally obvious question, but we

should always check and make sure there is enough

water for the Cubs to drink, on the way to, during their

stay on camp and for the return journey.

Due to limitations on the weight Cubs can carry, you’ll

remember we said 10% of their body weight, the

amount of water they can carry is limited e.g. If a Cub

weighs in at 35kg’s, they will only be able to carry

3.5kg’s of weight in their pack, considering a litre of

water weighs 1kg. This means water management and

planning become a real issue in the warmer months of

the year. Now this is even more relevant, if the Cubs

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are walking to the camp and carrying all of their gear with them. Now this issue

can be mitigated by having water stations along the planned route to the camp

site or the water being transported to site for the Cubs to refill when they get

there.

Be aware, just because there is a stream

nearby, it doesn’t mean that the water is

pure enough to drink, even on campsites

where the water comes down from a

mountain, it can have a lot of E.Coli

among other things suspended within it,

which can lead to severely upset

stomachs, diarrhoea and a poor camping

experience for everyone concerned.

If the campsite is a Scout campsite, the water tanks are tested regularly to ensure

that the water is safe to drink, however, if the camp has not been used for a

while, it’s always a good idea to run the taps for a few minutes to clear any water

that may have been sitting in the pipes for the last 6 months.

The leaders will have also

checked the most recent data

from the Environmental

Waikato website to see what

the water is like in the places

where the Cubs may be

swimming or kayaking for

example as viruses often enter

the system when children

ingest water whilst swimming

or during another water

activities.

Now if there is some doubt

with regard to the suitability of

water on a camp site, the most effective way of treating it is boiling it, this goes

for all water used for brushing teeth, washing cutlery, anything where possible

contamination could enter the Cub’s system.

Other ways of treating water come in the form of sanitising tablets, UV pens, filter

bottles and filter pumps. All of these are specialised camping equipment and

hence, should not be required unless it’s a planned activity for the Cubs during

the weekend. If they are, then they should be provided by the camp organisers.

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I often have Cubs turn up on camp with either not enough equipment, or way too

much gear, exactly what’s on the kit list or in one case nothing. It’s really

important that your parents and you read the list that is sent out to them. This is

especially important when a weekend involves light weight camping, hiking, or

water activities.

Normally bedding is the biggest issue, parents don’t read it’s a light weight camp

and the big note “please no stretchers” and they turn up with a camp bed and

then get upset that there is not enough room in the tent for all their sons or

daughters bags. This will mean the Cub will end up sleeping on blankets or a

spare roll mat if one is available. But also in saying that, I have asked for Cubs to

bring stretchers for a static camp or a sleepover and the Cubs have turned up with

roll mats.

Please note if you do not have something on the list, give your leader a call, he or

she may know someone who has spare gear that may be able to assist you.

I’ll go through a list of the basic things that should nearly always go on camp with

your child.

A Torch (with spare batteries) this can be a head torch, or a hand torch,

avoid the huge torches that Cub’s cannot fit in their pockets and

camouflaged ones that get easily lost. LED lamps are the most energy

efficient and providing the Cubs turn them off will last them a few camps

away before the batteries need to be changed.

Lenser is an excellent make when it comes to LED head and hand torches;

however, they are not the cheapest. They have an incredibly bright light

and the Cubs will learn through experience not to shine it in each other’s

eyes.

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Ditty Bag (With Cup, Bowl, KFS and a Tea Towel) A Ditty bag gets its

name from the Navy, it was a small canvas bag for storing personal

possessions, Scouts and Cubs normally make these out of a tea towel,

inside which should be their Cup, Bowl, Knife Fork and Spoon (KFS) and a

Tea Towel. Choose Either a Plastic Crockery or Metal (St/Steel) preferably,

but remember the stainless cups get hot and can burn inexperienced lips.

Ok the blue enamelled set look great and their not bad, but enamel does

chip and when it does the plates, generally made of a poorer grade steel,

rust where the chips are. Cubs have the unfortunate habit of dropping

these and they don’t seem to last as long as they should. The KFS is a set,

Stainless Steel, good but not totally necessary, if you have normal cutlery at

home use that, but whatever you decide make sure it’s marked with the

Cubs Initial and Surname, my collection of these is slowly growing as Cubs

continuously leave them at camp.

The titanium mug is great, but expensive, a plastic cup will do just as well,

won’t get dented and you’ll not be so miffed if your child loses it. The ditty

bag shown, is a hand made one, you ca just make them from a tea towel

that way they can be washed, rather than going to the expense of buying

one of these. They can be made from nylon or other synthetic materials,

but like everything else needs the Cubs

name on it.

Personal First Aid Kit: Now again

this does not have to be huge or overly

expensive and only requires basic

contents, this is because the leaders

will have a good quality first aid kit on

site. A good little kit and quite

economical is the Aide Void R1.

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This little kit has all the plasters,

medical wipes, gauze plasters that

a Cub should need.

Quick first aid guide 1

A1 Adhesive bandages (15 per pack) 1

A3 Wound closure strips (3 per pack) 1

A4 Non-stick dressing 2 C1 Conforming bandage 1 C2 Strapping tape 1 D3 Safety pins, needles, & bandage fasteners 1 E1 Gloves 1 E3 Cleansing wipes (4 per pack) 1

“Must have in emergency kit is Ace Bandage”

It is, as you see very basic, but as we mentioned in previous pages, if there

is the need for an epipen, antihistamine, specific drugs please ensure that

the staff know about your child’s particular needs. In addition, put a note

inside this first aid kit with any additional instructions that may be required.

Pocket Knife: On occasions, Cubs may be asked to bring a pocket knife

with them to camp, for a specific activity, this is to be either handed to the

leader the week before the camp, or at the camp directly upon arrival of

the Cub on site.

The New Zealand Law is pretty specific about knives with regard to their

possession, if you are found to be carrying a knife of any kind, without a

lawful reason for doing so, in a public place, then you may be arrested,

serve a 3 month jail term and be fined upto $2000.00.

Being on a camp using a knife for Cub activities is a legitimate reason,

however, here are few rules for its use.

All work with a knife should be done whilst sitting down.

Knives are not to be thrown at any time for any reason.

Pocket Knives should be kept sharp.

Pocket Knives, if they are lock Knives should be in a closed position and

in a case if being moved from one location to another.

For Cubs, blades should be no longer than 3” in length and be pocket

knives, no sheath knives are to be used.

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Here are a few examples (recommended by Boys Life magazine) of some of

the quality knives on the market. The first the Victorinox Camper, then the

Buck Bantam BBW and third a Gerber Paraframe Mini Tanto Knife. All of these

knifes are relatively cheap, have good quality blades and should see the Cubs

right through until they are Rovers.

Whistle: When is a whistle not a

whistle and why do I need one? A Cub

may ask. Well the truth is, children are

very vulnerable at Cub age, more so

then they probably think. As we know,

they have a very small attention span

and hence can easily be distracted.

This is in reality how most children get

separated from their care givers, just

by wandering off, watching their feet

and not paying attention. All of a

sudden they are on their own.

In the bush, your voice (scream) may

only travel 400m or a little more if

you’re lucky, but too often not far

enough to attract the attention that

may be urgently needed. This is where

the whistle comes in, worn on a

lanyard around their necks it should

be always on their person, regardless

of where their backpack is. (See

picture right)

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Ok so you’re lost, now what do you do? Well you sit down, calm yourself down

and blow your whistle three times, then pause, then three times, then pause

and you keep doing this until someone finds you.

Blowing your whistle three times is the recognised international call for distress

and hence, whistles should never be blown, unless you are in trouble, lost,

hurt or being approached by someone you do not know.

Now not all whistles are equal, well this is according to the various

manufacturers, but when tested they came up with some very similar results.

Ironic really, that possibly the cheapest bit of your kit, could be the thing that

actually saves your life if things go pear shaped. But this is an essential piece

of kit never to be without. The generic sternum strap whistle (mentioned in the

above table), appears on the chest strap of a lot of popular back packs, but a

separate whistle is always desirable.

Compass: There are many different types and makes of compasses out

there, some electronic, Optical, Transit and baseplate compasses. Cubs and

indeed Scouts only really need a good quality baseplate or orienteering type

compass to learn the navigation skills that they will need to complete the

various challenges in the years ahead.

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There are two main manufactures that you will find in shops that are worth

considering when looking to purchase a compass, Suunto and Silva. Both

manufacturers supply variations on a basic theme and the more features a

compass has and the more accurate they are, affects the price that you will pay.

These are some of the things you would expect to find on any quality compass:-

1. Baseplate

2. Housing

3. Needle

4. Orienting Lines

5. Orienting Arrow

6. Index Line

7. Direction of Travel Arrow

8. Scales

Here are couple of pictures of some of the various compasses available, the better

ones tend to have liquid filled housings. This effectively dampens the needle and

prevents it from getting caught on the base or top plate, minimising the chance of

poor readings when the compass is not held level.

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It’s very important to understand that a compass is only as good as the person

using it and the more you practice, the better you will get. This is a good piece of

kit to have and yes a little bit of an investment, but again will likely see them all

the way through Cubs, Scouts and beyond.

Compasses must be looked after though, do not store them or use them near

other magnetised objects, ie under power lines or near a knife, these could affect

the accuracy of the compass at the time, or if in long time storage permanently.

Please note, if you are from the northern hemisphere like me, you can’t use a

northern hemisphere compass in the southern hemisphere; this is due to the

earth’s magnetic field which affects the balance of the needle. Northern

hemisphere compass needles are balanced to allow the needle operate freely in

that hemisphere, use one in the southern hemisphere and the needle tries to

point upwards, causing the needle to drag on the inside of the housing and hence

not operate properly.

Paper and Pencil: Paper and pencil sounds like a requirement for school,

but it is very important on a camp, you can make notes about activities, write

contact details of friends that you meet, allows you to leave a message on a

trail if lost, doubles up as toilet roll if you really get caught short, could help

you start a fire, in fact the uses are pretty limited by the imagination.

There’s a couple of ways of dealing with

making notes in the rain, the first is to buy a

pad like this one which is waterproof and

allows the owner to write notes in either

pencil or pen. These are quite expensive but

can be purchased from all good military

surplus and camping shops.

The other cheaper option is to purchase a

cheaper note book and keep it dry in a zip

lock bag. Not as effective but a viable

option.

Note: As part of a Cubs general kit 4 x A4

size and 4 x sandwich size zip lock bags can

be invaluable, for example, storing a packed

lunch given to you on camp, to collecting

water or storing some damp or smelly

clothes in.

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Survival Kit: Do Cubs need one of these? Well if their leaders doing their

job hopefully not, but it is a requirement of a Scout badge so there is no harm

getting one together now, but it’s not a must have item.

Mind you, if you have acquired most of the equipment mentioned previously

then you are more than half way there with regard to the parts that make up a

survival kit. However, a survival kit should be on the person at all times and

rather like the whistle, it shouldn’t be stored in your back pack, hence it needs

to be compact, lightweight and small.

There are many commercial kits out there, ranging in price from around

$30.00 to over $150, but the best way for a Cub or Scout to get a survival kit

together, is to make one up themselves, that way they will know what’s in it

and more importantly, hopefully how to use it.

A survival kit should enable you to provide, heat, shelter, food and drinkable

water for around 1 - 3 days. So here is a list of items you may find in a survival

kit.

Fishing Kit

Duck Tape 300mm

Small Compass

Water Purification Tablets

Dextrose Tablets

Paper and Pencil

Mirror

Whistle

Self-Adhesive dressings

Water Proof Matches

Fire Starters

Snare Wire

550 Para Cord (5m)

Razor Blade (Covered)

Plastic Bags

Tin Box to keep it in

Antihistamine Pills and Headache Tablets (Personal)

Wire Saw.

Reflective Blanket.

Survival guide

LED torch

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Now this sounds a lot, but you can fit all of this in an Altoids or an old tobacco tin,

which should be able to fit in your pocket. Here’s a picture below of a BSA

personal survival kit.

Now the survival kit pictured

to the left here costs $36.00

US dollars and is approved by

the BSA, but you can see some

of the basic components

mentioned previously.

This kit only weighs 6.3oz and

hence basically achieves all

the things we are after in a

personal survival kit. The

advantages of using a tin are

that it should allow you to boil

up some water if required or

use it a mini fry pan. This is its

advantage over some of the

other containers used for

survival kits.

One of the most popular

survival kits on the market is

the Gear Pods Wilderness

Survival Kit. This is a modular

based system, with each pod

having a separate function.

Gear Pod Health, which is a

Comprehensive first aid kit.

Gear Pod Survival, which

along with all the standard

survival components includes a

solid fuel cooker and cup.

Gear Pod Shelter which provides a fly and Thermal blanket for emergency shelter

building. $129.00 so not cheap, but can be purchased as modules if you so wish.

So you can break down the cost into smaller chunks or just buy the modules you

need. Further details of this system can be found at http://www.gearpods.com/

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Water Bottles: Water bottles is another one of those things that often gets left

in the fridge at home, left in the bag for the camp or forgotten totally. However,

as I have said before, hydration in children is very important and hence here are

a few good BPA Free examples:-

Avex is a highly recommended water bottle, leak proof and with a one hand flip

top design, it makes it simple for Cubs to use. I would always recommend one of

the transparent versions for the Cubs on any bottle for a couple of reasons. The

first is that you and the Cubs can see how much water they have left or have

drunk and secondly UV light helps kill bacteria, so the sun light can help keep the

water drinkable for longer periods.

CamelBak is another great manufacturer of

bottles and hydration systems and is one

more commonly found in New Zealand in

outdoor shops. This particular version of

their light weight BPA free container is

insulated as well as being translucent,

keeping fluids cooler for longer periods.

Gerber have teamed up with Bear Grylls to come up

with this water bottle, it comes complete with a

aluminium high grade cup that can be used for drinking

or heating up whatever it is you happen to be eating.

This is a large bottle larger than most military type

bottles (1L) and is like the above BPA free. The bottle

comes with a nylon case which allows it to be carried

either on a belt or strapped to a pack, only issue here is

judging how much water is in it can be difficult.

Otherwise another great bottle for camp.

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Rain Poncho: Here’s a cheap piece of kit and

very useful to have around on camp or at hand in

your pack or bag. These are available in disposable

and of course reusable types and varies in price

accordingly.

Me, I would go for the brightest colour available,

there nothing worse than Cubs wearing camo or

dark colours when there on a walk, however, some

insects are also attracted to bright colours so bear

this in mind. (Remember Label Everything clearly)

FOOD AND MEAL TIMES Eating on camp can be a challenge for some Cubs, it may be that they are simply

fussy eaters, have allergies to certain foods or specific dietary requirements.

This in turn makes meal planning, food preparation etc a real challenge for the

leaders and parent helpers. This is because we could have in one pack, Cubs who

are dairy free, egg free, Gluten free, allergic to certain foods or have religious

restrictions on when and what they can eat.

The important thing is let the organisers know your specific food requirements as

soon as possible, especially the degree or severity of the allergy concerned, ie

how it is induced, touch or oral consumption and severity and treatment if there is

a reaction.

Food Preparation/Cooking: The Cubs (that’s you) will often be asked to

assist with the food preparation for main meals, either there will be a duty six, or

everyone will contribute to the preparation of the meal. This can be form peeling

spuds and carrots to cutting up meat, mixing sauces and gravy etc. The Cooking

of the meals on a large static camp is normally done by a specific Staff member.

However, on light weight camps cooking may be don’t by the Cubs themselves,

through backwoods cooking using light weight gas cookers or Trianga

Meths/Spirit cookers.

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Meal Times: Cubs constantly need their energy levels topped up, they are

outside longer, stay up longer and generally sleep less than they do at home, so

meals and snacks are provided throughout the day and evening.

Breakfast Morning

Tea Lunch

Afternoon

Tea Dinner

Evening

Tea

The above is a typical meal/ snack list on a full day, but there is a couple of things

to bear in mind for the start of camps and when they finish.

If a camp starts on an evening at 7.00pm Dinner will not be provided but Evening

Tea will, if it starts in the morning after 10.30am the first meal planned will be

lunch, conversely if the camp finishes at 12.00 noon, lunch will not be provided.

Home Baking: On any camp, food generally is our biggest expenditure and

hence to reduce the costs a little we ask parents to send some home baking with

their Cubs. This can be purchased or made at home, if your child has dietary

issues, allot of parents send cakes etc specifically for their kids and these will be

set aside for them. But it is important that everyone makes a small contribution, it

really does help us out, however, there is a tendency for some parents not to

bother and like parent help on a camp, it tends to be the same people week in

and week out making the effort, whilst others contribute nothing. Please note: do

not use peanuts of any kind in home baking.

Eating Order: We have a policy at Chartwell that the youngest Cubs eat first,

followed by the rest of the Cubs, then Seconders, Sixers and lastly the Senior

Sixer, followed by the Staff. The reason for this is that with position comes

responsibility, the leaders within the pack get extra camps during the year and

hence must ensure that the Cubs within their six are fed and looked after first

before themselves. Sometimes leaders have to lead, by going last, “think of

others” The Cub Law. Tables will go up for their meals based on a fixed order or

behaviour in the dining hall or tent.

Prayer: A prayer is normally said or sung prior to Cub’s collecting their food

from the serving table for main meals, all Cubs, Leaders and Staff are to stand

whilst the prayer is sung or read. Here are a couple of examples:

God our Father, Lord and Saviour

Thank you for your love and favour

Bless this food and drink we pray

And all who shares with us today

Amen

Thank you, God, for loving me.

Thank you for my family.

Help me to learn more each day

To be kind at work and play.

Amen.

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Hygiene: All Cubs and staff are to wash their hands prior to any meal, or prior

to food preparation, even if there is hand sanitizer available, this is because the

sanitizer does not remove heavy dirt from your hands, it just kills bacteria on the

surface.

Etiquette: No hats are to be worn at the table, no one should start eating their

meal at the table until all the Cubs on that table are seated with their food. The

last one seated will normally be the Sixer. When everyone has finished at a table

then the Cubs at that table may go and clean their plates and cutlery. There will

be three bowls on a specific table set up for them:

Sounds simple this but you’ll be amazed how many Cubs and staff get this wrong,

set up left to right, no Ditty bags should be brought to the wash station, teas

towels over the shoulder.

Cleaning Up: There will be a duty six assigned every meal to help clear up any

mess in the kitchen/dining hall and to wipe the tables down. Time will be made

available in the program for them to do this, so the Cubs won’t miss out on any

camp activities. This is run on a strict rotor basis.

CAMP TRADITIONS AND CEREMONYS

Official Opening: There are many traditions associated with running a camp,

one of which is the official opening. This is when the Cubs are gathered at the

flag pole at a set time, normally after they have been booked in and registered.

Following the Grand Howl, the flag is broken, a prayer is then read or recited and

the camp is then officially open.

SCRAPS WASHING

BOWL

RINSING

BOWL

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CUBS

It is important to remember that the flag should not be flown before 8.00am in

the morning and after 8.00pm at night. It must always be lowered and folded at

8.00pm and broken again at 8.00am to commence the day. This is normally

when the camp gets together for a briefing on the day’s activities and to discuss

any matters that arose during the night.

Cubs Own: A Cubs Own or Scouts Own.. Is a gathering of the camp on

normally the Sunday morning of the camp. During the Cubs Own, prayers and

readings are read and sometimes hymns are sung. It’s also an opportunity to

discuss matters that may have had some impact on the Cubs individually or as a

group; this could be an incident, a celebration or a remembrance of someone

they once knew. This ceremony dates back to the days when the Scout movement

was purely a Christian organisation, however, things have changed and the Cubs

Own is also being brought into line with current attitudes and beliefs.

Less Hymns are being sung, prayers are still being read and readings now not

only come from the bible but may also be drawn from current affairs and other

publications. It should be not just a time for Adult leaders to speak, but also a

time for them to listen to their charges, what scares them, what inspires them,

what they hate and what they love. It is a time for friendship and brotherhood, it

is the pack drawing together to share their warmth on a winters day.

The Campfire: The Campfire

is one of the most enduring

memories that most Cubs come

back from camp with. Properly

lead, it is a magical experience

as the pack gathers around the

campfire to sing, cheer, perform

skits and listen to the Old

Wolf’s stories which make the

very hairs stand up on the

backs of their necks.

There are two types of Campfires, the Traditional and the Social Campfire. The

Traditional Campfire starts with a parade down to the campfire circle, all of the

Cubs and leaders will be wearing their campfire blankets or coats.

A campfire blanket is a very traditional part of Scouting, it is a visual record of

Scouts personal history, from Keas to becoming a Leader, with every badge they

have ever earned, traded for, attended an event for or purchased, sewn to their

blanket and displayed for all to see. Some of the blankets are beautiful, with

hundreds of badges, scarfs and even caps attached to them.

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The possibilities are endless and the blanket also has another practical use, as an

additional source of warmth on a cold autumn night on a Cubs bed.

The campfire will have generally been already lit, when the Cubs make their way

down to it, there is no speaking and there are definitely no torches. The Cubs may

be led in a song as they walk down, this could be a song called Vespers, what

they sing if anything will normally depend on the Campfire Leader and the

Campfire Chief.

When the Cubs have been lead around the campfire circle, sometimes more than

once. The Cubs and leaders settle down into their places. Then at the appropriate

time the song “I hear footsteps” (Scouts song) is sung as a greeting for the

Campfire Chief by the Cubs and Leaders. As the Campfire Chief enters the circle

they all stand when the words “stand-up do” are sung during the song. The

Campfire Chief will then give a blessing for the campfire and declare the campfire

open.

The Campfire Chief will then call for the ashes and explain the story of the ashes.

Following every campfire ashes are collected from firepit the following morning.

Those ashes are then brought to the next camp and are added to the next fire,

with each presentation of ashes, the Cub or leader who adds them to the fire

announces where they have come from, in that way the campfire spirit is passed

on from fire to fire to fire.

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CUBS

The Campfire Leader will then call up the individual items on the program, these

will have been prepared and practiced prior to the campfire.A song is normally

the first item on the program and a “song” which hopefully the Cubs all know, or

one they can they can follow, “a repeat after me song” or one they sing all

together or in a round.

A skit may follow, which is short play, performed by up to 6 Cubs in front of the

pack, Cubs normally tend to choose ones that are funny, however, the cubs have

to speak to the audience otherwise the punch line may well be lost on the night

air and the only people who may have laughed were the Cubs who performed it.

After each skit or song is performed there is no applause, the Cubs will naturally

laugh of course if they find it funny, but they may not applaud. Instead they are

led in a cheer by either the cheer master or a pre assigned Cub or leader.

For Example:

Give us a B .R.A.V.O O O!!

100 Volts, 300 Volts, 3000 Volts…. 3 Million Volts.. Shocking

Be Prepared! Be Prepared! Shout! Shout! Shout! Sixers, Seconders Cubs & Scouts!

Campfires normally last for approximately 30-45 mins, at the end of which the

Campfire Chief will close the campfire and there is normally a song sung as the

Cubs and Leaders leave the circle and make their way back to their

accommodation.

Ashes from the campfire can be collected in the morning, bring a small container

so you can take some home with you.

A Social Campfire: Have most of the above elements, skits, songs and even a

Campfire Chief. There is not normally a parade down to, or from the campfire

and when the flames have all died away and the embers are glowing bright,

marshmallows are often cooked over them at the end of the campfire program.

Closing Ceremony: This is when the camp gets together, to thank the leaders

and parents for their help running the camp and also reward the cubs who may

have been successful during their stay.

There will then be a Grand Howl and a prayer for those traveling home. When

the Camp is closed the flag is lowered, the camp will sometimes but not always

sing “TAPS” as the flag is lowered.

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CUBS

THE PACK UP AND TIDY AWAY On the last morning of a camp there’s lots to do, you should after breakfast make

sure all your personal gear is packed into your bag after you have had a wash

and brushed your teeth, your sleeping bag rolled or put back into its stuff sack

and your bed roll or camp bed disassembled and back in its case. The last thing is

our Ditty bag which may well still be at the dining hall or tent, which you’ll need

for morning tea.

You can then either move your gear to the hall for collection or leave it outside

your tents neatly. Please note this is of course weather dependent.

With the tents empty, using a dust pan and brush sweep your tent out and ensure

there is no rubbish or litter in it or around it. Make a note of any issues with the

tent and leave it open to air. (note pad and pencil)

When the fly is dry if the tent you are using has one, take down the tent and turn

it over onto a dry piece of ground so that the ground sheet may dry. If there is

allot of mud etc stuck to it, it may need brushing off or even wiping down. When

the ground sheet is dry then the tent may be put away, normally parents will be

on site to assist as will the leaders, so don’t panic. If we are using the large frame

tents, the parents and leaders will take them down.

If the weather is poor and the tents are wet and there is no opportunity to get

them dry, the leaders and parents will flat pack them onto the trailer, they will not

place them into their bags or they will start to sweat and mildew will start to form

very quickly.

Booking Out: Ok time for collection and the ride home, parents please arrive

an hour before your children are due to leave, this will give you not only an

opportunity to help with the pack up and putting away of the tents, but will also

allow you to see the camp closing ceremony and any awards your child may

receive.

Specific Notes for Parents:

1. Leaders will be tired, they do need your help

2. The tents etc do not pack themselves onto the trailer or unload themselves at the

Scout hall, please lend a hand at both ends.

3. Do not take your child without booking them out, or ask to leave before the

specified time, otherwise you will get a phone call, but you will have also

created a lot of panic on site.

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4. The kitchen area, toilets and dining hall in the main buildings will need to be

cleaned, please lend a hand.

Unpacking Your Gear: Ok the last thing you want to do when you get home

is to unpack all your stuff, but, my advice is get it done straight away, here’s a

couple of must do’s with your gear.

Take your sleeping bag out of its stuff sack, turn it inside out and let it air by

hanging in it on a hanger, then turn it the right way round and store it on the

hanger until you next need it. This will preserve the properties of the insulation

and in so doing help you stay warmer on camp.

Take all the batteries out of your torches and store them carefully. This will

prevent them leaking and damaging the terminals in your torches.

If you have used your pocket knife, sharpen it, oil the blade and put it away

ready for the next time you’re asked to use it.

If your hike boots are wet, stuff them with newspaper and let them dry

naturally out of direct sunlight, then when the mud is dry, brush it off with a stiff

brush and reproof the boot as required following the manufacturer’s advice

and recommendations.

Take all of your cutlery out of your Ditty bag, wash your Ditty bag and all the

cutlery and store, separately, also make sure you wash your tea towel.

Check your first aid kit, make sure if you have used anything you replace it and

take out any medication you may have stored there.

Store your compass away from metal objects in a safe place.

Make a list of anything broken, too small, too big or just didn’t work and make

sure you replace it or fix it before the next camp.

Make sure all of your clothing is out of your bag and in the wash.

Anly food you took as a packed lunch is removed and your bag cleaned out.

Rinse out your waterbottle and leave either full or with the lid off.

Empty your washbag and retrieve your toothbrush.

Check all the gear you have against the list you took, have you lost anything?

Outdoor Adventure Award: You should by now be aware about the

Outdoor Adventure Award and have a copy of the booklet you need to complete

to obtain this award, make sure you complete the sections in your booklet

relevant to the activities on camp. Get it done as soon as possible whilst your

memory is fresh. If you have completed all the requirements, bring it in for

assessment as soon as possible.

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ADDITIONAL PRACTICAL ADVICE

The New Cub Shirt: One of the things that has always been a challenge,

more so now with the current New Zealand Cub Uniform, is keeping the Cubs

shirt tidy during a camp. In this picture below, the Sixers and Seconders have put

a chair at the end of their beds whilst staying at a Scout hall over the weekend.

This allowed them to put their shirts on the back of the chairs with their scarfs and

their shorts on the seat, shoes etc underneath.

It worked really well, alternately just bring a hanger so you can place your

uniform on it at camp. It is worth noting that Cubs should be in uniform when

traveling to and from camp. There won’t normally be an option of hanging your

uniform up inside a tent, unless it’s a frame tent, but make sure you ask a leader

where or you may damage the tent itself.

Storing Shoes Outside Your Tent: Ok this should be simple but Cubs in

their haste to get in their tent often leave their shoes out in the open, waking up

to soaking wet shoes thanks to the morning dew or inconsiderate rain during the

night. Simple to solve:

Keep your shoes outside the inner tent, but under the fly on light weight tents.

Larger tents normally have a fly porch on the front make sure your shoes they

are stored together under the fly.

64


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If there is no room either under the fly or porch, you can store them inside a bin

liner, folded in two with a few stones to hold the front down or under a small

tarp again doubled up. But if you get up in the night, remember to cover them

up again, or if you see a pair of shoes out in the open, don’t just leave them

there, make sure they are put under cover as well.

Snacks and Lollies (Sweets) on Camp: Sweets and lollies on camp are a

recipe for disaster. With so many children on camp with eating disorders and

allergies and so many additives and ingredients in lollies, the chances are that

they could potentially do a lot of harm. So please no lollies on camp. Even if the

Cubs only eat their own, it can create issues as well through jealousy etc. I’ve

seen Cubs with huge amounts of snacks on camp, from one or two sweets to a

whole box of cereal. Honestly we generally do feed your children.

Campfire Blankets Examples: Campfire blankets are an old tradition in

scouting and you should have started yours already, here are a few examples of

what they can look like. Don’t leave putting your badges on your blanket until you

have lots, do them as you get them, but plan your blanket, what you’d like it to

look like when its full.

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The one thing I would like for Cubs and parents to get from this booklet is a better

understanding of what happens on a Cub camp, the gear they will need and what

gear they should consider purchasing prior to going on camp. Whilst some of the

equipment listed may appear a little expensive initially, it should see them all the

way through Scouts, so you’re investing not only for now but also for their future.

Hopefully the Cubs will also learn little basic camp craft, how to take better care

of the equipment they have had purchased for them, how to look after themselves

on camp and what they can expect to happen on camp.

There will be a few leaders who’ll read this and say I wouldn’t do that, or our

Cubs don’t do that, but remember this guide is written for New Zealand Cubs and

more significantly around our Cubs and Cub pack at Chartwell Cub Pack,

Hamilton New Zealand. I hope you find this useful and would appreciate any

feedback you may like to make.

This booklet is a living publication and seems to be very popular around the world

especially in the UK, I’m glad you are all finding it of use, but I’m always looking

for ideas and contributions.

Tyler Armstrong and Kevin his father have been kind enough to offer some

additional ideas and that’s what I’m looking for, to keep this current useful and

always available to those who may find use for it. So don’t hesitate to drop me an

email, I will listen and if its’ a great idea, I’ll add it to this booklet.

Tyler who if you didn’t know is a Cub Scout himself, recently introduced this

booklet to the members of his Pack, I think there is a lot of information that is

universal and it doesn’t matter where you are in the world there will be a Leader

scratching his head staring at Cub with a huge back pack on his back, wondering

if the parents ever listen to him, be sure to share this is a free for all.

Thanks for all your support thus far.

Kindest regards

Paul J Nimmo

Akela Chartwell Scout Group,

Hamilton New Zealand.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Back County with the Kids – Jen for permission to use her pictures of her children and

husband in this publication. A fantastic resource for parents tramping/hiking with their

children Follow them on Facebook at:-

https://www.facebook.com/backcountrykids

or their main blog http://backcountrywiththekids.com/

BoysLife Magazine http://boyslife.org/ for their recommendations of pocket knives.

Brian’s Back Packing Blog http://briangreen.net for testing information for whistles.

YSAR Technology Testing Whistles http://www.ysar.org.nz/

To Mark Harvey (Bagheera) and David Kenny (Manuka) Chartwell Scout Group for

use of their photos in this guide.

To all the Cubs past and present from Chartwell featured: Ryan B, Daniel B-S, Michael

M, James B, Mathew M, Brydon H, Fabian C-W, Cole B, Logan B, Blake A, Lewis C,

Alfie B, Hayden G.

The First Facebook Scout Group Members for their comments and Advice.

Tyler Armstrong and His Family, please join his Facebook page and subscribe to his

You tube Channel, help make his dreams a reality.

67

https://www.facebook.com/backcountrykids

http://backcountrywiththekids.com/

http://boyslife.org/

http://briangreen.net/

http://www.ysar.org.nz/

http://www.topwithtyler.com/

http://www.facebook.com/TopWithTyler

http://www.youtube.com/user/TopWithTyler


CUBS

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