CAMPING SKILLS 1 1. Don't panic.

You can't think clearly when you panic, so take a deep breath
Category: Recreation and relax.
2. Pray. You may not know where you are, but God does, so talk to Him.
1. Be at least in the 5th grade.
3. Stay where you are. It is a lot easier for someone to find you if you stay
Camping Skills I has been designed so that it is within the capabilities of Pathfinders put.
who are in the 5th grade or higher. 4. Listen for the sounds of other campers, traffic, waterfalls, rivers, airplanes
or anything that might help you find your way back.
2. Understand and practice wilderness and camping etiquette, regarding
preservation of the outdoors. 5. Look around - maybe you'll recognize something that can guide you back to
civilization.
Be considerate of other campers. When purchasing tents, buy ones in muted colors
that will blend in with the environment. Blues, greens, and browns are preferred to 6. If you have a whistle, blow on it. If you don't have a whistle, yell loudly.
reds and oranges. People go camping to escape the garishness of the city—leave Someone in your party might hear you. Repeat this every 15 minutes or so
that behind. and be sure to listen after each sounding. (three of anything is universally
recognized as a call for help, so three whistle blasts, or three shouts)
Also be mindful of the noise level made in your camp. Don't be a nuisance. If
7. If you have a map and compass, try to locate your position by looking for
camping in the wilderness, be sure to make your camp out of sight of the trail.
hills valleys or streams.
Most National Forests have guidelines for where you can camp in relation to the
trail. Find out what those guidelines are and follow them. 8. You can try to relocate the trail, but you do not want to get any further
away from your last known location. Mark your location with something - a
Do not enter anyone else's camp site without their permission, especially when backpack, hat, or a large rock - but make sure it's something unmistakable.
traveling to or from your campsite to other places on the campground. It is very Then venture 10 meters out, and circle your marker, all the while looking
rude to cut through another camp. Use the road or trail, even if it will take longer. about to see if you recognize the trail or a landmark, and always keeping
your marker in view. If you do not see anything you recognize, widen the
Leave the area cleaner than you found it. If you are leading a group of youngsters circle by another 10 meters and repeat. Continue circling your marker at
on a campout, have a contest before you pile back in your cars to go home: see ever wider intervals, but stop when continuing would cause you to lose
who can collect the most litter (define "most" first though - it can mean by volume, sight of the marker.
by weight, or by item count). Offer a prize to the one who collects the most (such
as getting to choose which seat he or she will sit in on the trip home). 9. Climb a tree or hillside. A higher vantage point might reveal a landmark you
missed from a lower elevation.
3. Know eight things to do when lost.
10. If it's an hour or less until sunset, prepare to spend a comfortable evening.
Make a shelter, and light a fire. Things will look better in the morning, and
The best advice about being lost, is - DON'T! And the best way to keep from getting
your fire may attract a rescuer.
lost is to stay on the path.
4. Be familiar with various types of sleeping equipment suitable to location and
If you suddenly realize that you do not know where you are, then here are some
season.
things to do:
Sleeping bags
Rectangular Open-cell foam pads

The rectangular sleeping bag is probably the most common, and are popular for Open-cell foam is a type of foam padding that is sometimes found in furniture
light use. They are not suitable for backpacking because they provide the least cushions or even in regular mattresses. It is lightweight - though somewhat bulky.
amount of warmth and the most amount of weight. As the name implies, they are Its chief disadvantage is that it soaks up water like a sponge.
rectangle-shaped. While this makes them comfortable and roomy, the wide
opening near the top is a major source of heat loss. Unlike a mummy bag it does Closed-cell foam pads
not have a hood that can be drawn around the head to retain heat.
Closed-cell foam makes the ideal sleeping pad. The closed cells do not soak up
Mummy Bag water. They are lightweight, comfortable, and compact. Often they are only half an
inch (12 mm) thick, so they can be rolled into a small tube and strapped to a
The mummy bag is shaped like a sarcophagus. It is narrow at the feet (but tall there backpack. They also serve as an excellent thermal barrier between the sleeper and
to allow just enough room for the feet), tapers at the waist, widens again at the the ground.
shoulders, and then tapers down near the head. The top is very much like the hood
of a winter coat, complete with drawstrings to close up the gap and keep heat in. 5. List personal items needed for a weekend campout.
Because they conform so well to the human shape, there is very little wasted space
inside. This is good because your body has to heat all that space, and because the Warm Weather Clothing
extra insulation and material thusly removed does not have to be carried (meaning
it's lighter). Keep in mind that the weather can change suddenly though. Just because it is
warm when you begin your outing does not mean it will be warm the whole time. If
Barrel Bag there is a chance that the weather will turn cold, take along some cold weather
gear as well. Check an almanac to see how cold it can get during the time you are
The barrel bag is a modified mummy bag. It is roomier than the mummy bag and planning to be out.
provides almost the same warmth at the cost of additional weight.
Here is a list of clothing appropriate for a warm-weather outing.
Sleeping Pads
 Thick socks
Sleeping pads can perform two main functions:  Jeans

1. Provide cushioning  Light Shirt (short sleeve)

2. Provide insulation between the sleeper and the ground.
 Light Shirt (long sleeve)
Air mattresses  Hat with a wide brim

Air mattresses are inflatable cushions that can provide a lot of comfort when it  Boots
comes to sleeping on the ground. Unfortunately, they are not very warm as they
provide next to no insulation beneath the sleeper. This may not be an issue, though Cold Weather Clothing Remember to dress in layers. This will allow you to control
it is well worth knowing. your temperature better. In cold weather, you do not want to sweat, because that
will soak your clothing and chill you. If you find yourself working up a sweat,
remove a layer of clothing, or open a zipper. Rely on wool rather than on cotton,  Coins (for campground showers)
because wool stays warm even when wet. There is a popular saying among
experienced outdoorsmen that "Cotton kills." This is because when cotton gets  Bible
wet, it steals the body's heat which can lead to hypothermia and death. Your outer
 Camera
layer should be wind-proof, as this greatly increases the warmth of your clothing.
Here is a list:  Notepad and pencil

 Thermal Underwear  Toiletries (Toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, etc.)

 Light shirts (polyester or some other synthetic)

 Heavy Shirts
6. Plan and participate in a weekend camping trip.
 Wool Sweater

 Wind Breaker There are a lot of aspects to planning a camping trip, including selection of a
campground, choosing the dates, the menu, equipment, and solving the problems
 Fleece Pants (synthetic) of getting there. Get your whole group involved in as much of the decision-making
as possible. Where do they want to camp? When can you go? What will you eat?
 Nylon Pants (as the outside layer) or snow pants Who will go? How many tents will you need? Who will sleep in which tents? Is all
 Overcoat the gear in a good state of repair?

 Wool Socks When all these decisions are made, someone needs to go out and buy the food,
repair, replace, or buy any gear that's needed, et cetera. Every camper under the
 Boots age of 18 should also have a signed permission slip and an up-to-date medical
release form. The forms should be photocopied (reduce them if necessary and use
 Warm Hat two-sided copies - that way you can have four forms per sheet of paper) and every
staff member should carry them at all times.
Sleepwear For comfortable sleeping and for modesty on overnight trips, bring
pajamas or a sweat suit. In many places where it is warm during the day it gets cold On the day of the campout, everyone should meet to load the equipment, and
at night, so be prepared. finally, you are ready to go. When you get back, everyone should help unload the
equipment. Some should be taken home and cleaned, and if the tents and tarps
Personal Gear were even slightly damp, they will need to be pitched again and allowed to dry
completely. Then they will need to be put away.
 Sleeping bag
 Foam ground pad or air mattress 7. Know how to properly pitch and strike a tent. Observe fire precautions when
 Flashlight tent is in use.

 Pocket knife The details vary for every type of tent there is, so we provide only general tips
here. First, carefully read the instructions that came with your tent. If it's a new
 Quarter roll of toilet paper
tent, keep the instructions. You might be surprised how easy it is to forget which "stuff" bags on the walls (glasses and keys tend to hide there). Then sweep the
pole goes where. tent. Once everything has been removed, pull off the fly, and stow it inside the tent
(spread it out as flat as you can). If you stand next to the tent's door, you can pull
First, unpack the tent and spread it on the ground. Some people like to put the the fly off the canopy and stuff it directly inside without it ever hitting the outside
ground cloth under the tent, and others like to put it inside. If you're going to put it ground (and thus picking up dirt, leaves, and moisture). Stowing the fly inside also
beneath the tent, spread it out first. Before doing anything else, lie down on the avoids the sad problem of cramming the canopy and poles into the tent's duffel,
ground cloth and test each sleeping area. If you feel a lump get rid of it now. and then noticing the that the fly still needs to get crammed in there too. It's one
less thing to roll up.
Then lay out the tent's canopy (that is, the cloth part that is not the fly). Find the
door and orient it where you want it. Then stake it down. This will prevent the Then let down the poles. Carefully remove the poles from the canopy and fold
wind from blowing it away while you are trying to raise it. Slide the poles into the them up. If the tent poles are sectional tubes with a long piece of elastic running
tubes, but do not raise the tent until the main poles (usually two of them) are all in through them all, it is better to push the poles out of the canopy rather than trying
place. Then raise them together. There are usually aluminum "hooks" located at to pull them through. Pulling on them merely separates the sections and may break
the stake-down straps and shaped somewhat like a question mark. They are the elastic. Broken elastic will have to be repaired before the tent can be pitched
usually a couple of inches long, and are there to slip the pole ends over. Once all again, because the elastic actually holds the poles together.
the pole are in place, throw the fly over the tent, being careful that the up side is
up and the front side is to the front. Once the poles have been stowed, remove the stakes and carefully fold the tent.
Put everything back into the bag it came in.
Flies often have elastic ropes that attach to plastic clips near the pole anchors, and
they also generally have a rope at the four major corners. These should be Keep any fire at least 20 feet (6 meters) from the tents. Sparks sometimes fly out of
anchored such that the fly is held off the tent's canopy, usually by staking them a fire or are projected into the air (such as when an inexperienced camper throws
down or tying them to a tree. In the "olden days" a taut line hitch would be used to dry leaves into it). If these sparks land on your tent, at best they will burn a little
tighten these ropes, but these days the ropes are fitted with a three-hole plastic pinhole in it, but at worst can cause a deadly tragedy.
strap. The end of the rope passes through the bottom-most hole and is tied off
with a stopper knot. From there, the rope goes to the anchor (tree, stake, etc), and Never light a fire of any kind inside a tent, be it a candle, lantern, or a stove unless
passes through the middle hole, and then again through the top hole. The plastic you know for a fact that the tent has been designed for that purpose.
strap can then be slid up and down the rope to adjust the tension. Do not over-
tension these ropes - they should have some give so that the tent can move a little [edit] 8. Know and practice the proper principles for camp sanitation for both
with the wind. If they are too tight, the wind will rip the stakes from the ground or primitive and established campsites.
topple the tent.
If camping at a facility that has toilets, use them. If camping in the wilderness, you
If possible, do not strike the tent until it has dried. If you can, wait until the will have to either build a latrine or use cat holes. Do "your business" at least 200
morning dew has evaporated. This is, of course, not always possible - it could be feet away from any source of water (such as a spring, river, or lake), and at least
pouring rain when it's time to go, so you'll have to strike a wet tent. If your tent is 100 feet away from your camp. Dig a shallow hole three to four inches deep (7-10
wet when you strike it, you will need to set it up to let it dry as soon as you get cm) and go there. Then bury it (and any toilet paper). At this depth, there are a lot
back. Do not store a wet tent. It will be quickly ruined with mold and mildew. of bacterias in the soil to quickly compost your waste. Digging deeper will make it
take longer.
To strike the tent first inspect the inside, being sure that everything has been
removed. Check the loops in the ceiling (coat hangers tend to hide there) and the
Just because you are camping does not mean you are at liberty to skip personal  Keep bystanders away by one arms length plus two axe-lengths.
hygiene. Wash your hands before you eat and after you answer "nature's call."
Brush your teeth before you go to bed and after breakfast. Wash your face and  When handing someone an axe, present the handle to them rather than
clean your fingernails. the blade.

 Walk with the blade facing away from you.

Keep your kitchen clean too, and wash your dishes as soon as you finish eating.
Dishes should be washed with potable water.  Sheathe the axe when it is not in use.

9. Properly use the knife and hatchet. Know ten safety rules for their use.  Always maintain firm footing when using or carrying an axe.

Knife Safety  Stop when you are tired and rest. Tired people are more prone to
accidents and mistakes.
 Keep your blades sharp. A dull knife is difficult to push through wood,
requiring additional force. When the wood finally gives, the blade keeps 10. Fires:
going.
 Always push the blade away from you, and constantly consider where the a. Demonstrate ability to choose and prepare a fire site.
blade will go.
Do not build a fire within 6 meters of a tent. Sparks from the fire can easily travel
 Keep your fingers clear of the blade at all times. that far and strike a tent, either burning a hole in it, or setting it ablaze. If it is
occupied, this can be deadly. A fire should likewise not be built underneath trees as
 When splitting wood with a knife, do not hammer on the back of the blade. it is possible to ignite the tree's canopy. Stay clear of vehicles as well.
This weakens the attachment to the handle and deforms the blade.
There are many ways to prepare an area where you will build your campfire. If you
 Close a pocket knife when it's not in use or when you are carrying it.
are in an established camping area, look for a place where a fire has already been
 Keep all blades away from heat. Heat will remove the temper, softening built. Do not start a fire in a new area if there are fire pits already available. If you
the blade. A soft blade will not hold an edge, making it nearly impossible to must build a fire in a new area, dig out any sod first, and lay it aside. Keep it in the
keep it sharp. shade (perhaps beneath a vehicle) and water it every day so it does not dry out
(perhaps with your rinse water). You will replace it before you leave. If there is no
Hatchet Safety sod, clear out all the duff and debris so that only inorganic material is in the fire
ring. Clear an area double the diameter of the intended fire. Then place stones
 Before chopping any wood, take a gentle practice swing to check that the inside this ring, building a small wall as it were. Try to fit the stones so that there
axe will not catch on anything (such as an overhead branch). are no gaps, or only small gaps. The stone ring should be six to eight inches high,
 Consider what will happen if you miss whatever you are chopping at - will and it should go all the way around the circle. Before you lay the fire, make sure
you accidentally hit a finger? A foot? A bystander? Leave plenty of margin you have a means to extinguish it nearby and ready to go. This could be a fire
for error. extinguisher, a bucket of sand, or a bucket of water. Means of extinguishing the
fire should be on hand before the fire is lit. The fire ring should then be ready for a
 Make sure the axe head is firmly attached to the axe handle. If it is loose, fire.
you may tighten it by wetting the handle, by driving a hardwood wedge
into the handle through the eye of the blade, or by rapping the axe handle b. Know fire safety precautions.
vertically on a hard surface.
  Locate the fire in a safe place. It should be clear for 10 feet (3 meters) all flame from wind (which lowers the temperature) by cupping your other hand
around. around the flame and move it to the tinder you wish to light.
 Do not light a fire beneath overhanging branches.
d. Practice building a fire with the use of one match, using only natural materials.
 Do not use accelerants, such as lighter fluid, gasoline, kerosene, etc. Learn
to light a fire without these. There are three factors that govern a fire:
 Put the fire out completely before leaving it. If it's too hot to put your
hands in the ashes, it's not sufficiently out. Douse it down with water, turn 1. Oxygen
the coals with a shovel, and be sure to extinguish every coal and ember. 2. Fuel

 Do not build a fire on top of flammable material such as grass or leaves. 3. Heat

 Cut away the sod (keep it moist so it stays alive, and replace it before your You need all three to get a fire going, and the way you lay the fire will determine
leave), and clear away the duff and litter. how much of each of these are available. To get a fire going, you will need to ignite
some tinder. The tinder will need to burn long enough to ignite kindling, and the
 Keep fire extinguishing supplies handy and near the fire. A bucket of water kindling will need to burn long enough to ignite the fuel. Before lighting a match, it
or sand, or a fire extinguisher are recommended. is important to have all three types of fuel available.
 Do not remove burning sticks from a fire.
Start by laying your tinder in the center of your fire ring. Tinder consists of small,
 Watch for embers that escape the fire pit and extinguish them easily ignited material, such as pine needles, shreds of birch bark, thin twigs
immediately. (whose diameter is about the same as a pencil lead), or even dryer lint. Once the
tinder is on place, lay some larger pieces over it (this is the kindling). Kindling is
 Wear proper footwear around a fire. wood whose diameter ranges from pencil thickness to 4 cm. It should be arranged
with the smallest-diameter pieces nearest to the tinder.
 Be aware that paper, cardboard, and leaves create floating embers that
rise out of the fire pit and may land dozens of yards away. An effective method of doing this is to get two small fuel logs - about 3" in
diameter, and lay them parallel to one another and 15-20 cm apart, with the tinder
 Do not light a fire when conditions are adverse (high winds, or drought
in between. Then lay a small, straight stick across them and over the tinder. Call
conditions).
this stick the "ridge pole". Next lay more pencil-sized sticks with one end on the
ridge pole and the other end on the ground. Lay them alternately on both sides of
c. Know how to properly strike a match.
the ridge pole as if you were framing a roof. These can be called the "rafters". Once
this is done and the rafters make a "roof" that spans the distance between the two
Three things are needed for a fire to start: oxygen, fuel, and heat. The match head
logs and covers the tinder, lay two more ridge poles, one on either side of the first
is a fuel that can be ignited at about 360°F (182°C), which can be obtained through
ridge pole, and then lay more rafters from them to the ground (but leave a little
friction. The oxygen is supplied by the air. To strike a match, quickly and firmly drag
space between the rafters). You can repeat this a third time if you like, but it's
the match head along the striker pad on the side of the box or outside of the
important to leave a gap somewhere so you can get a match inside to light the
package. Keep your fingers away from the match head. Once the head ignites, the
tinder. The sticks in each layer of rafters should be a little larger than the ones that
temperature will increase sharply and ignite the match stick. Fire prefers to climb
came before.
uphill, and you can control the size of the flame to a certain extent by tilting the
head down (for a bigger flame) or up (for a smaller flame). Carefully shield the
Do not light this pile until you have gathered sufficient fuel for the fire! Fuel bread right off the stick. This is an excellent early morning activity while everyone is
consists of wood that is greater than 7 cm in diameter. The tender pile described tying to warm up around the fire. It works equally well at night.
above will burn for about five minutes or so, and that does not leave much time for
you to scrounge around looking for something to pile onto the flames. Therefore, 12. Describe the proper procedures for washing and keeping clean the cooking
you should have your fuel ready to go. and eating utensils.

Once the tinder is lit, you can use the fuel to lay a hunter's fire, teepee, a log cabin Make up a mess kit for each camper, consisting of a plate, cup, bowl, knife, fork,
or a council fire on top of the first two logs. It works well, because there is a great and spoon. Store each kit in a mesh hosiery bag. Every mess kit should have a
deal of kindling stacked close together, but not so close as to reduce oxygen flow. number, and every item in the kit should be labeled with that number. Every
The kindling is also laid close to the tinder so the tinder has no trouble igniting it camper should be assigned a number. After the meal, each camper will wash his or
(assuming it is dry and pencil-sized). her own mess kit. If a dirty plate is found abandoned on a picnic table, a quick
check for its number will reveal who is responsible for that item.
e. Demonstrate how to protect firewood in wet weather.
Use two large tubs for washing the dishes (or optionally, three tubs). One will be
Obviously, you will want to keep your firewood dry, and there are many ways to do filled with soapy water (heated if possible), and the other will have rinse water
that. One effective method is to put a tarp on the ground, stack the wood on top of with one teaspoon of bleach per gallon. The third optional tub is filled with water
it, and fold the tarp over the top. Place one or two heavier logs on top to hold the and is used for pre-rinsing the dishes before they are washed in the soapy water. If
tarp down. Those logs will get wet, but they will prevent the wind from blowing the the third tub is not used, campers will wipe their dishes clean with a paper towel
tarp off an soaking the rest of your wood. Having a tarp beneath the wood will before placing them in the soapy water. This will prevent the wash water from
keep water from running under the stack and soaking the bottom logs, but this not becoming ultra-disgusting. Each dish should be washed, rinsed, and returned to its
entirely necessary. mesh bag for drying. The mesh bags will then be hung from a clothesline. If the
clothespins used to hold them to the line are also numbered, it is a lot easier for
You can also keep firewood in an enclosed trailer, or the trunk of a car if those are each camper to find his or her own kit if they are hung in numeric order.
available to you. Another option is to keep it under a kitchen tent or canopy.
Whoever is on kitchen duty for that meal (and everyone should be assigned at least
11. Bake bread on a stick. once) is responsible for washing the cooking gear. Again, they should wipe the
pots, pans, and utensils as clean as possible before subjecting the wash water to
First you will need a bed of coals. If you attempt to bake your bread over a flame, it them. They will need to be dried after rinsing and then put away. The kitchen crew
will be burned on the outside and raw on the inside. Make the bread dough or should then take steps to properly dispose of the trash, lest the camp attract
bring a frozen tube of pre-made dough. Get a straight stick three or four feet long critters. Critters may be cute, but they sure do make big messes!
(1 to 1.3 m) and clean the end of it off. You can do this by removing the bark or by
washing it in clean water. Wrap the dough in a thin layer around the stick, spiraling 13. Describe sleeping wear and how to stay warm at night.
it as you go. The dough should cover the top four to six inches of the stick. Once
the dough is secured to the stick, jam the other end of the stick into the ground or A good sleeping bag is essential to staying warm at night. Campers should
support it with rocks or large pieces of firewood, so that the bread is held over the absolutely not go to bed wearing their dirty day clothes. This will only make the
coals. The bread dough should be held at a distance from the flame where it is sleeping bag filthy and the camper will not be as comfortable. Wear thermal
uncomfortably hot to hold your hand. Turn the stick every couple of minutes until underwear, pajamas, and/or a sweatsuit. Layering will keep you warmer, but if you
the outside is golden brown (this is why you need a straight stick). You can eat the toss and turn a lot, they may twist around and become uncomfortable.
14. Draw a spiritual object lesson from nature on your camping trip. down to white ash. When you are ready to leave, douse the fire well, and spread
the ashes over a wide area. Return the sand to the place where you found it and
There are many possibilities for meeting this requirement. Jesus used nature to pack up your tarp.
illustrate object lessons on many occasions:
Note: The tent color for Camping Skills #1 is blue.
Birds
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the
Color AY Class Honor
ground apart from the will of your Father. Matthew 10:29 - NIV
Flowers Blue Friend Camping Skills I
And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field
grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Red Companion Camping Skills II
(AL)Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. Matthew
6:28,29 - NIV Green Explorer Camping Skills III
Water
Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, John 4:7-38 Silver Ranger Camping Skills IV

15. Explain and practice the motto: "Take only pictures and leave only References
footprints."
Retrieved from
"Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints" is pretty self-explanatory. "http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Adventist_Youth_Honors_Answer_Book/Recreation
It means you do not disturb nature while you are out enjoying it. If you see a pretty /Camping_Skills_I"
rock, leave it there for someone else to enjoy. If you eat a piece of candy on the
trail, don't toss the wrapper — take it with you.

There are a few exception to both these rules. If you see trash, by all means, take
it. Throw it in the trash when you get to a proper trash receptacle. Also be aware
that footprints are not always harmless. Many tundra plants that take years to
grow can be destroyed by a single footprint. Stay on the trail.

One of the most important ways people leave their mark on the land is by building
a campfire. For "no trace" camping, bring a camp stove. Unfortunately, the
campfire is one of the primary attractions for many people, so it is not easy to
follow this advice. If your campsite has a fire ring or an existing fire pit, use that. If
it does not and you must have a campfire, lay a small tarp on the ground and cover
it with six to eight inches of mineral sand. Mineral sand is sand containing no
organic material, and can be found on a beach or where a large tree has fallen over
and raised a rootwad. The sand must be piled deep so the heat does not affect the
tarp beneath. Stop putting new fuel on the fire well before you are ready to put it
out, and push in the ends of sticks that have not yet burned. Allow them to burn