Clean - Clean Hands, Healthy Camp
| Category: | Scout Law |
|---|---|
| Props: | A bar of soap or a hand-washing station (optional) |
| Notes: | For the meeting before a campout, or the first night at camp. Good to pair with setting up a patrol hand-washing station. Works for Cub Scouts too. |
When we say a Scout is clean, we usually talk about clean language and clean thoughts. Tonight I want to talk about something a lot more basic. Clean hands.
It sounds like something your parents nag you about. But on a campout, it really matters.
Here's how it goes wrong. One Scout uses the latrine, skips washing up, and then helps cook dinner for the whole patrol. Or reaches into the shared bag of trail mix. Or passes around the serving spoon. By Sunday, half the patrol has an upset stomach, and the campout everyone was looking forward to is miserable.
At home, you've got a sink in every bathroom. At camp, staying clean takes a little planning. So every patrol sets up a hand-washing station. Every Scout washes up after the latrine and before touching food, every single time. And the cooks keep their hands, their dishes, and their cooking area clean.
It's not just about hands, either. Brush your teeth. Change your socks. Wash up at the end of the day, even when nobody's checking. You'll feel better, you'll sleep better, and your tentmates will thank you.
Being clean at camp is a way of being kind to your patrol. When you keep yourself clean, you're keeping everyone around you healthy.
So wash your hands. Your whole patrol is counting on it.