Tent camping with cub scout

[Anonymous]

I would want shampoo to wash my hair in the sink or spigot if staying more than overnight.

Fishing equipment if fishing.

We use that Walmart Ozark Trail 4-person tent for two people. Others have larger Ozark Trail tents or tents from Costco.

Did anyone say whistle? Walmart has ones with a compass that are fun for kids.

Personal fans, cooling towels, or whatever you use for the heat of going soon. If going in the fall, pay attention to how cold it will be overnight and when you wake up. We brought extra blankets. I had a thermometer, and it was in the 50's in our tent. Also bring a hat (stocking cap) and gloves, maybe long johns, and extra socks to wear to bed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Put a tarp under the tent. Get a small battery to charge things or charge in the car.

Be careful of charging in the car especially something like an air mattress. My friends killed my battery doing that back in the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Thank you for advices. Any link for 4pp tent and sleeping bags recommendations? My friend tells me that I can borrow their 2pp tent, but I doubt that it maybe tight. We have a boy and a girl, and I don't mind buying bigger sizes to last longer for sleeping bags.

Go to REI. The people who work there are very helpful in suggesting equipment that fits your budget and needs.

[Anonymous]

Your pack will have a list for families that are new to camping. Just ask one of the leaders.

[Anonymous]

Remember rashies and hats (much better than sunscreen especially when you can’t shower).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It will be out first time doing tent camping for 4pp as a cub scout activity. We have to bring tent, sleeping bags, and what else I should get? We have nothing, and it will be out first tent camping 3 days 2 nights. They told me that sleeping area may flood ( like wet floor, not river flood) if it rains.....omg. There will be no electricity, but there are running water and flushable toilets. There will be no shower. Good thing that we don't have to bring food and drink and I assume the pack leaders take care of them.

Is that fun or not that fun? Should we do 3 days 2 nights (Friday to Sunday) or 2 days 1 night (Saturday to Sunday or Friday to Saturday)? I wonder what kids could do. Can someone give me a list that I need buy.

You should bring some anyway to pitch in.

Tent with a ground tarp (cheap 8x10 or similar size tarpaulin you get at walmart for $10 to put under the tent floor. Roll up the edges under the tent sides after pitching tent.)
Sleeping bags or blankets
Two changes of shirts, undies, socks, etc. Pants can be reused for more than one day. Maybe 1 extra pair.
OFF or similar mosquito repellant.
Sunscreen.
Extra water 2-3 gallons for washing and drinking.
Book to read.
Couple of folding chairs would be nice, or even a cot for the tent.
Flashlight

[Anonymous]

Scout mom here. I was not a camper until my kid joined scouts, so this is what I have learned:

If it’s your first time (or even if it’s not), it’s OK to just do one night. Most of our pack would do Saturday morning-Sunday morning, except for a few who knew what they were doing and would go the night before and set up. Don’t feel bad cutting it short your first time. It’s also OK in Cub Scouts to just go for the day and do the activities, if that is what you can support.

Clarify the food situation with your pack. Usually ours would provide Smores and breakfast on Sunday, but families were on their own for other meals. You can do foil packet dinners. Our cubs really liked those. Or walking tacos are another popular one. I have mess kits somewhere, but I have also thrown one together with a few plastic plates, silverware, and a mesh laundry bag.

Your pack will bring a big water jug and fill it as needed (the campsite will have a place). Bring refillable water bottles for everyone in your family. If you are a coffee drinker, bring a mug for morning coffee.

On Sunday, you have breakfast, clean up, pack up and leave, so you weren’t really missing out on a shower. It’s not that bad (this was also a big worry of mine!).

Cubs sleep in a tent with their families. We have the Coleman Sundome, and a tarp from Walmart as a ground cover. Make sure your ground cover is completely under your tent’s footprint so water doesn’t pool. Keep your tent zipped to keep bugs and critters out.

We also have Pilates mats from Amazon as sleeping pads. Cubs won’t camp in super cold weather, so a three-season sleeping bag is fine. I actually sleep on top of mine, with a cotton blanket. If you are in a Coleman tent, you don’t need a mosquito tent or anything.

I bring my own real pillow. I sleep a lot better that way.

I bring battery operated fans for the tent, to keep air moving. I also bring a camping latern, head lamps, and a lot of cheap flashlights. Your kids will likely lose their flashlights. I got a ten-pack from Walmart.

Bring bug spray, put your kids in hats.

Bring camp chairs.

Bring Uno in case you need to entertain the kids while the adults do something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Scout mom here. I was not a camper until my kid joined scouts, so this is what I have learned:

If it’s your first time (or even if it’s not), it’s OK to just do one night. Most of our pack would do Saturday morning-Sunday morning, except for a few who knew what they were doing and would go the night before and set up. Don’t feel bad cutting it short your first time. It’s also OK in Cub Scouts to just go for the day and do the activities, if that is what you can support.

Clarify the food situation with your pack. Usually ours would provide Smores and breakfast on Sunday, but families were on their own for other meals. You can do foil packet dinners. Our cubs really liked those. Or walking tacos are another popular one. I have mess kits somewhere, but I have also thrown one together with a few plastic plates, silverware, and a mesh laundry bag.

Your pack will bring a big water jug and fill it as needed (the campsite will have a place). Bring refillable water bottles for everyone in your family. If you are a coffee drinker, bring a mug for morning coffee.

On Sunday, you have breakfast, clean up, pack up and leave, so you weren’t really missing out on a shower. It’s not that bad (this was also a big worry of mine!).

Cubs sleep in a tent with their families. We have the Coleman Sundome, and a tarp from Walmart as a ground cover. Make sure your ground cover is completely under your tent’s footprint so water doesn’t pool. Keep your tent zipped to keep bugs and critters out.

We also have Pilates mats from Amazon as sleeping pads. Cubs won’t camp in super cold weather, so a three-season sleeping bag is fine. I actually sleep on top of mine, with a cotton blanket. If you are in a Coleman tent, you don’t need a mosquito tent or anything.

I bring my own real pillow. I sleep a lot better that way.

I bring battery operated fans for the tent, to keep air moving. I also bring a camping latern, head lamps, and a lot of cheap flashlights. Your kids will likely lose their flashlights. I got a ten-pack from Walmart.

Bring bug spray, put your kids in hats.

Bring camp chairs.

Bring Uno in case you need to entertain the kids while the adults do something.

Good one. And bring regular cards and a bottle of booze for the parents!

[Anonymous]

Cooler with snacks and drinks, hats, long sleeve loose button up shirts, extra socks , air mattress /sleeping pads , camp chairs, paper towels, lantern that is charged or back up battery. Favorite books magazines for bedtime.

They will have lots of fun activities for the kids and generally keep them busy.

[Anonymous]

How far away is it? I would do 2 days, 1 night so that you can feel the trip was "successful" for a 1st time rather than having to leave early. It's also easier to put up with inconveniences knowing it's brief, ha.

Agree with PPs that kids will love it. We do scouts and have gone camping and it's a lot of fun in a group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It will be out first time doing tent camping for 4pp as a cub scout activity. We have to bring tent, sleeping bags, and what else I should get? We have nothing, and it will be out first tent camping 3 days 2 nights. They told me that sleeping area may flood ( like wet floor, not river flood) if it rains.....omg. There will be no electricity, but there are running water and flushable toilets. There will be no shower. Good thing that we don't have to bring food and drink and I assume the pack leaders take care of them.

Is that fun or not that fun? Should we do 3 days 2 nights (Friday to Sunday) or 2 days 1 night (Saturday to Sunday or Friday to Saturday)? I wonder what kids could do. Can someone give me a list that I need buy.

Cub Scout camping is a ton of fun for the kids. You can get a good tent at Target or Walmart but I would go with one of the REI starter tents. Get a 3-4 person size one. The REI tents are solid builds that will do well in rain and stormy weather. It is worth the slightly more expensive price.

We use our sons fleece bed time blankets to line the floor of the tent, they are comfy and help with insulating the floor. Get some air mattresses, you don’t need super expensive ones but you want something that gets you off the ground and can be comfy. Kids do well with the accordion style, foam mats. I don’t recommend those for adults because they are not comfortable.

If you are camping in warmer weather, you can get a generic sleeping bag. I would get something rater for 30-40 degrees. You will not use this for colder weather camping but it will work well in fall/spring/summer.

Bring some camp chairs to sit in. Bring some plastic plates and easily washable silverware and cups. You can buy a lantern for the tent and some inexpensive headlamps to use.

This is car camping, so you don’t need to worry about size or space. If your kid loves the camping and enjoys Scouts, you might think about getting better gear when they join a Troop, we gave our son a nice tent for Christmas when he was bridging over, anticipating backpacking and monthly camp outs.

Don’t stress about the lack of a shower, it is really only one day and you can shower when you get home from camp. You go out on a Friday and are back on Sunday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not fun for adults.

I disagree, most of the adults in our Pack had a great time. We loved watching the kids have fun, chatted, and enjoyed the campfire after we put the kids to bed. Some of our families best friends are parents whose kids were in my kids Den. We had time to get to know them at meetings and camp outs.

[Anonymous]

Most scout units have equipment you can borrow. Ask before you buy everything.