CUBS
Tracks Publishing
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS
Tyler Armstrong Record setting young Mountaineer Tyler Armstrong of Orange County, California, set the World Record on December 24, 2013 at the age of 9, as the youngest person ever to climb Mt. Aconcagua (22,841 feet). Mt. Aconcagua is the highest mountain in South America, and the highest mountain in the Western and Southern Hemispheres. Tyler also has the record for the youngest person to climb Mt. Whitney (14,505 ft) in a single day (age 7), and the second youngest to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,341 ft) (age 8). In addition to these more notable climbs, Tyler has successfully climbed numerous 10,000+ foot mountains. Tyler takes mountain climbing so seriously that he works out 2 times a day and has a personal trainer. He has taken mountaineering classes and is proficient in ropes, ice axes, and cramp-ons. In short, despite his age, he is an experienced mountain climber. Tyler now wants to break 4 more World Records over the next few years as he completes the Seven Summits. His goal is to set the records as the youngest person to climb Mt. McKinley, Mt. Vinson, Mt. Everest, and complete all Seven Summits.
Tracks Publishing
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Tyler climbs mountains for the love of it, but also to raise awareness for charity. Tyler raises awareness and funds research to find a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Duchenne is a devastating muscle disease that afflicts 300,000 boys worldwide. Three of Tyler's friends in Orange County have Duchenne and Tyler wants to help find a cure for his friends. Tyler climbs for the Duchenne boys who can’t. Boys are usually diagnosed with Duchenne by the age of 5, in a wheelchair by 12 and most don’t survive their mid-20s. Tyler's story has been covered numerous times in the media, nationally, locally and internationally. Tyler has given interviews on television, radio, newspaper, magazines, and the internet. Tyler is even a published author. He provides presentations on mountain climbing and inspiring children and adults to achieve their own goals. For more information on Tyler, please visit: www.topwithtyler.com or www.facebook.com/TopWithTyler or www.youtube.com/user/TopWithTyler Thank you for your support. Tyler
I would like to take this opportunity of thanking Tyler and his father Kevin for taking the time to read through this booklet and add their comments to it. It is important that we recognise and listen to our youth and empower them to achieve their dreams and aspirations. This is even more important when attached to these dreams are the hopes and aspirations of those young men with Duchenne. who I am positive would have no greater desire then to be walking along side Tyler as he conquers these mountains. Help support Tyler by liking his Facebook page or subscribing to his You Tube Channel, both of which you will find links to at the bottom of Tylers background information above. I totally support Tyler in all his ventures and hope through a little positive action , the scouting community worldwide can help Tyler reach his goals and those who suffer from Duchenne to achieve their dreams through him and one day find a cure for this disease. You’ll find Tyler’s thoughts and comments within “ ” and with the initials TA
Tracks Publishing
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Hi, my name’s Paul, I’ve been the Cub Section Leader at Chartwell Cub Pack for the last 7 years, although there are days when it feels so much longer and others when I wonder where the time has gone. I’ve written this guide for Parents and Cubs, to try and help you through your first Cub Camp, whether it’s a sleepover, a static camp or a light weight camp following a short hike. When a camp is organised by your Group or Pack, Parents are usually given a list of things that that your son or daughter needs for the camp, but there is very little guidance about what to actually get, where to buy it from etc and so naturally as parents you will possibly do a couple of things:1. You dig around at home and see what you actually have that’s on the list. 2. What’s not on the list, you either look at purchasing or find a compromise, something that’s close enough and hoping it will be ok. 3. You purchase everything, making sure it will be big enough for them to grow into for the next few years, but are still not sure what to get. 4. You go, wow haven’t got any of that gear, or the spare cash to purchase it, so your child just doesn’t go on camp. 5. Your not sure what too buy, then it gets to late and you pull out. So what I’ve done here, is to provide some guidance with regards to what happens on a Cub camp, what’s the best sort of clothing for the kids is to wear during the camp, the right direction to look with regard to obtaining equipment, ie the reasons why some things are better than others and purchases to avoid etc. Please remember, the manufacturers in this booklet are not the only ones out there, shop around, check the sales, plan ahead and you will save yourselves a considerable amount of money. Shopping off season is the best way. If you don’t have something, ask the Group or other parents for help, we have quite allot of gear we can lend, and Cubs are growing out of clothing all the time, footwear is a classic example, long before it has worn out, so don’t be proud ask around. You can save yourself a small fortune and provide the right equipment for your childen and at very little cost. You’ll note that there are some chapters marked with a (P) these have been written specifically for Parents, whilst some are maked (P & C) Parents and Cubs the remainder have been written to help Cubs, but read on, there’s useful information for you there as well.
Tracks Publishing
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS
What is Camp Craft for a Cub? Well it is the knowledge that you need as a Cub to plan, prepare, partake in and enjoy camping in safe and fun way. Sounds so simple doesn’t it? But for many this can be a daunting and challenging time as a Cub and for them, if it is not an enjoyable experience, then they will not wish to repeat it again. So how do we ensure we have a good time on camp, well most of what we need to do, actually happens well before we even take one foot out of the door to leave for the camp. Put very simply, we plan and prepare!
1.
Planning ahead for the camp
2.
What you need to know
3.
Types of Camps
4.
Clothing making the right choices
5.
Bedding what to buy or take
6.
Personal and General Hygiene
7.
Tents, Types and Uses
8.
Pitching a Tent
9.
Bags and Stuff
10.
Checking the weather
11.
What are we drinking
12.
Personal Equipment : What you need
13.
Food and Meal Times
14.
Camp Traditions and Ceremonies
15.
The Pack Up and Tidy away Additional Practical Advice
Tracks Publishing
1
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS
At the beginning or preferable just before the start of a term, you should have been supplied with a program of the planned activities, some of these may be for large scale camps a long way in the future, but you need to make sure your prepared for what’s coming up. To properly plan for yourself, try to find out as much as you can about the proposed camps, is it lightweight or static, will we have to tramp to the location of the camp site, or can we get there by car, what time of the year is it and how long will we be camping for. Then take a look at what you have and may need to acquire before the date of departure. You will be supplied with a kit list, have a good read through it and check off what you do have, what may need to be replaced because it is broken, damaged or because you simply have grown out of it? When you have your list, make sure your parents know what you need as soon as possible, some things can be quite expensive and if your parents haven’t had time to plan for it they may find it difficult to obtain. Also if you don’t have something you’ll be amazed how many of your friends may have things hidden away that you could borrow, but remember if someone lends you something, look after it. Important: Check with your parents if they have plans for you or them that may clash with the upcoming camp, sometimes it may mean that you will not be able to attend, but letting the leaders know a long time in advance what your plans are will make their job that much easier. Alternatively, you may find that a friend of your parents who they trust or another Cub’s parents may be able to get you there and safely home, but you need to plan ahead and make sure everyone including the leaders are aware who you are traveling with. “Always make sure someone knows where you are going and when you will
return, include a route and emergency procedure to follow if you are overdue”
Tracks Publishing
2
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS
To plan ahead you need to know some basic information:
When is the camp?
Where is the camp?
How long is it for?
What sort of camp is it?
What equipment do I need?
How much is it going to cost?
When is the Camp? Most Cub camps are planned to take place during the spring, summer and autumn terms, this means that in most cases it will occur during the warmest seasons of the year. You should be ideally given 4-6 weeks advance notice. Make sure you use this time to prepare as much as possible. Timings are also important to know, when you have to be at certain locations, when you have to leave and when you are due to return even at the earliest stages of their planning.
Where is the Camp? Cub’s tend to do very little of what is known as green field camping, this is because we have to have an alternative building for you to sleep in if the weather becomes so inclement that in the view of the leaders responsible for the camp you should not be sleeping outside. Therefore, most if not all camps, take place at Scouting New Zealand Camp Sites, or other approved sites where Cubs can sleep out overnight and contain facilities, such as showers, toilets, bunkrooms and kitchens etc.
How long is the Camp for? Knowing how long the camp’s for will allow you to decide how much clothing, food, medicine etc you will need. This, with the equipment list you have been supplied, should mean that you will be able to make good decisions. Having too much gear can weigh you down on a light weight camp, having to little may mean that you will have to miss out. Getting it right only comes with practice.
Tracks Publishing
3
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS
The majority of the camps you will encounter as a Cub will be of three types:
Sleepovers at a Scout Hall
Static Standing Camps
Lightweight Camps
Sleepovers
are used to get you prepared for sleeping away from home,
sometimes for the first time, you will normally be sleeping on camp beds or air mattresses, cooking will be done in the kitchen by the leaders and most of the activities will take place in and around the hall.
Static Camps
are large scale camps utilising large family tents or Marquees,
they normally take place at established camp sites and run for a minimum of two nights, this is because of the length of time it takes prepare them. You can usually get 6 Cubs to into a tent on camp beds/stretchers and therefore it’s a nice way to take that next step in camping. These camps are preferably set up by the leaders, prior to you arriving. Following your arrival you are allocated to a tent, this is where you’ll be sleeping for the duration of your stay.
Lightweight
camping is normally reserved for the more experienced Cubs,
you’ll be using two or three person hike tents and you will be sleeping on camping mats rather than camp beds. If you’re lucky, you may even have to walk in with the tent and all your gear in an overnight pack. You will need to know how to set these tents up, how to take them down and also how to clean them afterwards.
What Equipment will I Need?
A list of equipment you’ll need to take on
any camp will be given to you by the Leaders and what it consists of will be determined by the type of camp you’re on, the duration and any activities that may be planned during that camp.
Tracks Publishing
4
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS It is important that you only bring what’s on the list that’s been provided for you, if you are packing in for camp, then weight is paramount and too much weight will make it difficult for you to hike in and out of your camping location. I’ll be getting into much more detail with regard to equipment in the later sections.
How much is it going to Cost? Sometimes it is the very cost of a camp that will determine if you will be attending or not and this is normally driven by a few things:
The type of camp
It’s duration
Planned Activities
How far away it is from the scout hall
Hire of equipment
Hire of facilities
Food and materials for activities
These are the factors which determine the cost of the camp to your parents and to you as a Cub. Please understand that every effort is made to keep the costs down, however, the more activities you have, the more expensive it becomes etc etc. The average cost is about $20.00 a night away from home, you’ll be notified exactly how much it will be in the Camp information and it’s also shown on the parental consent and gear notice. So bear that in mind when you’re thinking about taking part in a camp.
You’d think this would be a no brainer, however, very often Cubs will turn up to a camp in totally inappropriate clothing for the conditions and the type of activities they will be taking part in. What decides what you should be wearing?
Weather conditions and time of year
Activities as laid down in the camp information.
Duration
Personal Preference
As a general rule of thumb, try to choose man made, fast drying materials, even for the summer months, cottons should be avoided where possible as they take a long time to dry and absorb and retain moisture (sweat) from your body.
Tracks Publishing
5
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Layers are the key here, from your underwear to your top layer, thin manmade fabrics in layers have better thermal efficiency then a single heavy layer, also if your too hot, you can always take a layer off, or if too cold add another, here’s a few pictures and explanations to help you out.
Base layer (Underwear) Well here’s what is called a mid-compression base layer, thermal layers and materials have changed to make them a lot more comfortable to wear, a lot more flexible with the addition of materials such as lycra. The majority are now seamless or have flat seams, this means that they create less point pressure on the skin preventing sores and abrasions due to friction or loading.
The more flash they are, like the one to the left, the more they are going to cost. Ignoring the very nice design, the materials used to create these garments affect price as well.
I would advise not to wear anything else under these, boxers and briefs may well bunch and create sores in places that can be difficult to manage and This is a full long, but short versions can be worn and are sometimes are more suitable. Materials that cubs find uncomfortable normally have a significant amount of wool in them like Merino, the material you choose must be one that you as a Cub feel happy in, these need to be worn, not stashed in the bottom of your bag.
“Warmth is key - Do not sweat or get clothes wet. If so change out. Prevent sweating by using layers and knowing when to add or remove layers. When 6 hiking, start with less than you think you will need because after you move you will get warmer.”
Tracks Publishing
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Mid Layer (Jumper/Fleeces and Pants) The Mid layer is unsurprisingly the next layer on top of the base layer and a conventional take on this is a fleece top of jacket like the one pictured here, this like the base layer is fast drying, light weight and in many cases now has elastin built in to improve flexibility and ease of movement for the wearer. Careful choices should be made with regard to your pants/trousers, again choose light weight, fast drying trousers or shorts; suitable for the activities which have been planned for you. They should not be too tight and definitely not made of cotton, many people and youngsters wear trousers that convert into shorts by simply unzipping the legs. These are a great idea and for a young man or girl who is growing, as the shorts can be use long after they have grown out of the legs. See examples below.
Tracks Publishing
7
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Socks and Shoes Now this is one of the hardest things to deal with for parents, purchasing good walking shoes for a young person is a big financial commitment. especially when the person they are buying them for (you) may well only use them for 1 or 2 camps before they have grown out of them. However, manufacturers are cottoning onto this and are producing cheaper, lightweight walking shoes for children. It is really important that whatever shoes your parents buy for you, that you are present when they make the purchase. Also make sure that you have a pair of walking socks with you, so that when you try them on, they will fit and feel the same as when you put them on to go on a tramp or hike. The pair above are high/mid boots to provide extra support to the ankle, the pair to the left are low shoes. Parents tend to buy these as their children can use them for other activities, or wear them around the town. Whatever the choice is you make, ensure that you wear them in before you go on camp; I’ve seen some really nasty blisters being brought about by brand new boots or shoes on a hike. A good pair of socks are a real advantage, merino socks with elastin built in offer flexibility and stay warm even when they are wet, however always carry a spare pair of socks that you can change into, as prolonged damp feet can lead to trench foot and other foot conditions. Good socks aren’t cheap, but are well worth the investment, avoid cottons again, as these can take a long time to dry even under ideal conditions.
“Heavy boots for cold weather and lightweight for warm weather, socks –two layers (thin liners of silk or pol), second layer wool “
Tracks Publishing
8
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Top Layer Raincoats and jackets The top layer is normally used during the winter, however, they should always be carried in an easily accessible place in your day pack or overnight pack, just in case the weather changes. Try to choose waterproof but breathable materials, so that as you get warm, the moisture generated by your body as it heats up, has a chance to escape through the fabric, rather like a one way door. The jacket should be long enough to cover your backside, this should stop rain water running off the back of jacket straight down the back of your trousers. There are allot of manufacturers out there for you to choose from, but again ask around, you’ll be amazed how many of these can be found sitting in cupboards after the owners have long since grown out of them. Another option of course are 2 in 1 jackets or even 3 in 1, these have removable fleece liners, so they can be still used in the summer, these are a really good option due to their multi use and they just unzip to make two useable jackets. I haven’t seen so many here in New Zealand but the internet now makes these available through overseas suppliers.
Tracks Publishing
9
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Caps and Beanies A hat in the winter really makes a difference to the level of comfort we experience on camp or on a hike, we lose a surprising amount of heat through our head and loosing body heat can lead to hypothermia. Let have a look at this thermal image of a boys head.
You can see in the above image how even the thickest layer of hair is actually reducing the body heat radiated from the head, so with a little additional insulation we can see that we can retain allot more warmth in our bodies.
Peaked caps are also often worn during the day to reduce glare, but should not be worn instead of this if the weather remains very cold.
Tracks Publishing
10
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS In the summer heat is our enemy, but we still have to be prepared for the worse kind of weather as well. Layers are again the key, however, if it’s not raining we can normally dispense with the top layer, but still have it at hand if needed.
Underwear Ok as crazy as it sounds, there are good boxers and bad ones, The loose type to the right offer little or no support to your personal items, they also have the tendency when they get damp to bunch and create sores between your legs. Now this isn’t going to kill you, but if you’re on a long hike, it could ruin the trip for you and make what should be an enjoyable experience into one you’d rather forget. Again materials are important, go for manmade fibres that can wick sweat away quickly or dry if they get wet, choose carefully and also remember to change them on a regular basis. Dirty or damp underclothing can be uncomfortable and smelly at best, respect yourself and respect others sense of smell. Again as with the winter light compression base layer shorts and tops can be worn, these offer superior support and do not tend to bunch as much when they get damp. They are fast wicking and dry really well. Again I would look to buy these off shore where they are half the price of the New Zealand companies. The top is optional but if you have it with you can always take it off or put it on if you get to hot or too cold, if you don’t you won’t be able to do either.
Tracks Publishing
11
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Middle Layer – Shorts, Pants and Shirts The middle layer in summer is the one you’ll be standing in; this need to be made from lightweight, fast wicking, and breathable materials. In summer the things we have to watch are heat and UV from the sun, so we need to protect ourselves, but try and stay cool at the same time. Man-made materials are great for this and modern garments especially those specifically designed for outside summer use come with a UV rating, in short they should be loose fitting, comfortable and breathable. Children are not very heat efficient and as such, do not shed or release body heat that well. The body temperature of a young child is also a little higher than an adult, but they don’t have the same body surface area to shed that heat from. This can lead to several dangerous conditions, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Watch for the points in the day where the UV is at its worse and take appropriate precautions. See chart above for guidance if you’re unsure. Now we’ve seen these shorts before and these highlight one of the advantages of trousers that you can unzip the legs from; they really do tick all the boxes. You can of course just zip the legs back on if the mosquitos are too friendly, or the temperature drops as the day wears on. Just remember to put them into your bag that you’re carrying. The waist on these is elasticated; this is also an advantage as it allows the wearer to breathe a little more freely, allowing the heart to work more efficiently whilst it tries to keep the body cool. Shirts range from tee-shirts to polo’s, football tops to rash vests, I’ve seen them all on Cubs. If they’re carrying a pack, make sure the shirts don’t cause chaffing on the shoulders, some synthetics with a lot of nylon are quite abrasive and under load can lead to sore spots.
Tracks Publishing
12
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS On the right is a good example of a shirt designed for carrying a pack, there are no seams on the tops of the shoulders and the materials used are fast wicking and breathable, the manufacturer claims that it will dry 4 times faster than cotton. The V neck is also better than a crew neck, mainly because it keeps the airway free and makes it easier for the wearer to breathe when his or her body is working under load or stress.
Here’s another shirt, again fast wicking materials and this one comes with a UPF 40 rating for UV. Unlike the shirt above this is a crew neck, but has been cut generously to allow the wearer to breathe freely. The red dots are holes stitched in to the shirt to increase breathability, not sure how effective they are though? This has a flat stitched seam to prevent the chaffing mentioned previously, but these shirts are not cheap.
I haven’t mentioned thermal tops, however, you’ll often find Cubs wearing rash vests under their shirts, on a mild day this isn’t a problem, but they can act as a very good insulator as well as sun protection, watch these Cubs for overheating, if they start getting flushed, it may be a good idea to tell them to drop a layer.
Tracks Publishing
13
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Top Layers, Caps and Hats: Now the top layers are covered on the winter pages and are worn as and when required as the conditions dictate, however, hats are a must in New Zealand and in most schools are compulsory. A good wide brimmed hat like this one are probably one of the best choices to make for a Cub during the summer, if he or she is going to be in the sun for extended periods of time. Remember, it may not be their personal choice but these hats protect the ears, nose, back of the neck and if their not to tight and with good ventilation, normally in the form of mesh, allow the heat to get away, keeping the wearer cooler.
Baseball caps are the most common sort of cap you’ll find on a Cubs head during the summer like this one on the right, unfortunately it leaves the neck and ears exposed and unless these are covered with appropriate sun screen can lead to some quite nasty sunburn and problems later in life. You can see from these pictures that these two Cubs are feeling the heat and can also see how much extra shade and protection the wide brim hat is providing, when compared to the baseball type cap. Materials are important again, some offer excellent UV protection and are breathable, others are heavier and take forever to dry when they get wet. Sometimes this can provide a welcome relief for the wearer on a hot day, after it’s been dipped in a stream and replaced on their head. Whilst Chartwell has a Cub Cap, it is not one I recommend to wear on camp, although every now and then one does. These cubs were having a good time honest, However, Temps were in the 30’s & it shows!!
Tracks Publishing
14
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Protective Eyewear, Sun glasses: I’ve been chatting to Tyler Armstrong about this booklet and one of the things both Tyler and his father brought up was Sun glasses or suitable eye protection for the Cubs, something that had never actually crossed my mind. However, I’ve spent a little time reading up on this subject and in my opinion just as Tyler and his father suggested, they appear to me less now as a fashion item but more so now as a necessity, especially here in New Zealand where UV levels are extremely high. “Children under 10 are at high risk of skin and eye damage from UVR. The skin on their eyelids and around their eyes is more delicate and vulnerable than adult skin. Until the age of 10, the lens of a child’s eye is clear, allowing greater solar penetration and thus greater UVR induce ocular changes. As the children get older this lens starts to get opaque providing better protection. UVR exposure causes 90% of skin cancers; in addition, retinal exposure to UVR is associated with cataracts and macular degeneration, both causes of vision impairment. UVR damage builds over time, so the sooner you start protecting your children’s eyes from the sun, the lower the risk will be of ever developing future eye problems” (Skin Cancer Foundation) So the basic rules are:
Find glasses that block both 99-100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Look for large wrap around glasses, (to cover maximum skin area). Choose impact resistant, scratch proof lenses. Choose glasses with your children, they are far more likely to wear them if they chose them. Make sure they fit well, Cubs are very active, sports style glasses are good in this respect and often come with different lenses, for UV and HD in poor light.
Tracks Publishing
15
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS There are many things that dictate what sort of bedding a Cub will need to take with them on camp, these are driven by the following factors:
The type of camp, light weight or static
The camps duration
The time of year and prevailing weather conditions.
If it’s a sleepover at the Scout hall.
What they are sleeping in and where it is.
Ok let’s look at the most basic thing, but it’s the very thing that may well dictate if your son/daughter will feel like going camping again in the future.
The Sleeping Bag:
Now this is where a lot of people make a mistake, the size
of the bag. Giving a Cub a full size adult sleeping bag creates a few issues; the first is how much extra space there is around the Cubs body when they are lying in it. Because of the size of a child’s body compared to that of an adult is so different, this extra volume of space around the Cub creates air pockets and reduces the efficiency and thermal properties of the bag. Here’s a couple of Kea’s on a sleepover at the hall, not Cubs but you can see the point here, unless the boy on the left is another couple of feet longer than he appears to be, he will get lost in this sleeping bag and the same can be said for the boy on the right of the picture. Whilst these boys are younger than Cubs you can see the issue, they would have probably woken up cold if this had been a winter sleepover. Fortunately it was held during the summer, so they were fine. My recommendation would be to buy your Cub a youth sized bag, this will last them until they are 12-13 years of age and even for a good three season bag, they can be relatively cheap, far cheaper than an adult bag.
Tracks Publishing
16
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Now over the last few years, the manufacturers of sleeping Bags are being innovative and this is one of the newer products on the market.
This is a Selk Bag and yes it is what it looks like, it’s a sleeping bag suit, which allows the Cubs to move around in the night if they have to, me I’d prefer to find the cubs where we left them, and I can see 30 Cubs in these having a massive bundle session and not getting a lot of sleep. You also have to be aware of the rating of allot of these innovative bags, whilst they look cool, they don’t have the comfort rating that allot of other bags, in some cases half the cost of these have so be warned.
Rating of Sleeping Bags: As well as the size of the bag being important, the next thing you have to look at is the rating, now Cubs don’t normally winter camp, but scouts often do so bare this in mind when you make your selection. The lower the rating the cheaper the bag tends to be, a good investment now will make the camping experience for your child a far more memorable and enjoyable experience. Sleeping bags are commonly rated by seasons:
1 Season which is indoor/summer
2 Season Summer/Autumn
3 Season Autumn/Winter
The Technical Stuff:
The temperature information and labelling has
information that will show four test results – upper limit, comfort, comfort lower limit and extreme.
“Upper limit” - This is the highest temperature at which an average male user should experience a comfortable night’s sleep.
Tracks Publishing
17
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS ‘Comfort’
- This is the temperature at which an average female user should
experience a comfortable night’s sleep. On average women sleep colder than men, so this rating is some degrees above the ‘comfort lower limit’ for a man.
‘Comfort lower limit’
- This is the lowest temperature at which an average
male user should experience a comfortable night’s sleep whilst lying in a curled up body position. Under the previous tests this would have been known as the ‘comfort temperature’.
‘Extreme’
- This is a survival rating where the user is likely to suffer health damage such as Hypothermia. It should be treated with the utmost caution and not be relied on for general use.
Compactness, Fill and Weight:
Ok
with the temperature ratings of the sleeping bags covered briefly, we now have a couple of other things to consider. The first is what the filling is, ie feather down, hollofil etc, it’s weight and also compactness.
The materials used in a bag drastically affect a couple of important things apart from its temperature rating, these are:
Weight
Breathability (Shell)
Bulk when packed
Now you can guarantee that the better the fill and shell is, the more the bag will cost you, but there’s a few things we have to understand about the properties of the fill used in sleeping bags. Natural Down: Feathers have great loft, are light, compressible but also very hard to get dry if the Cub’s bag gets wet for whatever reason, they’re also difficult to clean.
Tracks Publishing
18
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Synthetic: All the same properties of down bags, but can dry quicker and be washed easier. Dependent on material used can be easily compacted. Ok, why are weight and bulk so important? Well the simple answer is, the bigger the bag the more space it will take up in a pack, the heavier it is, the less other kit your Cub may be able to carry, Cubs and Scouts have very strict weight restrictions with regard to what they can or should be carrying in their packs. If you can’t really stretch financially to the ideal bag, but you have a nice compact one, you can significantly raise the rating by getting your Cub to use a silk liner with it, this will not only keep your Cub warmer but also the inside of the bag a lot cleaner. So the general rule of thumb for sleeping bags is: small and compact, with a good rating minimum -5 Degrees C, from manmade materials and the right size for the Cub, ie a youth bag.
Stretchers/Cots and Camping Matts:
Stretchers and Cots are usually
used on standing camps or long term camps like summer camp for Cubs and Jamboree for Scouts.
If your going to buy a stretcher, this is the type I’d recommend, also shop around, there are allot of manufacturers out there, however, be warned, some manufacturers use paper thin aluminium in the legs and strutts, I’ve seen these break so many times when cubs and scouts are putting them away or up it’s gone beyond a joke.
Tracks Publishing
19
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS
These things, called a Roman Stretcher, I’d avoid like the plague, Cub’s have a real issue putting these up and they tend to fall apart in the middle of the night. They are however significantly cheaper than the stretcher mentioned previously, but again look around, there are some manufacturers using very poor materials out there. Now the first stretcher (recommended) has the advantage of not only being off the ground, but by far enough to allow you to get all your kit underneath it, this reduces the Cubs physical footprint in the tent and keeps all his/her gear in one place. Bear in mind that because both of these types of stretchers are off the ground they allow the cold air to circulate beneath the occupant, so make sure you have a blanket or roll matt to put beneath the Cub’s sleeping bag, they will stay far warmer. Both of these stretchers fold down fairly compactly, however, you would not take them on a light weight camp, or where space for sleeping is restricted. This will be when you’ll need either a self-inflating roll matt or a good old fashioned roll mat. Ok what’s the difference…well put simply, price, compatibility and weight. The Thermarest self-inflating mat to the left here is a great camping mat, but also carries a hefty price tag. They basically self-inflate, saving a lot of puffing and blowing. The thicker the mat the heavier and bulkier they are. I personally use a very thin air mattress that I inflate with the bag it comes in, the mattress is full of down and hence provides great insulation and warmth, light compact buts as you’d expect, also comes at a price.
Tracks Publishing
20
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS This inflatable mat to the left is a DownMat 9, by Exped. The pump is now built in as you can see, which makes the mat even more compact, but again a little pricy. Well here it is the most common camping mat your find with Cubs, the good old fashioned foam roll matt, these are light, compact..ish and very cheap compared to the two above. Avoid the ones with the straps attached these always come off, most come with two elastic bands to keep them rolled, I’d advise throwing an extra couple of bands in your Cubs pack as they will invariably loose one of them on camp, I’ve got quite a collection now. So the choice between, camp bed/stretcher or roll mat, really depends on the type of camp you’re going on. For a static camp or sleepover you will probably be able to use a stretcher, for light weight camping or where space is restricted and the Cubs have to walk in with their gear, then a roll mat would be the correct choice. Prices of these options vary, depending on warmth offered (thermal efficiency) materials, lightness (weight) and compatibility. Remember a good night’s sleep will result in happy campers who will want to go camping again. If you don’t have any of these, or can’t afford them, ask around, you’ll be amazed how many of these are sitting in garages unused.
Pillows:
Pillows are great on any camp and with modern day materials they
don’t have to take up too much room. They come in inflatable, self-inflating and high compaction low weight models. If you’re in the hall a pillow from home will do, but in a tent, they can suck up moisture like a sponge, making them feel cold and damp. So think again man made, here’s a few options.
Inflatable
Self-Inflating
Highly compactable, low weight
Tracks Publishing
21
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS
All of those pictured above will do exactly what we need them to do, they are compact, light and provide that little extra comfort that a rolled up sweater can never provide. So in conclusion, think about the following when determining what bedding you need to take or provide for your cub:
What time of year is it that they will be camping in and what are the ambient temperatures for that area during the night?
Duration, how long will they be camping for.
Where will they be sleeping, in a large tent, light weight tent, Bivy (Probably not in Cubs cases) or a hall?
How are they going to get there, walking with a pack, being dropped off in a car or van, how will they get back.
You really need to consider all of the above and depending on the variety of camps that your Cub Pack provides, you may end up with quite a bit of kit. You will never go wrong buying good quality gear for your child because if it’s looked after it can always be sold on when they’ve grown out of it to another young camper or indeed used by a younger brother or sister.
Now this is a subject that is always hard to deal with for leaders and indeed parents looking after other people’s children on a camp, ie you Cubs, but it may be easier to address in a booklet like this then in a field somewhere. Cub leaders are forever being told after they have returned from a camp that “Billy” came back with all his changes of underwear in exactly the same location in his pack that he went to camp with, his soap was still wrapped, his toothpaste unopened and his flannel was dryer than the Sahara Desert. Now that may raise a smile, but as Cubs you should be of an age where you can look after yourselves without being told. If you are not keeping yourself clean on your own, then it needs to be built into the routine on camp to ensure you do wash, brush your teeth and change your clothing. If you get the habits right now,
Tracks Publishing
22
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS when you get to scouts, things will be so much easier for you to deal with if you know the basics of how to look after yourself. Ok here are some of the problems I have come across with you Cubs and I’ve broken these into a few categories. They are: Things you can control, Things you can’t control and Medical.
Things You Can Control:
Some Cubs are very shy about getting changed around other kids, in fact I’ve seen a queue of Cubs waiting for their turn to get changed standing outside a tent? If you’re shy get changed in your sleeping bag.
A leader cannot in reality check that you have been changing your clothes physically like your mum or dad can, so he or she may ask you, if you haven’t, don’t lie, just get it done. Put your dirty clothing in a separate bag.
Cubs and most adults do not know how to wash their hands properly, see diagram for help
Tracks Publishing
23
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Washing requires privacy for Cubs, how much you need is of course dependent on how thoroughly you wash, if your just washing from the waist up for boys privacy should not be a major issue, however, if you have a mixed gender group then you do require separate wash areas or blanked off spaces.
Cubs don’t generally know how to have a field wash, at home you mostly jump in a shower or bath and simply soak off the dirt or let the water wash it off. You will need to be shown. Cubs take a lot longer to wash, then an adult, always allow adequate time and for female Cubs, add a little longer, although though you will find that the female Cubs are far better prepared than the boys…sorry lads. Cubs will brush their teeth, it gives them a reason to stay up a few minutes longer (all done that) but they will need reminding. Again routine. Cubs rarely wash their hands when they go to the toilet on camp, they are too busy and going to the toilet is purely an interruption to their fun. (Wash them) Using hand sanitizer on visibly dirty hands reduces its efficiency markedly. Hands, if carrying visible dirt, should be washed first, only then should sanitizer be used. Cubs and leaders often think just using a sanitizer is ok, it’s not, do a visible check first. If their hands are dirty, tell them to wash them first. Dirty fingernails, make sure you keep your fingernails clean, especially if you nibble on them, underneath your nails is a great place for bacteria, you can get some nasty infections and tummy upsets for dirty nails. We will check.
Cut your nails before camp, long nails can tear and be really painful, cut them and you’ve solved the problem, this goes for feet as well.
Cubs generally don’t need deodorant, if you do, bring a roll on deodorant it saves it being sprayed around the tent.
Tracks Publishing
24
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Things You Can’t Control:
Cubs can get very nervous on camp and sometimes because they are in unfamiliar surroundings will find it difficult to go to the toilet and will hold on until they get home if they can. On a one night camp that may not be too much of an issue, but any longer and it can turn into a quite serious condition. Leaders will be on the lookout for lethargy, stomach cramps, headaches, and in extreme cases foul breath and burps. If there’s a toilet, and you need to go, don’t wait, just get yourself there and use it. If you have an accident, you may naturally become really embarrassed and will often try and hide the problem rather than tell a leader, hoping no one will notice. Leaders will check the forms that your parents give them; often they will have notes regarding this. Have a plan for dealing with it and make sure all relevant staff are aware, that need to be aware. Some Cubs will still be using pull-ups at night, this is a private matter and does not concern any other members of the pack, if you’re camping with a friend, he or she will probably know already, which can save a little embarrassment. The leaders will respect your privacy, but let them know if something goes pear shaped or any other shape. If you are feeling home sick, tell a leader, but try and stick it out, you’ll be amazed what a good night’s sleep will do.
Medical:
“Sun block is a must have” and Bug spray, some Cubs have very delicate skin and need to ensure you cover up on even an overcast day in the summer, make sure you bring your own gear, we do have Cubs who have allergic reactions to some ingredients, so don’t share, if you’ve forgotten yours see a leader. Medications, if you have them, the designated first aider must know about them, where they are and if necessary how to administer them in an emergency, this is up to your parents, but also you can help by talking to your leaders.
Tracks Publishing
25
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS
Chafing, between your legs, under your arms etc, this is caused by friction either skin to skin or clothing to skin, if you are getting sore, talk to a leader about it, get it sorted early, the longer you leave it, the worse it will get, believe me I know, it can turn a really good weekend into a forgettable experience. “Body Glide is a great product, use on feet to prevent blisters” Headaches or migraine, if you suffer from these, please bring medicine with you with clearly marked instructions, most leaders will not give headache tablets to cubs, so bring your own. Ritalin, if you are taking these, make sure you have it with you and that leaders know when it’s due and you take it on time.
What do you need to bring on Camp? We’ve looked at a few things that can go wrong on camp. Some things you can control, some things that you can’t, many of which can be down to medical conditions and medical issues as well as things that you treat with medicine. But to stay clean what do I need to bring? Well here’s a basic list:-
Wash Bag
This is a Deuter wash bag and basically rolls up; importantly it has a hook so it can be hung up and a mirror. These should be waterproof or as good as, because if something is left open or breaks, then it gets everywhere.
Tooth Brush and Tooth Paste, it’s always a good idea to have a toothbrush for camping and a tooth brush box to put it in, this stops it from fouling the rest of the bag and your kit. Or you can get one of these called a “Toob” toothpaste is in the handle of the brush. Put simply.. Very cool.
Tracks Publishing
26
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS
Soap, this can be in a bar or in liquid form, to save weight you don’t need
a huge bar of soap, you can buy some small little bottles from the $2.00 shop and fill them with liquid soap from a dispenser, just make sure you put the lid on tight when you’ve finished. I would recommend hypoallergenic soap regardless if your son is allergic or not, it’s a lot easier on their eyes generally, which you will inevitably shove some into.
Shower Gel: If there are shower facilities on site you’ll be encouraged to use them, only bring this if there are, otherwise it’s just another thing that can bust or be left undone. Also bring only as much as you need.
MUST HAVE - use to clean body, hands, everything. Use after toilet paper to keep backside clean. Hiking with itchy bottom is terrible.”
Flannel:
Towel:
Brush or Comb:
This is one of the most important things on a camp because you can wash everything with it, synthetic ones are great, because they dry quickly after use and unlike cotton flannels do not rot. Towels have in the past been bulky and generally take a long time to dry, new technology allows us to use micro fibre towels, these are light, very easy to compact and dry faster than conventional towels. Generally you’ll only need one of these types of towels, but always remember to hang it up to dry, so pack a couple of clothes pegs in your bag, they are really handy to have around. Keeping tidy and clean is
all part of the Scouts discipline and applies to Cubs even on camp. There is no reason that you can’t brush your hair and after seeing some of you guys in the morning you really need to get this done. It should form part of your routine. A small comb can also get mud out your hair, but do not share combs or brushes, great way spread head lice.
Mirror:
Now if your wash bag doesn’t have one make sure you get hold
of one, a small plastic mirror will do and can be used in loads of different ways. Make sure it has a hole in to enable it to be hung up. “No Glass Mirrors Please”.
Tracks Publishing
27
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS
Sun Block and Bug Spray:
As we said earlier a lot of you have skin
conditions that require specific creams, make sure you bring them and use them. Slip/Slop/Slap.
Toilet Paper:
Just as it looks, it always handy to
have these in your wash kit and in your day pack, you never know when you might need them. You could get caught short outside on a tramp or settle down and realise there is no toilet roll in the cubicle you’re in.. There’s no shouting “Mum .. Mum I’ve run out of bog roll!!” on camp. Be prepared.
There will be many different types of tents you will end up sleeping in, carrying or erecting as a Cub and a Scout. Each type of tent has its use and is normally designed around a specific type of camping, from static camps to light weight adventure camping.
Static Camps, Patrol Tents and Frame Tents In Cubs, very often, as you are young you will arrive on camp and the tents will be already set up for you by the advanced party, a group of adults, leaders and parents who arrive at the campsite several hours or some times a day earlier than you do to put up your tents ready for your arrival. These larger tents used to be called Patrol tents and could comfortably accommodate 6 Scouts, now you will find a mismatch of Dome tents, Frame tents and larger ridge tents that provide approximately the same number of spaces but are alleged to be easier to put up? Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
Here are some of the tents you may encounter on a Static Camp: The tent on the left is referred to as a frame tent, this is not very user friendly because of the amount of poles required to set the tent up. These are normally set up by the advanced party and can be quite challenging, especially if you haven’t put them up for a while.
Tracks Publishing
28
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS This tent is a family dome tent, they are normally made out of synthetic materials, unlike the frame tent on the previous page, which are normally made from rip stop canvas. The poles on these tents are generally made from fibreglass and quite fragile, so don’t muck around in this type of tent or the poles will break. The Patrol or ridge tent, gets its name from the ridge on the top of the tent running from the front of the tent to the back, these come in all sizes, the one pictured to the right is a 6 man ridge, a Scout patrol normally sets these up on their own and its big enough for them all to sleep in it. You would struggle to get six stretchers in here though, despite it having vertical side walls. This particular tent type has no built in ground sheet. These can be put up by Scouts and even Cubs at a push, they normally only have two poles, which are sectional for ease of transportation at the front and the back, or for the larger tents, unlike this one, may well have a sectional ridge pole and an intermediate pole to prevent sag. They are normally made from canvas and as a result are quite heavy. It is this weight rather than the complexity that can prevent Cubs from erecting these, but it has been done many times. The reason these tents are generally used for static camps is due to their weight, even the synthetic dome tents can weigh a significant amount and make them totally unsuitable for transportation on foot even over a relatively short distance. For this reason they are normally transported to the camp site and dropped off by vehicles near where they are to be erected. Also because they provide accommodation for a large number of youth and subsequently have a large footprint, they need a fairly level surface to allow them to be set up properly, otherwise, you can end up with drooping ends of tents
Tracks Publishing
29
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS leaving hollows where water can collect and eventually seep through into the accommodation area. You will recall from the earlier pages of this guide, I mentioned that you may be allowed to take a stretcher or camp bed on camp, for static camps using these types of tents this may well be opportunity. However, always check with your leader as it may be the case that space is limited so a bed roll might be the preferred option. This again will be also dependent on the amount of time that you will be staying. Couple of general tips for sleeping and living for a few days in one of these tents:
Do not wear shoes of any kind inside the tents, this will reduce the amount of dirt and grass that gets deposited inside it.
Be respectful of other people’s property and space, you have a set amount of space, do not impinge on anyone else’s because you are lazy, tidy up all the time. Do not leave things on the floor.
If you are using a camp stretcher, ensure it has rubber feet, if these are damaged do not use your stretcher otherwise you will puncture a hole in the sewn in groundsheet.
Do not place your stretcher or sleeping bag right up against one of the walls of the tents, where your stretcher/sleeping bag makes contact the tent the tent may leak or transfer moisture to your bedding.
Be very careful using the zips and how you cross the threshold into the tent, this means the bottom of the door. Cubs often tread on this and this weakens the tent and can break the zip, if you can’t shut the door it can make the tent very cold and drafty.
If you damage the tent, or notice damage, tell a leader right away.
Make sure you air your tent in the morning after you are dressed, depending on the weather open the side panels and allow air to flow through the tent.
Be respectful of other people’s privacy, some Cubs are very shy and don’t like to get changed in front of others, if you are changed leave the tent to allow them to get changed, or if there is a partition, allow them to get changed behind it. Definitely do not make a big thing about it.
Do not leave dirty laundry around, place it in your dirty linen bag and do not leave food in the tent, this can attract insects and vermin.
“Set up tent at home before any trip to ensure you can recall how to do it and that everything is working. Terrible to fumble through bad weather”
Tracks Publishing
30
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Light Weight Camps or Short Stay Camping For non-static camps, otherwise known as lightweight camps you will in all probability be staying in smaller two or three person tents. These are called hike tents, adventure tents etc. Some examples of which are shown below. The main feature of these tents is their lightness, compact size, speed and simplicity of erection. All of which for Cubs may not seem very important at first glance, but when you consider the following it will become more than apparent why they are:
The maximum recommended weight a youth of Cub age may carry in a backpack is 10% of their body weight.
Children’s or youth’s backpacks are not as large as adult packs, tents are designed to fit in an adult pack not a youth pack. Light weight/ Adventure tents come in several different types, a dome tent like these two are the most popular, but there are lightweight ridge tents as well. To keep the tents weight down, high tech materials are used not only in the fabric of the tent, but also in the poles which support them, making them light and relatively easy to transport. But remember, even the most light weight tent for two Cubs will weigh in at between 2.5kg’s and 3kg’s. These are not cheap, with costs starting at the $400.00 mark. As these tents are lightweight, if you are prepared properly, you can carry these in your backpacks if you are hiking into a site. Or the tents could be easily erected by the advance party before you arrive. If you are going to be putting the tents up yourselves as Cubs, then you need to practice putting them up before you go on camp.
Tracks Publishing
31
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS If it is raining or dark when you arrive, you will want to spend the minimum amount of time getting these set up as possible, that will keep you, the tent and your belongings far dryer than if you were working through an instruction booklet. These tents are not the type of tent that you can use a stretcher or camp bed in, as they only have limited room for you and your backpack. Some adventure tents like the one on the right here, have an external room or vestibule that allows you to keep your gear in leaving most of the area within the tent for sleeping. Most modern tents have a mosquito net built into the door and ventilation to allow condensation out, but again the same basic rules for living in a big tent should apply to these. The exception being that the poles are very light weight, whilst they are designed to withstand the wind and the rain they are not strong enough to prevent you from breaking them if you’re mucking around. Remember these tents cost a lot of money to buy and maintain, treat them with respect and care. Groundsheets are built in for these type of tents, which keeps them fairly water tight, however, all tents have their limits with regard to how much water they can keep out, this is called their hydrostatic head. You will find that the fly and the ground sheet will have different ones based on their prices and where they are expected to be used. So it never does any harm to take a spare conventional ground sheet to go under the light weight tents if you have capacity in your pack, this will keep them cleaner, prevent or reduce damage to the groundsheet and reduce the likelihood of water seeping through the tent into the living space.
There are good and bad places to pitch tents even on a purpose built camp site. Most of the campsites you’ll visit as a Cub are owned by the Scout Association, but that does not mean they will all be flat and level fields that you will be camping on. It should also be noted that is you are on a Cub camp as discussed earlier; the camp may well have been set up before you arrive and set up a certain way to suite the ability and age of the campers that will be attending. Let’s have a look at these examples on the following pages.
Tracks Publishing
32
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Cub WC
d
Cub Tents
Council Rock or Flag Pole
Cook House, Dining Shelter and Camp Store
Leaders Tents
Staff WC
The first is an oval layout with the camp fire, council rock, flag staff at the centre of it. You will note that the leaders/adults tents are all together, and the Cubs or youth tents are separate, but still all viewable from the leader’s tents. The latrines or toilets are set up away from the main camp site, as are the cook and store tent. The idea behind this layout, is that when you wake up in the morning you can all see each other’s doorways from your tents, this provides security and if there is a camp fire at the centre it also makes the whole experience far more enjoyable. With the leaders in one place it’s always easier for you to find them if things go wrong, which can happen. The toilets for staff and youth should be ideally separate and if there are female Cubs on camp, they should have a separate toilet form the boys. The above layout is shown using light weight tents; the next example is a standing camp layout which hasn’t changed much since Roman Times.
Tracks Publishing
33
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS
Leaders Tents
Cub Tents
Boundary Fence
Cook House, Dining Shelter and Camp Store
The layout above is for larger tents and used for static camps. Again the layout is very formal. The emphasis is for security, whilst maintaining separation for adults and youth members. This time the tents face towards each other, with an “avenue” or “road” up the ctr. The leader’s tents are at one end of the avenue and a gateway is at the other end. Again this allows the leaders to see all the entrances to the tents from their location and for the Cubs to see each other. There is no central focus like in the previous layout; however, a flag pole is normally erected. Now around the site you will often find a rope or string line indicating the boundary of the site, do not go under or over this rope, you must use the formal entrance to leave and enter the site. There are two reasons for this; the first is so that you can be seen leaving and returning to your tents.
Tracks Publishing
34
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS The second is that you will find some hand cleanser or a wash bowl at the gateway. Always wash your hands when entering or leaving the camp or contingent site. The cook house and the store tent are within the site layout this time, however, the toilets are still separate and outside the site. You will probably be camping on a site very similar to the above on Summer Camp and if you are lucky a New Zealand or even a World Jamboree in the future. Both of the above layouts require large, flat, open fields to allow you to camp like this, but often other considerations come into play and affect the camp layout, some of these are of course the activities that may have been planned for you, or the shape of the field. The undulations in the field you’re in, natural water flow paths and slopes. Most of this will be looked after by your advanced team, however if you are to put up the tent yourself here’s a few basic rules.
Avoid Hollows in the Ground Where water will collect or there is a natural Water Path
Avoid Camping on Slopes If at all Possible
Tree’s may drop sap and dead fall on to your tent whilst a hedge can provide a wind break
Tracks Publishing
35
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Now you have selected a place you’d like to put your tent, here’s a few points to consider further. 1. Will my tent’s footprint fit on the location I have chosen? 2. Am I too close to a tent that has been or is in the progress of being put up? 3. Am I too close the fire pit or too close to a stream? 4. Is the ground clear and suitable for the pegs I have with me? 5. Which way is the prevailing wind and where will the sun rise and set? 6. Is this a location that your leaders have said a tent can be set up on?
Explanations: Tent Footprint: The tent footprint is
the space that your tent
takes up excluding the guy ropes, but bear in mind where these will have to be secured, nothing worse than guy ropes all over the place. They are a hazard in themselves to cubs; take it from someone who learnt at Cub age how bad it is to run around a tent with guys, I very nearly lost my head.
Proximity of other Tents:
Tents should not be placed closer than 6 feet or
2m from another tent and a minimum of 3 meters from the cooking tent. The idea is to prevent fire from spreading easily from tent to tent, this spacing also allows for the guys to be set properly. So talk to the other Cubs when you are in the process of choosing your location.
Proximity of Fire Pits and Streams:
Tents are by their very nature
flammable, sometimes their flammability is increased by the coatings which have been put on them to enhance their water resistance. Being too close to a fire pit, whilst it may keep you warmer, will increase the chance of embers blown by the wind landing on the fabric of your tent. Try and keep at least 10 metres from a fire pit, this should reduce the chance of this occurring. The best thing that will happen if an ember lands on your tent is that it will melt a hole through the fabric, the worst is a fire. Be aware when you camp in a valley especially if there is a stream running through it that the levels of the stream can change in minutes. It may not even be raining where you are camping, but it may well be in the catchment area that feeds the stream. So the best thing to do is speak to the local park rangers about the stream and find out if it has a history of flooding, pay attention to the weather in the run up to your camp. Check the area you’re camping in to see if there is an apparent flood plain and if there is, camp above that level.
Tracks Publishing
36
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Ground Suitability:
If you are just sleeping on a bedroll on the floor of your
tent, the condition of the ground underneath it will determine how well you sleep and the comfort levels you experience. If the ground is uneven, lumpy full of tussock grass, getting a level area to camp on is always difficult. Make sure there is nothing on the ground like stones, metal, glass, or other things, that may puncture or damage your ground sheet, so carefully do a hand search. It may take a few minutes, but can save you a fair amount of money and time trying to fix your tent or make a running repair. Check that you’re not placing your tent on an animal run. A “animal run” is a beaten track in the grass or foliage which animals travel along regularly and have been doing so for some time, if you camp here, you may get a few uninvited guests around your tent at night. Check the ground is not saturated, if you’re on a peaty or boggy ground, when you place your tent it may feel relatively dry, however, you will find your movement into and out of the tent will through capillary action draw allot of water up from the ground, increasing the likelihood of water seeping through the ground sheet. It’s always worth checking the ground conditions before you camp at a site to see if the pegs you have will actually go into the ground, or remain there. Make sure you bring a spare set of pegs with you just in case which are suitable, bear in mind though, pegs are a designed failure point for tents, if they are two strong, your tent may rip as a result in a strong wind.
Prevailing Winds and Sun Rise and fall:
Being aware of the prevailing
wind at a site is always very useful, if you are free camping and your leader has given you consent to camp where you like in a field which is fairly unlikely to be honest at your age, you can orientate your tent to ensure that it provides minimum wind resistance ie end on to the wind. Or if available use either the lee of a hill, bank or hedge to provide shelter from the wind. Always check how much sun you are likely to get, basically it’s great to get the sunlight on your tent in the morning, it helps dry it out initially but will probably mean that you will also not be under the full glare of the sun at midday. The one big disadvantage of modern tents is that they heat up really quickly, even though they provide some shade. The larger canvas tents are far better for staying cool in the summer in this respect.
Tracks Publishing
37
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Location, Location, Location:
There are many reasons why your leader will
have designed a camp layout in a certain way, some have to do with safety, camp security, privacy and practicality. Access is another consideration for emergency services, you and for leaders vehicles, so if you are told you can or cannot pitch your tent in a certain area make sure you do as you are told, if you do have a question as to why, just ask your leader, he or she will help you or perhaps explain why you cannot camp in a certain location.
Baggage is an interesting thing for Cubs, often Cubs arrive on site with a large backpack with all their gear in it. Unless you are a seasoned camper, who has used these before, they are as crazy as it sounds, very impractical. This is because they have only one point of access and to get to anything, Cubs tend to hook everything out and where it lands is often where it stays. One of the best types of bags for Cubs and Scouts is this one to the right, a duffle bag, this is the one the Scouts going to the 2013 US Jamboree were supplied with as part of their kit, whilst this one is cool, one with wheels is even better. A cricket bag is a great choice in this respect. Now with two end pockets and access over nearly the entire top of the bag, it makes access really easy for Cubs and allows them to pack their bags in the order they will need things, based on the camp program or just for practicality. The one on the right here is at the time of writing was only $26.00 which makes it an affordable option and it has wheels. Buy on line, a lot cheaper.
Tracks Publishing
38
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Day Packs and Backpacks On the last page I specifically said that backpacks should be avoided where possible, especially for static camps, but for lightweight camps, they really can’t be avoided. If possible, it’s always worth taking a day pack as well, but only if there’s a means of getting it there. This negates the need for a Cub to carry around all their kit, only talking what they need for the expedition or planned activity. But if a Cub does have to take a backpack, here a few basic rules:
Make sure it’s their size.
Make sure it’s adjusted to fit you properly.
Make sure they’re not carrying too much weight.
Make sure the Cubs pack it and pack it in the order they’ll need to access it in.
Make sure they can get all the equipment they need into it. The above basic rules apply to both backpacks (Overnight) and day packs. Ok let’s make sure they fit you. The backpack being carried in these two pictures by a young boy is a youth pack, this is allot smaller than an adult pack and is designed to fit a youth’s smaller frame. Simply buying an adult back and pulling it tight will not help with their comfort or allow them to travel any distance, without possibly generating pressure sores. His pack is made by Deuter, Osprey also make a quality youth pack and it should be these types of backpack you should consider when purchasing. The basic rule of thumb for children of Cub age is that they should not be carrying more than ten percent of their own body weight. This is to prevent injuries, sores and discomfort.
Tracks Publishing
39
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS
Here are a few examples of some backpacks specifically designed for use by children or youths, they are adjustable and should be correctly fitted. They normally cover an age range of between 8 and 12 years of ages depending on how big you are and easily carry the maximum carrying weight for Cubs. Day packs are allot smaller although, these packs featured can double as both to save money, all have attachment locations on the outside of the pack and all have expandable pockets. The Deuter bags invariably have a pack cover built in, which is located in a pocket underneath the bag which saves you having to carry another piece of kit. However, whichever bag you use, it needs to be packed carefully, by the Cub who is going to use it, too many times do we have young Cubs claiming they don’t have something from the kit list only to find it in their bag later.
“Tyler asked me to add these in and makes a very good point that these are incredibly useful, they can be used obviously to aid stability as can be seen from the young man on the previous page, but also to test the ground, check the depth of water and support a leanto or even a ridge tent if your pole should break. Prices vary based on materials and you guessed it weight.”
Tracks Publishing
40
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Youth Day Packs Here are a couple of Osprey day packs, not designed for overnight stays but suitable for around town or day hikes, these two are for ages 5 -10 years of age and 8 -13 years of age respectively.
The biggest difference between these two packs is their capacity, the first is 18L and the 2nd 25L, the later can carry a hydration pack, which for Cubs is a really important feature and which can be found on most of the bigger back pack systems.
How to Pack these Packs: I’ve mentioned before that the Cubs should pack their own bags or packs so they know where everything is, but we also need to think about access to essentials, weight distribution and its location with the backpack. Here’s a diagram that may help. The camp/hike itinerary/program will give you an idea of the order Cubs will need to access their gear in, but you also need to ensure that items, such as water, snacks, raincoats, sunblock, medication etc are in easy to access locations, preferably those which they can reach without removing the backpack itself. Looking at the diagram to the left, as a guide, please ensure that all the heaviest parts of the
Tracks Publishing
41
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS their equipment are carried as close to the centre/middle of their back as possible, with lightest stuff at the top, basically working out from the centre to the outside, heaviest to lightest. This should be done as stated earlier, taking into account the activities that have been planned and the expected order the gear will need to be accessed by the Cubs. If you don’t have an itinerary, ask the camp of hike organiser, they should be able to provide one, otherwise they won’t have planned the whole weekend and will need to review the information they provide for parents. In conclusion, chose the correct pack or bag, depending on the type of camp and size of your child. If you do go for a backpack, make sure it is of the correct size, fitted correctly and loaded to no more than 10% of your child’s body weight and that they pack it themselves, under your supervision.
Pack Liners and Dry Bags: Although some of the backpacks come with covers, they will invariable let water in eventually, leaving the Cubs clothing and the rest of their possessions wet and damp. The first thing we can do to, combat this, is to use a pack liner. This is, in its simplest form, a large plastic bag, fairly heavy gauge, within which everything sits inside the backpack or bag. This will prevent water from entering it from the outside. However, you are also better off separating the things that can leak inside the bag or pack from the rest of the gear. This can be done by using dry bags or sacks, a dry bag is a 100% waterproof bag with a seal to prevent liquids form leaking from within and from getting in from the outside. A Zip lock bag for small items as an effective and cheap option.
“Bring a Few Large Trash Bags as well, Bright orange if possible, for rain covers, shelters, clean up, water collection etc”
Tracks Publishing
42
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS
This really has an effect on everything mentioned in this booklet, and needs to be done by the camp organiser/leader in the week preceding the camp, the night before the camp and on a regular basis during the camp itself. But don’t just leave it up to the organiser, think smart, keep an eye on the weather yourself, be aware of the season within which the camp is being run and the prevailing conditions for the area the Cubs are going to be camping in. Historical data is also beneficial as well, especially for valleys where water flow can affect stream levels. You can see from this picture to the left the large amount of debris carried during a flash flood in the area this young man is negotiating. This is a good indicator that the water may rise significantly in a short period of time, so always camp above this debris line. But where do you check the weather? Well in New Zealand we use the Met Service on line for up to date forecasting. You can check this at http://www.metservice.com/national/home from this home page you can navigate to local weather. For historical information, if your Cubs are going to a National Park, you can chat to the Park Rangers who can provide invaluable local knowledge about prevailing weather conditions. The local Scout office or Regional Office can also offer advice on the area you’re going to. Wind is one element of nature that is often overlooked, in New Zealand we are fortunate enough to have in most locations, quite predictable weather patterns.
Tracks Publishing
43
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
41
CUBS The best way to look at weather is to always plan for the worst and hope for the best. But please check with the leader if you are at all concerned. He or she should always put the safety of your children first and make a decision based on the weather information they have in the interests of all concerned. This is one of the very real reasons that on Cub camps, there normally has to be an alternative building or structure that can serve as accommodation that the Cubs can use if the weather becomes too extreme. This happened on Summer Camp with the Cubs in 2013, when the Cubs from most groups were moved into the theatre on a school camp site, due to high winds. The Cubs in our contingent stayed in their tents as they were more sheltered and the tents had been appropriately storm lashed, because we were aware of the tendency for high winds in the vicinity during the summer as fronts pushed through. Some other contingents were unfortunately not so well prepared and their tents suffered quite a lot of damage during the week.
This sounds like a totally obvious question, but we should always check and make sure there is enough water for the Cubs to drink, on the way to, during their stay on camp and for the return journey. Due to limitations on the weight Cubs can carry, you’ll remember we said 10% of their body weight, the amount of water they can carry is limited e.g. If a Cub weighs in at 35kg’s, they will only be able to carry 3.5kg’s of weight in their pack, considering a litre of water weighs 1kg. This means water management and planning become a real issue in the warmer months of the year. Now this is even more relevant, if the Cubs
Tracks Publishing
44
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS are walking to the camp and carrying all of their gear with them. Now this issue can be mitigated by having water stations along the planned route to the camp site or the water being transported to site for the Cubs to refill when they get there. Be aware, just because there is a stream nearby, it doesn’t mean that the water is pure enough to drink, even on campsites where the water comes down from a mountain, it can have a lot of E.Coli among other things suspended within it, which can lead to severely upset stomachs, diarrhoea and a poor camping experience for everyone concerned. If the campsite is a Scout campsite, the water tanks are tested regularly to ensure that the water is safe to drink, however, if the camp has not been used for a while, it’s always a good idea to run the taps for a few minutes to clear any water that may have been sitting in the pipes for the last 6 months. The leaders will have also checked the most recent data from the Environmental Waikato website to see what the water is like in the places where the Cubs may be swimming or kayaking for example as viruses often enter the system when children ingest water whilst swimming or during another water activities. Now if there is some doubt with regard to the suitability of water on a camp site, the most effective way of treating it is boiling it, this goes for all water used for brushing teeth, washing cutlery, anything where possible contamination could enter the Cub’s system. Other ways of treating water come in the form of sanitising tablets, UV pens, filter bottles and filter pumps. All of these are specialised camping equipment and hence, should not be required unless it’s a planned activity for the Cubs during the weekend. If they are, then they should be provided by the camp organisers.
Tracks Publishing
45
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS I often have Cubs turn up on camp with either not enough equipment, or way too much gear, exactly what’s on the kit list or in one case nothing. It’s really important that your parents and you read the list that is sent out to them. This is especially important when a weekend involves light weight camping, hiking, or water activities. Normally bedding is the biggest issue, parents don’t read it’s a light weight camp and the big note “please no stretchers” and they turn up with a camp bed and then get upset that there is not enough room in the tent for all their sons or daughters bags. This will mean the Cub will end up sleeping on blankets or a spare roll mat if one is available. But also in saying that, I have asked for Cubs to bring stretchers for a static camp or a sleepover and the Cubs have turned up with roll mats. Please note if you do not have something on the list, give your leader a call, he or she may know someone who has spare gear that may be able to assist you. I’ll go through a list of the basic things that should nearly always go on camp with your child.
A Torch
(with spare batteries) this can be a head torch, or a hand torch,
avoid the huge torches that Cub’s cannot fit in their pockets and camouflaged ones that get easily lost. LED lamps are the most energy efficient and providing the Cubs turn them off will last them a few camps away before the batteries need to be changed.
Lenser is an excellent make when it comes to LED head and hand torches; however, they are not the cheapest. They have an incredibly bright light and the Cubs will learn through experience not to shine it in each other’s eyes.
Tracks Publishing
46
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Ditty Bag
(With Cup, Bowl, KFS and a Tea Towel) A Ditty bag gets its
name from the Navy, it was a small canvas bag for storing personal possessions, Scouts and Cubs normally make these out of a tea towel, inside which should be their Cup, Bowl, Knife Fork and Spoon (KFS) and a Tea Towel. Choose Either a Plastic Crockery or Metal (St/Steel) preferably, but remember the stainless cups get hot and can burn inexperienced lips.
Ok the blue enamelled set look great and their not bad, but enamel does chip and when it does the plates, generally made of a poorer grade steel, rust where the chips are. Cubs have the unfortunate habit of dropping these and they don’t seem to last as long as they should. The KFS is a set, Stainless Steel, good but not totally necessary, if you have normal cutlery at home use that, but whatever you decide make sure it’s marked with the Cubs Initial and Surname, my collection of these is slowly growing as Cubs continuously leave them at camp. The titanium mug is great, but expensive, a plastic cup will do just as well, won’t get dented and you’ll not be so miffed if your child loses it. The ditty bag shown, is a hand made one, you ca just make them from a tea towel that way they can be washed, rather than going to the expense of buying one of these. They can be made from nylon or other synthetic materials, but like everything else needs the Cubs name on it.
Personal First Aid Kit:
Now again
this does not have to be huge or overly expensive and only requires basic contents, this is because the leaders will have a good quality first aid kit on site. A good little kit and quite economical is the Aide Void R1.
Tracks Publishing
47
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS This little kit has all the plasters, medical wipes, gauze plasters that a Cub should need.
Quick first aid guide 1
A1 Adhesive bandages (15 per pack) 1 A3 Wound closure strips (3 per pack) 1 A4 Non-stick dressing 2 C1 Conforming bandage 1 C2 Strapping tape 1 D3 Safety pins, needles, & bandage fasteners 1 E1 Gloves 1 E3 Cleansing wipes (4 per pack) 1
“Must have in emergency kit is Ace Bandage” It is, as you see very basic, but as we mentioned in previous pages, if there is the need for an epipen, antihistamine, specific drugs please ensure that the staff know about your child’s particular needs. In addition, put a note inside this first aid kit with any additional instructions that may be required.
Pocket Knife: On occasions, Cubs may be asked to bring a pocket knife with them to camp, for a specific activity, this is to be either handed to the leader the week before the camp, or at the camp directly upon arrival of the Cub on site. The New Zealand Law is pretty specific about knives with regard to their possession, if you are found to be carrying a knife of any kind, without a lawful reason for doing so, in a public place, then you may be arrested, serve a 3 month jail term and be fined upto $2000.00. Being on a camp using a knife for Cub activities is a legitimate reason, however, here are few rules for its use. All work with a knife should be done whilst sitting down.
Knives are not to be thrown at any time for any reason.
Pocket Knives should be kept sharp.
Pocket Knives, if they are lock Knives should be in a closed position and in a case if being moved from one location to another.
For Cubs, blades should be no longer than 3” in length and be pocket knives, no sheath knives are to be used.
Tracks Publishing
48
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS
Here are a few examples (recommended by Boys Life magazine) of some of the quality knives on the market. The first the Victorinox Camper, then the Buck Bantam BBW and third a Gerber Paraframe Mini Tanto Knife. All of these knifes are relatively cheap, have good quality blades and should see the Cubs right through until they are Rovers.
 Whistle:
When is a whistle not a
whistle and why do I need one? A Cub may ask. Well the truth is, children are very vulnerable at Cub age, more so then they probably think. As we know, they have a very small attention span and hence can easily be distracted. This is in reality how most children get separated from their care givers, just by wandering off, watching their feet and not paying attention. All of a sudden they are on their own. In the bush, your voice (scream) may only travel 400m or a little more if you’re lucky, but too often not far enough to attract the attention that may be urgently needed. This is where the whistle comes in, worn on a lanyard around their necks it should be always on their person, regardless of where their backpack is. (See picture right)
Tracks Publishing
49
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Ok so you’re lost, now what do you do? Well you sit down, calm yourself down and blow your whistle three times, then pause, then three times, then pause and you keep doing this until someone finds you. Blowing your whistle three times is the recognised international call for distress and hence, whistles should never be blown, unless you are in trouble, lost, hurt or being approached by someone you do not know. Now not all whistles are equal, well this is according to the various manufacturers, but when tested they came up with some very similar results.
Ironic really, that possibly the cheapest bit of your kit, could be the thing that actually saves your life if things go pear shaped. But this is an essential piece of kit never to be without. The generic sternum strap whistle (mentioned in the above table), appears on the chest strap of a lot of popular back packs, but a separate whistle is always desirable.
 Compass:
There are many different types and makes of compasses out
there, some electronic, Optical, Transit and baseplate compasses. Cubs and indeed Scouts only really need a good quality baseplate or orienteering type compass to learn the navigation skills that they will need to complete the various challenges in the years ahead.
Tracks Publishing
50
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS There are two main manufactures that you will find in shops that are worth considering when looking to purchase a compass, Suunto and Silva. Both manufacturers supply variations on a basic theme and the more features a compass has and the more accurate they are, affects the price that you will pay.
These are some of the things you would expect to find on any quality compass:1. Baseplate 2. Housing 3. Needle 4. Orienting Lines 5. Orienting Arrow 6. Index Line 7. Direction of Travel Arrow 8. Scales Here are couple of pictures of some of the various compasses available, the better ones tend to have liquid filled housings. This effectively dampens the needle and prevents it from getting caught on the base or top plate, minimising the chance of poor readings when the compass is not held level.
Tracks Publishing
51
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS It’s very important to understand that a compass is only as good as the person using it and the more you practice, the better you will get. This is a good piece of kit to have and yes a little bit of an investment, but again will likely see them all the way through Cubs, Scouts and beyond. Compasses must be looked after though, do not store them or use them near other magnetised objects, ie under power lines or near a knife, these could affect the accuracy of the compass at the time, or if in long time storage permanently. Please note, if you are from the northern hemisphere like me, you can’t use a northern hemisphere compass in the southern hemisphere; this is due to the earth’s magnetic field which affects the balance of the needle. Northern hemisphere compass needles are balanced to allow the needle operate freely in that hemisphere, use one in the southern hemisphere and the needle tries to point upwards, causing the needle to drag on the inside of the housing and hence not operate properly.
Paper and Pencil:
Paper and pencil sounds like a requirement for school,
but it is very important on a camp, you can make notes about activities, write contact details of friends that you meet, allows you to leave a message on a trail if lost, doubles up as toilet roll if you really get caught short, could help you start a fire, in fact the uses are pretty limited by the imagination. There’s a couple of ways of dealing with making notes in the rain, the first is to buy a pad like this one which is waterproof and allows the owner to write notes in either pencil or pen. These are quite expensive but can be purchased from all good military surplus and camping shops. The other cheaper option is to purchase a cheaper note book and keep it dry in a zip lock bag. Not as effective but a viable option. Note: As part of a Cubs general kit 4 x A4 size and 4 x sandwich size zip lock bags can be invaluable, for example, storing a packed lunch given to you on camp, to collecting water or storing some damp or smelly clothes in.
Tracks Publishing
52
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Survival Kit:
Do Cubs need one of these? Well if their leaders doing their
job hopefully not, but it is a requirement of a Scout badge so there is no harm getting one together now, but it’s not a must have item. Mind you, if you have acquired most of the equipment mentioned previously then you are more than half way there with regard to the parts that make up a survival kit. However, a survival kit should be on the person at all times and rather like the whistle, it shouldn’t be stored in your back pack, hence it needs to be compact, lightweight and small. There are many commercial kits out there, ranging in price from around $30.00 to over $150, but the best way for a Cub or Scout to get a survival kit together, is to make one up themselves, that way they will know what’s in it and more importantly, hopefully how to use it. A survival kit should enable you to provide, heat, shelter, food and drinkable water for around 1 - 3 days. So here is a list of items you may find in a survival kit.
Fishing Kit
Duck Tape 300mm
Small Compass
Water Purification Tablets
Dextrose Tablets
Paper and Pencil
Mirror
Whistle
Self-Adhesive dressings
Water Proof Matches
Fire Starters
Snare Wire
550 Para Cord (5m)
Razor Blade (Covered)
Plastic Bags
Tin Box to keep it in
Antihistamine Pills and Headache Tablets (Personal)
Wire Saw.
Reflective Blanket.
Survival guide
LED torch
Tracks Publishing
53
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Now this sounds a lot, but you can fit all of this in an Altoids or an old tobacco tin, which should be able to fit in your pocket. Here’s a picture below of a BSA personal survival kit. Now the survival kit pictured to the left here costs $36.00 US dollars and is approved by the BSA, but you can see some of the basic components mentioned previously. This kit only weighs 6.3oz and hence basically achieves all the things we are after in a personal survival kit. The advantages of using a tin are that it should allow you to boil up some water if required or use it a mini fry pan. This is its advantage over some of the other containers used for survival kits.
One of the most popular survival kits on the market is the Gear Pods Wilderness Survival Kit. This is a modular based system, with each pod having a separate function. Gear Pod Health, which is a Comprehensive first aid kit. Gear Pod Survival, which along with all the standard survival components includes a solid fuel cooker and cup. Gear Pod Shelter which provides a fly and Thermal blanket for emergency shelter building. $129.00 so not cheap, but can be purchased as modules if you so wish. So you can break down the cost into smaller chunks or just buy the modules you need. Further details of this system can be found at http://www.gearpods.com/
Tracks Publishing
54
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Water Bottles: Water bottles is another one of those things that often gets left in the fridge at home, left in the bag for the camp or forgotten totally. However, as I have said before, hydration in children is very important and hence here are a few good BPA Free examples:-
Avex is a highly recommended water bottle, leak proof and with a one hand flip top design, it makes it simple for Cubs to use. I would always recommend one of the transparent versions for the Cubs on any bottle for a couple of reasons. The first is that you and the Cubs can see how much water they have left or have drunk and secondly UV light helps kill bacteria, so the sun light can help keep the water drinkable for longer periods. CamelBak is another great manufacturer of bottles and hydration systems and is one more commonly found in New Zealand in outdoor shops. This particular version of their light weight BPA free container is insulated as well as being translucent, keeping fluids cooler for longer periods. Gerber have teamed up with Bear Grylls to come up with this water bottle, it comes complete with a aluminium high grade cup that can be used for drinking or heating up whatever it is you happen to be eating. This is a large bottle larger than most military type bottles (1L) and is like the above BPA free. The bottle comes with a nylon case which allows it to be carried either on a belt or strapped to a pack, only issue here is judging how much water is in it can be difficult. Otherwise another great bottle for camp.
Tracks Publishing
55
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Rain Poncho:
Here’s a cheap piece of kit and
very useful to have around on camp or at hand in your pack or bag. These are available in disposable and of course reusable types and varies in price accordingly. Me, I would go for the brightest colour available, there nothing worse than Cubs wearing camo or dark colours when there on a walk, however, some insects are also attracted to bright colours so bear this in mind. (Remember Label Everything clearly)
FOOD AND MEAL TIMES Eating on camp can be a challenge for some Cubs, it may be that they are simply fussy eaters, have allergies to certain foods or specific dietary requirements. This in turn makes meal planning, food preparation etc a real challenge for the leaders and parent helpers. This is because we could have in one pack, Cubs who are dairy free, egg free, Gluten free, allergic to certain foods or have religious restrictions on when and what they can eat. The important thing is let the organisers know your specific food requirements as soon as possible, especially the degree or severity of the allergy concerned, ie how it is induced, touch or oral consumption and severity and treatment if there is a reaction.
Food Preparation/Cooking:
The Cubs (that’s you) will often be asked to
assist with the food preparation for main meals, either there will be a duty six, or everyone will contribute to the preparation of the meal. This can be form peeling spuds and carrots to cutting up meat, mixing sauces and gravy etc. The Cooking of the meals on a large static camp is normally done by a specific Staff member. However, on light weight camps cooking may be don’t by the Cubs themselves, through backwoods cooking using light weight gas cookers or Trianga Meths/Spirit cookers.
Tracks Publishing
56
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Meal Times:
Cubs constantly need their energy levels topped up, they are
outside longer, stay up longer and generally sleep less than they do at home, so meals and snacks are provided throughout the day and evening. Breakfast
Morning Tea
Afternoon Tea
Lunch
Dinner
Evening Tea
The above is a typical meal/ snack list on a full day, but there is a couple of things to bear in mind for the start of camps and when they finish. If a camp starts on an evening at 7.00pm Dinner will not be provided but Evening Tea will, if it starts in the morning after 10.30am the first meal planned will be lunch, conversely if the camp finishes at 12.00 noon, lunch will not be provided.
Home Baking:
On any camp, food generally is our biggest expenditure and
hence to reduce the costs a little we ask parents to send some home baking with their Cubs. This can be purchased or made at home, if your child has dietary issues, allot of parents send cakes etc specifically for their kids and these will be set aside for them. But it is important that everyone makes a small contribution, it really does help us out, however, there is a tendency for some parents not to bother and like parent help on a camp, it tends to be the same people week in and week out making the effort, whilst others contribute nothing. Please note: do not use peanuts of any kind in home baking.
Eating Order:
We have a policy at Chartwell that the youngest Cubs eat first,
followed by the rest of the Cubs, then Seconders, Sixers and lastly the Senior Sixer, followed by the Staff. The reason for this is that with position comes responsibility, the leaders within the pack get extra camps during the year and hence must ensure that the Cubs within their six are fed and looked after first before themselves. Sometimes leaders have to lead, by going last, “think of others” The Cub Law. Tables will go up for their meals based on a fixed order or behaviour in the dining hall or tent.
Prayer:
A prayer is normally said or sung prior to Cub’s collecting their food
from the serving table for main meals, all Cubs, Leaders and Staff are to stand whilst the prayer is sung or read. Here are a couple of examples: God our Father, Lord and Saviour
Thank you, God, for loving me.
Thank you for your love and favour
Thank you for my family.
Bless this food and drink we pray
Help me to learn more each day
And all who shares with us today
To be kind at work and play.
Amen
Amen.
Tracks Publishing
57
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS Hygiene:
All Cubs and staff are to wash their hands prior to any meal, or prior
to food preparation, even if there is hand sanitizer available, this is because the sanitizer does not remove heavy dirt from your hands, it just kills bacteria on the surface.
Etiquette:
No hats are to be worn at the table, no one should start eating their
meal at the table until all the Cubs on that table are seated with their food. The last one seated will normally be the Sixer. When everyone has finished at a table then the Cubs at that table may go and clean their plates and cutlery. There will be three bowls on a specific table set up for them:
SCRAPS
WASHING
RINSING
BOWL
BOWL
Sounds simple this but you’ll be amazed how many Cubs and staff get this wrong, set up left to right, no Ditty bags should be brought to the wash station, teas towels over the shoulder.
Cleaning Up:
There will be a duty six assigned every meal to help clear up any
mess in the kitchen/dining hall and to wipe the tables down. Time will be made available in the program for them to do this, so the Cubs won’t miss out on any camp activities. This is run on a strict rotor basis.
CAMP TRADITIONS AND CEREMONYS Official Opening:
There are many traditions associated with running a camp,
one of which is the official opening. This is when the Cubs are gathered at the flag pole at a set time, normally after they have been booked in and registered. Following the Grand Howl, the flag is broken, a prayer is then read or recited and the camp is then officially open.
Tracks Publishing
58
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS It is important to remember that the flag should not be flown before 8.00am in the morning and after 8.00pm at night. It must always be lowered and folded at 8.00pm and broken again at 8.00am to commence the day. This is normally when the camp gets together for a briefing on the day’s activities and to discuss any matters that arose during the night.
Cubs Own:
A Cubs Own or Scouts Own.. Is a gathering of the camp on
normally the Sunday morning of the camp. During the Cubs Own, prayers and readings are read and sometimes hymns are sung. It’s also an opportunity to discuss matters that may have had some impact on the Cubs individually or as a group; this could be an incident, a celebration or a remembrance of someone they once knew. This ceremony dates back to the days when the Scout movement was purely a Christian organisation, however, things have changed and the Cubs Own is also being brought into line with current attitudes and beliefs. Less Hymns are being sung, prayers are still being read and readings now not only come from the bible but may also be drawn from current affairs and other publications. It should be not just a time for Adult leaders to speak, but also a time for them to listen to their charges, what scares them, what inspires them, what they hate and what they love. It is a time for friendship and brotherhood, it is the pack drawing together to share their warmth on a winters day.
The Campfire:
The Campfire
is one of the most enduring memories that most Cubs come back from camp with. Properly lead, it is a magical experience as the pack gathers around the campfire to sing, cheer, perform skits and listen to the Old Wolf’s stories which make the very hairs stand up on the backs of their necks. There are two types of Campfires, the Traditional and the Social Campfire. The Traditional Campfire starts with a parade down to the campfire circle, all of the Cubs and leaders will be wearing their campfire blankets or coats. A campfire blanket is a very traditional part of Scouting, it is a visual record of Scouts personal history, from Keas to becoming a Leader, with every badge they have ever earned, traded for, attended an event for or purchased, sewn to their blanket and displayed for all to see. Some of the blankets are beautiful, with hundreds of badges, scarfs and even caps attached to them.
Tracks Publishing
59
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS The possibilities are endless and the blanket also has another practical use, as an additional source of warmth on a cold autumn night on a Cubs bed. The campfire will have generally been already lit, when the Cubs make their way down to it, there is no speaking and there are definitely no torches. The Cubs may be led in a song as they walk down, this could be a song called Vespers, what they sing if anything will normally depend on the Campfire Leader and the Campfire Chief. When the Cubs have been lead around the campfire circle, sometimes more than once. The Cubs and leaders settle down into their places. Then at the appropriate time the song “I hear footsteps” (Scouts song) is sung as a greeting for the Campfire Chief by the Cubs and Leaders. As the Campfire Chief enters the circle they all stand when the words “stand-up do” are sung during the song. The Campfire Chief will then give a blessing for the campfire and declare the campfire open. The Campfire Chief will then call for the ashes and explain the story of the ashes. Following every campfire ashes are collected from firepit the following morning. Those ashes are then brought to the next camp and are added to the next fire, with each presentation of ashes, the Cub or leader who adds them to the fire announces where they have come from, in that way the campfire spirit is passed on from fire to fire to fire.
Tracks Publishing
60
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS The Campfire Leader will then call up the individual items on the program, these will have been prepared and practiced prior to the campfire.A song is normally the first item on the program and a “song” which hopefully the Cubs all know, or one they can they can follow, “a repeat after me song” or one they sing all together or in a round. A skit may follow, which is short play, performed by up to 6 Cubs in front of the pack, Cubs normally tend to choose ones that are funny, however, the cubs have to speak to the audience otherwise the punch line may well be lost on the night air and the only people who may have laughed were the Cubs who performed it. After each skit or song is performed there is no applause, the Cubs will naturally laugh of course if they find it funny, but they may not applaud. Instead they are led in a cheer by either the cheer master or a pre assigned Cub or leader. For Example: Give us a B .R.A.V.O O O!! 100 Volts, 300 Volts, 3000 Volts…. 3 Million Volts.. Shocking Be Prepared! Be Prepared! Shout! Shout! Shout! Sixers, Seconders Cubs & Scouts! Campfires normally last for approximately 30-45 mins, at the end of which the Campfire Chief will close the campfire and there is normally a song sung as the Cubs and Leaders leave the circle and make their way back to their accommodation. Ashes from the campfire can be collected in the morning, bring a small container so you can take some home with you.
A Social Campfire: Have most of the above elements, skits, songs and even a Campfire Chief. There is not normally a parade down to, or from the campfire and when the flames have all died away and the embers are glowing bright, marshmallows are often cooked over them at the end of the campfire program.
Closing Ceremony:
This is when the camp gets together, to thank the leaders
and parents for their help running the camp and also reward the cubs who may have been successful during their stay. There will then be a Grand Howl and a prayer for those traveling home. When the Camp is closed the flag is lowered, the camp will sometimes but not always sing “TAPS” as the flag is lowered.
Tracks Publishing
61
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS THE PACK UP AND TIDY AWAY On the last morning of a camp there’s lots to do, you should after breakfast make sure all your personal gear is packed into your bag after you have had a wash and brushed your teeth, your sleeping bag rolled or put back into its stuff sack and your bed roll or camp bed disassembled and back in its case. The last thing is our Ditty bag which may well still be at the dining hall or tent, which you’ll need for morning tea. You can then either move your gear to the hall for collection or leave it outside your tents neatly. Please note this is of course weather dependent. With the tents empty, using a dust pan and brush sweep your tent out and ensure there is no rubbish or litter in it or around it. Make a note of any issues with the tent and leave it open to air. (note pad and pencil) When the fly is dry if the tent you are using has one, take down the tent and turn it over onto a dry piece of ground so that the ground sheet may dry. If there is allot of mud etc stuck to it, it may need brushing off or even wiping down. When the ground sheet is dry then the tent may be put away, normally parents will be on site to assist as will the leaders, so don’t panic. If we are using the large frame tents, the parents and leaders will take them down. If the weather is poor and the tents are wet and there is no opportunity to get them dry, the leaders and parents will flat pack them onto the trailer, they will not place them into their bags or they will start to sweat and mildew will start to form very quickly.
Booking Out:
Ok time for collection and the ride home, parents please arrive
an hour before your children are due to leave, this will give you not only an opportunity to help with the pack up and putting away of the tents, but will also allow you to see the camp closing ceremony and any awards your child may receive. Specific Notes for Parents: 1. Leaders will be tired, they do need your help 2. The tents etc do not pack themselves onto the trailer or unload themselves at the Scout hall, please lend a hand at both ends. 3. Do not take your child without booking them out, or ask to leave before the specified time, otherwise you will get a phone call, but you will have also created a lot of panic on site.
Tracks Publishing
62
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS 4. The kitchen area, toilets and dining hall in the main buildings will need to be cleaned, please lend a hand.
Unpacking Your Gear:
Ok the last thing you want to do when you get home
is to unpack all your stuff, but, my advice is get it done straight away, here’s a couple of must do’s with your gear.
Take your sleeping bag out of its stuff sack, turn it inside out and let it air by hanging in it on a hanger, then turn it the right way round and store it on the hanger until you next need it. This will preserve the properties of the insulation and in so doing help you stay warmer on camp.
Take all the batteries out of your torches and store them carefully. This will prevent them leaking and damaging the terminals in your torches.
If you have used your pocket knife, sharpen it, oil the blade and put it away ready for the next time you’re asked to use it.
If your hike boots are wet, stuff them with newspaper and let them dry naturally out of direct sunlight, then when the mud is dry, brush it off with a stiff brush and reproof the boot as required following the manufacturer’s advice and recommendations.
Take all of your cutlery out of your Ditty bag, wash your Ditty bag and all the cutlery and store, separately, also make sure you wash your tea towel.
Check your first aid kit, make sure if you have used anything you replace it and take out any medication you may have stored there.
Store your compass away from metal objects in a safe place.
Make a list of anything broken, too small, too big or just didn’t work and make sure you replace it or fix it before the next camp.
Make sure all of your clothing is out of your bag and in the wash.
Anly food you took as a packed lunch is removed and your bag cleaned out.
Rinse out your waterbottle and leave either full or with the lid off.
Empty your washbag and retrieve your toothbrush.
Check all the gear you have against the list you took, have you lost anything?
Outdoor Adventure Award:
You should by now be aware about the
Outdoor Adventure Award and have a copy of the booklet you need to complete to obtain this award, make sure you complete the sections in your booklet relevant to the activities on camp. Get it done as soon as possible whilst your memory is fresh. If you have completed all the requirements, bring it in for assessment as soon as possible.
Tracks Publishing
63
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS ADDITIONAL PRACTICAL ADVICE The New Cub Shirt:
One of the things that has always been a challenge,
more so now with the current New Zealand Cub Uniform, is keeping the Cubs shirt tidy during a camp. In this picture below, the Sixers and Seconders have put a chair at the end of their beds whilst staying at a Scout hall over the weekend. This allowed them to put their shirts on the back of the chairs with their scarfs and their shorts on the seat, shoes etc underneath.
It worked really well, alternately just bring a hanger so you can place your uniform on it at camp. It is worth noting that Cubs should be in uniform when traveling to and from camp. There won’t normally be an option of hanging your uniform up inside a tent, unless it’s a frame tent, but make sure you ask a leader where or you may damage the tent itself.
Storing Shoes Outside Your Tent:
Ok this should be simple but Cubs in
their haste to get in their tent often leave their shoes out in the open, waking up to soaking wet shoes thanks to the morning dew or inconsiderate rain during the night. Simple to solve:
Keep your shoes outside the inner tent, but under the fly on light weight tents.
Larger tents normally have a fly porch on the front make sure your shoes they are stored together under the fly.
Tracks Publishing
64
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS
If there is no room either under the fly or porch, you can store them inside a bin liner, folded in two with a few stones to hold the front down or under a small tarp again doubled up. But if you get up in the night, remember to cover them up again, or if you see a pair of shoes out in the open, don’t just leave them there, make sure they are put under cover as well.
Snacks and Lollies (Sweets) on Camp: Sweets and lollies on camp are a recipe for disaster. With so many children on camp with eating disorders and allergies and so many additives and ingredients in lollies, the chances are that they could potentially do a lot of harm. So please no lollies on camp. Even if the Cubs only eat their own, it can create issues as well through jealousy etc. I’ve seen Cubs with huge amounts of snacks on camp, from one or two sweets to a whole box of cereal. Honestly we generally do feed your children.
Campfire Blankets Examples:
Campfire blankets are an old tradition in
scouting and you should have started yours already, here are a few examples of what they can look like. Don’t leave putting your badges on your blanket until you have lots, do them as you get them, but plan your blanket, what you’d like it to look like when its full.
Tracks Publishing
65
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS
The one thing I would like for Cubs and parents to get from this booklet is a better understanding of what happens on a Cub camp, the gear they will need and what gear they should consider purchasing prior to going on camp. Whilst some of the equipment listed may appear a little expensive initially, it should see them all the way through Scouts, so you’re investing not only for now but also for their future. Hopefully the Cubs will also learn little basic camp craft, how to take better care of the equipment they have had purchased for them, how to look after themselves on camp and what they can expect to happen on camp. There will be a few leaders who’ll read this and say I wouldn’t do that, or our Cubs don’t do that, but remember this guide is written for New Zealand Cubs and more significantly around our Cubs and Cub pack at Chartwell Cub Pack, Hamilton New Zealand. I hope you find this useful and would appreciate any feedback you may like to make. This booklet is a living publication and seems to be very popular around the world especially in the UK, I’m glad you are all finding it of use, but I’m always looking for ideas and contributions. Tyler Armstrong and Kevin his father have been kind enough to offer some additional ideas and that’s what I’m looking for, to keep this current useful and always available to those who may find use for it. So don’t hesitate to drop me an email, I will listen and if its’ a great idea, I’ll add it to this booklet. Tyler who if you didn’t know is a Cub Scout himself, recently introduced this booklet to the members of his Pack, I think there is a lot of information that is universal and it doesn’t matter where you are in the world there will be a Leader scratching his head staring at Cub with a huge back pack on his back, wondering if the parents ever listen to him, be sure to share this is a free for all.
Thanks for all your support thus far. Kindest regards Paul J Nimmo Akela Chartwell Scout Group, Hamilton New Zealand.
Tracks Publishing
66
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Back County with the Kids – Jen for permission to use her pictures of her children and husband in this publication. A fantastic resource for parents tramping/hiking with their children Follow them on Facebook at:https://www.facebook.com/backcountrykids or their main blog http://backcountrywiththekids.com/ BoysLife Magazine http://boyslife.org/ for their recommendations of pocket knives. Brian’s Back Packing Blog http://briangreen.net for testing information for whistles. YSAR Technology Testing Whistles http://www.ysar.org.nz/ To Mark Harvey (Bagheera) and David Kenny (Manuka) Chartwell Scout Group for use of their photos in this guide. To all the Cubs past and present from Chartwell featured: Ryan B, Daniel B-S, Michael M, James B, Mathew M, Brydon H, Fabian C-W, Cole B, Logan B, Blake A, Lewis C, Alfie B, Hayden G. The First Facebook Scout Group Members for their comments and Advice. Tyler Armstrong and His Family, please join his Facebook page and subscribe to his You tube Channel, help make his dreams a reality.
Tracks Publishing
67
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz
CUBS
Tracks Publishing
paul.nimmo@ihug.co.nz