Outdoor Training Weekend

Posted Sun, 12/14/2008 - 14:54 by Devon.Hubner

Not sure if you should attend the Outdoor Training Weekend Extravaganza ? Consult the What Makes a Trained Leader matrix.

 

Questions

If you’d like to be on staff for, or have questions about attending, any of these courses please contact the District Training Chair.

Basic Outdoor Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO)

  • The target participant for BALOO training is a Cub Scout leader with a desire to plan and carry out an entry-level camping experience for the pack. Successful completion of this training will result in an increased level of confidence and a willingness to plan an age-appropriate pack overnighter.
  • Cub Scout packs are permitted to conduct a pack campout (overnight) activity as long as the activity is conducted at a council-approved location and is under the direction of a leader in the pack that is BALOO trained.

Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS)

  • For Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters.
  • This is the last step in Basic Leader Training for Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters after completing New Leader Essentials and Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster Specific Training.
  • Outdoor skills are critical to the success of the Scouting program, and Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills will provide leaders with the basic outdoor skills information needed to start a program right.
  • Troops should not plan to sleep together, you will be split in to patrols.

Outdoor Leader Skills for Webelos Leaders (OWL)

  • This course replaces the Outdoor Webelos Leader (OWL) training.
  • This training provides specialized training for Webelos Leaders in outdoor skills and program.

Registration

Registration costs cover food and handouts

 

 

Conventions, Methods, and Expectations

 

Quartermaster Buckets

The Quartermaster's Bucket is used to distribute food to Dens and Patrols.

The Quartermaster's Bucket is normally a Milk Crate, or can be another box large enough to transport food for any given meal.

The Quartermaster will pack the crate before a meal. The Quartermaster will usually sound the mess bell 30 minutes before cooking time to signal the availability of the buckets.

Each Den or Patrol is responsible for returning the bucket with un-used food, properly stored, after each meal so that the bucket can be re-packaged for the next meal. Groups that do not return their buckets should not expect food promptly at mess time.

No Trash should be put in to the Quartmaster's Bucket.

 

Equipment

In Scouts we say Be Prepared, training is no different. Your gear is your own, and our gear is our own. There are a LOT of trainings happening this weekend, if something is on the Equipment List then you should not assume, for any reason, that the equipment will be provided for you.

You must be especially vigilent in bringing the following items:

Camp Chair

Your camp chair is essential. You will sit around the campfire in it, or you will use it at training sessions. If you don't bring a camp chair you will soon wish you did.
  • Camp Chairs are less than $10 at Walmart.

A folding camp chair is priceless

Wool Socks

At least one pair, two are better, of wool socks are essential. Cotton Kills, while Wool Warms. You must change your socks every day and you should wear a clean pair of socks at night. Cotten socks will wick moisture out of the air while the wool socks will keep your feet dry and warm. If it is raining or cold, these socks will become essential to your happiness.

Wool socks keep your feet warm on cold mornings and at night

Underwear

Your underwear will accumulate moisture during the day. The moisture in your underwear will make you very very cold at night. You must change your underwear every night before going to sleep. Bring enough underwear to change.

Change your underwear before you go to sleep at night

Hiking Boots

Most hiking boots are made from Gortex and are water proof. Hiking boots provide the support your feet need on a campout. Sneakers are find for games, however, sneakers alone will make your feet very sore and tired by bed time. If it rains, you'll be wishing you spent the money on the boots. Hiking boots tend to be made from leather in some way, which makes them great conductors of cold in the late fall until early spring. Sorel Boots with nice warm liners are always nice to bring along as an alternative to hiking boots, in addition to those sneakers. A decent pair of hiking boots is well worth the money.

Water proof hiking boots are a lifesaver in the rain

Sleeping Bag

Most sleeping bags you find at places like Walmart or Dick's Sporting Goods, etc. are family camping bags, meaning they only are good for around 40 degrees F. If you don't have a sleeping bag already, take the time and spend the $10 extra to get a decent bag from LL Bean. Don't buy a down bag. Down feathers get wet and stay wet. Buy the synthetic bags. Synthetic polargaurd bags are light weight and every bit as compressable as down. Don't be suckered in by the 0F bags. 0F is great, but you'll never use it. You'll be hot all the time. A nice 20F bag will keep you warm in most every weather. If you already have a 40F family camping bag, then you can combine the 40F and 20F bags (put the 20 inside the 40) to create a 0F bag. A decent sleeping bag is key to a good nights rest.

LL Bean Katahdin Polargaurd 20F bag

Rain Gear

A Poncho will only get you wet in the rain

 The only thing the poncho ever managed to do was to get somebody wet in the rain.

For the money you'll waste on a poncho, take the time and spend the $10 extra on a nice rain gear set from Cabela's. Most of the district staff have Cabela's rain gear, and they'll all testament to the value. Camping in the rain is like camping in the sunshine with good rain gear.

Decent Rain Gear is essential

 

Bugle Calls

Bugle Calls are used to call Scouts and Scouters attention. The following calls will be used:

  • Assembly: Signals that everybody should gather at a designated place and fall in. (assembly.wav)
  • The Colors: Sounded when the flags are raised and lowered. (colors.wav)
  • Mess: Sounded at meal time or at the availability of food for patrols and dens. (mess.wav )
  • Reveille: The first call sounded in the morning and is the wakeup call. If you are awake before reveille is sounded, you must be quiet and respect the fact that others still have the right to be sleeping. (reveille.wav )
  • Taps: Signalled at the end of the day when everybody should be going to sleep. All scouts should be sleeping after taps. Any person awake after this point must respect the fact that others have the right to be sleeping. (reveille.wav)