Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama

Troop Trip/Camping Pre-course Several elements of Troop Trip/Camping Training can be learned at your

own pace, away from camp. The material in this online pre-course is the foundation for the hands-on Camping Skills Certification (Part 2).

Pre-Course - Part 1

At least one week prior to the Camping Skills Certification (Part 2), submit your pre-course answers here: https://tinyurl.com/GSSACampingPreCourse

Completion of this pre-course is required before registering for your Camping Skills Certification.

Adult volunteers who complete Part 1, will be prepared to assist girls in planning appropriate day-outings for the troop (field trips, museums, malls, stores, parks, zoos, etc.) beyond the regular meeting site, while also satisfying the pre-course requirements for the GSSA Troop Camping. This two-part course will satisfy the requirements for you to take the girls camping.

How do I get our trip approved?For activities/outings beyond the regular troop meeting site, notification and/or

approval is required according to the Activity Notification/Approval Guidelines

(chart) in Volunteer Essentials. All forms are available on our website at

www.girlscoutssa.org

All overnight trips, whether they’re in the backyard, at a state park, church or

campground, must be approved by our Council.

The Overnight Trip/Camping Application must be submitted

AT LEAST FOUR WEEKS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF DEPARTURE.

For the girls' safety as well as for your own protection, you must follow the

appropriate Safety-Activity Checkpoints and GSSA Council Policies and

guidelines.

RECAP

Before you start planning an overnight, you will read the appropriate

Safety-Activity Checkpoints and the

Girl Scout Safety Guidelines

Before you finalize any reservations, you will submit an

Overnight Trip/Camping Application

Adults who chaperone overnight or camping

activities must participate in the pre-trip meeting and

review the twelve Girl Scout Safety Guidelines.

Due Diligence

10. Troop Trip Folder Contents should include copies of driver licenses and auto-

insurance cards for approved drivers. True False

11. The Overnight Trip/Camping Application must be submitted AT LEAST ______

weeks in advance of the trip.

12. Adults who accompany troops/groups overnight or camping, must participate in a

final pre-trip orientation with troop leaders. True False

13. List the “Girl Scout Safety Guidelines” that pertain to an overnight/camping trip.

Be Prepared!

It’s strongly recommended that the first-aider go over basic first aid & emergency

procedures with the troop before an outing.

14. On what page of Volunteer Essentials will you find information about First Aiders?

15. A First-Aider may be:

a. an adult currently certified in a Girl Scout approved, nationally recognized first aid

course.

b. a physician, physician’s assistant, emt, paramedic, military medic

c. a nurse practitioner, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse

d. all of the above

Let’s look closely at Introduction to Safety Activity Checkpoints

16. On what page will you find the adult-to-girl ratios for events, travel, and camping?

17. Calculate the number of registered & approved adults who need to be present:

-walking to the park with seven Daisies

-camping with fourteen Brownies

-touring a museum with twenty-one Cadettes

18. In the section titled Itinerary and Key Contacts, what do you leave with the at-home contact?

19. In the section titled Activity Accident Insurance, list the three reasons for which you need to purchase extra activity accident insurance for outings and events.

20. On our website, where can you find the Additional (Tagalong) Insurance form?

21. Read the Transportation section. Besides 15-passenger vans, what other transportation options are not allowed?

22. Read the Overnight Trips section. Why are private rentals not permitted?

Now, let’s look at a couple of Safety Activity Checkpoints

23. Camping: When travel camping, no adult drives more than ______ hours per day,

with rest breaks at least every two hours.

24. Though women are not required to sleep in the same sleeping areas with girls, if

they do share the sleeping area, two unrelated women must always be present.

True False

25. Swimming: In addition to the appropriate pool or waterfront certified adult

lifeguard, an adult “watcher” is needed for every ten swimmers.

True False

Bring a water-bottle and a folding chair for occasional rest breaks.

Bring a light sack lunch. Snacks will be provided throughout the day.

Dress and be prepared for a dynamic learning experience.

Camp-cooking will be a group activity as we use a variety of cooking techniques to prepare a sumptuous camp supper around the campfire.

Before you arrive, use the following slides to start learning these skills so you will be able to demonstrate your proficiency.

◦ Tent-Pitching

◦ Knife-Safety

◦ Knots –square, clove hitch, fisherman’s knot, taut-line and bowline

◦ Lashing – two types, tripod and square

◦ 3-Bucket Dishwashing Set-Up

◦ Fire-Building

Failure is not an option, but remediation is a possibility!

TENT CARE / KITCHEN FLY

* Directions for putting up and down and storing should be included.

* Tie the tapes with a half-bow so they can be untied when wet.

* Do not hang anything on the ropes. This pulls the tent out of line.

* Roll walls and flaps up to prevent water from catching in the roll

when it rains.

* Never touch the inside of a tent during a rain as this causes the

canvas or nylon to leak.

* Do not use insect sprays or other kinds of sprays inside or near a

tent. The chemicals can dissolve the water repellant treatment.

Insect repellant can be purchased as a pump spray, a roll-on, or as

a lotion.

* Do not use candles, kerosene lamps, portable cookstoves or

anything with an open flame inside a tent. Do not set up a kitchen

fly over a wood fire.

* Do not store food inside a tent.

* Tents must be flame-resistant and not made of plastic.

* Sweep the inside floors; walls and ceilings are optional. Only sweep

debris off outside to prevent damage.

* Do not walk around with an open knife.

* Teach safety circle first. One arm’s length away from anyone else before using a

knife.

* Hold the knife with the whole hand.

* Always cut away from the body.

* Close the knife before passing it. If it does not close, grasp the knife blade along the

dull edge (back) and pass the handle to the other person. The person receiving the

knife always says “thank you” to indicate they have the knife. Say “you’re welcome”

to let that person know you are releasing your hold on the knife.

* Best way to pass a knife is to lay it down and allow the other person to pick it up.

* Do not cut green sticks or carve on trees.

* Keep knife sharp.

* Older Brownies can work with knives with parental permission.

* A camp saw is the right tool for most outdoor woodcutting. The blades of folding saws

close into their handles much like the blades of a pocketknife. Bow saws have curved

metal frames that hold their blades in place.

* Saw teeth are needle-sharp. Treat every saw with the same respect you give your

pocketknife. Keep folding saws closed when not in use. Bow saw blades can be

protected with a sheath made from garden hose.

* When using a camp saw, brace the wood to be cut against a solid support. Use long,

smooth strokes that let the weight of the saw pull the blade into the wood.

* When cutting a dead branch from a tree, make an undercut first, then saw from the top

down. This prevents the falling branch from stripping the bark. Cut next to the tree to

prevent dangerous points. Cut saplings level with the ground so there are no stumps

for someone to trip over.

* Saw blades may be sharpened with small triangle files. Be sure to wear gloves to

prevent injury. With the file, follow the shape of each tooth. Sharpen one side of the

saw, and then the other side.

Use the following references to learn these five knots:

Square Knot

Fisherman’s Knot

Clove Hitch

Taut-Line

Bowline

You will be demonstrating these knots during your Camping Skills Test Session.

http://www.animatedknots.com/

http://www.netknots.com/rope_knots/

http://www.outdoorlife.com/photos/gallery/hunting/2012/02/essential-knots-how-tie-20-knots-will-keep-you-alive/?image=5

http://www.proknot.com/html/rope_knots.html

Scrape Polish with napkin or papertowel Wash in warm soapy water Place in dunk bag Rinse in warm water Dip in sanitizing solution Hang on dripline

* Soaping a pan: For quick pot - and pan-washing, smear soap powder paste, softened soap, or

liquid dish soap on the outside of the pot BEFORE using it over an open fire. After use, soot will

wash away easily.

* Keep the dishwater clean as long as possible by washing the least dirty items such as cups and

silverware first, the pots last.

* Scrape all remaining food debris from dishes into a trash bag.

* Clean plates first with a paper towel so wash water stays clean longer.

* Use 3 buckets or dish pans for washing. The first bucket contains hot, soapy water (small

amount of soap). The second bucket contains clean rinse water (any temperature).

* Place dishes in net mesh bag between second and third bucket.

* The third bucket contains either boiling water OR cool water with a sanitizing solution (one

capful of bleach to 1 gallon of water).

* Hang mesh (dunk) bags on clothesline to air dry. If clothesline is put up for the dunk bags, be

sure that it is away from dust and areas where someone might walk into it and be injured.

* Filter used dishwater (grey water) through dead grass/pine straw, a paper towel, a fine screen, or

perhaps a colander to remove solid food particles, then place them in the trash.

* At an established site, use sink or waste-water dumping area to dispose of dishwater after it has

been filtered.

* Cleanup kaper does group dishes, everyone does their own dishes.

FIRE STARTERS

* A fire starter is a highly

flammable material used to ignite

a fire, either wood or charcoal.

* Fire starters can be homemade or

purchased.

* Examples of fire starters are:

Egg Carton Fire Starters:

cardboard egg cartons filled with

sawdust, wood shavings or lint, then

covered with melted paraffin.

Trench Candles: a tightly rolled

newspaper tied with string and dipped

in melted paraffin.

Fire Starter Kisses: place wax

shavings, sawdust, or wood shavings

into a 2"-3" sq. piece of waxed paper,

then twist top like a kiss.

* Anything that can be cooked in your oven at home can be done in a Dutch Oven.

* Before putting food in the Dutch Oven, you can line the oven with foil for easy

cleaning afterwards.

* On a level area in the fire circle prepare a bed of coals (wood or charcoal)

* Place Dutch Oven over coals, then add more coals to lid.

* Using hot pads and tongs, rotate oven and lid in opposite directions every 10-15

minutes.

* Clean by putting warm water in oven, heating it with lid on, and scrubbing off any

remaining food particles with a plastic scrubber. No soap is necessary. Be sure and

DRY THOROUGHLY !

* After oven is cleaned, wipe it with vegetable oil to keep it from rusting - this does

not need to be done every time but often enough to keep the oven in good

condition.

* A box oven can be used to cook anything you would cook in an oven at home.

* Box ovens are very good for baking.

* Choose a box about the size of a Xerox paper box.

* Cut off the bottom. If you cut off the top you will need an oven roasting bag to make a

window/cover. It also helps to make vents along the bottom edges.

* Cover the entire box with heavy duty aluminum foil. Fasten with aluminum tape or a high quality

duct tape.

* Acquire a grill grate that fits inside the box. If none can be found, unbend metal clothes hangers

and run them through the box to create a grate.

* Lay an even bed of coals in a fire circle - enough to last until you are done cooking but not so

many that you scorch the bottom. Remember, each piece of charcoal gives off approximately 25

degrees worth of heat.

* Raise the grate above the coals with cans or rocks.

* When finished, remove the oven from the coals - they last longer.

PROPANE STOVES

* Ensure that every trainee has an opportunity to set up and light the propane stove

sometime during the training.

* Availability: Purchase or borrow propane stoves. They are not available at camp.

Bring propane canisters with you also as they are not available at camp either.

* Advantages: Quick, easy to use. Approved by Concharty Council for girls with adult

supervision. Not affected by weather conditions. Conserves natural resources

(wood and coal).

* Disadvantages: Can be more expensive. One cylinder lasts 3-6 hours depending

on wind and temperature. Inefficient in very cold conditions.

* Safety: Read the instructions for use. Must be used in an open, well-ventilated, low

traffic area. Do not place in fire circle unless no other fuel source is being used

there at the time. Do not attempt to refill the small canisters. Keep fittings and

connections clean.

FOOD STORAGE AND PREPARATION

* Cold food must be kept cold, hot foods must be kept hot.

* Pack plenty of ice in coolers with not too much empty space.

* Do not store meats with other cold food items. Place meats (which

produce juices) in a separate cooler.

* Store canned foods and dry goods in animal-proof containers (old

coolers or Rubbermaid type tubs).

* Make sure girls have clean hands and a good circle of safety.

* A table cloth or towel may be needed to provide a clean surface.

* Make sure all scraps are removed from work surfaces. Do not store

food in tents as this will attract animals.

* Be extremely mindful of cross-contaminating foods during food

preparation. Do not cut meat on the same board as vegetables or

use the same utensils.

* Use care in handling and using raw eggs and meats.

* Be sure to cook foods containing eggs and meats thoroughly.

Why Have a Kaper Chart?A good kaper chart:• Gives everyone a chance to help and take responsibility• Rotates the jobs so there is a chance to do and learn

many skills • Helps girls know what their jobs are• Helps girls know who is responsible for what

KAPER CHARTS

* The job that needs to be done while on an overnight, such as cooking,

setting the table, and cleaning up are called kapers.

* The kaper chart may be drawn up before the trip so that everyone knows

which jobs need to be done and who will do them.

* The easiest way to divide up the jobs is to assign by patrols, pairs, or small

groups. The jobs should be rotated so that each patrol or group has a

chance at each job on the kaper chart.

* Sample chart is shown in ODEGS.

* Kamp Kapers: Jobs done by a patrol for the entire camp (e.g. flag

ceremony, campfire building)

* Patrol kapers: Jobs done by persons in a patrol for the patrol or troop (e.g.

hostess, cook)

* Site kapers: Jobs done by a patrol in their campsite for the shared campsite

(e. g. clean bathrooms, sweep out unit house)

BATHROOM SANITATION

* First job done on arrival and last job done before departure.

* Items needed: broom, bucket, bleach, long handled brush, toilet

paper in container, small trash bags, lunch bags.

* Sweep floor and if needed, walls and ceiling with broom.

* Use 2 capfuls of bleach to 1 gallon of water for sanitizing solution.

This may be put in a spray bottle for convenience (label it!!).

* With long handled brush scrub seat and all around it.

* Place toilet paper in containers next to each seat. Container can be

zip-lock bag, coffee can, soda bottle cut down; anything water and

critter proof.

* Place trash bag and lunch bags for disposal of sanitary supplies in

each stall. Collect with trash when ready to go home.

* Clean sink area. Or, if still using latrines, hang a hand-washing

unit with paper towels and trash bag nearby.

You have now completed the

Troop Trip/Camping Pre-Course (Part 1)

Submit your pre-course answers here:

https://tinyurl.com/GSSACampingPreCourse

Sign up for Camping Certification (Part 2)

Practice the required skills so you can demonstrate them to your

instructor’s satisfaction. If you have questions, email training@girlscoutssa.org

The following slides are extra resources that may

be useful to enhance your outdoor learning.