Essential Camp Equipment
Having spent Sunday starting to drag out the many camping gadgets and gizmos that I have acquired over the years, I wondered what the top 5 essential items should be on any kit list. I especially thought towards a “normal” scout camp rather than a backwoods survival weekend, but somethings are useful no matter where.
The list of all the equipment is obviously pretty long, and I’d suggest that you would need one or two other things anyway – but it was the key items that provided you had the clothes on your back what stuff would be important. After a short think, I came up with:
- Watch
- Knife
- Waterproofs
- Walking boots
- Hat
Watch – A watch can do more than just tell the time – using the hands it can point North, you can use the back for signalling… and it will tell the time. I personally think a watch with hands is better than a digital one, especially in finding North, but digital watches do have other features and functions. Whatever watch you have, it should be waterproof – you don’t want to have to keep taking off when it might get wet. If you can get one with a Velcro strap, you can wear it outside of your waterproofs.
Knife – A straightforward Swiss Army Knife has a multitude of uses. You do need to look after it, ensuring that the blade is sharp and rust-free and any moving bits are oiled. If you have the pocket money you could move to the more expensive gadget loaded devices, such as Leatherman and Gerber – but a decent Swiss Army knife (either – there are two Official brands – Victorinox and Wenger) if looked after will last your lifetime.
Waterproofs – A wet weather camp programme is typically the dry weather programme in the rain. As you can be stood out in bad weather the whole day, having a good set of waterproofs can make such a difference. Ideally you want to look for breathable material so it will let the sweat out – that’ll keep you drier on the inside. As a final, important tip – ski-ing equipment is not designed to stop the rain. It will seem to stop the rain, but once waterlogged it will take a long time to dry – and that can lead to cold.
Walking Boots – See Waterproofs – but it is more than that. Camp sites are very uneven, so having something that will protect your ankles, offer you protection and won’t get wet in the morning dew will make the camp feel much nicer. My preference as a first set would be a full leather pair as this will also give you some protection should you need to use an axe (not as good as steel toe capped ones, but way more than canvas) and is also much more robust.
Hat – One of the most overlooked items in the kit list. It doesn’t have to be clever or expensive or have a flash label on it. It can be a simple baseball cap. I would suggest that the straight flat peak won’t be so useful, a curved peak seems (to me anyway) a more practical design. Bear in mind that this is something that you would wear all day in summer (keeping the sun off your head) and possibly in the rain under your waterproof hood (keeping the rain out of your eyes) and you may realise that after time it will start to look worn in. I would avoid what is known as the “truckers hat” with the back made of mesh – these are great as a peak, but the back (being mesh) is open to all the elements so isn’t as practical.
If you are finding that the sun is beating down on your neck (this is where the term “redneck” comes from) you can tuck a handkerchief into the hat so it covers the back of the neck (there is a hat called the Legionnaires’ Hat which has this already built in – it was developed by the French Legionnaire.
Hope you found this useful – but you may think something else should be on the list…
Evening Review – Checking Equipment
What a great evening! We had 18 of the Scouts down and after playing a game of four corner football, we set to and working in very small groups all focused on single tasks, rather than having bases that the Scouts would move between!
We had a number of bases, checking different bits of kit and equipment (the new tents for those going to summer camp), gas cookers, gas bottles, straightening metal pegs and checking wooden pegs. I had originally thought it would not be as much fun – but my group (chekcing the cookers) meant that we were able to deal with how to set the cookers up – and make sure that they worked (so we got to use matches!)
For the last night of the term, it was a really good one.
TLW Challenge
Because it is so close, this weeks challenge will be an easy one.
all you need to do is answer these two questions:
1. Who is the new Chief Scout?
2. Name the Assistant Scout Leaders of the Troop.
as always, written answers please!
Mobile Phone Directory News
I was sent an email that contained the following information. I thought it useful enough to post on this site:
Maybe you have heard about this but early next week all UK mobiles will be on a directory which will mean that anyone will be able to access the numbers. It is easy to unsubscribe but it must be done before the beginning of next week to make sure that you are ex directory. We have all unsubscribed and you may want to suggest it to all your friends and family who have UK mobiles or they could be swamped by unsolicited messages and calls. Removal is recommended by the BBC – see link below.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/working_lunch/8091621.stm
Just done this myself. Double checked it wasn’t a scam and it is actually on the bbc website recommending to do this.
The Directory of Mobile Phone numbers goes live next week.
All numbers including those belonging to children will be open to cold calling and the general abuse that less scrupulous telesales people subject us too.
To remove your number go here. (you need your mobile phone with you to do this, they text you a code)
http://www.118800.co.uk/removeme/remove-me.html
When on the site, click “Home” then “Ex-directory” this will remove you from the directory.
You can remove your number from this list, and tell all your friends – especially those with children who have mobile phones. I personally believe my mobile number is private and I should be able to chose who I give it to – none of us agreed to this when we signed our mobile phone contracts.
S.P. and Law – A Scout has Self-respect and Respect for others
The last of the Scout Laws; a Scout has self-respect and respect for others.
So what does RESPECT mean? The dictionary term (the one that we’re interested in) defined respect as being “the state of being honoured or esteemed”.
To me, to have respect for others means listening to their point of view; even if you disagree with it (and that’s fine) it’s not about saying “you’re wrong”, but more “I see things differently”. As an example, I may state that “Dangermouse”* was the best children’s cartoon ever – you may disagree and believe that it was “Pokemon” (I wouldn’t say you were wrong… but you are!) If someone IS wrong (say, they state that the answer to 2 + 3 is 8 ) having respect for others doesn’t mean that you immediately shout them down, show yourself to be superior, or make fun of them. It is about asking them how they arrived at that statement – it could have been a simple mistake.
Respect for yourself should not be any more challenging, but it can be. You’ll note that there has been no laws about exercise, healthy eating, or health in general – and that’s because of this law. Self respect is about making sure that you – as a machine – are properly maintained and looked after so you will work properly; it’s about you making sure that you make the best of yourself which may mean studying properly and not just wasting your talents by mucking about.
This is the last of the Scout Laws, so next week I’ll start to look at the Promise.
*Dangermouse was a British cartoon made by Cosgrove/Hall in the 1980’s. It featured the voices of David Jason and Terry Scott. For more information on this most excellent of series, go to www.dangermouse.org
