Camping Ground Rules
No Sticks: At ages 6-10 years many boys can't resist the urge to pick up a long stick and swing, hit, poke, jab, or spar at each other. At least one of our boys seems to incur a minor injury by another boy wielding a stick at each campout. The danger related to sticks is even more of an issue after dark. Any boy caught swinging poking or jabbing another boy with a stick will be warned once and required to meet and discuss the importance of this rule with his parents and the Cubmaster on the second incident. Please do not allow your son to carry a stick at camp.Knives: Only Cubs in the Bear program (3rd grade) and above who have successfully earned their "Whittling Chip" card may carry a pocketknife at Scout events. Please do not allow your son to carry a knife until he has earned this elective. The official Cub Scout pocketknife or other folding knife with locking blade no longer than 2.5 inches is recommended. Many schools have zero-tolerance rules regarding the carrying of pocket knives. Please check with your school before allowing your boy to carry his knife to school. Pack leaders or parents who observe a boy using his knife in a dangerous or irresponsible way are authorized to confiscate a knife promptly and return it to a boy's parents.
Buddy System: No cub should leave the camping area, even to go to the latrine without at least one "buddy" or his or her parent. Parents should practice the "buddy system" too. When leaving the campsite to go on a hike, two leaders and parents should accompany the boys. Adults in charge of a hike should prepare a roster of everyone going along, state where they are planning to go, when they plan to return, and leave notice with a pack leader who stays behind.
No Running within the Campsite: Kids love to run. Yet, injuries related to trips, slips and falls are among the most common camping accidents. Trip hazards seem to be everywhere within the campsite (logs, rocks, sticks, tent guy lines, etc). Many young boys have a strong desire to test the force of gravity. Running only accelerates the potential fall, increases the force of impact, and increases the risk of serious injury. Please ask your child not to run within the campsite. Bring a soccer ball, Frisbee, or football and we'll find an open green space where running is safer.
Tent Privacy and Respect: Cubs must respect the private spaces of others. No child is permitted to enter another family's tent without first getting permission from that family's parents or adult guardians. Nobody wants to sleep in a tent that has been tracked with mud and dirt.
Bathing and Latrine Privacy: In accordance with BSA Youth Protection Policies, both boy and adult privacy should be respected in a practical and reasonable way when bathing and using the latrines. In Cub Scouting, parents (or an adult authorized by a boy's parents) are responsible for supervising and monitoring the safety of their children in latrines and showers. Leaders are instructed to respect the privacy of all scouts and supervise only to the extent of ensuring health and safety, as in the event of sudden illness, accidents, injuries, dangerous horseplay or roughhousing.
Cubs may not sleep in tents with adults who are not their parents or legal adult guardians. "Sleepovers" at campouts are only permitted when cubs of similar age sleep together in a tent with no adults.
No open toed shoes, sandals or bare feet in camp. Please do not even bring your sandals to camp. Sandals do little to protect your feet from breaks, sprains, cuts, and stubbed toes, stray campfire sparks or crushing by heavy objects such as logs. Please get your son a pair of sturdy hiker style boots for camping and bring a back-up pair of sneakers.
Contraband and Restricted Substances: Alcoholic beverages are prohibited at all scouting activities. Please abide by this rule and help us conduct a safe and accident-free program. Tobacco use is permitted but restricted to areas out-of-sight from the scouts. Please consult your Den or Pack Leader for the location of a designated smoking area.
Fire Safety: Many young children are almost transfixed by fire. Parents must supervise their children at all times, but especially around the fires. Cubs are prohibited from adding wood (or anything else) to the fire without express permission and supervision from their parent or a leader. The fire shovel and sand pail are intended to be fire safety devices and must remain near the fire ring.
- A ring of sticks, rope, or split wood can be used encircle the campfire at a radius of about four to five feet. Tiger Cubs should be instructed to stay outside the ring unless accompanied and supervised by a parent. Dens can modify this policy, as their cubs grow older and more responsible around fires.
Cubs cooking food, especially marshmallows, must have one-on-one, parent-child supervision at all times. A burning marshmallow is a sticky flaming mass that can cling to skin or clothing and cause a very serious burn.
- Liquid fuels (Coleman fuel, white gas, kerosene) are prohibited at campouts. Please bring only propane or solid fuels to campouts.
This site uses Emergy-C, a low wattage pallette.