Any last minute camping advice?

[ICRS]

Cub Scouts?

Sounds like it is affiliated with the hatefull boy scouts. First I would get him out of that hatefilled organization. Remember their message is hate and intolerance.

As far as a camping trip, Make sure you have a flashlight, a way of clearing away rocks, nothing worth than having a rock under your tent. Also make sure to bring enough of the right kinds of foods.

 

[ShockwaveVT]

Bring a lighter and a good folding knife (or a large survival knife with sheath).
Bring a few camp chairs - no guarantee there will be convenient logs to sit on.
Get an LED headlamp. A decent one will set you back $20+ but will be well worth it when its dark and you need 2 hands to do something.
Bug repellent. The temp will probably take care of mosquitoes but even in October ticks will be looking for a meal.

 

[waffleironhead]

Remember to not let anything touch the walls of the tent, condensation will soak everything.

Bring some rope to hang the sleeping bags out to dry as almost surely one will touch the edge and get damp,

:thumbsup: Enjoy the trip. Some of my fondest memories of youth are camping trips.

 

[Gibsons]

Bring food, I don't care if the scoutmaster is supposed to bring some. Get some energy bars or something else that doesn't require cooking.

Also, a blanket to put between the sleeping bag and air mattress. Someone else posted about how the mattress can be cold - it's true and if you end up getting about 3 hours sleep due to the cold, you're going to be grumpy and miserable for a while.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

Make sure that the sleeping bags you have are rated for cold weather. It should have had a minimum outdoor temperature rating on the package.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Gibsons
Bring food, I don't care if the scoutmaster is supposed to bring some. Get some energy bars or something else that doesn't require cooking.

Yeah we're bringing some of our own food anyway because we have to provide our own lunch on Saturday.

Also, a blanket to put between the sleeping bag and air mattress. Someone else posted about how the mattress can be cold - it's true and if you end up getting about 3 hours sleep due to the cold, you're going to be grumpy and miserable for a while.

Yeah, my wife has pulled just about every blanket in the house out for this trip. We're going to have plenty of insulation between the ground and the air mattress. I think it will be going ground -> tarp -> tent -> tent floor cover -> a roll of carpet -> two blankets -> air mattress -> blanket -> sleeping bags -> us -> a couple of more blankets

 

[dougp]

Originally posted by: ICRS
Cub Scouts?

Sounds like it is affiliated with the hatefull boy scouts. First I would get him out of that hatefilled organization. Remember their message is hate and intolerance.

As far as a camping trip, Make sure you have a flashlight, a way of clearing away rocks, nothing worth than having a rock under your tent. Also make sure to bring enough of the right kinds of foods.

The only people I hate are people like you, douche.

Originally posted by: Gibsons
Bring food, I don't care if the scoutmaster is supposed to bring some. Get some energy bars or something else that doesn't require cooking.

Only bring pre-packaged food, and make sure you store it outside of your tent. Don't give raccoons or skunks a reason to want to snuggle up next to you and enjoy that powerbar.

 

[Balr0g]

Essential medicines:

Benadryl
Aspirin
Immodium AD (Nothing, and I mean nothing is as bad as the runs while camping)

Also take a big box of baking soda. If your kid gets into anything that causes an allergic reaction like nettles or poison ivy, making a paste with water and baking soda and applying can relieve the itching, etc.

Take your own food.

Also if any of you are allergic to bee stings you should have a kit for that. I usually take a kit anyway, just in case anyone is and doesn't think to bring one.

Definitely that first aid kit. Make sure it has something absorbent. Some maxi pads will work well to tape to a more severely bleeding wound.

For starting fires, a cool trick is to take some cotton balls and soak them in petroleum jelly (vaseline) and keep them in a bag. These will start a fire in just about any condition providing that you have dry wood. Do not let any wood get wet.

Other things to consider:

Axe
Hand Saw - they also make a "chainsaw" for hand use that works quite well.
Shovel

Chairs! Those foldable ones. Not having chairs is no fun.

Matches. I don't know about where you will be but sometimes lighters and such won't work very well at high altitude.

Above all - have fun!

I always enjoy camping.

 

[Queasy]

Holy crap. I just looked at the latest forecast for the weekend and we're going to be two degrees from freezing Saturday night/Sunday morning.

Yeesh. I think the Polar Bear badge is for camping in weather 32 degrees or lower. He'll just miss that. :laugh:

 

[Turin39789]

Pour your whiskey into your coffee, don't drink from the bottle in front of the kids at breakfast.

 

[darkxshade]

I wouldn't fret... the children usually survive at the end of slasher films. I'd worry about taking care of my unfinished business though if I were you.

 

[SirStev0]

Originally posted by: Balr0g
Essential medicines:

Benadryl
Aspirin
Immodium AD (Nothing, and I mean nothing is as bad as the runs while camping)

Also take a big box of baking soda. If your kid gets into anything that causes an allergic reaction like nettles or poison ivy, making a paste with water and baking soda and applying can relieve the itching, etc.

Take your own food.

Also if any of you are allergic to bee stings you should have a kit for that. I usually take a kit anyway, just in case anyone is and doesn't think to bring one.

Definitely that first aid kit. Make sure it has something absorbent. Some maxi pads will work well to tape to a more severely bleeding wound.

For starting fires, a cool trick is to take some cotton balls and soak them in petroleum jelly (vaseline) and keep them in a bag. These will start a fire in just about any condition providing that you have dry wood. Do not let any wood get wet.

Other things to consider:

Axe
Hand Saw - they also make a "chainsaw" for hand use that works quite well.
Shovel

Chairs! Those foldable ones. Not having chairs is no fun.

Matches. I don't know about where you will be but sometimes lighters and such won't work very well at high altitude.

Above all - have fun!

I always enjoy camping.

What happened to roughing it???

 

[aceO07]

I agree about the air mattress. It will suck away warmth. I had it in my apartment before and it didn't feel warm in the winter even though it was only 55-60s in my room. There was a blanket under me and another one covering me.

Make sure to have a good warm sleeping bags. Extra pairs of socks. Headlamp/flashlight/batteries. Light waterproof tarp and rope, in case you need to set up makeshift covering over tent/table/campfire against rain so you can still be outside. Wear clothes in layers, so you can just take off a layer and not freeze (ie, don't do thick coat and tshirt). Have a good knife. The edges of the tent seem to get damp/wet, so don't put anything that you want to keep dry along the inside edges. A tent light is nice so you don't have to use a flashlight.