Camping Merit Badge

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Camping Skills for Camping Merit Badge Bill Howard ASM Troop 179 Fredericksburg, VA

Transcript of Camping Merit Badge

Page 1: Camping Merit Badge

Camping Skills for Camping Merit Badge

Bill Howard

ASM Troop 179

Fredericksburg, VA

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First Aid – A Thumbnail Sketch• Hypothermia – warm victim any way you can, add clothing, put in

sleeping bag, share body heat• Frostbite – warm the affected area with clothing, putting frozen hands

under arms, lukewarm water, get to warm place, provide warm liquids• Heatstroke – head & shoulders low, feet raised, provide liquids, cool

the victim’s body with wet towels, shirts• Heat Exhaustion – move to shade, head & shoulders up, do whatever

is necessary to cool the victim’s body, wet towels, shirts, get assistance • Dehydration – see heatstroke, heat exhaustion• Sunburn – sunburn lotion, aloe, solarcane spray • Insect Stings – benadryl for severe cases, after bite lotion, watch for

signs of shock and or breathing problems• Tick Bites – tick tweezers, hot match head, oil or grease to release

– clean, antiseptic, anti-itch, or ammonia & baking soda

• Snakebite – lie down, lower affected area, constrictor band, cold packs, treat for shock, get help ASAP

• Blisters – clean, antiseptic, apply Band-Aid, moleskin– Break only if necessary and then with sterilized pin

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Leave No Trace

• No Trace Principles– Plan Ahead & Prepare

• Minimize damage to natural and cultural resources

– Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces• Camp in designated areas, hike on established trails, minimize damage to vegetation and soil

– Dispose of Waste Properly• Pack it in, pack it out. Plan your waste stream to minimize the amount you must pack out.

– Leave What You Find• Allow others to discover. Leave rocks, plants, animals and artifacts where you find them.

– Minimize Campfire Impacts• Campfires are necessarily messy. Cutting of wood degrades an area with heavy use.

– Respect Wildlife• You are in their home, be quiet and observe. Don’t feed wild animals and they will stay wild.

– Be Considerate of Other Visitors• Allow others to have the experience you expect to have. Keep the noise down, respect the boundaries of

others campsites and the boundaries of private land

• Boy Scout Handbook pages 244-45 and the Fieldbook provide more info

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The Outdoor Code

• As an American, I will do my best to:– Be Clean in my outdoor manners

• Follow Leave No Trace Principles• Pack out what I packed in• Don’t leave food scraps lying around

– Be Careful with fire• Know the fire danger conditions in the area before you begin a trip• Don’t build a fire if you don’t need to cook or keep warm• Extinguish fires until the ashes are cold

– Be Considerate in the outdoors• Keep the noise down, respect the rights of others to have an enjoyable experience• Leave the campsite better than you found it

– Be Conservation Minded• Have as little impact on the outdoors as you can manage• Respect the natural and cultural resources of the area you camp in

• Note how this relates to the principles of Leave No Trace

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Trekking Plan• Helps to ensure thorough planning and serves as a precaution if

help is required – helps you to “stay found”• Time, date and place of departure• Time, date and place of return• Destination

– Show alternates if it is possible that a specific campsite is occupied or if weather conditions make a change in plan necessary

• Roster of scouts and adults going along– Always have a minimum of two adults

• Route of departure & route of return– Name trails, compass headings, landmarks, GPS coordinates– Layout backcountry trips on a topographic or park map

• Special equipment needed– Include a description quantity and colors of canoes, tents and tarps

• Special clothing needed– Cold or wet weather

• Leave copies with family, troop, park office and transportation, as necessary

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Patrol Organization for Camping

• Patrol Method

• Duty Roster– Rotate the job of buying food for each campout

– Patrol camp duties include:• Cooking

• Cleaning dishes

– Share the work and work as a team

– Maintain a perpetual roster so that all jobs are rotated and shared

– Balance the load on backpacking trips• Share tents, pots, stoves

• Distribute food, water and equipment

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Summer Clothing & Footwear

• Hat for shade

• Long pants like jungle weight BDUs

• Shorts and T-shirts, loose fitting, synthetics preferred as they dry faster

• Boots or hiking shoes for the trail with two layers of socks– Two layers of socks to prevent blisters

– No cotton socks

• Moccasins or sneakers for camp

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Winter Clothing & Footwear

• Dress in layers – see slide on layering• Outer layer of coat, knit stocking hat, gloves or mittens• Middle, insulating, layer including sweater or heavy shirt• Inner layer including synthetic long underwear• Boots, heavy, waterproof with at two layers of socks

– Inner sock should be a synthetic

• Stay dry. If you stay dry you will be more likely to stay warm

• Change out of clothes worn on hikes or that you’ve worn all day, change before going to bed

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Equipment Care and Storage

• Clothing– When in doubt, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the labels

• Footwear– Dry out boots before storing them in a well ventilated place– Waterproof leather boots with grease, oil, or wax based dressing

• Bedding– Air out your sleeping bag after a trip. Hang outside or indoors or use air setting on

home dryer– Store your sleeping bag loosely stuffed and not tightly rolled to maintain its loft

• Pack– Keep your equipment stored in your pack – add clothes, food, water and you’re

ready to go

• Canteen / Water Bottles– Drain and leave open to dry and air out

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Layering• THE MOST IMPORTANT CONCEPT

– Inner layer – moisture management• Silk, wool, synthetic like polypropylene two piece long underwear

– Middle layer – insulation• Wool, fleece, goose down, synthetics (Thinsulate)

– Outer layer – wind and water protection• Windproof

• Waterproof

– Breathable – avoid non-breathable

– Water resistant

– Nothing tight or restrictive

– Avoid cotton! (socks, t-shirts, jeans)• Cotton holds moisture and you will lose heat because of it

YOU CAN ALWAYS TAKE IT OFF, BUT YOU CANT PUT IT ON IF YOU DON’T HAVE IT

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Packing Your Backpack – Some Tips• Keep your equipment together at home, store it in your pack• Bring only what you will use, but be prepared for the conditions

– Go as lightweight as you possibly can – make it a habit

• Pack all clothing in plastic bags – 1.0 – 1.5 gallon Ziplock bags– Sit on the bags to push all the air out before closing them to save space– Repack dirty clothes in the bag you took the clean clothes out of

• Pack sleeping bag in waterproof covering – garbage bag inside stuff sack

• Place items you will need during the trip on the outside of the pack within easy reach

– First Aid kit– Poncho / rain suit– Knife– Rope – parachute cord– Small flashlight or headlamp– Fire starting equipment– Eating utensils/cup/bowl– Water bottle / canteen

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Packing Your Backpack – More Tips

• Use cargo straps that can be tightened – avoid bungee cords

• Carabineers or clips to attach equipment to the outside of your pack – hats, gloves

• Distribute the load– Tent, poles and stakes – food water and pots

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Tents• Select a tent based on what kind of camping you are

doing and what features are necessary for that kind of camping

• Trail Tarp – Backpacking / fair weather– Versatile, can be used as a shelter or dining fly

– No protection from insects, blowing rain/snow

• A-Frame - Backpacking– Light weight, include doors, walls, floors and bug netting,

waterproof/breathable, exterior poles, limited room

• Dome Tent – Backpacking / “Plop” camping– Features of A-frame but relatively heavier and roomier than A-frame,

stable in weather, moveable, can be pitched without stakes, exterior poles

• Wall Tent – Family camping / Summer camp– Roomiest and heaviest, 2 or more persons, fits cots, interior poles

– Good for summer camp, family camping

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Tents - More

• 3 season and 4 season – 3 season tents are best for most of your camping

– 4 season tents are suited for winter camping and snow• These generally cost more

• Tent Care– Seal the seams as directed for nylon tents

– Always roll your tent toward the front door to let the air out without stressing the tent seams

– Hang your tent up to dry for a day or two after use especially if you camped in the rain. Mildew and funny smells will result if you skip this important step

• Tent Stakes– Nylon

– Metal

– Flukes and deadmen for sand or snow

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Water

• Normal conditions require 2 quarts per day– Clear urine indicates good hydration, dark indicates the opposite

• Don’t drink water that is not potable or from an untested source– Drinking from streams, lakes, springs and other sources without

purification is unnecessarily risky

– Avoid areas with animal activity e.g. pastures, beaver ponds

– Avoid sources downstream of mine runoff

– Go upstream and get water from still, clear, sources

– Use clean ice or snow and allow additional time and fuel for melting it

• Purification, why is it important?– To ensure you can enjoy your trip, prevent serious illness, disease or

worse

– Cysts, parasites, viruses, bacteria, chemical contaminants

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Water Purification Methods

• Filtering – ceramic filters with 1 micron or less absolute pore size– very effective– most expensive – fastest– better taste – can break down

• Chemical – treat with iodine tablets or chlorine– cheaper – slower – bad taste – effective but

• some treatments are not 100% effective against cryptosporidia cysts• Some individuals with thyroid conditions may not use it for long periods

• Boiling – do it for at least a minute at rolling boil, three minutes at altitude

– 100% effective– cheapest– slowest– requires heat source and depletes limited fuel supplies

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Camp Sanitation

• Keep trash picked up and wrap up excess food

• Filter out particles and pack out with trash

• Scatter “gray water” & grease away from camp

• Locate latrines and “cat holes” well away from water sources and camp

• Why? To minimize attraction to animals, prevent disease from contamination, keep smells down and keep your site neat for others

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Packs• General Considerations

– Storage space in cubic inches• 3500cu in. for summer• 4000-4500cu in. for 3-5 day trips• 5000 cu in. for expeditions and cold weather

– Remember to still pack as light as possible– Add a pack cover or use a garbage bag to protect your pack from weather

• External Frame– Advantages: Good for general backpacking, lots of pouches/compartments for easy

access, accommodates bulky shared gear and extra gear for winter, gear can be easily tied on the outside of the frame

– Disadvantages: Not all gear is stored internally so it must be otherwise protected, tying stuff on the outside can unbalance the load

– Features: higher center of gravity, hip belt, adjustable for growth

• Internal Frame– Advantages: OK for general backpacking but better for rock scrambling, skiing,

mountaineering, all gear is stored internally and is protected, weight is held closer to the back

– Disadvantages: Usually more expensive, requires fitting, can be hot in summer, fewer external pouches/compartments, space is more restricted than with an external frame pack

– Features: snug fit to back, low center of gravity

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Sleeping Bags• Style

– Square – self explanatory• Good for cabin camping, summer camp• Larger area around shoulders and feet must be heated by you

– Bag liners – can be used with another bag or by themselves• Good for backpacking in warm weather (50 deg), inexpensive, lightweight• Can augment a sleeping bag for colder temperatures (additional 10-15 degrees)

– Tapered• Mummy – fits head to toe, includes a hood that can be drawn up around your face

– Best for the coldest weather – zero degree range– No wasted space to heat

• Semi-mummy – fits head to toe but doesn’t include a full hood– Good for cold weather – good to the “teens”– No wasted space to heat

• Insulation– Flannel – OK if the weather is warm– Synthetic – warm, durable, capable of keeping you warm when its wet, low

maintenance• Hollofill, Hollofill II, Quallofill

– Goose down – warm, but loses its “loft” when wet and won’t insulate well

• Weight & size– Bag liners, mummy and semi mummy bags are suited for backpacking due to size and

weight– Square bags are good for “plop” camping as they are bulky and weigh more

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Sleeping Bag Care

• Know what the manufacturer recommends

• Carry it in a waterproof bag, a garbage bag inside a stuff sack will do

• Stuff or carrying bag should be heavy enough to resist tears from brush on the trail – canvas or nylon/denier

• Don’t keep it rolled up longer than necessary, it will lose its loft reducing the effectiveness of its insulation

• Synthetic and down bags can be dry cleaned, see makers label

• All bags can be aired in your home dryer on “air” setting

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Equipment Checklist

• Many sources available– Boy Scout Handbook Chapter 8 pages 203-207

– Boy Scout Handbook Chapter 9 pages 224-227

– Camping Merit Badge Book

– Troop 179 Website – Scouting Skills section

– Camping equipment stores/websites

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Equipment ChecklistAbsolutely Necessary Items

•Backpack

•Sleeping bag – appropriate to the season

•Sleeping pad (closed cell) or air mattress

•Tent – appropriate to the season

•Pack cover

•Stove and fuel – a shared item

•Cooking pot(s) – shared item

•Plastic bowl, cup and spoon

•Water bottle

•Waterproof matches in waterproof case

•Toilet paper or packet of kleenex

•Small personal first aid kit

•Food – shared item

•Trash bag(s) – for trash and storing boots in tent

•30 ft of parachute cord

•Additional clothing – appropriate to the season

Underwear

Pants

Shirt(s)

Hiking socks – outer layer

Liner socks – inner layer

Hat – for shade or warmth

Coat or jacket – appropriate to the season

Rain gear – jacket & pants or poncho

Waterproof boots

Gloves or mittens – appropriate to the season

Bandana(s)

•Small closed-cell foam sitting pad

•Personal hygiene items – toothbrush, tooth paste, deodorant, soap packaged for the “bear bag” as necessary

•Flashlight with extra bulb and batteries

•Pocket knife – Boy Scout knife

•Nylon sack for “smellables” – the “bear bag”Thanks to Tom Thomas

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Equipment Recommended Items – Cold Weather

Gaiters

Fleece pants

Pair of light gloves or mittens – mittens are recommended

Iodine water purification tablets

Balaclava

Sunglasses

Bandannas

Extra water bottle

Extra pair of eyeglasses, if needed

Repair kit for stove

Chemical heat packs

Trekking poles

Extra trash bag to store boots inside tent

Chemical (air activated) hand warmers

Thanks to Tom Thomas

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Backpacking Food & Menus

• Foods that are lightweight, nutritious, don’t require refrigeration, and minimize trash that must be packed out

– Grocery Store Items• Dry mixes including noodles, rice, side dishes, pancake mix that require only adding water

• Small canned products including potted meat, tuna, chicken

• Dried fruit – especially useful when fresh vegetables aren’t practical

• Instant foods that require only cold or boiling water: oatmeal, instant pudding

– Sporting Goods / Camping Store Items• Dehydrated foods including group meals, entrees, side dishes snacks

• Preparation requires boiling water to frying and steaming

• Foods that don’t require many/no utensils or pots– Minimizes clean up, equipment weight

– Minimizes packaging and garbage – favor burnable or packable packaging• No cans or bottles

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Food Storage

• Weather– Keep foods the require refrigeration at home cool while camping

• Dairy products, meats, eggs, cheese

• Animals– Keep foods in hard containers such as coolers, chuck box, food box or the

car – but remember about refrigeration– Use a “bear bag” when in the backcountry

• All food and “smellables” go in at night• Suspend on rope between two trees• Soak the bear bag in Lysol concentrate and let dry – the taste discourages even the most

persistent squirrel

– Don’t leave food around your campsite or in tents

• Contamination– Use multiple layers of plastic bags– Store / carry potential contaminants like stove fuel and soap separately

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Gas & Liquid Fuel Stove Safety

• Chapter 10 of Boy Scout Handbook• Use, refuel and store stoves under supervision

– Refuel at a safe distance from the camp

• Operate and maintain per manufacturers instructions– Check stoves periodically and before leaving on a trip

• Store fuel per manufacturers instructions– Stove fuel away from lit stoves and the camp– Pack out empty containers, do not burn them

• Let stoves cool before handling or storing• Do not use stoves in enclosed spaces – tents, cabins

– Flames and fumes

• Use on level surfaces, do not overload with heavy pots• Never leave a lit stove unattended• Don’t burn leaves, twigs ect on the stove

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Choosing a Backpacking Stove• Consider what your needs are

– How many people will you cook for?– What kind of temperatures will you be cooking in?

• Winter camping will require more heat

– How complex will your meals be?• Do the recipes or instructions call for frying, baking, steaming and include several steps?• Are we planning muti-course meals – entrée, side dishes, dessert?• Do the recipes or instructions call for boiling water and letting the food sit?

• Some characteristics of backpacking stoves:– Light weight– Can be disconnected from fuel supply for storage – before or after fuel bottle is

empty?– Foldable or collapsible to save space– Fit inside cookware– Fuel types – compressed gas, liquid fuel, multi-fuel– Water boiled per pint of fuel – how efficient is the stove?– Set up time and time to light– Ability to level– Adjustments – can the flame be adjusted or does it run “wide open” only– Ability to repair in the field– Burn time on maximum flame

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Backpacking Stoves - ComparisonStove Type Advantages

Stove & Fuel

Disadvantages

Stove & Fuel

Compressed Gas Clean burning, easy to light, adjustable, no priming, burns hot immediately, spill-proof

Poor performance in cold weather, expensive fuel, fuel bottles don’t recycle

Kerosene Inexpensive, fuel availability, high heat output, adjustable

Messy, deposits on stove, priming required,

White gas / Coleman fuel Inexpensive, easy to light, adjustable, spills evaporate

Volatile, priming required, fuel availability

Denatured alcohol Low volatility, fewer moving parts

Low heat output, cooking takes longer, no adjustment

Unleaded gas Very inexpensive, fuel availability, adjustable

Extremely volatile, burns dirty, priming required

Multi-fuel Ability to burn many fuels, Expensive stove, difficult to maintain

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Additional Sources of Information

• Boy Scout Handbook Chapters 8, 9, 10

• Boy Scout Fieldbook

• Camping Merit Badge Pamphlet

• Troop 179 website– Scouting Skills, Articles, “Uncle Bart”

• REI – www.REI.com– Learning and Sharing section

– Select “Camping and Hiking”

Checklists, equipment comparisons

• www.HikerWriter.com

• Backpacker Magazine