Camping the Girl Scout Way

Introduction	Camping Readiness
Progression in Camping	Useful Camping Lists and Links

Introduction

If you ask a Girl Scout or former Girl Scout what she likes/liked best about Girl Scouts she will almost always answer with one word: camping. Girl Scouts have gone camping since the very earliest days. Camping allows the girls to grow in independence and self-reliance, to learn to work as a team and to make plans and carry them out. When things don't go as planned (it rains or the temperature drops, critters get into the food, the tent leaks, etc.), they learn to deal with difficulty and overcome it. There is nothing that creates bonds within a troop like camping together. However, the most important thing about camping is that it is FUN!

NOTE: In Girl Scouts of Tejas Council you may not take a group of Girl Scouts on a field trip involving cooking out OR on a camping trip without having taken the Troop Camp Training course.
For more information click below to go to this site's What Training does Our Council Require? page.

Okay, you have taken your training. The next question is:
Are your girls ready to camp? Check the GSUSA Camping Readiness Standards below:

Girl Scout Camping Standards - Readiness Indicators

emotional readiness
- is not afraid to be away from home or parents overnight (and parents are prepared to let daughter go!)
- wants to go
- is willing to sleep, eat, play with all girls, not just with best friends
- can cope with unknowns
  - strange places, including bathrooms
  - darkness (no electricity)
  - woods and night noises
  - spiders, bugs and worms
- can manage with little or no privacy
- can function as a member of a group
- doesn't always have to have own way, can give in graciously
physical readiness
- has stamina, does not tire easily
- strong enough to carry own suitcase, bed roll, bucket of water, pot of food, arm load of wood, etc.
- has strength and coordination needed for planned activities; can sweep and mop a floor, hike the mile, move tables and chairs, etc.
has necessary knowledge and skills
- can plan a simple trip
- can read and follow a recipe or kaper chart
- can use kitchen implements: hand operated can opener, grater, peeler, paring knife, etc.
- can wash dishes, clean up kitchen/cooking area, and store food properly
- can make a bed, clean a toilet
- can cut wood, build a fire, build a fireplace and/or can operate a camp-stove
- knows how to operate a flashlight, camera, etc.
has experience - proven ability
- has followed orders/instructions previously -- satisfactorily
- has been on a series of day trips, cookouts and/or has been to day or resident camp
- has done all the camp jobs usually found on a kaper chart
- has demonstrated in troop meetings her ability to pack and repack a suitcase, roll and tie a bedroll, etc.

Remember this is a guideline! These standards are intended to ensure that each girl will feel capable and comfortable while on the campout and will have an enjoyable experience.

So how do you get your girls ready to camp? Here are some ideas:

Camping Progression

If you have been in Girl Scouts long you will have heard the word "progression". According to GSUSA's 1996 version of Outdoor Education in Girl Scouts this means "acquiring the skills needed to progress to more difficult or highly skilled activities". We believe that girls enjoy experiences best if they have previously had other experiences to prepare them. This is particularly true when it comes to camping. Taking a group of girls camping with no preparation is likely to lead to frustration and confusion on the part of both girls and adults. Here is a progression that was published in to GSUSA's 1984 version of Outdoor Education in Girl Scouts . It is very detailed and it is not necessary to stick to it strictly step-by-step, but it does give a good idea of how to proceed in preparing Girl Scouts for camping.
Note: The Try-its and Badges listed after each section are only suggestions and are taken from the newest program materials.

Look Out
- Wonder what it is like
- Learn what to wear
- Learn good outdoor manners
Meet Out
- Use senses to look, listen, feel and smell in the out-of-doors
- Brownie Try-its to earn: Earth and Sky, Plants
- Junior Badges to earn: Outdoor Creativity, Your Outdoor Surroundings
Move Out
- Learn the 8 Basic Outdoor Skills - level one (link below): Outdoor manners (includes using Kaper Charts), dressing for the weather, knots, knife safety, fire use and safety, outdoor cooking (including sanitation), simple first aid, protecting the environment
- Visit an outdoor spot
- Record your observations
- Brownie Try-its to earn: Watching Wildlife
- Junior Badges to earn: Earth Connections, Outdoor Fun in the City, Wildlife
Explore Out
- Go with a purpose
- Take a snack to eat outdoors
- Take a short trip, walking, biking
- Brownie Try-its to earn: Water Everywhere
- Junior Badges to earn: Walking for Fitness, Horse Fan (used to be Horse Lover), Small Craft, Water Fun
Cook Out
- Junior badge to earn: Outdoor Cook (there is a suggested progression for outdoor cooking on the Leader's Landing site below), Outdoor Fun
Sleep Out
- Plan an overnight
- Brownie Try-its to earn: Outdoor Adventurer, Ready, Set, Go Camping
Camp Out (suggested equipment lists given below)
- a fun first campout could be in your own backyard
- Junior Badges to earn: Camp Together (used to be Troop Camper), Eco-Action
Pack Out
- Plan a trip extending over several days
- Explore new interests in the out-of -doors
- Help others learn about outdoor wonders
- Junior Badges to earn: Finding Your Way, Hiker
  At this level you might want to check out the 10 Essentials site listed below

Note for leaders in Girl Scouts of Tejas Council: It is a good idea to have a trained first aider along on these kinds of activities. You must have a signed parental permission form for each girl. Some activities require filing an Activity Approval Request Form with your service unit. Check the Forms page of this website for paperwork needed for various activities. Girls taking part in any activity involving cooking outside or camping must be accompanied by a Troop Camp Trained adult.

Leaders in other Girl Scout councils should check with their own councils for the kinds of paperwork and adult training required for this kind of activity.
******Always check SafetyWise for safety guidelines for any activity******

Useful Camping Lists and Links

Lists of What to Bring Camping:
- - Individual List
- - Troop Equipment List
- - Food Serving & Buying Guide for Camp

8 Basic Outdoor Skills
The skills are: outdoor manners (includes using Kaper Charts), dressing for the weather, knots, knife safety, fire use and safety, outdoor cooking (including sanitation), simple first aid and protecting the environment. This site has 4 levels to help build camping skills.

Leader's Landing Outdoor Skills Lots of ideas for teaching the 8 Basic Outdoor Skills. Also has a great progression for outdoor cooking and some suggested recipes for each step.

Get Knotted Animated knots.

Using a Compass

A Guide to Map and Compass

Compass Games This is a compilation of compass games from the WAGGGS-L list.

Girl Scouts R Fun Camp Paraphernalia
This page has directions for several useful things the girls can make to take to camp with them - dunk bag, pretzel can oven, waterbottle holder, sit upon, roasting stick, vagabond stove and buddy burner, fire starters, charcoal starter, handwash station and ditty bag.

The 10 Essentials
This page has a list of items that you should always have with you if you are going hiking, primitive camping or backpacking.

Weather Underground
This site has up-to-date weather information from all over the country and around the world. It also has other information including star charts you can print out for a particular date and location (click on Astronomy on the left side of the page).

WAGGGS-L Cyber Cookbook
Loads of camping recipes.

International Dutch Oven Society

Minimal Impact Camping

Perfectly Versatile Campsite Wanna see what your campsite could look like? Very cool ideas for camp "furniture" made with PVC pipe. All of it can be taken apart for transportation and storage.

You will find lots of information on camping on the "Sites with Lots of Ideas on Lots of Topics" and "Lists of Good Girl Scouting Links" on the Best Girl Scout Websites page on this site.

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