Girl Scout
Troop Camp Basics
Online Preparation
Module
2012
Troop Camp Basics Online Training Outline
Welcome
Welcome to Troop Camp
Basics Online. This online
module, along with the faceto-face module prepares Girl
Scout volunteers to mentor
Girl Scouts in their outdoor
experiences.
Click here to register for the face-to-face
portion of Troop Camp Basics
Learning
Objectives
• The participant will be able to identify proper girl/adult ratio, precautions
during weather extremes and prevention tools for minimizing illness and
injury during a camping trip
• The participant will be able to identify techniques to incorporate
progression of activities in the outdoors to include the Girl Scout
Leadership Experience and using the National Program Portfolio
• The participant will be able to determine appropriate camping types,
locations and set up.
• The participant will be able to identify pertinent items to pack for a
camping trip and how to prepare girls to pack correctly.
• The participant will be able to partner with the girls in the group to plan
an appropriate camping menu, maintaining safety in all aspects of food
handling.
• The participant will be able to identify practical was to “Leave no Trace.”
• The participant will be able to identify the materials needed and the
safety issues surrounding camp fires, knives, knot typing and orienteering.
Safety
Guidelines
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Safety of girls = most important consideration
Determine if something is safe and appropriate
Good judgment and common sense
Circumstances might force you to discontinue an
activity
• If uncertain about the safety, check with OCC or
USAGSO-North Atlantic
• Err on the side of caution
• Prior to any activity, study the Safety Activity
Checkpoints related to the activity
Safety Activity Checkpoints
Health Histories
(Including Examinations and Immunizations)
• The Health History is very important to have with the
girls every time they leave their meeting place. This
form documents any medical conditions,
medications and allergies that the girl may have.
• Parents/guardians must complete a new form each
membership year. The form can be found by clicking
the brown icon below.
Girl Health History Form
Girl Scout Activity
Insurance
In addition to the liability insurance included as a Girl Scout
member, additional insurance must be purchased in certain
circumstances for camping trips.
For example, if rock climbing or other high risk activates will be taking
place, or if the trip lasts more than 2 consecutive overnights.
Additionally, if the group is going outside of the USAGSO-North Atlantic
jurisdiction, insurance should be purchased. It is a minimal charge,
possibly as low as $5. Be sure to complete the paperwork at least 2
weeks in advance. See the forms for details on deadlines.
Click here to email Membership
Registrar for Insurance Applications
Providing
Emergency Care
• At least one person on the camping trip must
be currently certified in First Aid and
Infant/Child/Adult CPR
Procedures for Accidents
Although you hope the worst never happens, you must observe council procedures for handling accidents and
fatalities. At the scene of an accident:
•
If a child needs emergency medical care as the result of an accident or injury, first contact emergency
medical services, implement procedures learned in CPR and First Aid courses, and then follow council
procedures for accidents and incidents.
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Provide all possible care for the sick or injured person.
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Follow established council procedures for obtaining medical assistance and immediately reporting the
emergency. To do this, you must always have on hand:
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Names and telephone numbers of USAGSO-North Atlantic or OCC staff/volunteers
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Names and telephone numbers of parents/guardians
Contact information for local emergency services such as the police, fire department, or hospital
emergency technicians.
– Your region's Regional Emergency Contact Information
After receiving a report of an accident, USAGSO-NA staff will arrange for additional assistance, if needed,
at the scene, and will notify parents/guardians, as appropriate. Your adherence to these procedures is
critical, especially with regard to notifying parents or guardians.
If the media is involved, ALWAYS let USAGSO-NA-designated staff discuss the incident with these
representatives.
In the event of a fatality or other serious accident, notify the MPs or local police. A responsible adult must
remain at the scene at all times.
In the case of a fatality, do not disturb the victim or surroundings. Follow MP/police instructions. Do not
share information about the accident with anyone but the police, the USAGSO-North Atlantic
representatives, and, if applicable, insurance representatives or legal counsel.
Link to Emergency Contact List
Safety Guidelines
Assessment
1.
What is the minimum number of adults for a camping trip with 11 Girl
Scout Brownies?
A: 1
B: 2
C: 3
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
True or False: My troop needs Activity Insurance if the camping trip is
over two consecutive nights and/or if non-Girl Scouts will be on the
trip.
The _______ _________ ________ are where I need to look for specific
requirements for safety of an activity.
True or False: At least one adult on the camping trip must have current
First Aid/CPR certification.
Explain the requirements for where adults (male and females) sleep on
a campout.
Name 3 things campers should do if they are separated from the group.
Safety Guidelines Check Your Answers
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
B: 2
True
Safety Activity Checkpoints
True
Ensure the safety of sleeping areas.
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6.
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Separate sleeping and bathroom facilities are provided for adult males; many councils make exceptions for girls’ fathers. Ensure the following:
Each participant has her own bed. Parent/guardian permission must be obtained if girls are to share a bed.
Adults and girls never share a bed.
It is not mandatory that an adult sleep in the sleeping area (tent, cabin, or designated area) with the girls. If an adult female does share the sleeping area, there should always
be two unrelated adult females present.
During family or “He and Me” events (in which girls share sleeping accommodations with males), ensure the details are clearly explained in parent/guardian permission slip.
Everyone needs to safeguard against getting lost. Carrying a whistle is a good practice, as three blasts of a whistle is considered as a universal distress signal. The “Hug-aTree” program is an excellent prevention training for you and your girls.
In the event that buddies get lost or separated from the group and become disoriented, the best thing is for them to do is STOP and try not to panic. They should:
Sit down and evaluate the circumstances.
Try to determine the last location where they knew where they were.
Orient themselves to the landscape by using a map (if they have one) or try to recognize familiar landmarks such as large boulders or a fallen tree.
Listen carefully for noises, such as traffic or barking dogs that could lead them to a road. Sounds of moving water can lead to a river. Walking parallel to the river
can be another way to reach a road.
Make sure there is sufficient daylight to walk to the nearest trail, road, or campsite to obtain helps.
If the buddies cannot figure out where they are or need to go, moving about will waste energy and will confuse them even more. In that case, buddies should:
Sit down and conserve energy.
Find shelter to keep warm and dry as possible and out of the wind. (Make sure the shelter is not home to potentially dangerous animals or insects and leave some
sort of sign, such as a piece of clothing, outside of the shelter to alert searchers).
Find water (treat surface water before drinking by boiling, filtering or using chemical purifiers) or collect water from wet vegetation.
Build a fire, if matches are available and the danger of a fire spreading out of control is low.
Devise as many ways as possible to attract the attention of those searching for them. For example:
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Tie a piece of brightly colored cloth to a high branch or rock.
Flash a mirror or other reflective surface at any passing aircraft.
Make a smoky fire in a safe, open place.
Draw large signs on the ground that could be seen from the air.
Stay in the area. Don’t wander.
Yell or whistle if someone is heard nearby.
If a camper does become missing for more than an hour, notify authorities, and follow crisis communications procedures. Be sure to notify everyone concerned when
the camper is found.
Girl-led Planning &
Progression
Outdoor Philosophy
• Outdoor education occurs when Girl Scout programs are held
outside. The most important outcomes we want to accomplish
include are:
– A change in how the girl feels about herself & relates to others
– Girls develop values that relate to the environment
– Potential contribution to the community
• The goal is to allow each girl opportunities to explore and develop
an understanding of the outdoors and find a comfortable
relationship that works for her.
• It is the girls ability to feel good about herself and her contribution
to the success of the group that is important, not her ability to
name twenty birds or tie ten kinds of knots.
Travel Progression
Checklist
If your group is thinking about travel, consider first whether
the girls are mature enough to handle the trip. In determining
a group’s readiness for travel, assess the group’s:
• Ability to be away from their parents and their home
• Ability to adapt to unfamiliar surroundings and situations
• Ability to make decisions well and easily
• Previous cross-cultural experiences
• Ability to get along with each other and handle challenges
• Ability to work well as a team
• Skills and interests
• Language skills (where applicable)
Determining
the Trip’s Focus
Making the choice to explore the outdoors should be girl’s
decision in your troop.
Whether the trip is a day hike or a cross-country trek, basic steps
of trip planning are essentially the same.
It’s true that as the locale gets farther away, the itinerary more
complex, and the trip of greater duration, the details become
richer and more complex, but planning every trip—from a daylong hike to an international trek—starts by asking the following
of your troop so that the girls lead the process:
Planning Steps
for an Overnight
Click above for a Planning Steps Checklist
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Meet Out
Move Out
Explore Out
Cook Out
Sleep Out
Camp Out
Pack Out
Sample Progression in Girl
Scout Outdoor Program
by Activity Type
Progression in 8
Outdoor Skills
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Know and practice good outdoor manners in town and in the
country.
Know how to dress for the outdoors in your locality, in relation to
expected weather.
Know how to tie, use, and release a square knot & a clove hitch.
Know how to handle and care for a knife.
Know how to use & put out a fire for outdoor cooking.
Know how to cook something for yourself, something for patrol or
troop.
Know simple first aid for cuts, insect bites, and skinned knees.
Know how to protect the natural world.
Kaper Charts
Progression in Camping
Assessment
1.
What is meant by “progression in outdoor activities?”
A. Girls should make progress toward learning to camp alone.
B. Girls will stay in a formation that progresses from oldest while at camp.
C. Each succeeding program level should increase proficiency and build upon skills already required.
2.
List five factors that would help you determine that your girls are ready for an overnight in a
tent.
3.
A Girl Scout outdoor experience should include:
A.
B.
C.
D.
4.
A change in how the girl feels about herself & relates to others
Girls develop values that relate to the environment
Potential contribution to the community
All of the above
True or False: Girl-Led Planning means that, in time, girls begin to make specific arrangements,
attend to a many different details, create a budget and handle money, and accept responsibility
for their personal conduct and safety.
Progression in Camping
Check Your Answers
1.
2.
C. Each succeeding program level should increase proficiency and
build upon skills already required.
Any five of the following:
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Ability to be away from their parents and their home
Ability to adapt to unfamiliar surroundings and situations
Ability to make decisions well and easily
Previous cross-cultural experiences
Ability to get along with each other and handle challenges
Ability to work well as a team
Skills and interests
Language skills (where applicable)
3. D – All of the above
4. True
Camp Site Selection
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Front-country
Resident Camping
Troop/Group Camping
Day Camping
Weekend Camping
Travel Camping/Trip Camping
Minimal Impact Camping
Setting-up the
Campsite
Tents
Temporary Shelters,
Platform Tents &
Cabins
Camp Site Selection
Assessment
1. List 3 factors in deciding where to pitch a tent.
2. True or False: Never place a candle, camp stove, lantern,
heater, open flame or uncovered mirror in or near a tent.
3. Good idea(s) for tent camping preparation:
A. Practice pitching the tent with your troop before the trip.
B. To make set-up easier, assemble the matched poles and
color code them with tape, paint, or permanent markers.
C. Locate your tent on high, level ground (but below tree-line).
If it rains, water will tend to flow away from your tent rather
than gather under it, and you won’t be rolling downhill in your
sleeping bag.
D. All of the above
Camp Site Selection
Check Your Answers
1.
Factors of determining where to pitch a tent:
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Cost
Reservation / permit needed?
Size
Location
Privacy
Safety
Noise
Established or primitive site?
Sleeping surface (smooth, rocky, slanted, flat, grassy, bumpy, etc.?)
Availability/location of water source(s)
Bathrooms/showers
Garbage disposal system
Direction of wind / sun
Cooking / picnic area – away from sleeping & bathroom area
Durability of surface
Overhang of tree branches
Emergency plan, shelter available to utilize during inclement weather?
Evacuation route?
2.
True
3.
D – All of the above
Packing
Considerations
• Some items on the following lists are not
needed on every trip.
• Refer to the Safety Activity Checkpoints for the
activities you plan to participate in for further
guidance on equipment required.
• Also check the rules and regulations of the
place you plan to camp for a list of prohibited
items.
Essentials
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Drinking Water
Water Bottles
Waterproof Matches
Fire Starters
Swiss Army Knife
First Aid Kit
Insect Repellent
Map of the Area
Compass Flashlight w/
fresh bulb
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Extra Batteries
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Whistle
Trash Bags
Park, Fire, and Camping
Permits
Food and
Cooking Gear
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Energy Bars
Trail Mix
Raw Veggies or Fruit
Crackers
Cheese
Oatmeal
Hot Chocolate, Tea,
Instant Coffee
• Freeze-dried Meals
• Re-sealable Storage
Containers or Bags
• Camping Stove and Fuel
• Lightweight Cooking and
Eating Utensils
• Cup and Bowl
• Cooking Pots and Pans
• Pot Holders
• Dish Scrubber
• Biodegradable
Dishwashing Soap
Clothing and
Outerwear
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Warm Hat
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Sun Hat or Baseball Cap•
Raingear
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Gloves
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Long Underwear
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Extra Underwear
Quick-drying Swimsuit
Fleece Shirt and Pants
Change of Clothes
Footwear
Hiking Socks
Extra Socks
Hiking Boots or Shoes
Suited to the Terrain
Personal Items
• Toilet Paper
• Biodegradable Soap
• Feminine Hygiene
Products
• Washcloth
• Toothbrush and
Toothpaste
• Comb
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Deodorant
Shampoo
Small Towel
Bandana
Lip Balm w/ SPF
Camping Gear
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Tent
Rain Fly
Tent Stakes
Ground Tarp
• Sleeping Bag
• Sleeping Pad
• Tent Repair Kit
Extras
• Watch
• Moleskin
• Camera
• Duct Tape
• Cord or Rope
• Binoculars
“Ten Essentials”
• Every backcountry user, even on seemingly
insignificant day hikes, should carry the most
basic equipment; commonly referred to as the
“Ten Essentials.”
• Carefully selected, these items can easily fit
within a small backpack.
• When choosing your equipment, remember that
the body's ability to maintain its core
temperature is critical to your survival in the
backcountry. See list here.
Sleeping Bags,
Pads & Packs
Packing Considerations
Assessment
1. Name 5 “Essentials” that must be taken on any camping
trip with Girl Scouts.
2. True or False: It really is not necessary to bring anything
but matches along to start fires.
3. True or False: The size of the girl should be considered
when choosing a pack for back packing
4. True or False: Involving the girls in planning what to take
will help them to internalize the reasons for the needs.
Packing Considerations
Check Your Answers
1.
Possible Answers
Drinking Water
Water Bottles
Waterproof Matches
Fire Starters
Swiss Army Knife
First Aid Kit
Insect Repellent
Map of the Area
Compass Flashlight w/ fresh bulb
Extra Batteries
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Whistle
Trash Bags
Park, Fire, and Camping Permits
2.
False
3.
True
4.
True
Menu Planning,
Recipes, & Equipment
Purchasing & Storing
Food
Food Storage
Water Sources &
Purification
• Boiling water
• Portable pump filters
• Add iodine to water
Cooking & Clean-up
Stations
Basic Menu Planning &
Advanced Nutrition
In order to plan the “right” menu, girls will need to find the answers to the
following questions for each meal:
1. What is the purpose of the outing?
2. How much time will we have for cooking this meal?
3. Will we be cooking indoors or out?
4. Will we be using familiar cooking techniques – or do we want to try out
new method?
5. What kind of stove and type of fuel or fire will we be using?
6. What kind, and how much, cooking equipment will we have available?
7. Will each patrol cook for itself, or will one patrol cook for all?
8. Are there any concerns about spoilage, weight, cost, season of the year
that have to be considered?
9. What food preferences or dietary restrictions need to be considered?
Outdoor Cooking
Progression
14. Reflector Oven
13. Bean Hole (do not dig new pits)
12. Spit Cookery, BBQ
11. Cooking for Large Groups
10. Tin Can Stove or Buddy Burner
9. Stick Cookery (i.e. Dough-’girls’)
8. Foil Cookery (Chicken, stew, apples)
7. Dutch Oven or Coffee Can
6. Charcoal Cookery
5. Toasted Sandwiches, hot dogs, etc.
4. Group Fry Pan Cookery in large pan (scrambled eggs)
3. One-Pot meal (stew)
2. Nosebag Plus one pot (soup, cocoa, s’mores)
1. Nosebag Lunch
Outdoor Cooking
Progression
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Fireless Foods
One Pot Meals
Foil Cooking
Charcoal Cooking
Box Oven
Outdoor Cooking
Assessment
1.
2.
3.
4.
List 3 things that should be considered when planning your
menu for an overnight in a tent?
True or False: To make pots used for cooking over a fire easier to
clean, rub soap over the bottom and sides of the outside of the
pots before placing them on the fire. A bar of soap or liquid
dishwashing soap can be used.
True or False: Use 12 teaspoon of chlorine bleach for each gallon
of water to sanitize dishes. Dishes should be completed
submerged in this solution for 2 minutes for proper sanitation
These items are food to a bear:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Lip balm
Scented soap
Deodorant
Tooth paste
All of the above
Outdoor Cooking
Check Your Answers
1. Shopping for Food
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Food Storage
Water Sources
Appropriate Cooking / Clean-up space and Equipment
Progressive Ability of Girls
Garbage / Recycling
Attracting Animals
Appropriate Amount of Food/ Nutrition Needs
2. True
3. True
4. E – All of the above
Respect for the
Environment
Minimal Impact
Leave No Trace Activities
Minimal Impact
Assessment
1. True or False: In areas that are unwise for a
fire, the “flat rock” method can be utilized.
2. True or False: Minimal impact is also known
as low-impact or no trace.
3. True or False: Preserving the natural quality
of the land is not something that Girl Scouts
strive to do.
Minimal Impact
Check Your Answers
1. True
2. True
3. False
Fires
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Fire Safety
Minimize Impact
Fire Starters
Laying a Fire
Fire Alternative
The A Frame
The TeePee
Click here for a video of how to
build a teepee fire
The Log Cabin
Click here for a video of how to
build a log cabin fire
Fires
Assessment
1. List 5 Fire Safety techniques.
2. The necessary forms of fuel for a successful camp fire
are:
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A.
B.
C.
D.
Tinder
Kindling
Logs
All of the above
3. True or False: Camp Stoves are the preferred method
of fire for back country camping.
4. What is the best way to preserve fuel?
Fires
Check Your Answers
1.
Possible Answers:
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2.
3.
4.
Make sure area is clear of overhanging branches.
Have fire bucket of water or sand ready before lighting first match.
Tie back long hair and loose clothing. (use bandana)
Do not wear plastic or synthetics around the fire (i.e. nylon
windbreaker jacket)
Have adult supervision at all times.
Guard fire, keep it small, and avoid overcrowding.
Never reach over a fire
Be sure stove is sturdy enough to support pots.
D. All of the above
True
Plan nutritious meals that need little cooking time
Knives
The main emphasis should be on the safety aspect. Here are some safety rules to
consider:
• Make sure that the girls have a three foot safety circle.
• Jackknives (Swiss Army Knife) are the only appropriate knives to bring on a
camping trip (other than kitchen knives).
• Never walk with an open jackknife.
• Whittling should be done in a sturdy, seated position with feet planted and legs
apart.
• Be sure to hold the knife firmly without placing the thumb on the blade (a
common "bad habit").
• Always whittle away from you, never toward you.
• Make sure to open and close the knife with the blade facing up.
• When passing any knife, never release your grip until the receiver acknowledges
receipt (eg., says "thank you").
• A good progression for the use of knives is to start with cardboard knives carving
soap and progress to real ones whittling wood.
Knives Assessment
1. True or False: 3 feet is an appropriate “safety
circle.”
2. A girl should always whittle ______ herself.
3. True or False: It is okay to walk with an open
jack knife if the “safety circle” is adhered to.
Knives Assessment
1. True
2. Away from
3. False
Knots
Bowline
A very useful and common knot which
forms a loop that can not slip
Clove Hitch
Used to fasten one end of a rope to a tree or post.
Constrictor
Used to tie a knot in the middle of a rope;
commonly used to hang a bear bag.
Half Hitch
Used to fasten a rope to a ring or tent stake.
(Image shows a round turn and two half hitches).
Lark’s Head
To loop cord or rope around a ring or hang
your dish bag to a clothesline.
Sheepshank
Used to shorten a rope.
Sheetbend
Used to tie a thin rope to a thicker rope.
Square Knot
Used for many situations; most
commonly used to tie two ropes of the
same thickness together at their ends.
Tautline Hitch
Used to make a loop that will slip when you
want it to.
Knives Assessment
1. A _________ knot is used tie two ropes of
the same thickness together at their ends.
2. True or False: A “Larks Head” knot is used to
loop cord or rope around a ring or hang your
dish bag to a clothesline
3. True or False: A “Sheep Shank” is used to
shorten a rope
Knots
Check Your Answers
1. Square
2. True
3. True
Compass Skills
How to Use a Silva
Compass
Click the compass to watch a video
on using a Silva Compass
Compass Games
Directions for a RIGHT TRIANGLE
1. Place Marker go 6 steps @ 270 degrees
2. Place Marker go 8 steps @ 360 degrees
3. Place Marker go 10 steps @ 160 degrees
Directions for a PENTAGON
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Place Marker go 6 steps @ 72 degrees
Place Marker go 6 steps @ 144 degrees
Place Marker go 6 steps @ 216 degrees
Place Marker go 6 steps @ 288 degrees
Place Marker go 6 steps @ 360 degrees
Make Your Own
Compass
Click the
directional
arrows to see
a video of
how to make
your own
compass
Compass Skills
Assessment
1. A ______ compass is a common compass used
in camping and hiking.
2. True or False: You do not need to hold the
compass flat, the magnetic poles will work on
the compass regardless.
3. True or False: There are fun games I can teach
my Girl Scouts while learning to use a compass.
Compass Skills
Check Your Answers
1. Silva
2. False
3. True
Resources
• Click here to register for the face-to-face skill training portion of
Outdoor Training
Other Resources
• Girlscouts.org Camping Page
• Leave No Trace – Center for Outdoor Ethics
• Lodge Dutch Oven Outdoor Cooking Recipes
• “Ultimate Camp Resource” for games, songs, recipes and other
ideas
• Girl Scout Outdoor Games
• And of course, any question can be directed to the Program
Department at girlprogram@usagso-na.org
Click to edit Master
title style
• Click to edit Master text styles
– Second level
• Third level
– Fourth level
» Fifth level