Notes from 5/19 Pre-Camp Parents’ Meeting

Check-In for Departure:
Scout check-in will be at 8:30 AM on Tuesday, June 3rd, in the parking lot at HJ’s.

• Medication: At check-in, girls will need to turn in any medicines they’ll need to take during camp. Please have prescription medications in the original packaging. While these will be managed and distributed by a designated adult leader, it’s strongly recommended that scouts also understand what they need to take and when.
  

• Money: Girls will turn in their camp cash during the check-in process. All cash will be kept in separate envelopes in a locked box stored in a safe location. Scouts will be able to withdraw money each morning for their daily needs; however, they will not be able to re-deposit any change, so it’s recommended that only small bills (e.g. $5s) be brought. $75 - $100 should be sufficient cover snacks, small incidentals, and materials charges for some of the merit badge classes. Larger-ticket items like Camp Bartle shirts can be purchased by parents during Visitors Day.

What to bring: Download the official camp packing list.
A few notes on specific items:

• Camp T-Shirt: Ellen Pantaenius has ordered these and will be distributing them to the girls.

• Bible/Prayer Book: Recommended, but optional.

• Book Kit: This is a typo; what’s needed is a book bag/day pack.

• Scout uniform: Uniforms will be worn for travel and for certain camp events like formal flag retreats. Non-uniform T-shirts and shorts will be daily wear. No sleeveless or midriff-baring shirts should be brought.

• Sleeping bag: Bring pillow and sleeping bag in a trash bag marked with the scout’s name to keep dry. Sleeping cots (of various vintages) will be provided. Try to stake a claim on one of the newer cots; the old canvas ones tend to be saggy.

• Camp Box with Combo Lock: Girls will want to paint or stain their wooden camp boxes. Since boxes may be exposed to water, a coat of varnish or sealer is recommended. All personal items besides sleeping bag, pillow, and chair should fit in the camp box or the book bag. Shirts and similar items can be rolled to take up less room or packed in ziplock bags.

• Raincoat or Poncho: Morgan recommends a raincoat, because it can be worn for an extra layer of warmth and it doesn’t blow around in windy weather like a poncho.

• Swimsuits: While modest tankinis are permitted, one-piece swimsuits are preferred.

• Hiking boots: If brought, it’s recommended that hiking boots be worn during the trip to camp to save room in the camp box.

• Shoes: For safety (the camp area is very rocky) open-toed shoes are not permitted. Crocs or Keen-type sandals with closed toes are allowed.

• Personal mess kit: This will be needed for outpost activities, which take place away from the dining hall area of camp.

• Small rug: Since the tent pads are bare concrete, a small rug can make the sleeping area more comfortable and homelike. Carpet scraps and remnants are great for this purpose. Rugs will get filthy, so don’t bring anything that’s not disposable.

• Nylon line and clothes pins: These are for scouts who want to launder clothing or dry things like wet towels and swimsuits. Since the tent frames are metal, an alternative many use is to just drape wet items over the bars to dry. Parents may want to take home accumulated laundry on Visitors Day.

• Watch: Not on the official list, but it’s strongly recommended that scouts bring a wristwatch, since they’ll have a daily schedule of merit badge classes.

• Fan: Not on the official list, but a small, battery-powered fan can make sleeping more comfortable.

What not to bring:

• Aerosol items: Bug spray, sunblock, deodorant, etc, should be non-aerosol to avoid compromising the waterproofing material used on camp tents.

• Matches, lighters, fireworks.

• Phones

• Smart watches

• Food items not in individual-portion packs

Return: We expect to return between 11AM and noon on Thursday, June 12