2. Welcome to Troop Camp Training! Congratulations on taking the next step in the Progression in the Out-of-Doors. Almost every Girl Scout looks forward to adventures in the out-of-doors with her troop. The two preparation sessions, along with your Troop Camp Training overnight, will be your guide to outdoor program opportunities. Camping is an important part of a troop’s program in the out-of-doors. Each step of the planning and preparation, as well as the camping experience itself, should involve the active participation of the girls with your guidance and help. The skills that the girls develop in regular troop meetings - working together in patrols, learning and practicing camp craft skills - will help prepare them for the adventure of troop camping. Introduction
3. This pre-session will help guide you through the processes needed to plan and prepare for the overnight session of Troop Camp Training. By the end of the session, you will be able to: Know the procedures/policies for camping with their troop. Understand girl/adult ratio and progression in the out of doors. Plan a camping trip with your troop to be carried out during the Troop Camp Training overnight. Understand and create kaper charts and patrols for the Troop Camp Training overnight. Describe the three cooking types and four cooking methods and use all three in your menu planning their Troop Camp Training overnight. This pre-session will not prepare you camp on your own with your troop until after you have completed the overnight session. Introduction Cont.
4. Introduction Cont. Please note, throughout this pre-session you will find skill videos. Please practice the skill along with the video. Also, at the end of this pre-session, you will find both a link to a quiz and homework for you to complete with your girls. To complete both, you will need the current editions of the following resources: This Pre-session Volunteer Essentials Camping Basics Manual When you have finished the quiz, send it to mhardy@cbgsc.org Once received and reviewed, you will get credit for having completed the first pre-session, and be given access to the second.
6. Outdoor Education in Girl Scouts Girl Scout camping is an experience that provides a creative, educational opportunity in group living in the out-of-doors. Its purpose is to utilize Girl Scout program, trained leadership, and the resources of the natural surroundings, to contribute to each camper’s mental, physical, social, and spiritual growth.
7. Outdoor Education in Girl Scouts Cont. What do Girls Learn? As with everything we do in Girl Scouting, the outdoor/camp experience creates great opportunities to develop personal leadership strengths based on the Leadership Keys of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience… Discover Connect Take Action
8. Outdoor Education in Girl Scouts Cont. Discover: Girls discover something new about the world of the out-of-doors. Girls improve in at least one outdoor living skill. Girls learn the joy of preserving simple things. Girls gain new interests and skills.
9. Outdoor Education in Girl Scouts Cont. Connect: Girls have opportunities to increase their ability to relate to others in a new setting. Girls participate in making decisions as an individual and by participating in group decisions. Girls have opportunities to practice democratic living.
10. Outdoor Education in Girl Scouts Cont. Take Action: Girls develop a sense of responsibility for group living. Girls develop a sense of responsibility for minimal impact use of the wilderness. Girls develop an individual sense of responsibility for conserving the natural world.
12. Are you ready? If you have been in Girl Scouts long you will have heard the word "progression". In Girl Scouts, we use progression to assist girls in acquiring the skills and knowledge they need before advancing to more difficult or highly skilled activities. We believe that girls enjoy experiences best if they have had previous experiences to build upon. On the next slide, you will see a chart depicting the stages in outdoor progression. The chart is very detailed and please keep in mind, it is not always necessary to strictly go step-by-step, but it does give a good idea of how to proceed in preparing Girl Scouts for the out-of-doors. This is particularly true when it comes to camping. Taking a group of girls camping with no preparation is likely to lead to frustration and confusion on the part of both girls and adults.
15. Planning a Camping Trip Planning is crucial. The secret to a successful camping trip is planning, planning and more planning. Make sure the girls take the lead on this, encourage their ideas. Use brainstorming tools such as a toss around ball or a talking stick to help girls take the time to express their ideas. Girls can do what they can plan, as a leader you need to let them plan the trip themselves, with level appropriate input and guidance. As the girls express their ideas, encourage them to take into consideration the groups dietary needs, physical restrictions, girl/adult ratios, budget, location, and duration of the trip.
16. Girl/Adult Planning and Skill Building: As the troop camp trained person, you will be responsible for preparing the troop and adults prior to any camping trip. Included in the homework section of this pre-session is a plan to help get the troop ready for their Troop Camp Training overnight. If you follow this plan, it will help you involve the girls in the planning and preparations for camping. For future camping trips where your activities and agenda are not pre-planned for you, please refer to your Camping Basics Manual on “Getting Ready” pages 5 – 7 for planning and preparation with the troop. Happy camping!
17. Once you decide to go camping, look through the property sections in you Camping Basic Manual to determine where you want to go. Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay has four council properties. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the campground you will be going to for your Troop Camp Training overnight. Camp Country Center Camping Basic Manual, “Camp Properties,” 2 -14 Camp Grove Point Camping Basic Manual, “Camp Properties,” 14 - 25 Camp Todd Camping Basic Manual, “Camp Properties,” 26 – 39 Camp Sandy Pines Camping Basic Manual, “Camp Properties,” 27 - 55 Where to go…
18. Skill Videos Knots To tie, or not to tie, which knot is the question…. One skill that is important to master in order to camp successfully is knot tying. At camp, knot tying knowledge will allow you to secure tent poles, carry bottles, and secure and hang. The more knots you know how to tie, the more useful there application is at camp. In this pre-session, you will learn five different knots. The first is the Square Knot, a versatile secure knot that is easy to untie.
22. Policies. Procedures and Paperwork Now that we know where we are going and what we are going to do… How do we get there? Camping involves getting the appropriate permission from Council and from parents As the troop camp trained person, you will be responsible for not only ensuring your girls are prepared for the trip, but also ensuring all the paper work and Girl Scout policies are followed.
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24. 1 Adult in charge certified in First Aid/CPR (with a current certificate in First Aid, including Adult and Child CPR or CPR/AED is present.)
25. 1 Adult in charge certified in either Cabin Camping or Troop Camping.* Ideally, the two trained positions should be two different people.
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27. If you have a multi-grade troop, use the lowest grade level to determine your ratio.Please make note that each Troop must be accompanied by a minimum of two unrelated adults (at least one of whom is female).
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30. The Paperwork All forms discussed in this section can be downloaded from www.gscb.org or received through your Service Unit or Council. * A checklist of pre-trip paperwork can be on page 7 in the “Getting Ready” section of your Camping Basics Manual. Check your campground and dates using GSCB on-line camp availability site. You must complete and submit a: Property Reservation & Troop Camping Application (202-PM) All fees must be paid at least 6 weeks prior to trip. You will need to have the names of your two emergency contacts, the adult certified in First Aid/CPR and the adult certified in Cabin/Troop Camping who will accompany troop on the trip (these should be two different people).
31. Paperwork Cont. 2. You mustcomplete and submit a: Field Trip Application (203-PM) Submit copy to Outdoor Program Consultant (OPC) in your Service Unit at least 5 weeks prior to your trip. If the trip will be more than three nights, the OPC will forward the form to Council on your behalf. 3. You must obtain permission for each girl participating in the trip: Parent/Guardian Permission Form Leader completes top portion, parents complete and return bottom portion to leader. Take these with you on the overnight.
32. Paperwork Cont. 4. You must obtain health information for each girl participating in the trip: Girl Health History Leader needs to take a copy of this card with her whenever the troop leaves the meeting place. The information on these cards is kept confidential. (A health history is recommended for sessions of 3 days or fewer. For longer trips, a health examination, signed by the family physician, should be obtained.) *5. It is highly recommended that you also collect health information for each adult participating in the trip: Adult Health History If collected, the Leader needs to take a copy of this card with her whenever the adults participates in a troop trip. The information on these cards is kept confidential.
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35. CONSERVATION – Follow the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace, which can be found in your Camping Basics Manual, “Appendix,” page 4.
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37. VEHICLES – One emergency vehicle per troop may be parked at the unit during the camp time. All other vehicles must park in the designated camp parking area.
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39. Skill Video 2 Clove Hitch To tie, or not to tie, which knot is the question…. The second knot you are going to learn is the Clove Hitch. The Clove Hitch is often used when strength and solidity are most important. This knot is not tied on its own, but something such as a pole, an stake or an anchor. Often at camp, the Clove Hitch is used to secure drip lines, tents and tarps to stationary objects.
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41. 1 pole-like object, i.e. finger, pen, handle, etc.Click on the Clove Hitch when ready
44. Cooking at Camp Now that we know how to get to camp, let’s look at what and how we can cook while there. Just like progressing in the outdoors, when planning a cookout, remember the grade level and experience of the majority of the girls attending, and start where they are before progressing to more advanced steps. However, for this training we are going to speed up the progression in outdoor cooking. Take notice of the highlighted areas on the chart on the next slide. Those are the areas we focus on during the Troop Camp Training overnight: one-pot meals, fire cooking, stick cooking, and baking.
45. PROGRESSION IN COOKING When you are starting to plan for a cookout, remember the age level and experiences of the majority of the girls in the troop. With first year Brownies, start with Step 1 and progress through the various steps. By doing this, both leaders and girls will enjoy their first experience and will look forward to the next one. IF YOUR GIRLS ARE OLDER, START “WHERE THEY ARE” AND ADVANCE THROUGH THE STEPS. NOVELTY Prepare a meal component use a novelty method. Vagabond Stove Tin can Charcoal stove Pie irons Baking in a can Roasting in a bucket Egg on a stick After the girls have MASTERED all the previous steps, they are ready to try new ideas. Remember that tin can stoves and utensils get extremely hot and are not for inexperienced cooks. ADVANCED Prepare a meal component using more advance skills. Using a tripod Cooking on a spit Planking Pits Potatoes in dirt STICK Prepare a meal component on a stick over the fire or over coals. S’mores Bacon Hot dog Kabobs Bread twists Brown Bears / Dough boys Pigs in a blanket Cooking raw dough or meat on a stick takes patience, practice and skill. BAKING Prepare a meal component a Dutch oven, box oven, solar oven, or reflector oven. Use coals when baking in a Dutch oven or box oven. Use fire to bake in a reflector oven Use the sun to bake in a solar oven. You can make anything ! FIRE Prepare a meal component over low fire in the fire circle. This can be frying, steaming, boiling, etc. One pot One pan Grilling COALS Prepare a meal component over a bed of coals in the fire circle. Coal cooking can also be done with a terracotta pot. Turn the food and let it cook slowly. Food can be cooked on a wire rack, in foil packets, or in a pan. Toast Grilled Cheese Banana Boats Roasted Apples Foil Dinners ONE POT/PAN Prepare a meal component all in one pot or on the camp stove. Main dish is almost the entire meal Stew Chili Soup If frying use a minimum amount of grease over moderate heat. Bacon Hamburgers Note: Be sure to try several of these with a new recipe each time. NO BAKE Prepare a meal or snack that requires no cooking. Nose bag lunch, Sandwiches, Cereal for breakfast Salad Trail Mix Ants on a Log, etc.
46. Cooking at Camp Cont. The three main types of cooking at camp are: Propane Charcoal Open fire When planning your training weekend, you will need to plan menu components using all three types. You will also need to include these four methods: One-pot meals Foil cooking Stick cooking Baking
47. Cooking at Camp Cont. Propane When using propane, it is just like your stove at home. You just need to check your connections when assembling your stove. It is fairly reliable and inexpensive, except for the cost of the stove. Also, the stoves are easy to construct and use, and great for one-pot/pan meals. Note: white gas (any liquid gas) is not allowed of GSCB properties. If you have a white gas stove see that you purchase a propane adapter.
48. Cooking at Camp Cont. Charcoal Charcoal is versatile; food can be cooked directly in the coals, over the coals, or in a Dutch or box oven. Because of versatility, coal is great for foil cooking, stick cooking, and baking. The easiest way to get the coals started is by using a homemade or store bought charcoal chimney. They concentrate the heat and cut down on prep time.
49. Cooking at Camp Cont. Open Fire Fire is the third method. It is great for one pot meals and of course, stick cooking. The fire should only be as large as necessary to complete the cooking. You will learn how to build fires during the Troop Camp Training overnight. When using fire or charcoal, allow enough time for set-up. The fire will take a bit of time to get to the point where you can use it to cook over and charcoals need at least 20 minutes of time to be ready to use.
50. Cooking Equipment The video on the next slide will provide examples and discuss each of the four cooking methods you will need to demonstrate at camp. One-pot meals Foil cooking Stick cooking Baking
53. Meal Planning Okay, we know how to get to camp, what we are going to do and how we can cook while there. Now, let’s look at what we want to eat. There are two types of camping: Camping with activity around your meals Camping with activity and fitting meals into the schedule. For your Troop Camp Training overnight, you will be doing the second type of camping. With a pre-planned agenda, you have to plan your meals around the activities. This leaves you 2 hours for lunch, 3 hours for dinner, and as much time as you like for breakfast (so long as you get up early).
54. Meal Planning Cont. When planning your menu, don’t forget the four methods you need to include. As part of your training on the Troop Camp Training overnight, you will need to make a meal component using: One-pot or pan (Soups, stews, chili, etc.) Foil cooking (Foil Dinners, baked apples, toast, etc.) Stick cooking(S’mores, biscuits, hot dogs, etc.) Baking in a Box Oven (Pizza, brownies, biscuits, anything) For meal tips and recipes for each methods refer to pages 10 – 21 in the “Fires and Outdoor Cooking” section of your Camping Basics Manual.
55. Meal Planning Cont. Menus will vary depending on what the girls choose. When brainstorming with the girls about menu planning, remind make sure girls take into account any dietary restrictions, food allergies, and cultural/religious limitations of trip participants. Also remember, when at camp to post the menu somewhere everyone can see. Preferably near where the cooks will be working.
56. Meal Planning Cont. While planning your menu, you need to take into consideration your troop budget, equipment needed and pre-trip shopping. Break the girls into small groups, called patrols, to plan each meal or specific meal components. When planning use simple charts like the one found on page 11 in the “Fires and Outdoor Cooking” section of your Camping Basics Manual, or like the one on the next slide.
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58. Meal Planning Cont. Meal Planning Tips: Suggest to girls that they clip coupons for the purchase of their planned meal components. Consider a troop shopping trip to the grocery store. There, with helping adults, girls can do the grocery shopping, use their coupons, and do some price comparison shopping. Remember to think about quantities. You can use the Meal Equivalency chart on pages 12-13 in the “Fires and Outdoor Cooking” section of your Camping Basics Manual.
59. Meal Planning Cont. Food Storage and Handling Part of Menu planning is planning how you will handle and store your food for the trip. Note: For the Troop Camp Training overnight, you will have access to a refrigerator and freezer to store your food. In the Kitchen Wash hands, work area and utensils before, during and after preparing food. Thaw foods in the cooler. Marinate food in the cooler. Take along moist towelettes or washcloths.
60. Meal Planning Cont. Food Storage and Handling Heat and Eat Keep food cold until the grill or stove is hot. Cook thoroughly—meat and poultry should not be pink, juices should run clear and fish should flake with a fork. Be careful that raw meat, poultry or fish juices do not touch other food. Use a clean plate and utensils for serving cooked food.
61. Meal Planning Cont. Food Storage and Handling Planning Ahead Plan to take only the amounts of food you’ll use. With an insulated cooler and ice, most foods are safe for short periods. If a cooler is not an option, take fruits, fresh vegetables, hard cheese, canned or dried meats or fish, peanut butter, breads, crackers, dry cereal. Come and Get It In hot weather (85°F and above), food should never sit out for more than 1 hour. Serve food quickly from the cooler and put it back inside the cooler fast.
62. Meal Planning Cont. Food Storage and Handling Packing it Up Always use an insulated cooler, thermos, or dish. Include a cold source in the cooler. Use block ice, frozen gel packs or frozen water or juice in plastic or paper containers. Start with cold food—pack directly from the refrigerator or freezer and pack in reverse-use order. First foods packed are to be used last. Securely overwrap or bag foods that my drip or leak, particularly raw meat, poultry or fish. Have one cooler for food, another for beverages and extra ice.
63. Meal Planning Cont. Food Storage and Handling Taking it Home Leftovers? Put perishables back into cooler immediately after eating. Perishable foods left out of refrigeration over 2 hours (or over 1 hour when it’s 85°F and above) are not safe and should be discarded. On the Road Put cooler in passenger area of the car. At the camping or cookout site, keep the cooler in the shade, cover with a blanket and avoid repeated openings. Replenish the ice if it begins to melt.
64. Skill Video 3 Bowline To tie, or not to tie, which knot is the question…. The third knot you are going to learn is the Bowline. The Bowline is a knot that creates a fixed loop at the end of a rope. It is one of the most well known and important knots used in boating, sailing and rock climbing. It is easy to learn, quickly made, and easy to untie after being placed under heavy strain.
68. Camp Sanitation This section will provide you a quick overview of the supplies you will need to bring to the overnight for bathroom usage, hand washing and dish washing. Later, during your next pre-session and at camp, you will learn how to set-up and clean the stations. .
69. Bathrooms at Camp Latrines and Indoor Supplies Needed: Broom Bucket Scrub brush Water Disinfectant Container with lid Trash Bag Toilet Paper
70. Bathrooms at Camp Latrines and Indoor For more information on bathrooms at camp, see page 8 in the “Camping Kapers” section of your Camping Basics Manual.
71. Hand Washing at Camp How Set-up a Wash House/Stand Supplies Needed: Broom Disinfectant Scrub Brush/Sponge Nylon Soap Trash Bag Clothes Line/rope Paper Towels
72. Hand Washing at Camp Wash House/Stand For more information on hand washing at camp, see page 8 in the “Camping Kapers” section of your Camping Basics Manual.
73. Dish Washing at Camp How Set-up a Dish Washing Station Supplies Needed: 3 Dish Pans Bleach 1 -2 Dish Rags A Scrub sponge/ Dish brush (no SOS) Nylon Liquid Dish Soap Trash Bag/Can Clothes Line/Rope Clothes Hanger (optional)
74. Dish Washing at Camp Dish Washing Station For more information on dish washing at camp, see page 7 in the “Camping Kapers” section of your Camping Basics Manual.
76. Patrols and Kaper Charts Using tools like patrols and kaper charts can make the trip go more smoothly. Patrols are smaller groups of girls who work together to get things accomplished. They can be used while planning for camp to plan menus and pack. Kaper charts are easy ways to divide workloads and make sure that everyone gets a chance to help out and participate. Essentially, a Kaper chart is your troop’s chore chart at camp.
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79. Patrols and Kaper Charts Cont. When you designing your kaper chart for this camping trip keep in mind the jobs you would like the girls to do upon arrival, during meals, and at departure. Also, remember kaper charts can be both simple and creative. You can find one example of a kaper chart on page 3 in the “Camping Kapers” section of your Camping Basics Manual.
80. Skill Video 4 Taut Line To tie, or not to tie, which knot is the question…. The fourth knot you are going to learn is the Taut Line. The Taut Line is a hitch used to tighten a line, and is ideal for clothes lines, tents and more. Once tied, the loop knot is adjustable for use on lines under tension. It is most useful, the length of a rope will need to be periodically adjusted in order to maintain tension.
85. Troop Equipment for Camp Once you have planned your menu, cooking methods, and where you will be camping, it is time to figure out what to pack for the troop. Depending on the weather, menu, location and activities planned, what you pack will change. Remember to actively involve the girls in this process so that they learn how to do it for themselves. This is a skill that will definitely be used by them throughout their lives.
86. Troop Equipment for Camp Cont. Before the girls focus on their own individual packing, it is important that they work together to consider what they need to bring for the troop to: cook, clean, be safe, do activities, etc. However some things you do not need to bring with you out to a GSCB campsite. These items are “normally found” at most or all of GSCB campsites.
87. Troop Equipment for Camp Cont. Everything else you need to bring out to the campsite yourself as a troop. However, since this is your first trip you are probably unsure of what you need to bring. In the “Equipment for Camp” section of your Camping Basics Manual, on page 5, you will find a list of Equipment each troop needs to bring to camp. Please take a moment now to review this list.
89. Girls’ Equipment for Camp With the troop gear and trip all planned out, it is now time to help the girls prepare for the trip. It is important that the girls are ready for the trip. This is where the pre-camp meeting outlines will help both for the Troop Camp Training overnight, and when you camp on your own for the first time.
90. Girls’ Equipment for Camp Cont. At this time, please review the Suggested Personal Equipment List for Camping and the packing hints found on pages 3 – 4 in the “Equipment for Camp” section of your Camping Basics Manual. Remember! GIRLS SHOULD PACK THEIR OWN CLOTHES FOR THE OVERNIGHT. When an adult packs, the girl does not know what she has, or where it is and everything always explodes out of her bag and onto the floor.
93. Bed Roll: Series of blanket and sheet together. Click here to learn how to make a bed roll. and here.
94. Girls’ Equipment for Camp Cont. If time allows, practice folding, packing, and rolling sleeping bags at the troop meeting. Packing practice at the meetings can be fun! Here is an activity you that will help girls learn to pack. Sleeping Bag Rolling Relay Have 2 teams & 2 sleeping bags. Team member runs up to a rolled (not tied) sleeping bag. Unroll it, crawl inside, crawl out again, roll bag back up. Tags the next team member. Sits down.
96. Dress for Success in the Out-of-Doors Learning to choose the right clothes and layers for any weather can be a challenge, but it can also be fun! Please review the tips for dressing for the weather found on page 7 “Outdoor Skills” section of your Camping Basics Manual. Then, with your girls you can have a “Dress for the Weather Relay Race.” You can find the instruction on the next slide.
97. Dress for the Weather Relay Race Materials: 2 Paper bags, Clothing for different types of weather, and Weather scenarios. Divide into two teams. (more if necessary) Choose one person from each group to be a model (stands next to the clothing). Rest of the team forms a line away from the clothing at starting point. Give each team a weather scenario that they will use to dress model. At signal, one girl from each team grabs a clothing item, places it on the model (over what she is wearing) and goes to back of her line. This continues until each girl has had a turn or until the model is appropriately dressed for the weather scenario. The first team to finish sits down and the members raise their hands.
98. Skill Session 5 Larks Head To tie, or not to tie, which knot is the question…. The fifth knot you are going to learn is the Larks Head, also known as the Cow Hitch. The Lark’s head is most commonly known for its usage in macramé. However, it is a good knot to use wherever you need a loose, temporary knot. A camp, the larks head is often used to temporarily hang and secure objects such as drip bags to a drip line.
103. Precamp meeting #1 Activity: Planning for the camping trip Inform the girls about: Why we going camping. To learn the 8 basic camping skills. What we will do at camp. Build edible fires, learn knife safety, wash our own dishes, and cook our own food. Where we will be camping. In Lodges at Camp Grove Point. What it will cost to go. Program, food, and transportation. What badges/patches they will earn on the overnight. Adults will earn their camping certification and the girls will earn the 8 Basic Skills Patch Leader Responsibilities: Review procedures for troop camping Register for Event Request parent help. Transportation, extra adults, etc. Identify who will be your qualified First Aider Review Safety Activity Checkpoints for Group Camping and Outdoor Cooking
104. Precamp meeting #2 Activity: Planning Work with girls to: Plan Menus. 1 lunch, 1 dinner, 1 breakfast 1 dessert snack (Can be S’mores) (See pages 10 – 21 in the “Fires and Outdoor Cooking” section of your Camping Basics Manual) What do we need? Make troop and patrol equipment list. Talk about care equipment at camp. (See page 5 in the “Equipment for Camping” section of your Camping Basics Manual) Review. Why and where we going camping. What we will do at camp. What badges/patches they will earn on the overnight. Leader Responsibilities: Check to make sure all three types of cooking and four methods are covered by the meals. Ensure at least one cooking method is used at each meal. Send girl permission slip to parents. Ask parent to check health statement for updates. Send home health statements to parents for girls who do not have one on record with the troop. ** It is suggested that all adults accompanying the group have a health statement on file and are registered Adult Girl Scouts.
105. How would you use the 8 steps of progression to prepare your girls for the Troop Camp Training Overnight? Here are the steps to help guide you: Look Out: Meet Out: Explore Out: Hike Out: Cook Out: Sleep Out: Camp Out: Trip Out :
