While at Summer Camp, tents and dining facilities are provided by the Camp. Scouts & Troops need to bring everything else to be self-sufficient.
EVERYTHING THAT COMES TO CAMP SHOULD HAVE YOUR SON'S NAME & Troop 247 ON IT
Do not send anything that would be "tragic" if it were lost or damaged... such as electronics, "granddad's heirloom pocket knife", or a favorite game. Remember that dew, rain, and humidity are elements we contend with EVERY DAY at camp. Paper items (like baseball cards or Yugi-oh cards) WILL be adversely affected by the weather.
Sleeping: Scouts will need a sleeping bag and a pillow. There are 2 cots per "baker tent", so each scout will be sleeping on a cot during the week. Tents are erected over pallet platforms which keep all gear off the ground and dry in rain storms.
Luggage: We've had great luck with scouts packing a week's worth of clothes in a trunk or large Rubber-made container. An excellent trunk (with wheels) is available at Walmart for only $36.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mercury-Luggage-Wheeled-Storage-Locker-Navy-Blue-30/19235868
Scouts should bring a
dirty laundry bag to help keep dirty laundry separated from the clean (also keep tents clean and orderly). Mesh laundry bags are available at most Dollar stores (they are definitely available the store located at the Perry Hall shopping center Belair & Joppa roads). A
DAY PACK to carry around books, binders, pens, water bottles, etc is strongly suggested.
Merit Badge Material: Scouts should come to camp with any prerequisite work for the badges they signed up for, the
Merit Badge Booklet for EACH BADGE they are taking at camp, and a 3 ring binder for any notes/work they'll need to complete while taking the badge classes. Of course, a small supply of pens/pencils is recommended but are available at the Trading Post.
"Mad money": There is a trading post at camp that Scouts like to frequent throughout the day. Slushie drinks, candy, and cold sodas are camp favorites, but also available are Scout Craft items, patches, camp tee shirts, etc. It is parent's discretion how much money they send to camp with their son for discretionary spending. Past experience shows that $25-$30 is enough for "stuff" and a nice camp tee shirt to commemorate their week at camp.
Swimming & Toiletries: Scouts will need at least 1 bathing suit (worn to camp on Day 1!) and at least 2 towels for drying off from the pool and showers. Some type of 'water shoe' is recommended for walking between the pool and the camp site. Scouts should bring EVERYTHING needed for bathroom activities: shampoo, soap (bottled/liquid soap is MUCH better than "bar" soap!), tooth brush, tooth paste, toilet paper, etc. BABY WIPES and baby powder are great "quick clean" items when you're sweating in your tent and need to freshen up to get comfortable, especially in preparation of laying down to sleep. Travel size items are PERFECT. They are available at Walgreens.
Remember that we are in the HEAT and in the WOODS.... please pack deodorant, SUN BLOCK and BUG SPRAY. Battery operated fans are also popular items (with lots of spare batteries) and some nice (cheap) games to play or a book to read in the campsite as they "unwind" at night are also good ideas.
OA Arrowmen: Don't forget your OA Sash for the OA reception that happens at camp.
Clothing: Scouts will be provided with colored tee shirts for each day we are at camp. The troop will show our UNITY by wearing the same color shirt each day. One of the days at camp will be Hawaiian Shirt Day (whether the Camp sponsors it or not... it's a Troop 247 tradition!). Scouts will need to bring a Hawaiian shirt to camp (available cheap at thrift & Goodwill stores). All scouts should wear their TROOP 247 HAT at all times, for blocking sun and reducing the risk of ticks. Sunglasses are also helpful. Also, when they get left behind (and they will), Camp will immediately know it is one of OUR hats.
UNIFORMS: a FULL Class A "Field Uniform" is required for admission into the dining hall for DINNER each day. We recommend Scouts bring a clothes hanger so they can hang up their shirts each night and keep their shirt looking good throughout the week.
Other than arrival and dinner, scouts are free to wear whatever they want at camp. "Basketball" pants are light weight, quick to dry, well ventilated, and not as restrictive as cotton pants. Pockets are not needed as all scouts should be carrying a day pack for other items. Scouts should bring an adequate supply of underwear, socks, TWO pairs of shoes, and comfortable clothing for sleeping. One pair of long pants would be a good idea should the temperature drop and/or to cover legs if the insect problem is too bad.
Boys will be doing a LOT of walking at camp. To prevent their "manly parts" from getting chaffed in the crotch, "athletic performance" wear such as Under Armor, bicycle pants, or boxer briefs will go a long way in keeping them comfortable, as does a daily application of baby powder "down there".
Gear: Day pack, water bottle, personal first aid kit, and any gear needed for their planned agenda (knife/compass if taking any hiking or outpost adventure).
JOURNAL: There's no better way to unwind and close out the day than spending a few minutes in your bunk jotting down all of today's great memories in a notebook/journal. Keep a journal for every camping experience and you'll be making an family heirloom that you will TREASURE for the rest of your life!!! Jot down EVERY detail you can remember, from what you ate, to the corny jokes, no detail is worth forgetting.