Troop Life - The First Campout of the Year
| Category: | Troop Life |
|---|---|
| Notes: | For the meeting before the first campout of the scouting year, or the first night at camp. Especially useful when the troop has new Scouts going on their first campout. Part of a Troop Life series - see the other minutes in this category. |
It's been a while since our last campout. The tents have been rolled up in the trailer for months. Some of you have forgotten how the patrol stove works. And some of you have never been on a troop campout at all.
That's what makes the first campout of the year special. It sets the tone for everything after it.
So let's get ready. First, check your gear. Pull it out tonight, not Friday afternoon. Make sure your sleeping bag isn't still damp from the last trip, that your flashlight batteries work, and that your rain jacket actually fits after a summer of growing. Then check the gear list one more time.
Second, expect to be rusty. The first tent might take three tries. The first meal might be a little burned. That's normal after a long break. Laugh about it, figure it out, and you'll be back up to speed by Saturday night.
Third, and most important, take care of the new Scouts. For some of them, this weekend is going to decide whether they love Scouting or quietly stop coming. Show them how to pitch a tent. Invite them into the card game. Make sure nobody's eating alone or sitting outside the circle at the campfire.
A troop gets one first campout a year. Let's make it a good one.