Boy Scout Camping

Boy Scout Camping isn't a simple thing, I can tell you that from experience (one boy scout camp-out down, too many to go...). My guys have camped with the cub scouts but that is a whole 'nother thing. Boy Scouts go without their parents and with quite a massive amount of gear. I don't even want to add up how much all this cost, I stopped counting when the amount got scary and that was only one the first shopping trip but we have told the boys if you lose it you will camp next time without it!

Here is a photo of the first (of 5) shopping trips to get ready for boy scout camping. We were all rather optimistic at that point.


here is a photo from the fourth shopping trip to get ready for camping. No we didn't need to buy Dora one of the boys knocked her down with their massive bag of camping gear and Hayley was kind enough to right the rather large, inflatable explorer. We were no longer optimistic by this point.


BJ's was the third trip I believe.


Now how to pack 6 feet of stuff onto the backs of 4 and 5 foot tall boys?



then of course once we have all the gear we need to practice camp cooking.




After shopping at Walmart, Dicks sporting goods, Kmart, another walmart, BJ's, Target, The scout shop, Sears and the grocery store. Plus cooking tofu hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches, potatoes in foil and s'mores over a fire, and of course making that fire, the boys were deemed ready for camping.

Off in the rain they went.



I can tell what Hayley's thinking- better you than me dear brother, I'm going home and getting out of this rain!




They had fun, they found out everything they don't know yet about camping. They learned things, made mistakes, got wet, tired and in Tristan's case hungry because he forgot to eat sometimes, but they still want to do it all again.


Tristan was very over tired, hungry and overwhelmed when we picked him up 2 days later and had a super mega tantrum but after some good food and a good warm sleep he was all recovered.


They only lost a couple things, thank goodness. They will camp again in a few weeks and the theme for that one will be Iron Chef- cooking without utensils. We figure if we don't have to pack the utensils that will take a little weight off their back packs!