Follow
The author of the original article posted here requested that I remove it. He contended that it was a violation of his copyright to re-post the entire article. He went on to threaten “… otherwise, I will initiate legal proceeding against you.” [sic]
The article suggested a pretty good idea. Now I could have simply restated the author’s idea without any attribution at all. I wouldn’t do that because it’s a really good idea and I think he should get the credit for it.
I don’t dare mention the idea or link to the article now.
The remainder of the article in question mostly contained oft-repeated advice about clothing that you will also find in these associated articles at ScoutmasterCG.com:
Campmor gear list for Scouts
Ten Tips for Buying Gear
What follows is a bit of musing/ranting on the situation. Please don’t read it unless you want your ear bent.
After re-posting hundreds of references and entire articles over the past six years this is the first such request I have received. I always post attributions and links to these articles (as I did with his) and in no way represent them as my work.
I publish my articles to (hopefully) benefit the Scouting community and they may be reposted on other blogs, printed and distributed for free – all I ask is a mention that I am the author and/or a link to the original article.
As a blogger I think the request from this author is self-defeating- having your articles linked to and re-posted is usually regarded as complimentary and advances your work as an author. Many of my full articles have been re-posted on other blogs. I am happy to have been mentioned, having someone value my work, and welcome the additional readers.
I would get chapped if someone simply cut and pasted my writing and then claimed it as their own, or just changed a few words here and there and took credit for my work. Now that would be aggravating but I really can’t see threatening them with ‘legal action’. Suppose someone ham-handedly cut and pasted one of my articles and posted it somewhere without attribution or spelled my name wrong? Time to call in the lawyers? I don’t think so.
I didn’t do either of those things. I posted the full article here, preceded it with a statement of attribution and a link to the original graphically represented that it was a quote and I was complimentary about the thoughts it contained.
I have good ideas that I find have been around for many years and I am just the latest one to think them. It’s kind of like discovering a comet; the first person to record the discovery get’s to name the comet. When their discovery is celebrated and listed in astronomy journals worldwide do they threaten the people who report such things with lawyers?
When my son crossed over into a troop, I got polyester longies on sale at Sierra Trading post. In August his patrol went on a 5-mile hike on a rainy day. I wore my longies under a rain suit. All my cotton clothes were wet, but my only problem was the collected water in the elbow of my rain jacket (from holding my hiking stick), because I felt dry with the poly longies.
“New to Scout Camp”
If you are a lady and you’re asking, well then…
1. Very conservative. T-shirts or blouses with sleeves and collars. Cargo shorts, or similar, not tight.
2. Think Scout Uniform. If it covers less that a standard uniform shirt and shorts, then it’s probably not enough.
3. Most of the female camp staff I see at the waterfront have full, one piece swimsuits, usually in darker colors (often black).
4. Comfortable shoes. Camp is not for frilly shoes. There is usually a LOT of walking at camp. Light weight (Hi-Tec for example) boots or good, solid, broken in sneakers. Think of a day at summer camp as a hike without a full backpack 🙂 Bring a spare pair.
5. Hats are cool at camp. I know that some women eschew hats because of the hair thing. Might want to think about a hair style and hat for the week.
For anyone who’s fairly new, here’s my opinion. YMMV. As a woman you will be in a minority at camp. I think the best thing for new folks, particularly women at camp is to have a full, complete, uniform with proper insignia. Probably two full uniforms is a good idea. Wear the uniforms to breakfast, dinner and activities after dinner. Basically, wear the uniform whenever you are out of your campsite or heading to the main camp area.
Now, the unform is probably the best way to go. If you are heading down to the waterfront or going climbing with your Scouts or something, then wear a troop T-Shirt or other Scout shirt. If your troop doesn’t have it’s own shirt, then go to the Scout shop and pick up some Scout T-Shirts and polos. When you first get to camp, go to the camp store and pick up 2 or 3 of the previous year’s camp shirts for $2.00 to $4.00. I have a whole drawer and part of a closet full of shirts and polos 🙂 Have fun.
What is the best clothing to wear for Scout Adult Leaders other than the class A uniform? I don’t have too many clothing with BSA logos yet since I’m still new to scouting. This will be my first time camping at a scout camp… so I’m not to sure what the requirements are for scout leaders. Are plain soild colors like white or grey OK to wear? For females, are tang-tops OK or would shirts be suggested? 🙂
In addition to a Scout uniform I bring simple, comfortable work clothes to summer camp. It’s usually pretty hot by the time we get to camp in late July early August so I am usually wearing tee shirts and shorts.
You don’t need Scout logos, any generally acceptable clothing is fine. I’d be mindful of what is printed on tee shirts you wear; I wouldn’t wear shirts that advertise alcohol or have anything remotely like an adult theme. I have seen adults wearing tee shirts with advertisements and statements that make me doubt their judgement.
It’s a real stretch for me to offer advice to women on how to dress at camp but I’d recommend trending towards the very conservative; no tank tops (some health regulations prohibit tank tops or sleeveless shirts being worn in dining halls), short shorts, bare midriffs or two-piece bathing suits.
Larry (and others) — agreed that it is all about local conditions — our troop frequently hikes in the White Mountains; Mt Washington was last September, so we didn’t see the kind of conditions depicted in that one picture. However, it is extremely common (in August, for example) to have 95F+ in a valley floor and something like 40F and windy on exposed ridgelines.
Wow. I don’t even know what to say. I’d be flattered to have something I’d written be used as a reference – provided credit was given.
For what it’s worth, I’m always grateful when information is shared, and with proper credit, copied in multiple places for safe keeping.
Back in days gone by many folks threw their information up on freebie hosts like Angelfire or Geocities or … uh, whatever the AOL one was, and then sort of abandoned the sites once their information was posted. Hosting sites come and go… along with the information posted there, so much of that information then dissipated with internet traffic. In such instances, it’d be nice if there was a “backup” of the information somewhere.
So often I’ll find a great site which mentions a scouting ceremony or game – with a link back to the original site – but the link is a dead link. So sad. It seems like sharing of information (of course with proper credit) is a way of safeguarding it, rather than risk it disappearing into the nether. Ah well.
Thanks Liberty – I think it’s usually easy to determine if folks are doing things out of goodwill. In fact assuming that most people are motivated by goodwill has been a sound philosophy.
Our Scouts would understand most of that list, because we teach them about gear. We teach the parents, too. I think that list is easier to understand than the one in The Handbook, except for “anorak” and “billed cap”.
One meeting, we show them about cotton in the rain. Soak a pair of jeans and a cotton sweatshirt in a big tub and try to wring them out, then do the same thing with BSA Switchbacks and a fleece jacket.
Want to teach about wind shells? Pick a cool night and stand in front of a big fan with a fleece, then with a shell over it.
We do good Scout, bad Scout for winter camping, with one Scout dressed properly and one dressed wrong.
All this is taught by Scouts, because our Scouts know this stuff.
Our older Scouts organized an outing to the REI used gear sale — eight guys sitting in the cold rain and wind for two hours to get deals on gear. A Scout is Thrifty.
45 degrees is prime hypothermia weather. A wet cotton sweatshirt and some wind and you are in deep trouble. I have sent Scouts home from the parking lot because they were wearing jeans for a rainy weekend campout. I won’t accept that risk.
One thing I do recommend to scouts is to scout the resale shops for clothes. My son wears a pair of basketball warmups for long pants when he’s backpacking. Wrecks ’em, so what, $2.50 buys another pair.
I also prefer a wide brim hat for hiking. Helps keep the sun off and the rain away.
Something else I keep thinking about but always forget is a pair of safety glasses for everyone. Branches and leaves get real close to the eyes.
If they can, I recommend synthetic everything. Wal-Mart has cheap polypro now.
I used to wear the cotton waffle long johns under my denim and flannel :-0 I bought a set of the polyester long johns from Walmart last year and they work ok. I still like the feel of cotton and flannel but I’m trying to get used to the new stuff. My sleeping bag is flannel inside.
“No doubt it is but it wasn’t written for them was it?” I guess that I assumed that when we discuss things like this it is intended to filter down to the Scouts.
Translate please 🙂
That’s a nice list, but I imagine that it’s indecipherable to most 11 – 13 year old Scouts. Probably most Scouts.
Wearing during the day
Trail runners – What in the world does this mean? I have no idea.
Wool or synthetic socks – ok but here goes that synthetic word.
Long pants – ok, got that.
Synthetic boxers – Huh?
Short sleeve wicking synthetic shirt – Huh?
Light wicking synthetic sweater – double Huh? Wicking? synthetic?
Billed cap – Yeah, I paid for it.
Ultralight wind shirt, anorak style – What’s an anorak? What’s a “wind shirt”
Rain Gear
Hard shell, breathable rain parka – hard shell? Like a turtle? Turtles are waterproof. I guess.
Goretex rain pants – What’s a GoreTex? Can a Scout afford that? Is it necessary for most Scouting trips. Should I buy a $100.00 to $200.00 GoreTex rainsuit if I’m 12 years old?
Rain mitts – Huh?
Thin polypro glove liners – Huh? What in the world is polypro?
Wearing in my sleeping bag (to keep its insides clean) – “to keep it’s insides clean” Yeah right!! I have had Scouts go in their bags with their shoes on!!
Long sleeve synthetic shirt – Huh?
Long underwear synthetic bottoms – What’s a “synthetic bottom”?
Wool or synthetic socks (2nd pair)
Polypro hat – Huh? again.
Now I’m from Florida. Just saying. It sounds to me like he has about $1000.00 worth of gear in that list. Ok, maybe just $600.00 (on sale). Nice idea. Not going to happen.
I do, however, very much, like his idea of putting on all layers at home before leaving. I encourage my Scouts to load up their pack weeks in advance and then take walks with mom and dad every evening before the campout. That includes rainy days (go ahead mom, get your poncho or umbrella out and get out there with your kid!) I have had Scouts show up for cool (ok, I’m in Florida so I won’t use the cold word here with you guys 🙂 weekend hikes and they couldn’t get their pack on over their clothing. Fun to watch. Sort of reminds me of the little brother in “Christmas Story”. Picture that little guy putting on a full pack. Good grief, he couldn’t even stand up 🙂 Anyway, putting it on before you go is a good idea.
Larry’s list:
Scout pants or other “switchback pants”. Cool to warm weather. (cool to us is 30 degrees to about 45 degrees).
or Denim jeans – I know, I know but a good pair of broken in jeans work just fine.
Long underwear – $17 at Walmart – Cotton or polyester. I know, I know the cotton is a no no. Well it works just fine down here.
T-Shirt
Middle layer shirt – flannel, fleece, pull over long sleeve shirt.
Jacket – Last year’s old jacket
Ball cap or broad brimmed hat.
Good socks (no holes!). Two pair if your feet need it.
Good sneakers or broken in boots.
Gloves. Any gloves. Work gloves. Insulated gloves. Just bring a pair of gloves. If you don’t you’ll be using socks 🙂
Poncho ($3.00 to $9.99) or Dri Ducks rain suit ($17.00 at BassPro)
Ok, now go here:
http://sites.google.com/site/bsa76site/scoutmaster-blog
and see this troop on top of Mt. Washington. Obviously they required a lot more training and knowledge than we use down here. We do our backpacking in the middle of the winter 🙂 which is December to March. Again, I know, it’s hee hee from all you guys up north but the coldest we’ve ever been is 27 degrees. The Scouts think it’s cool if we just get a little frost in the morning. It’s often at least 50 degrees by lunch. And we never get wet. We have only had rain on one weekend campout in January and February since I started in 1988. YMMV.
“That’s a nice list, but I imagine that it’s indecipherable to most 11 – 13 year old Scouts.”
No doubt it is but it wasn’t written for them was it?
Check out the Campmor list I linked to above. I can outfit my Scouts as described for something like $100-150 each from head to toe. We don’t bother with Gortex for the Scouts because they outgrow it way before they wear it out – coated nylon does fine and it is cheap ($40-50 for pants and jacket that will last them several years).
I have Gortex because it was purchased on sale and has lasted 15 years or more (see the ten tips for buying gear article linked to above).
In our Mid-Atlantic location we expect rain or snow on at least half of our trips. Lowest temperature I have been camping around here -10F (average low for any given year of camping is around 20F).
Cotton does not work well for us, not at all.
.
Our troop does a fair amount of backpacking, so we have some pretty good experience when it comes to what works on the trial. During our last shakedown, I overheard one of our boys tell a younger scout “You can save a lot of weight by cutting back on the clothes you’ve packed. How many times do we change clothes anyway?” His observation was excellent! When you’re out for 3 days, why do you need 3 pairs of everything?
A change I would suggest to the list above is bringing switchbacks instead of just long pants. Not the most recent scout version, but the lighter ones. If the weather gets cold and wet, putting on polypro long underwear, switchbacks and rain pants is hard to beat. Also put an (!) next to the polypro hat. It’s an every season item.