Camping
Pack 618 hosts two family campouts each year, one in the fall and one in the spring. Please reach out to your Scout’s Den Leader or the Cubmaster if you have any questions! We want to make camping accessible for all!
General Information
2024 Fall: Cedarville State Forest (about 1 hour away)
2025 Spring: McKeldin Recreation Area at Patapsco Valley State Park (about 30 minutes away)
Cost - $25/family, pending update for 2024-2025
General Schedule
The exact itinerary for camping will be released closer to the event, but this is a general idea of how the camping weekend is laid out.
Friday:
3-4 PM - Travel and tent set up (experienced parents & Scouts are usually around to help new campers with tent set up)
**Dinner will not be provided by the Pack, families need to arrange dinner on their own**
9 PM - lights out and kids in tents, Adults Crackerbarrel (welcome, small dessert, intros, chat)
Saturday:
8 AM - Breakfast
9:30 AM - Opening Ceremony and Pack hike. Scouts wear yellow shirts. We usually hike to a playground and allow the Scouts to play for a while. If we are fishing, this is when we’ll do that. After we play for a while, we will hike back for lunch.
12:00 PM - Lunch
1-4 PM - Field games and/or down time
4-5 PM - Den time (generally used to create/practice skits & songs for the Campfire)
5:30 PM - Dinner
7 PM - Campfire, Scouts wear full uniform
9 PM - Lights out
Sunday:
8 AM - Breakfast
9 AM - Clean up and Pack up
11 AM - Closing ceremony, everyone leaves before noon
There is not an activity every minute of the day. There is down time (usually during meal prep) that will be unstructured. You can bring outdoor play equipment and travel games to fill the time or the Scouts end up playing together.
Food
The benefit of group camping is that we take care of almost all of the food! We have a vegetarian option available at all meals! If you have special dietary restrictions, please let us know. Unfortunately, the Pack cannot shop for every special dietary restriction, but we will have space set aside in the kitchen so you can prepare your meals. If you need something to stay cold (special food or medicine), we can find some space in the Pack coolers, just let us know!
***The Pack calculates food based on the Pack 618 Sign-Up e-Form, so please make sure you complete that when it is sent out.***
Friday Night Crackerbarrel - Kristine Special, AKA fruit cobbler in dutch ovens (bring water, plate, utensil)
Saturday Breakfast - Coffee, milk, pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage (bring a plate, utensils, a cup/mug for each person)
Saturday Lunch - Sandwiches (lunch meat, cheese, condiments, PB&J, chips)
Saturday Dinner - Walking Tacos (meat, beans, rice, chips, wide variety of toppings)
Saturday Campfire - S’mores, hot chocolate (bring a mug)
Sunday Breakfast - oatmeal, cereal, fruit, milk, juice, coffee
Personal food and snacks - allowed, but camp policy is no food in tents
Families Need to Bring:
The other major benefit of group camping is that while you need to bring supplies, other Pack members are around to help you set up.
Each Person:
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Pad (optional)
Mess Kit - Reusable fork, knife, spoon, plate, cup/mug
Flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries
Clothes - Pack for one season colder than it is and bring layers
Cub Scout Uniform for Scouts
Pack Class B T-Shirt (yellow activity shirt)
Sleepwear
Rain Jacket
Durable, closed-toed shoes (sandals are not allowed)
Water bottle
Toiletries
Each Family:
Tent
Tent stakes
Waterproof ground cloth or plastic sheet
Camp chairs
Bug spray
Sun screen
Toilet paper (optional)
Fishing gear (if fishing is allowed at the Park)
Prescription medicine (if needed)
Wet wipes (optional)
Rules for camping:
No Weapons - Firearms, archery equipment, BB or Pellet guns (gas or air-filled), slingshots
No Alcohol or Controlled Substances - Alcohol and illegal substances are prohibited on campouts. You will be asked to leave if you have any of these.
No Smoking - Per Scouting America policy, adults must not smoke within the camping area or in view of any youth.
No Pets
Parent/Child Requirement - Scouting America Family Camping is for the Cub Scout and their entire family. There must be an Adult Partner for each Cub Scout. This adult must accompany the Cub Scout at all times. All siblings must be accompanied by their parent at all times.
Sleeping - Per Scouting America’s Youth Protection Policy, youth may only sleep in tents with their own family.
Knife Handling - No Cub Scouts (or other child under 18 at the campout) may be allowed to carry a knife unless they have and earned and carry their Whittling Chip card. All knives are to be handled in a manner consistent with the Whittling Chip requirement.