My outdoor adventure planning has evolved from solo backpacking, thru-hiking, mountaineering, family camping & backpacking, and now to Cub Scout Pack planning. I am Cubmaster and Den Leader for our local Cub Scout Pack 58 in Hillsborough, CA. Here’s a logistics plan and a gear list that may help others plan similar large car camping trips with the Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts.
Car Camping Logistics Plan
We look forward to the Pack group camping trip this weekend. We usually have 10 to 20 families sign up. The weather forecast is favorable – partly cloudy with high of 58 and low of 45.
Timing
- Arrive ~ 2 pm or after on Sat / Leave by noon on Sunday,
- Sunrise is 7:07 am – Sunset is 4:50 pm
- Heavy Rain cancels (not an issue)
Food
- Please bring snacks for personal use or if you have a picky eater or allergies, please bring your own food. Here’s the team menu
- Dinner
- Spaghetti & meatballs
- Dessert
- Smore’s
- Breakfast
- Instant Oatmeal (just add hot water)
- Hot Chocolate (just add hot water)
- Cereal & milk
- Pancakes
- Remember to bring personal cups, plates, silverware
- Dinner
Approximate Schedule
- Saturday afternoon
- Arrive & setup personal tent
- Kids burn energy / Boys usually run around in packs – can hit beach, use slackline
- 5:00 ish – prepare group dinner
- 6:00 ish – folks eat as food prepared
- Sunday
- 7:30 – start cooking breakfast / coffee
- 8:30 ish – eat breakfast
- Group hike along local trails
- Police the area for trash
- 11ish – Pack up tents & head out (alternatively, families can leave earlier)
Volunteer Activities – will assign to folks to help with the following tasks
- Purchase food (done)
- Purchase firewood (done)
- Bring pans for cooking (done)
- Cook group dinner on coleman stoves (will assign folks onsite)
- Clean up group gear (will assign folks onsite)
- Setup campfire Saturday night
- Cook group breakfast on Sunday morning (will assign folks onsite)
Car Camping Gear List
| Some good car camping links | ||
| http://boyslife.org/outdoors/outdoorarticles/6976/scout-outdoor-essentials-checklist/ | ||
| https://pmags.com/the-joy-of-car-camping | ||
| https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/family-camping-checklist.html | ||
| Personal Gear | Notes | |
| Tent | Either car camping or backpacking tent. I prefer backpacking tents since more versatile. Big Agnes (Copper Series) makes best backing tents. REI Half Dome is best value for a tent | |
| Tent ground cloth (essential) | Just need a piece of plastic / tarp to create barrier between tent & ground | |
| Sleeping bag | I prefer down 20 degree bags – most versatile | |
| Sleeping pad | Therm-a-Rest Z Lite folding sleeping pads are best value – and very hardy – especially with jumping boys | |
| Camp pillow | Folks can bring pillows. I usually stuff clothes in stuff sacks | |
| Headlamps | Please bring a headlamp for the boys. We’ll also bring little LED lights | |
| Water treatment | Site has a water pump that we can use | |
| Backpack / duffel bag | Duffel bags work well for car camping. Also putting stuff into smaller stuff sacks make it easier to organize | |
| Folding chair | There are picnic tables, but it helps to bring a folding portable chair if you have one | |
| Personal Eating Gear | Notes | |
| Water Bottle | Old gatorade bottles work well | |
| Plates / Cups / Silverware | Please bring your own cup, plate, silverware for personal use (can use plastic too) | |
| Personal Clothes | Just need to be reasonable with clothes – layers are key | |
| Rain shell | ||
| Insulation layer | Down, Fleece, or Synthetic Fill | |
| Hat | Hat that covers ears | |
| T-shirt | Cotton does not dry quickly. Wool or synthetic layers more versatile | |
| Pants | Jogging pants works well – dry quickly | |
| Bandana | ||
| Socks (synthetic or wool) | ||
| Towel | Hand towel is good compromise between size & coverage | |
| Sleeping clothes | Good to bring different set of clothes to sleep | |
| Shoes | Crocks are good as extra shoe | |
| Tooth brush… | Bring personal gear | |
| Klenex / Toilet Paper | Always good to have a personal stash | |
| Group Gear – Pack will Provide | ||
| 2 burner stoves for cooking | Pack will provide | |
| Stove Fuel | Pack will provide | |
| Pots | Pack will provide | |
| Matches/lighter | Pack will provide | |
| Biodegradable soap | Pack will provide | |
| Collapsible water container(s) | Water is available onsite as well | |
| Group Dinner & Breakfast | Pack will provide | |
| Finger lights | Pack will provide – fun for the kids | |
| Camp first aid kits | Pack will provide | |
| Garbage bags | Pack will provide | |