Our Practice:    As a general rule, our troop camps every month except December.    Campouts usually start on Friday night with the troop gathering at Westside Christian Church before embarking on our journey.   After the Assistant Chaplain leads in a prayer, the group heads out to establish a base camp for the weekend.   The patrols setup camp, prepare meals, cleanup, and lead or participate in any number of skill enhancing activities.   We usually return back to Westside Christian church on Sunday at 12:30 P.M., exhausted but very satisfied.

Planning:    Since we camp almost every month, and sometimes more than once a month, a lot of time is required for proper planning.   The troop uses the patrol method for planning campouts.   Each boy-led patrol determines how many Scouts will be camping, how many meals will be needed, and what the meals will be.    The boys divide the list of items required among the patrol and they are responsible for bringing their portion of the goods on the campout.   The boys also prepare duty rosters for each campout to share the workload.    Most of the planning takes place during our weekly Troop Meeting on Tuesday night.  

The adults assure that the boys plan properly and provide a little guidance when it is needed.   The Troop Committee meets monthly to plan and approve the locations of the campouts and the main activities that will be done.

Why we camp:   We believe a strong outdoor program is what makes our troop vital.   It has been said that *"the outdoors is a classroom without walls that is ideal for teaching and learning Scout skills."    It is during the camping trips that the boys get a chance to apply their skills so that they truly understand the value of Scouting.  Camping helps the boys learn what it means to be a leader and the value of working together as a team.   Some say we camp to get a better sense of communion with God and nature, but perhaps just as important, it is fun.

Check out our calendar of activities to see what camping events are scheduled this year!

* "The Scoutmaster Handbook"

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Last modified: February 23, 2008