Scoutmaster Gear

For safety reasons, the Scoutmaster and all other Adult Leaders on Outings need to be properly outfitted.  This often means that they will need to pack extra gear beyond what the Scouts and Troop will need to pack. 

10 Essentials

• These are needed on all outings

• Even Scoutmasters will need to be prepared for emergencies, especially since you can't depend on what Scouts will pack.

• See 10 Essentials 

• See Scoutmaster Winter Essentials for Winter Outings

Mylar Blanket

A mylar blanket isn't the end all for all survival needs and don't work as well as many think they do.  They do work as a vapor barrier and can keep you somewhat warm for a short period of time.

Mylar blankets come in to major forms:

• Disposable pack the size of a cell phone

  • Prone to holes and tears

  • One time use - you'll never fold it up into a cellphone size ever again

• Fiber reinforced blanket

  • Reusable

  • Can be used over an over again and holes can be repaired with duct tape

  • You can use as temporary blanket at rest stops when waiting for slower Scouts or Adults to catch up

  • Designed to be used as a small tarp

  • Note: Different blankets fold up into different sizes - Some fold up twice as wide as others

Uses:

• Temporary blanket

• Cut hole in middle to turn into poncho

• Sit cloth - keeps your butt somewhat dry

• Emergency tarp - can cover a person in the sitting position

Emergency Gear Storage and Access

Where do you put your emergency gear?  Well...you have many options, but it should be easy to access.

You many need to add cord or sew on webbing to your pack to allow for easy access and storage.

Comms

One handed quick access to these is ideal.  You may be able to clip these onto your shoulder strap with a mini carabiner.  A satellite messenger should also be stored high in or on your pack to limit obstructions between it and the sky.  Clipping it to your shoulder strap is one of the most popular place to store a satellite messenger.  This allows easy access to your device, gets it higher up and exposes the antenna to open air.  Shock cord or a fancy holster for it can securely mount it to your gear so that is doesn't flop around. 

Radios can be clipped to shoulder straps or belts.  Lanyards are vital as radios can be easily dropped or knocked off (especially when not using a carabiner). 

Lanyard

You should anchor your communications devices to your pack, so that if it gets knocked off, you drop it or forget about it, it won't be lost.

A loop of cord works great for an inReach.  It can easily be secured to webbing on your pack and if removed and be used as a necklace or easily secured to a belt or button hole.

A coiled lanyard works great for a radio.  

Pockets for Shoulder Straps are great for an inReach, phone, map and snacks.  It doesn't need to be fancy, but if you want a nice one, there are several to choose from:

• ULA Equipment Ultra Shoulder Pocket 

  • They also make a more affordable one in X-PAC

• Hyperlite Mountain Gear Shoulder Pocket

• Zpacks Cinch

• Zpacks, Zip

• Trekker Joe’s

• CTUG (Chicken Tramper Ultralight Gear) Phone

• CTUG (Chicken Tramper Ultralight Gear) Zip

  • Seam sealed version is extremely water resistant - but the zipper is a bit of a pain to use

• Gossamer Gear

• Aarn

First Aid Kit

Your first aid kit needs to be readily available and protected from the elements.  Most commercial first aid kits are not waterproof and contents are easily damaged when they get wet.  The simplest way to deal with this is to pack your first aid kit in a freezer bag, and store it in an outside pocket of your pack or towards the top of your pack so you or someone else can easily access it. 

Personal Stove

You need a personal stove on any overnight or snow outing.

A personal stove is important for several reasons.  For one, you don't want to depend on Scouts for a stove or to have to wait for your turn to use it.  Second, a functional stove can mean the difference in you having a delicious hot meal or no meal at all if the troop gear becomes non-functional.  Why would troop gear become nonfunctional?

• They forgot to pack a stove

• They forgot to pack fuel

• They didn't bring all the parts of the stove

• The stove they brought doesn't work (regulator might be dead)

• They ran out of fuel due to poor planning/prep, brought the wrong fuel or brought empty canisters

• They broke something

• They lost something

• They left it out and the canister, jets or ports are plugged with ice

On winter outings, a stove is a critical piece of gear.  You must have a functional backup just in case. 

Stove uses:

• Boil up hot water for a brew

  • Important for hydration

  • May be needed for your own sanity 

• Sterilize water for drinking or washing out wounds

• Melt snow for drinking

• Sterilizing medical gear and dressings

• Heat source

• Cooking food (with or without pot)

• Getting a fire started with wet wood - Adult Use only

• Heating water for bathing, warming hypothermia or frostbite victims as well as other medical uses

Safety Tool

Sometimes you need to resort to woodsman skills to survive an outing.  Carry the proper tool and know how to use it.  The most versatile Wilderness Survival tool is a fixed blade knife.  We recommend something simple like a Morakniv Companion.  For under $20, you have an excellent survival tool.  And if you aren't into the survivalist look with the knife on your belt, you can pack it away in your pack. 

Firestarting Kit

Our part of the world can get pretty wet and cold, so much so that it is easy to cross the line of miserable cold to life-threatening cold.  All Scouts should have a firestarting kit, but you can not depend on them to save the crew when they and everything around them is wet and cold.

Adults must have solid firestarting skills and firestarting gear.  A safety flare is one item that can be used for emergencies.  They should not be used on a regular basis or to show off.  But if you are truly cold and need a fire immediately to signal for help or to avert a life-threatening event, pull it out and keep your crew safe.  This tool is for adult use ONLY and serious harm is possible if used without great care.  Mini flares are available and aren't as heavy or large as a full size flare. 

Sanity Gear

In order to keep everyone safe, it is vital that Adult Leaders maintain their sanity.  This gear may seem like luxury items, but understand that an adult leader who losses it on an outing is a danger to anyone around them!

The Chair

The chair is vital for camp survival.  Sitting on the ground isn't dignified and will get the bottom of your pants wet.  And who wants to stand up all day?

There are many models to choose from.  Some come with tables and some don't.  Features such as built in shade and rockers can also be considered but the 2 most important considerations are durability and comfort.

Hot Brew

The Hot Brew helps you relax and enjoy the day.  The liquid hydrates your tissues while the wonderful aroma and taste soothes your mind. 

There are several components to your Hot Brew Kit:

• The Cup

  • Stainless Steel 

    • Works great and is easy to sanitize

    • Military options are available if you are going for that look

  • Titanium 

    • Makes you look high tech 

    • Weighs a little less if that's important to you and you have extra dollars to spend

  • Enamel Cups 

    • Come in different colors and has character

    • Some come with neat artwork and can even be custom printed

  • Ceramic Cups

    • These seem to pile up at Scout Camp and they are always trying to give them away

    • They are heavy and will eventually break

• Brew Stove

  • Optional

  • A stove stand is a nice place to set your cup when heating it up with hot coals or with a fire

  • Great if you do a lot of brewing on a campfire or use chemical tabs to heat things up

  • You can also cook hotdogs and bacon on these - Yum!

• • Tea

    • Per users preference - you know what you like

  • Hot Jell-O 

    • Wonderful taste for winter outings

    • Sugar and gelatin will fuel your body in subfreezing temperatures

  • Hot Cider 

    • For those non-coffee drinkers who don't like chocolate 

  • Cocoa 

    • Great coffee creamer

    • Your Cocoa doesn't need to be boring

  • Chicken Broth

    • Can really lift your spirits if this is your thing

  • Coffee Alternatives

    • From ground mushrooms to chicory to dandelions, there are many options

    • Some are actually nice 

  • Alcohol

    • A glass of wine or can of beer at the end of the day can be really relaxing

      • This is a common practice for many campers and is acceptable in some outdoors organizations 

    • Some parents honestly need a drink to make it through the day ... and we know and feel your pain.

    • Please note that while some Troops or other Organizations may be open minded about the use of Alcohol on Outings, Troop 60 has a Zero Tolerance Policy on Alcoholic Beverages.  If you need a drink to make it through an outing, you will not be able to join our Outings Team.  If you feel this rule is silly and you must be present on outings with your youth, we can suggest a different Troop or Organization for you and will do so without judgement.  Speak to our Troop Medic for more information as there are several very reasonable options for you.