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What NOT to Bring to Camp!

Here is a list of things that should be left at home, and not brought to any Scout camp.
You won’t find any of these things on the official gear lists.

MP3 players, including iPods, GameBoys or other electronic games

  • No electronics at camp.
  • Expensive toys are easy to lose, get wet or damaged, or otherwise get broken or lost.
  • If a Troop Scouter sees an electronic toy, it will be confiscated for the duration of camp.
  • GPS receivers are fine.
  • If you are in doubt, ask your PL or a Scouter.

Collector cards

  • Yu-Gi-Oh! is not appropriate at camp
  • Regular playing cards are fine

Cell phones

  • We are usually out of cell range while at camp, anyway.
  • Troop Scouters already have contact plans in place. BE PREPARED!
  • Cell phones are easy to lose, get wet or damaged, or otherwise get broken or lost.

Book collections

  • One book is fine for reading (e.g. Scout Handbook), but too many books adds extra weight to your backpack.

Extra personal food

  • No candies, snacks, granola bars, etc. Nothing that is not part of the patrol menu.
  • Food in tents is bad, and attracts animals from small (squirrels) to large (bears).
  • If you have a special food you want at camp, you need to ensure your patrol puts it on the menu, and it is stored with the patrol’s food, never in your tent.
  • Extra personal food adds extra weight to your backpack.

DO NOT BRING ANYTHING YOU DID NOT PERSONALLY PACK!

  • Do not let Mom or Dad pack your backpack!
  • Your parents will pack too much, pack the wrong things, and you won’t know what you have.
  • Mom and Dad should check what you have in your backpack, and ensure the weight is appropriate.
  • The only time your Mom or Dad should pack your backpack is if they’re coming along to carry everything!

What happens when well-meaning parents pack your stuff for you

Too much stuff

  • Mom wants to be sure you’ll be clean and dry, so she packs 3 extra pairs of pants, 5 pairs of underwear and socks, 2 extra pairs of shoes, and 3 cotton sweatshirts, and you can no longer lift your backpack!

The wrong stuff

  • Once we had a Scout show up for a winter camp with a pair of shorts as his only spare pants (the snow was only 9 feet deep). This Scout also did not have any gloves. What were they thinking?

Unknown stuff

  • On several occasions we have seen a Scout who is cold, or is wearing wet clothes, and we’ll ask, “Did you bring another pair of pants?” or “Did you pack any gloves?” We are surprised to see the Scout give us a blank stare and say, “I don’t know.” At the end of camp when they are packing up, they’ll come to us and say, “Hey look! Mom packed me a second set of gloves in this other pocket!”