campdirector

Lisa,

I would agree that most of the gear in backpacker is more on the expensive side of what a day to day scout may need.

However, from my experience as a high adventure camp director the one item I strongly urge scouts to spend a little extra dough is in outdoor clothing. Many a time I saw scouts show up for a water activity in blue jeans and a hoodie. A good pair of quick drying zip off pants and a polypro top will go a long way and get more use than the nice expensive backpack that rarely gets used. Every now and then the magazine does some pretty good reviews on clothing.

North Face and Moutain Hardwear definitly make the most durable pants. REI's are a little cheaper but you get what you pay for. Now a days most of this stuff is fashionalbe enough to wear day to day for a kid.

I've found that everyone of the skills and how to tips from backpacker mag that I've tried work great. Want to put on a well informed outdoor skill course, get a stack of old backpackers magazines and make notes from all of the skills sections.

Lisabob,

He can always try a twiggy fire. It's a great skill to have once you master it. Use a pot or deep skillit with a top, build a small twig fire on top of the lid and feed the fire as you go. It takes a stove that he can have good flame control over and some patience. He'll probably mess up on the first try, no worries every one does. Afterwards he'll be able to bake anything on a camping trip without have to carry a huge dutch oven.

Other options

The Bakepacker : a small device you put in the bottom of the pot and use water as a source of the oven style heat and.

Backpacking ovens: they look like big frying pans but are light weigh and more conductive to heat.

Good luck!

I'm trying to guage interest for a possible sea kayaking trip in the Florida Keys during March. Interested to hear thoughts or comments related to cost, time, age, is this something that interest you,. Heres the bullet points on what were thinking:

Arrive on Sunday-paddle on Mon - Thur - depart Fri am or Thur pm

Cost- around $350-$390 (1/2 as much as any local guide service in the Keys)

Transportation from Miami airport to start point provided

All meals provided

All camping equipment including tents, stoves and paddling equipment would be provided

This would be a trek - moving from island to island

2 or 3 adults, 21-30 yrs old would be provided as guides and adult supervision

Trek would be offered during 3 different weeks in March

Any response will be appreciated.

(The Florida Sea Base does not provide a program like this)

Steve,

One idea is to combine your Camping 101 with a Leave No Trace workshop. Use each of the 7 principles and combine it with a skill for that principle.

For example:

Principle 1: Plan Ahead and Prepare

Creating a what to bring list - tie it in with a kims game variation.

For fire building use a mound or pan fires. Use stoves. Demo proper catholes or pack out methods.

If you want to go this route use the LNT website: http://www.lnt.org/programs/lnt7/index.html#lnt1 (choose: detail for the best info,

or

"Teaching Leave No Trace" is on the national scouting website for webview or download. It also has several activities: http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?s=ba

hope this helps.

Reggie

scoutldr,

Feel free to contact me anytime to discuss some things that your scouts may be interested in doing this summer.The 3 summer programs are not set in stone and i''ve created several custom weeks for units over the past few years. We''ve made alot of exciting changes to the 2008 season including an overhauled sailing program. My email and cell phone # are listed under "Contact" on the website at www.pamlicoseabase.org

"I note in the literature that adult leaders are not required to attend...how does that work out? " - In these situations we send two guides with the crew. Most of our guides are between 21 and 23.

-Reggie

PS;If just you and your leaders want to attend your more than welcome, our kayaks are very spacious. We''ll call it "Adult Leader Training".

Check out www.pamlicoseabase.org

A great combination of a high adventure (sea kayaking, sailing) camp with a residence camp 200 yds away. Older Scouts and younger scouts can both travel at the same time. Located on the coast of North Carolina.

I figured I'd start this forum and see how it goes. Council operated High Adventure facilities don't get the same advertising in the scouting community as the National Camps do. It really all depends on word of mouth....Use this forum to start that word of mouth to let leaders and scouts know what is available to them, list a camp that you may work at, rate a camp that you attended or give a review on a camp. Let's get the word out on whats available.

The Pamlico Sea Base is located on the coast of North Carolina and offers sea kayaking treks and a sailing school. check it out www.pamlicoseabase.org

I figured I'd start this forum and see how it goes. Council operated High Adventure facilities don't get the same advertising in the scouting community as the National Camps do. It really all depends on word of mouth....Use this forum to start that word of mouth to let leaders and scouts know what is available to them, list a camp that you may work at, rate a camp that you attended or give a review on a camp. Let's get the word out on whats available.

The Pamlico Sea Base is located on the coast of North Carolina and offers sea kayaking treks and a sailing school. check it out www.pamlicoseabase.org