Scouts Canada, Author at BC Parent Newsmagazine

A Scout’s Guide to the Ultimate Summer Camping Trip

27℃. That’s the perfect temperature for summer camping according to Scouts – Canada’s youngest outdoor experts. So, go check the thermometer. It’s time to answer the call of the wilderness!

Take Winter Adventures to the Next Level with Scouts Canada’s Ultimate Camping Hacks

Scouts learn essential outdoor skills and how to prioritize safety in all activities from day hikes or week-long portage tours. Prepare for your next camping trip – whether it’s the first of fiftieth – just like a Scout with Scouts Canada’s Ultimate Summer Camping Guide to make your adventure both memorable and safe.

Campfire Construction

For many, a campfire is a beloved tradition and the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of camping: laughing, roasting hot dogs and sharing stories around crackling flames. The best fires are made up of three things:

Tinder: Small twigs, dry leaves, needles, bark, wood shavings, paper or even dryer lint. These burn immediately and are a crucial element to spark the fire.

Kindling: Sticks as thick as fingers help to build a strong foundation.

Firewood: Logs of wood keep the fire burning long into the night.

Collect plenty of dry wood before striking a match so the fire isn’t left unattended to gather more fuel. If the campsite has a designated fire pit, use it to keep the flames contained. If it doesn’t, build the fire away from brush, branches, and tents on a durable surface like a rock, dirt or sand to prevent scorching the earth. Always have water close by to extinguish the fire.

Animal Encounters

You’re venturing into animal territory while camping. Knowing in advance what types of wildlife reside in the area will help prepare for and avoid animal encounters. Check for reports of recent sightings and keep an eye out for signs of wildlife nearby such as tracks, fresh droppings, scratches on tree trunks, or animal homes.

Be particularly cautious to protect against ticks, tiny bugs typically found in grassy, wooded areas or along shorelines and in parks – all places campers like to go! Some ticks can be carriers of illnesses like Lyme disease.

Top 10 hiding places for ticks

To prevent a tick bite, wear long sleeves and pants tucked into socks so they can’t crawl in, use bug spray that has DEET, and wear light clothing so ticks are easier to spot. Before heading back to camp, do a thorough check all over your body – and continue to check because ticks can stay attached for five or more days.

If you are bitten by a tick, remove it carefully with tweezers by pulling upward with steady even pressure, clean the area well, and watch for symptoms including a bulls-eye shaped rash. Seeing a doctor is recommended, as early detection is key. Symptoms of Lyme disease may not appear for weeks or even months after being bitten! Make sure to save ticks in a clean container and contact a local public health unit. As Lyme disease spreads to more ticks, it is increasingly important that ticks be identified and tested.

First Ow, First-Aid

Before heading out on any camping adventure, make sure your supplies include a fully-stocked first-aid kit. Scouts use the below checklist of items, so they’re prepared for anything!

Scout-Recommended Adventure Activities

Adventurous activities go hand-in-hand with camping, and prioritizing safety is essential to a great trip.

A few Scout favourites are:

Canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding provide stunning views of nature, but even on a clear day, safety is key. Always paddle within your capabilities, wear a life jacket, bring an emergency kit, tell someone where you’re going and stay close to land when possible. Also, there is a difference between a lifejacket and PFD (personal flotation device): a lifejacket will turn most people over to keep their faces out of the water even if they lose consciousness. A PFD will not.

Stargazing is of the most beautiful parts of going camping and a perfect opportunity to learn about constellations and the mysteries of the night sky!

Astronomy with your Kids

Swimming is the best way to cool off on a hot sunny day. Always swim in a group, avoid rough water and strong currents, and wear a PFD if you’re not a strong swimmer. Don’t forget to reapply sunscreen!

Hiking: Watch out for hazardous plants like poison ivy. Remember: leaves of three, let it be! No one plans to get lost, but it can happen even on a short walk so always bring a daypack with emergency supplies including extra water, snacks, a headlamp, first aid kit, and emergency blanket.

Leave No Trace

One rule Scouts always follow is Leave No Trace. This means not disturbing nature while enjoying the outdoors. Plan trips to ensure waste is packed up and disposed of properly, invasive species are not brought into the campsite, and wildlife isn’t disturbed by excessive noise, light or garbage. Leave nature exactly as you found it.

For even more camping and safety tips visit:
scouts.ca/safety/safety-tips or join Scouts Canada to learn firsthand!

July 17, 2019 0 comment

Activities

Take Winter Adventures to the Next Level with Scouts Canada’s Ultimate Camping Hacks

written by Scouts Canada

Winter and camping, an oxymoron? Or the ultimate outdoor adventure? The experts at Scouts Canada agree with the latter!

Picture this, you’ve just set up camp and have a warm fire roaring, when white billows of snow begin to fall around you. There’s nothing more Canadian than winter camping, but of course, warmth, comfort, and safety should be top of mind before planning your next (or first) camping venture in cold temperatures.

It’s always recommended that you check the forecast before leaving home and to prepare accordingly as winter weather can be unpredictable. In Scouting, youth are taught outdoor skills to make winter camping both safe and fun; and though Scouts are considered Canada’s youngest outdoor experts, winter camping is something that anyone can undertake, especially with these tried-and-tested, Scout-approved hacks:

Pack down a large area of snow before placing your tent on top. This will give you a smooth, flat surface while sleeping, and lessen the chance of tearing the floor if you were to step into a hole in the ground. Using snowshoes or skies if you have them will make doing this easier and faster.
Bring the right sleeping pad if you are camping overnight. You lose more heat through conductive heat loss when sleeping, so make sure your pad is thick enough that you can’t feel the cold when lying down. Use a yoga mat or two to help create an extra heat barrier.
Stuff your clothes for the next day in your sleeping bag. This will help avoid having big pockets of air in your sleeping bag — and retain body heat. Plus, you’ll wake up with warm clothes to put on in the morning.
Place your boots (inside a plastic bag) and boot liners in your sleeping bag as well. If your winter boots became damp during the day, placing them in your sleeping bag will keep them from freezing at night. Then in the morning, they’ll be dry and toasty warm.
Pack your matches in a waterproof metal container, not plastic, as plastic can break if frozen. And always pack more than you think you’ll need. The last thing you want is lost or damp matches, leaving you without a very important tool for fire making!
Create quick fire-starters by pulling items from around your house. Coat cotton balls in cooking oil or Vaseline, place it onto tinfoil and fold into a secure packet. When it’s time to start your fire, cut the packet, twist out a small amount of cotton into a wick and strike a match to it.
Use lithium batteries in all of your winter electronics such as headlamps, flashlights, GPS navigators, or a radio used to keep track of the changing weather. Not only does lithium perform consistently in cold temperatures compared to alkaline, but they are lighter and last three times as long.
Store your water bottles and other liquids upside down. Water freezes from the top; so, when you are ready for a drink, the frozen water will be opposite to the spout.
Use wooden utensils instead of metals ones when cooking and eating meals. Winter temperatures can make metal super cold, which in turn will cause the temperature of whatever you’re cooking and eating to drop quickly as well. Plus, frozen metal can stick to damp fingers – ouch!

November 14, 2018 0 comment