Winter Camping Equipment List

Note on Uniforms: When participating in the Klondike Derby or other winter camping events, Scouts must wear their class A uniform when departing on the trip and during the competition.  Event organizers have been known to check on this.  

Note on Clothing:  Scouts should dress in layers to keep warm; this includes socks.  Layers of clothing next to the skin must be changed at least daily (socks twice daily) because sweat makes them wet, and boys with wet clothing can quickly get chilled.  Cotton is not appropriate for underclothing, socks, and shirts because when wet it provides no insulation at all.  All clothing (and all personal gear) should be labeled with boy’s name.    

As always, Scouts should pack their own gear (with parental supervision) so they know what they have and where everything is.  Here is a checklist for a winter weekend camping trip.  

• Class A Uniform (including at least shirt, neckerchief & slide; hat and pants are optional)
• Hat that covers ears (e.g. balaclava) or hat with earmuffs
• Insulated gloves (2 pairs in case one gets wet or lost), waterproof or water resistant
• Heavy jacket or parka, waterproof or water resistant
• Socks, 4 pairs, non-cotton; wool or smart wool worn over sock liners
• Sock liners, 2 pair (silk and/or polypropylene) (wear under wool outer socks)
• Thermal Underwear, 2 pairs, non-cotton
• Waterproof boots or rubber overshoes (required)
• Long sleeve turtle neck shirts, non-cotton
• Heavy sweater or sweatshirt
• Pants, 2 pairs, non-cotton (ski clothing works great here)

• Sleepwear (jogging suit or similar, stocking cap)

• Poncho or other raingear
• Personal wash kit (washcloth, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb)
• Water bottle or canteen
• Mess kit and silverware
• Daypack to carry stuff in during the competition
• Sleeping bag (rated 5 degrees or less), or 2 sleeping bags can be used one inside the other.
• Sleeping bag liner or a wool or fleece blanket can be used inside the sleeping bag
• Ground pad or other closed cell insulator (required)
• Boy Scout Handbook for those on the Trail to First Class
• Flashlight with working batteries, extra batteries, spare bulbs

Optional Gear

• Watch
• Compass and whistle
• Matches (preferably in waterproof container) IF boy has Fireman’s Chit

• Pillowcase-optional (can be stuffed with clothing to make pillow)
• Personal first aid kid
• Chap stick and/or lotion
• Sun screen

Electronics Merit Badge

Electronics is the science that controls the behavior of electrons so that some type of useful function is performed. Today, electronics is a fast-changing and exciting field.

Requirements

1. Describe the safety precautions you must exercise when using, building, altering, or repairing electronic devices.
2. Do the following:
1. Draw a simple schematic diagram. It must show resistors, capacitors, and transistors or integrated circuits. Use the correct symbols. Label all parts.
2. Tell the purpose of each part.
3. Do the following:
1. Show the right way to solder and desolder.
2. Show how to avoid heat damage to electronic components.
3. Tell about the function of a printed circuit board. Tell what precautions should be observed when soldering printed circuit boards.
4. Discuss each of the following with your merit badge counselor, and then choose ONE of the following and build a circuit to show the techniques used:
1. Tell how you can use electronics for a control purpose, and then build a control device circuit.
2. Tell about the basic principles of digital techniques, and then build a digital circuit. Show how to change three decimal numbers into binary numbers and three binary numbers into decimal numbers.
3. Tell about three audio applications of electronics, and then build an audio circuit.

Show how to read the schematic diagram of the project you chose and, to the best of your ability, explain to your counselor how the circuit you built operates.

5. Do the following:
1. Show how to solve a simple problem involving current, voltage, and resistance using Ohm’s law.
2. Tell about the need for and the use of test equipment in electronics. Name three types of test equipment. Tell how they operate.
6. Find out about three career opportunities in electronics that interest you. Discuss with and explain to your counselor what training and education are needed for each position.

Resources

• Requirements
• Worksheet
• Pamphlet

Cardboard Campout

Cardboard Campout

(Fort Building)

We have an annual Cardboard Campout (Fort Building). This will be our pre-winter campout. We will be building forts out of cardboard and sleeping in them. We will be teaching the boys how to winter camp in a safe, easy to abandon, environment. It will be cold, so please read the "what to bring carefully". We may even qualify for a couple of Frost Points.

What to Bring:

• Winter sleeping bag (rated at 15 degrees or below) or multiple sleeping bags (nested together) 
• Sleeping bags need to be rated for much lower than what the temperatures will be. 
• Extra Blankets (for above and below sleeping bag) for extra insulation 
• Thick pad to sleep on (thicker is better), 2 pads would be preferred 
• note: air mattresses are terrible for winter camping 
• Change of clothing, including clean underwear and socks, to sleep in (critical!) 
• Flannel pants, sweatshirt, and winter hat (beanie) to sleep in 
• Hand/toe warmers (optional) (10+ hours - anything less than 8 hour is useless for overnight) 

Adventures are just tales

"Adventures are just tales of someone else being miserable far far away."

-- B. V. Larson (Star Force Series)

Summit Games

SUMMIT GAMES 2016

The premier planning and training activity for our young men.

All boys: please wear your uniform (class A preferred) and bring the dates of any scheduled family activities for the coming year, so we can plan around them.

Little Sahara Sand Dunes

Ice Fishing