Recommended Camping Gear & Equipment

The following is a list of camping equipment that is recommended for use by members of Troop 101. The items can be located at garage sales, thrift stores, or borrowed from friends.

Every Scout and Scouter camping with Troop 101 should have access to the following items and will bring them on campouts:

The "Ten Essentials"

These items must be taken on all outdoor outings with T101. It is best to have them in a day pack or in your pockets:

  1. The Official Boy Scout Handbook
  2. Pocket Knife(you must have your "Tot-N-Chip" to carry a knife)
  3. First Aid Kit
  4. Food and water in a canteen
  5. Fire starting materials (waterproof matches or waterproof container)
  6. Pencil/Pen & Paper
  7. Flashlight, (bring an extra flashlight, to play it safe...the smaller the better)
  8. Compass and map of area
  9. Rain Gear, extra clothing & socks. Ordinarily, in the absence of flooding or deluge, mere rain is NOT an emergency and we expect Boy Scouts to be prepared for light rain by having a poncho as standard equipment and to use their tent's rain fly.

In addition to the Ten Essentials, you should bring:

  • Frame Backpack (external or internal)
    Best to get an adjustible model as the boys are still growing. Packs are "fitted" like shoes. We recommend you go to Sport's Chalet in La Canada and have them "fit" your son for a good adjustable.
  • Sleeping bag, sleeping pad and ground cloth He's going to grow, so make sure you get one that will be long enough. A Therm-A-Rest pad is recommended.
  • Mess kit: shallow bowl, small fry pan/water boiling pot, knife, fork, spoon, and drinking cup

    Additionally, if backpacking, each patrol should have at least one for every three boys:
  • Single-burner lightweight propane stove The troop has Coleman stoves for car-camping.
  • water purifier pump with ceramic filter In backwoods areas, we pump and filter from streams.

  • Clothing
  • Personal Hygiene
  • Personal First aid kit:
  • Two plastic trash bags
  • Some money for side meals. Typically, we eat dinner on the road on Friday going to camp and have lunch on the road coming back on Sunday. Plan on $5 per kid per meal.

    Tents

    The troop can supply tents for most of the boys, but it is best if your son has his own tent for which he'll be responsible and with which he'll team up with someone from his patrol. We recommend a 2 or 3-man tent with nylon rod supports and rain fly, for example, the Coleman Dome tent 7X7. They are light, easy to put up, and easy to keep clean. Large family-style tents are no good for scout camping; we really prefer that boys don't bring them. They're very heavy, hard to backpack, are hard to erect, (esp. in the middle of the night) and blow over in high winds.

    Winter Camping Equipment

    Wool or Poly-blend clothing is best, as it still insulates when wet, it wicks water away from your skin, and it dries out quicker than cotton. When cotton gets wet, it tends to stay wet and does not insulate as well. The new synthetic-fiber clothing is best, but costlier. Occassionally you can find bargains, but 'good ole' wool is the least expensive way to go. Down is warm when dry but when it gets wet it tends to lose heat quickly.

    The following items are needed for winter camping:

    The following Items are not required, but are good to have along:

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    This is an additional list of equipment compiled by the Colorado Mountain Club