Camping is the central activity in Troop 42. Scouts are expected to participate in our camping program; training, supervision and support is given at all levels, at all events.
Camping Dates
For a complete list of camping dates, visit the
Calendars page.
Permission Slips
Permission slips are due 2 weeks before the campout to enable
everyone to "Be Prepared" for the trip. For more information, read
the details of the permission slip
policy. To print permission slips, visit the
Calendars page.
Planning a Camping Trip
Patrol planning for each camping trip is done with the
Patrol
Camping Planner, which includes rosters, tent assignments, equipment,
and menu forms.
Food
The Troop Grubmaster must approve all camping menus at least
10 days before the trip. The
Patrol
Camping Planner and
Grubmaster Planning Tips help planning the menus, shopping list, and
portion sizes.
There are many other resources available for planning camping menus (see the Links
page)
Shopping
A boy from each patrol will be assigned to shop for the trip. He
will collect $7.00 from each scout, buy the food, and then reimburse or
collect additional money from the other scouts as appropriate. August White Mountain Trip
Equipment
Tips on selecting personal equipment that's right for you can be found at
Backpacker Magazine "Gear"
site and REI's "Expert
Advice" on camping.
The troop maintains tents, tarps, stoves, and other camping equipment.
Troop equipment is requisitioned using the
Patrol
Camping Planner and received and returned according to
Shanty Rules.
Packing
A personal equipment
checklist is
available. It covers most events, and includes clothes for cold and hot
weather, but is not all-inclusive. You will need to evaluate each trip
for weather and special conditions expected.
Tips on how to pack can be found at
REI's Expert Advice on packing page
There is a mandatory pack inspection at the meeting before the
camping trip for all scouts below the rank of First Class Scout
Cold Weather Camping
Cold weather camping requires extra equipment and planning. Read
all about it on the Cold Weather Camping
page.
What Constitutes a
"Backpacking" Trip?
Some of the camping trips are designated as
backpacking trips. On these trips, scouts
- carry everything a minimum of 2500 ft (½ mile) to the campsite, including patrol items, e.g., tents, cooking gear, food and water, as well as all personal items.
- pack a bit differently for backpacking trips. For more information, review the packing list, paying attention to items called out for backpacking.
- cook with lightweight stoves, and without patrol wampus boxes.
Backpacking trip
schedule
Backpacking
trips are noted on the camping calendar
on the Calendar page
After the Camping Trip
At completion of each troop camping trip, troop equipment is
assigned to scouts, and is to be cleaned according to the
equipment maintenance guide and returned at the next Troop
42 meeting according to Shanty Rules. All
questions about equipment assignment should be directed to the Patrol
Leader first, then if not resolved, to the Senior Patrol Leader, and if
necessary to the Scout Quartermaster followed by the Adult
Quartermaster.
Shanty Day
A shanty day is a required meeting for the entire troop at which
the troop's storage shanty behind Peerless Equipment on Gilotti Road is
inventoried, restocked, and reorganized.
Year Round Camper
Most scouts earn the Year Round Camper patch offered through CT
Yankee Council, which requires 12 consecutive months of camping
overnight and making meals outdoors.