Staying warm at night

 

The things we learned from our nights under the stars at this time of year included a lot about dealing with the cold so I often wore a hat to bed as that accounts for a high proportion of heat loss and thick dry pj's taking care to remove any damp sweaty stuff from the day as that just leaves you cold and having thick woollen bedsocks.

Girl scouts have it sorted!

What might you need on an camping trip with your mates?

Here it seems American Girl Scouts have gathered much you will such as matches, maps, eating and cooking utensils (you may well need to eat something!) and a good first aid kit as you may be a few miles from a chemist or doctor.

A compass really is a must as is a torch, guides on indentifying trees and plants and penknife.

How to pick a good Camping Spot.

 While its very much blowing a storm outside, for when it's safer, here's what you need to consider in picking your camping site all of which really does make sense.

Camping in Winter

 

Brrr it was zero degrees overnight with ice about as I got about towards the woods yesterday morning sorting my gloves and thick hat and coat but can Winter stop outdoor camping?

The short answer is NO as this boy camped out in the cold but you must dress appropriately with lots of layers, make sure you have a really good ground sheet to keep that cold from seeping into your back and proper footwear well insulated and with excellent grip.

These days I'd add on top of your provisions, some means of cooking and a decent map, a mobile phone in case of any difficulty as old school phone boxes no longer exist in many areas.

Time out under the stars

 It's the time of year many minds turn to camping out, exploring along the way so if you've not done this for a while it's a good idea to aqaint ones self with the does and don'ts before embarking upon it.

Packing correctly your rucksack and ensuring you are carrying correctly is a must at any age.

Preparing for a night under the stars

Today camping may seem easier, a site may have all facilities in purpose built blocks, some may sleep less under the stars as in a hall not least younger children but for many a part of the appeal is being directly involved in your own survival.

This may well main physically erecting and securing your own tent on assigned but not otherwise prepared grassland which this probably German scout is doing, making sure ever peg is right down and the groundsheet is set up right to help keep the damp out.

Fire is light and a warm meal is underway

Guide books

In the modern age no doubt there would be people who'd say "Who needs a Guidebook to Camping?"  thinking they could just look it up online as needed but many studies show we retain information better reading from paper.

It is just possible there may be limited mobile broadband  in the area - numerous deadspots abound in the UK - and all the information is gathered under chapters making it easy to find just what you need in a approved fashion.

Taking it in

Enjoying a moment in the sun relaxing in your folding camp chair knowing everything is ready for the next part of your adventure that week.

Little does he realize what he's learning is going to set him up for and provide warm memories for life.

Making our way back

The Scout and his leader going through a residential area in Germany with their backpack's on although why they might is open to speculation as normally you'd walk through a more rural area.

Could it be they have been to a pursuit centre using a field but within the urban limits so being kinder to the environment they have decided not to use a car?

Perhaps could it be he purposely seeing this young scout to his families front door in which instance while unusual at his age here in the U.K. having him that close might seem appropriate?

While I'm of pro shorts school of Scouting, it is good to see someone of his age actually doing camping rather than just staying in resort.

How to light a fire in the rain

Many challenges faces the would-be camper and scout such as how to light a fire in the rain when you need the warmth and the means of cooking a hot meal but it seems impossible.

In this extract from  the 1954 Sports Afield Camping Annual, Ed Dodd shows just how you can and what safety measures you need to consider  in a simple comic strip style.

National Parks

The establishment of National Parks in the States expanded upon under the New Deal, lead in the immediate aftermath of WW2 to the then Labour government establishing a framework for National Parks within the UK as much land had been owned and controlled exclusively by estates for the benefit of their owners alone.

Such National Parks are often close to major population centres such as the Peak District surrounding the Manchester, Sheffield, Stoke on Trent and Derbyshire areas in the North and North-west Midlands of England.

This has lead to much camping and hiking activity being made available for the millions in this area including Scouts and Girl Guilding members.

Now and then under the stars

Vintage camping is something I find fascinating in part because of what I was talking about yesterday the sense in which in the past to go camping WAS to rough it, learning to master the elements  and also from what would be considered as acceptable in terms of health and safety then today we may not for instance this fire may be judged "too close" to the tent today when in 1923 it wasn't.

A Swedish lad carrying a straw mattress to camp in 1938 today you may have a sleeping bag or possibly an inflatable bed.

Woodwork

Being able to effect repairs or make things while away is very handy as is learning to use hand towels safely and here we see one nailing down wood sections with a hammer while the other marks off the section to cut ready to for sawing.

That is teamwork!

Winter scouting

We may have some deep snow but it won't be this week at least here in Staffordshire but these scouts are definitely hardy with good footwear on so they were able to get about in the snow and they managed to get that big metal container sorted too.

When it comes to winter wear I prioritize headwear, gloves, decent water resistant boots and thick long socks.

Original pix by wintershortsfan

I've gotcha!

Having a spot of horse play at Scout Camp as the tents and marques are being erected for what seems like biggish event taking place.

Present attitudes toward any kind of unregulated activity can lead to situations where complaints and even formal legal action can be started which can lead to a more risk adverse take on boys doing what comes naturally with the leader only stepping in where necessary.

I feel while bullying rightly shouldn't be tolerated, boys should learn to hold their own and resolve differences by themselves and sometimes horse play helps teach limits to boys and to make up afterward.