Camping is one of the great things that can be done when you are a Cub. An adventure in camping can be as simple a one night sleepover in an (approved) scout-hall, to several nights away at Cuboree.
During the past 100+ years of Scouting, Camping and Bushcraft have been important elements of a well-planned program. Each cub should have the opportunity to go away camping at least once per year while they are in Cubs, and at least one of their camps during their time on cubs should be in tents, otherwise they will be at a disadvantage when they go camping when they have moved up to Scouts.
Younger cubs, who may have never been away from their parents overnight may benefit from a camp that is in bunks, rather than in tents, and many scout Camps offer a catered camp with a weekend program. These packages are especially of benefit to leader's with less experience or not as much time or support as they would like.
Around Sydney, Cataract Scout camp and Ingleside are two that come to mind that offer such deals. This type of camp is available at many Scout sites and the price you are quoted will include all meals, accomodation, and a couple of major activites, leaving the leaders to only organise the remaining time (about half of a weekend camp). Although the accomodation will usually be in bunk-rooms, you usually will have the option of taking tents intead, giving you the best of both camp styles.
Of course you can also book "just a campsite", (with or without a kitchen & dining area) allowing your group to arrange your own food and program.
If you are planning a self-catered camp, and need some guidance on a menu and catering quantities, here is a menu and shopping list that may be useful.
Once you are at the camp, each meal should not start until all campers are together, and the entire pack has joined in saying Grace. The easiest way to ensure that all cubs can participate is to print off a page with the grace(s) you want to use for the camp, and to use a differnet one for each meal. To make that easier, here is a page of graces for use in scouting
, or write the ones you want on poster sheets to take with you.A standing camp is one where equipment is set up and remains in the same location for the entire camp. You may have to hike in to reach a standing camp, but do not move on once there until you are "heading home". See this suggested equipment list as a guide to what you might need to take.
Although most Cub camps are standing-camps, you may want to run a hiking camp for older cubs as a part of their preparation before they move up to Scouts. The main equipment difference for a hike camp is that everything has to be weighed before you start so you are sure the cubs (and yourself) are not carrying too much load. A maximum pack-weight of about 20% of your body weight is a good limit to carry. As a starting point, use the equipment list above, and reduce as required.
A Cuboree is a standing camp, usually run on a state-wide basis. (Click the link for more detail on Cuboree)
Kim sent this link- "Let's go camping, A Resource for the Camping Novice" - it covers many different aspects of camping with in-depth information and resources. Have a look!
Here are a few camp programs (in Word Doc format) that can be used/modified.
As I find time, I will progressively include more camp programs either my own or any people like yourself email to me (i2 @ robian dot net) .
I would particularly like to gain a fairly full list of ideas relating to programs to cover the Boomerang award scheme.
Scouting is outdoors when possible, so I will list many outdoor activity and programs. Knots are important in Cubbing as well as Scouting, so many Knot-tying links are included in these pages. Ropes and camping, bushcraft, outdoors, hiking and tents are all a part of scouts and cubs.
If you are keen on BUSHCRAFT I would suggest viewing some of Ray Mears' programs, and you never know, you may learn something you can teach your mob/pack/troop.
Incidentally, I have bought some good camping gear at bargain prices over the past few years at Rays Outdoors (here in Aust). My closest store is one of several that have a good sized CLEARANCE section. If you are able to visit your nearest store on a regular basis, you can get pretty much any camping gear you need at good to extremely low prices, as long as you don't need it "this week".