Q: Do I need to have a backpack?
A: We do NOT recommend that parents run out and buy a real backpack when their son first joins Troop 55. At a young age, a boy still has a lot of growing left and a real backpack is a major investment for something that will be outgrown quickly.
As a boy starts maturing, we recommend that you think about a backpack that he can wear now, but has room to grow.
Most outdoor activities will not require a boy to carry everything at one time but as the boys get more experience, we plan to offer the older boys a more rugged program which may require carrying everything on their back. Boys without a proper backpack will not be able to participate in these outings.
Q: What about a tent...
A: The Troop has tents available. You do not need to supply your own.
Q: Where is a good place to get camping supplies?
A: Department stores often carry seasonal camping items. Many times, these are the trusted brand names, but of a lower quality than you can get at a specialty or sporting goods store. In some cases, this won't matter much - in others, it can make a world of difference. A compass is one item that shows a huge difference in quality.
An excellent place to look for cold-weather clothing and boot is a farm supply store. Farm supply stores typically have much higher quality cold-weather gear at almost the same price as the low-quality department store items. They are also good sources for socks, hats, gloves and boots.
Sporting and hunting specialty stores have a wide variety of specialized and light-weight camping equipment. This is probably the best place to look for backpacks, but these stores can be very expensive. Try to balance the cost with the benefit of getting a super-lightweight knife-fork-spoon set. Remember, a Scout is Thrifty!
Q: Why can't I bring snacks?
A: Scouting tries to teach more things than most people realize. Some of those things we try to teach are nutrition, planning and organizing a group. If we allowed each scout to bring their own snacks, we would probably have some pretty poor-nutrition snacks and we would lose an opportunity to practice planning and organization.
There is nothing that says you can't have snacks on a campout - you simply can't bring your own. The boys are encouraged to include snacks in their menu planning.
Q: Why are boys prohibited from having cell phones?
A: Banning cell phones, as well as all other forms of personal electronics, is not unique to Troop 55. Although the exact tems vary from troop to troop, I am not aware of a single troop in Cornhusker Council that does not place restrictions on personal electronic devices including cell phones.
The reasoning behind this decision is that boys who have cell phones or personal electronics are not focused on what is happening on a campout. This presents an unfair situation to the other scouts and leaders and can endanger the safety of that scout and others.
"But I want my son to have a cell phone on campouts."
Neither BSA National nor Cornhusker Council has a formal policy on Scouts possessing cell phones at scout activities. However, both have been very supportive of units enacting their own rules to deal with this situation.
Parents always have the final word when it comes to the welfare of their son. As with any other optional activity, Scouting comes with a set rules that a parent must weigh against their wishes and beliefs in raising their children. When a conflict occurs, it is the parents responsibility to do what they feel is best for their son.
Personal electronics, including cell phones, do not further the goals of Scouting and will not be allowed on campouts.
Basics
Outdoor Essentials
Clothing (appropriate for season)
Personal Items
