Troop 714 plans a monthly campout for every month except July and August, including a long-term Winter Camp in December and a long-term Summer Camp in June. The campout is usually held on the third weekend of the month.
Unless otherwise announced, the Troop always meets at the church at 8 AM on Saturday morning for departure. Scouts should arrive about 15 minutes early to help with loading the trailers. Scouts arriving fifteen minutes late may find the Troop already gone. The return time is always 3 PM on Sunday unless otherwise arranged.
Drivers are asked to fill gas tanks and buy ice before coming to the church so that the whole Troop can leave the church and arrive at the campsite together. On the Sunday return trip, no car should leave the campsite prior to the announced time of departure. Scouts and adult leaders who attend the campouts should plan to stay for the entire campout. They must obtain permission from the Scoutmaster to depart early.
One of the objectives of Scouting is to teach each boy to take care of himself under unfavorable conditions. For this reason, campouts are scheduled right through the winter for training in cold weather camping. The Troop plans to go camping no matter what the weather. If the weather makes the intended campsite undesirable or inaccessible, an alternate campsite may be arranged. If the weather is bad on Saturday morning, each Scout should dress for it. The Scoutmaster or Acting Scoutmaster in charge of the camping event makes the final determination if a campout should be canceled because of adverse weather.
Safety is mainly using common sense. Troop 714’s campout rules are:
No flames in tents
No running through camp
No bare feet outside tents
No sheath or combat knives, slingshots, or firearms
Strict wood tool safety
Strict fire safety
No unsupervised swimming or boating
No leaving camp without permission, or without a buddy.
Each Scout must have a “Release and Authorization for Medical Treatment” form on file with Troop 714 before participating in any campout. A new, notarized form must be submitted each year, before the September campout. A copy of the form is included at the end of this document.
Each Scout must have a “Consent to Participate” form on file with Troop 714 before participating in any campout. A new form must be submitted each year, before the September campout. A copy of the form is included at the end of this document.
The Troop depends on parents to provide transportation to and from campouts and all other activities. If none of the parents of a patrol are able to provide transportation for the patrol to and from an activity, it may not be possible for that patrol to attend the activity.
Scouts who have a driver’s license and wish to bring a car to activities may do so, but no one else may ride with them except members of their own family. The car must be parked at the campsite and not driven during the weekend.
No Scout is allowed to use a knife or ax until he has shown that he knows how to use them properly and safely by earning the Totin’ Chip.
No Scout is allowed to build a fire on his own until he has demonstrated how to build one in accordance to the Outdoor Code and has earned the Fireman's Chit.
The following items are not permitted on campouts since they detract from the atmosphere and activity of Scout camping, are a primary source of litter, or are dangerous:
Comic books or magazines.
Video games, radios, television sets, or tape/CD/MP3 players.
Tobacco products, alcohol, or drugs.
Gum, candy, or carbonated drinks.
Sheath knives, slingshots, firearms, or fireworks.
Styrofoam items.
Roller blades, scooters, skate boards, or bicycles.
Clothing that imitates the uniforms of the United States Army, Navy or Marine Corps.
Cell phones (only adults may carry cell phones).
These and other non-Scout items may be confiscated during the trip and returned to the Scout’s parents.
The Boy Scouts of America are pledged to encourage reverence and faithfulness to God. When camping trips or other activities prevent attendance at church, the Troop schedules a non-denominational Christian worship service at the campsite.
Each patrol camps together. Within the patrol campsites, the Patrol Leader is in charge and responsible for his patrol. Patrol members may not leave camp without the permission of their Patrol Leader, who should not grant it until the necessary work is done. The Assistant Scoutmaster or other adult leaders for the patrol should also camp in the same area, and eat with their patrol.
Every patrol is responsible for its own clean up. The Troop policy is to use a three-pot system. The first pot is for soapy hot water for washing dishes. The second pot is a hot water rinse. The third pot is a boiling water rinse. This is essential for good health. It is the Patrol Leader’s job to see that this rule is followed. Any patrol not meeting this requirement must remain in the campsite until their dishes are properly washed.
Troop policy is to burn garbage and paper products where allowed. If Scouts bring Styrofoam (against Troop policy) or other synthetic packaging they must pack it out. All trash that cannot be burned must be placed in sacks and brought back to Dallas. Nothing is to be buried. Remember that if you pack it in, you pack it out! Each patrol must bring trash bags with them.
Appendix B, Camping Equipment Checklist, contains a list of camping equipment that a Scout should take with him on an overnight campout. As a Scout gains experience in camping, he may expand or contract this list, depending on weather and the type of camping he is doing. Other excellent lists of camping equipment can be found in the Scout Handbook and Scout Fieldbook, as well as general books on camping.
When you go to buy a sleeping bag and other camping necessities, do not be tempted to buy the other camping equipment you see in the store. Most of it is unnecessary for the kind of camping our Troop does. Scouts are encouraged to provide their own tents. Camping equipment is expensive. Buy it when you find you need it, after you have had experience that tells you what the best buy is.
The Scout must be able to carry (not drag) his own gear to the campsite. Do not carry gear in plastic bags as it may get confused with trash.
Scouts do not share tents with adults, except when approved by the Scoutmaster - in such case, a Scout may tent with his parent but not with any other adult. A Scout may share a tent with another boy in his patrol, or he may camp alone. Only two Scouts are permitted in a tent. Your tent is your home; do not enter another’s tent without permission from its Scout owner.
Parents or Guardians are always welcome on campouts, provided they remember that they are guests and not Patrol Leaders. The boys can best learn the Scout skills by doing them rather than by watching someone else do them. Guests may eat as a guest of their son’s patrol, or with the staff. If a guest becomes a frequent camper they are encouraged to become a registered Scouter.
No alcoholic beverages or tobacco products of any kind are permitted at any Scout function.
Each year Troop 714 attends a weeklong summer camp and/or a “high adventure” camp. This is a great opportunity to earn merit badges and just to have fun. The camp staff is well qualified and supervision is provided by at least two Troop 714 adults in camp at all times. The announcement of summer camp dates is usually made in December.
A complete physical examination is required prior to camp. A Council camp requires the exam to be current within two years for the boys. A BSA High Adventure camp required a exam to be current in the year the boy is to attend the camp. Adults follow the same rule until age 40, when an exam is required in the year of the camp. Exam forms are provided accordingly.
Troop 714 also plans a Winter Camp each December. The Troop may plan its own campout or participate in a Winter camp operated by Circle Ten Council. Information on Winter Camp is available from the Scoutmaster.