Personal and Group Equipment

One of the big decisions for any trip is what to take. What are your clothing needs? Sleeping needs? Packing needs? Cooking/cleaning needs? Shelter needs? First aid needs? And what are the items you DON'T need? You'll want to consider with the girls what equipment is available on site, what sources are available for borrowing/buying/renting equipment and supplies? You'll find suggestions to consider on all those topics below and find recommended packing lists in the course handout. Clothing Select clothing based on the weather, location, and planned activities. Put clothing in plastic bags to keep clean clothes dry and wet/dirty clothes separate. Additional information is available in the section on Dressing for the Out of Doors. Sleeping To keep sleeping bags and bedrolls from unrolling as they're being transported, tuck them into a stuff bag of some sort. A large plastic bag or old pillow case will work if the sleeping bag didn't come with a stuff bag. If you're sleeping on the floor, will you want a foam pad or air mattress for extra padding? Remember the different economic situations of your girls. Perhaps challenging all the girls to make and sleep in old-fashioned bedrolls would be a good alternative for the girl without a sleeping bag. (Your handout has a diagram of a bedroll or simply "Google" the word.) Or use an aluminum pie pan instead of an expensive mess kit. Challenge your girls to come up with ways to "camp cheap." Packing Pack Lightly! Girls are expected to carry their personal gear from the vehicles to their destination. Girls should pack and be responsible for their own gear so that they know what they brought and where it is packed. Rain gear, sit-upon, mess kit and flashlight should be on top of the pack for easy retrieval. Pack in a soft bag and seal plastic bottles of liquid in plastic bags in case of leaks. Label belongings so that everything finds its way back to its proper home. Cooking/Cleaning Consult menus to create the list of items needed to prepare and serve the planned food. Remember the small kitchen tools needed for preparation. Bring storage bags/containers for leftover food. Girl Scouts always want to leave a place looking better than we find it, indoors or out. Include those standard necessities for kitchen areas like dish detergent, towels, rubber spatulas, scouring pads and garbage bags. Standard necessities for bathroom areas are hand soap, toilet paper, trash bags, and cleansers. These standard cooking and cleaning supplies could be stored in a plastic tub, ready to go at a moment's notice. Shelter This course prepares you for taking girls to a facility with toilets, where girls sleep together in one room. In later courses, you'll learn how to plan for tents, tarps, and other shelter concerns. First Aid Always carry your troop first aid kit with you. What DON'T you need? With the girls, decide on the appropriateness of these items: electronic games, iPods, mp3 players (all "PIDs"- personal isolation devices) cameras cell phones hair dryers valuables, jewelry items that would be ruined if wet Do Not Bring items in glass containers perfumes (attract insects) chewing gum, candy or other "personal foods" (attract animals) Let's Review: 1) Girls should pack their own bags because      A)  They'll learn to be more responsible      B)  They can sneak in items they're told not to bring      C)  They'll know where each item is packed      D)  A and B      E)  A and C 2) When packing personal gear      A)  Sleeping bags should be in some sort of stuff bag      B)  Wheeled luggage and hard suitcases are preferred      C)  Clothing and liquids should be sealed in plastic bags before packing      D)  A and C      E)  All of the above 3) Flashlights, sit-upons and rain gear should be packed on top so they are readily accessible.      A)  True      B)  False 4) Glass containers are no problem as long as they are sealed in plastic      A)  True      B)  False 5) Girls and adults work together to create troop equipment lists.      A)  True      B)  False 6) These items could be conveniently stored in tubs to be ready to go at a moment's notice.      A)  Kitchen/food preparation and cleaning supplies      B)  Toilet paper and other bathroom supplies      C)  Sit-upons and rain gear      D)  A and B      E)  All of the above 7) Which of following are examples of "camping cheap?"      A)  Making a bedroll of blankets and sheets      B)  Using a mesh vegetable bag for a "dunk bag" to hold your dishes      C)  Purchasing troop cooking utensils from the thrift shop      D)  A and C      E)  All of the above

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