How To Make A Water Jug Lantern

One of the most needed necessities while camping is light when it is dark.  One trick that I learned was how to make a lantern using only a headlamp and a clear water container.  The process is simple; place the light directly on the side of the clear water container.  Just make sure that there is water inside the container. I personally like to use an old milk jug so I can have a handle when walking with my newly created lantern.

Cotton Ball Fire Starters

I take a bag of these fire starters with me on every camp out and hike. Extremely easy to make, easy to use, and light to pack.

Items needed:

• 100% Cotton Balls
• Petroleum Jelly (any brand works)
• Bag to store in (close-able plastic bag)

Completely coat the cotton ball with the petroleum jelly.  Make about 10 per plastic bag and store within your pack.

Always remember to use your best judgment when working with fire.

Firem'n Chit Requirements

Camp Fires

Throwback Thursday - Ninth edition-third printing-March 1980

Building the fire.

Tepee Fire Lay. This fire is great for a quick, hot fire. Place a handful of tinder in the middle of your fire ring and circle kindling in a circle facing up. The center of the sticks should come together forming a tepee.

Lean-To Fire Lay. This is a modified version of the Tepee fire. Push a green lean-to stick into the ground with the tip pointed into the wind. Lean the kindling on both sides.

Fire Stick Fire Lay. Place your fire stick down and pile your tinder on top. Lay a number of kindling sticks against the fire stick.  Build up with thicker and thicker fuel.  Ignite the tinder. 

Crisscross Fire Lay. Perfect for getting quick hot coals. Place two sticks on the ground parallel to each other. Put tinder them. Then lay thin kindling sticks crisscross over the two supports. Continue with more layers. Increase thickness from layer to layer. 

Dutch Oven Mountain Man Breakfast

Cooking this meal can complete requirements for the Cooking Merit Badge along with your rank advancements.

This is a favorite for my scouts on camp-outs.  Needless to say, we do not make this while backpacking.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound pork sausage
• 1 onion - chopped
• 1 green bell pepper - chopped
• 1 red bell pepper - chopped
• 1 clove garlic - Minced
• 1 (2 pound) package frozen / shredded hash-browns
• 12 eggs - beaten
• 1 pound cheese - shredded

Directions

1. Build a campfire and allow the fire to burn until it has accumulated a bed of coals. Or use charcoal briquettes.
2. Cook and stir the sausage, onion, and garlic in a 12-inch cast iron Dutch oven with lid, raised over the coals to medium-high heat, until the sausage is no longer pink and the onion is tender. Stir in the red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and hash brown potatoes until evenly mixed. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the hash browns are hot and the peppers are tender, about 15 minutes.
3. Pour the beaten eggs evenly over the top of the potatoes, allowing them to sink into the potatoes. Cover the Dutch oven, and place 6 to 9 coals underneath, and 12 to 18 on top. Allow to bake until the eggs are firm, about 40 minutes. Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese, cover, and continue cooking until the cheese has melted, about 5 minutes.

Servings: 12.... 'ish (scouts are always hungry!)

Total prep and cook time: 1.5 hours

Budget: (full price) $17.00  - $1.42/serving

Week Long Grandaddy Basin Camp

 
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Diamond Fork Campground

This is a great campsite for winter camping with younger scouts.  Located just five miles off of highway 6, Diamond Fork offers year round camping with the North loop being open during the off season winter months.  This campsite includes bathroom facilities, picnic tables, fire pits, a creek that runs along the perimeter, and nature trail loop.  During the winter months snow caves are able to be made along the bottom of the hillsides to the east of the campsites.

View Diamond Campground in a larger map

Whiting Campground - Mapleton, UT

View Whitings Campground - Mapleton UT in a larger map

Winter Camping - Staying Dry and Warm

While camping in cold weather there are three rules to follow...

1. Stay Dry!
2. Stay Dry!
3. Don't Get Wet!

When camping in cold weather, being wet can drop your body temperature down extremely fast.  

One way to stay dry and warm while winter camping is to dress in layers.  Layering is  a combination of clothes to regulate your body temperature. Layers are broken down into three categories. Inner, Mid, and Outer.

Inner layer - non cotton clothing that fits closely to your skin. A good example is Under Armor. (cotton will keep you warm unless there is any moister from water or sweat)

Mid Layer - this layer needs to stay in close contact to the inner layer but not be baggy. I usually use a fleece jacket for my mid layer.

Outer Layer - this layer also needs to not be baggy and should be rugged to withstand the elements.

Below are some examples of the three categories - Stay Dry and Warm!

Inner Layer

Outer Layer

Mid Layer

Types of Sleeping Bags

A sleeping bag is basically a blanket that you can close yourself in (usually with a zipper). It functions as your bed when you are camping. The sleeping bags primary purpose is to provide you with warmth and protection from the elements. Sleeping under the stars can be wonderful if the weather cooperates, we recommend that you use a tent along with your sleeping bag (unless you plan on using a bivy for your sleeping bag while backpacking).

Temperature Ratings:

Leave No Trace

Req #2 - Second Class

As Scouts we must always take care of our natural resources.  One simple rule that I have for my Boy Scouts is that we make our campsite cleaner and better than we found it.  Doing this will preserve the natural beauty of where we camp.  Raise your hand if you want to camp in a spot that is full of trash and where people have not properly burried their human waste... not I!  Use these simple bullet points as reminders of how to Leave No Trace in the wilderness.

• Plan Ahead and Prepare
• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
• Dispose of Waste Properly (Pack It In, Pack It Out)
• Leave What You Find
• Minimize Campfire Impacts
• Respect Wildlife
• Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Tin Foil Dinners

Tin foil dinners are a great way to have the least amount of cleanup during dinner at camp.  One thing

Personal First-Aid Kits

While Camping or Hiking, each Scout should take with them the Basic Essentials.  This includes a Personal First Aid Kit.  Your Personal First Aid Kit will be able to take care of minor injuries, blisters, and scrapes.  Your patrol will want to prepare

Run-on... "I'm Nuts"

-- Scout runs in front of the audience out of breath....
Scout: "They're after me! They're after me!"
 Audience: "Who's after you?"
Scout: "The Squirrels... they think I'm nuts!"
-- Run off

Spring Creek Hike and Overnighter

Even though this Hike is 2.5 miles each way, it is one that will challenge your scouts!  Trailhead is located at 250 S 2080 E, Springville, UT.  Within the 2.5 miles you will experience an elevation hike of almost 1,000 ft.  The campsite is located just off of

Camping Merit Badge

CAMPING



1. Do the following:
2. Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter while participating in camping activities and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards.
3. Show that you know first aid for and how to prevent injuries or illnesses that could occur while camping, including hypothermia, frostbite, heat reactions, dehydration, altitude sickness, insect stings, tick bites, snakebite, blisters, and hyperventilation.

Tenderfoot Requirement 3

There is one thing that tends to bring everyone together... Food!  You will find that your fellow patrol members are your brothers.  You will create amazing bonds with the members of your patrol and troop.  Some of my fondest memories of camping are those of cooking...sitting around the campfire after a full day of hiking and canoeing with a big bowl of blackberry cobbler

The Scout Basic Essentials

When going on outings, there are always a few items that you will ALWAYS want to take with you.  These items are called "Essentials". Taking these items will help make an awesome camping or hiking experience.

Scout Basic Essentials:

Tenderfoot Requirement 1

As a Scoutmaster, there have been many times when scouts show up unprepared for the overnight campout.  My personal favorite is the scout who shows up for a 5 mile hike with two gym bags, one on each shoulder, and a cot... its going to be a long hike!  If ye are prepared.... Ye shall have an awesome time camping!

When preparing for any campout, pack the following: