So you’ve joined Boy Scouts filled out all the paper work and now comes the fun part, camping! Don’t be intimidated; going camping is simple, mostly cheap and a lot of fun. Here is a basic guide for first timers scouts and parents with everything you need to know.
When you first start out camping you will tend to buy cheaper gear as you will want to upgrade it later as you become more experienced. Or the more likely case for your scout, outgrow it. Understand you might not want to go with the elite gear right out of the gate but, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look at it, especially during sale times. For your essential items, boots, backpack, rain gear, etc try and buy a quality name brand manufactured with good materials and reviews. The extra money at time of purchase could save you a lot more down the road and make your first camping trip much more enjoyable. But in saying that, don’t go crazy and spend a lot of money on all sorts of equipment in the beginning.
First, you have to find out if you love camping and want to continue otherwise you have a garage full of expensive unused items.
It is tempting to buy all the latest little camping gadgets or new kitchenware designed for outdoor living, but it can be gear you can do without in the beginning or may never use. There is a lot of gear that isn’t mandatory for early camping trips and is tailored more towards high adventure excursions.
Second, it will take some time to gain experience with your gear and work out what you need and don’t need and what works best in different outdoor environments. After attending several outings you will have first hand experience of what gear you want and have had the opportunity to talk with others in the troop to see what they recommend and pack. A good rule of thumb after making your initial purchases is to upgrade or buy a new item once a month. This keeps your budget on track by allowing you to gain more experience in the outdoors while balancing a steady stream of cool new gadgets
Below are some general guides for packing. Adjust accordingly depending on the preference of your internal thermostat.
Scout Essentials
Boy’s Life Gear Buying Guide
Schoellkopf Summer Camp
Philmont Summer Trek
Birchbark Gear List
Summer Camping
Winter Camping