Camping with Daisies
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Before jumping in to the details of camping with Daisy Scouts, I want to be clear that every troop, and ever leader, will do things differently. This is for those troops who are interested in camping at the Daisy level— if that isn’t your troop, that’s okay! If you’re on the fence, or you’re sure that camping is for your troop, keep reading on for some of my favorite tips and tricks for planning a successful Girl Scout camping trip with Daisy Scouts.
Be Prepared
Just like I outlined in my post about starting a Daisy troop, having a clear plan and routine when possible is the key to success, especially with little ones. Some of this will come with time and with multiple camping trips under your belt (sash?) your troop will come up with traditions that your scouts will look forward to during each trip.
Leading up to the trip, be sure to cover any safety checkpoints. First aid and fire safety are big ones to cover, and every girl should know the rules. I would suggest making the meeting or two before camp mandatory for camp attendance, to ensure that all scouts are aware of these important rules.
Buddies and Groups
One of the key rules in our troop is to always take a buddy. We try to keep the buddy choices as open as possible, but sometimes, if you know that certain groups may be splitting for activities, there may need to be some changes to buddy pairs. This ok— buddies do not have to be the same for every activity, but each scout needs to know who and where their buddy is at all times.
Picking buddies is one of the very first things that we do upon arriving to camp. This allows the girls a bit of independence right from the start. Girls can explore a bit, run back to the restroom if we are outside, and otherwise flex their independence just a bit by ensuring that they always travel in pairs.
Buddies are different from groups, however. In our troop, we have a rotating kaper chart for camp chores. The number of groups will depend on the number of kapers you have scheduled at once, and the number of scouts attending camp. Typically we have 3 or 4 groups, which consist of a leader or adult volunteer, and a roughly even split of scouts.
A Word About Moms as Leaders
In our troop, we intentionally avoid putting the leaders’ or adult volunteer’s children in the same kaper group as their parent. This helps the scouts continue to exercise independence, avoid slipping into behaviors they may reserve only for their parents, and helps the leaders focus on all of the scouts in their group. This is only for kapers, and of course the scouts are welcome to be with their parent throughout the trip.
It’s also important to remember that camping and outdoor skills are a progression. At camp, your job is not to be a parent, but a leader who teaches the scouts to be independent. Remember that your scouts should be completing their own kapers with your guidance, and not playing hide and seek while you clean up their mess kits.
Ultimately, as some of our scouts are getting older, we will hand off more of the leadership and planning during camp to them, so it’s important to remember that these early trips are building that foundation for success.
Packing & Supplies
You will be amazed at the amount of items you may need for camping trips, especially if you are traveling with food and activity supplies!
For campers, you will want to distribute packing lists early so that parents can be prepared, and encourage parents to use supplies that they have on hand.
For example, a mess kit can be put together with dishes and utensils on hand at home, and a trash bag can serve as a waterproof bag to transport a sleeping bag in bad weather. Your troop can decide which items will be provided by the troop as well, which can then be removed from the camping list for individual campers.
Random Helpful Extras
Based on our camping experiences, here are the items that may be helpful for you to bring, regardless of their inclusion on each camper’s list.
Socks
I’m not sure what it is about 5 and 6-year-olds, but they are experts at leaving socks everywhere! No matter how many socks they bring along, several scouts will 1) immediately lose them, 2) get them wet and leave them somewhere to dry, 3) claim that any socks you find are in fact not their missing socks, even though they cannot find their socks.
Buy a cheap pack of plain socks before the trip, and never run out again.
Ice Packs
As a scout leader, you already plan to be first aid prepared. However, do not underestimate the excitement of a child getting an ice pack. This is then followed by envy from the non-ice pack receivers. This will then be followed by every minor bump requiring an ice pack, stat!
Bring. Lots. Of ice packs.
Children’s Medication
An interesting fact that I’ve learned as a troop leader and a first aider is that your standard first aid kit contains medication dosages for adults. Avoid the surprise of needing ibuprofen, and instead, only finding advil tablets or high-dosage tablets within your first aid kit. Be sure that you have the appropriate medication in the appropriate form (chewable or liquid for the smallest campers).
Markers for Labelling
Kids can be messy, and even the neatest of leaders will leave their dishes or water bottle some place at camp. Have a permanent marker, or other items to label belongings so that everyone is able to take everything home, and “leave no trace”.
Clothespins
This object is not always top of mind, but clothespins can be so helpful for hanging up objects as needed. Mess kits will need to be hung to dry, and any clothing that gets wet (remember that note about extra socks?) will need to be hung up as well. Clipping up artwork to dry, or even items to hang out of the way (our scouts are always trying to hang glow sticks and items from the top bunk) is made infinitely easy with clips or clothespins.
If you are unsure that your campground will have a clothesline, be sure to pack one of those, too!
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