Cool Weather Planning

This gear list is intended to help our Scouts better prepare for a weekend of camping in fall or spring weather.   The main Saturday program will be spent outdoors, so a Scout needs to be prepared to outside in either 70 degree or 45-degree weather.   This gear list explains how to prepare us to stay warm for the weekend, both during the day and at night, in the event cold weather sets in.   This list will help you “Be Prepared ” for cool weather camping.

To stay warm during the day.

  1. A hat that covers your ears during the day along with a pairs of gloves or mittens.
  2. Boots to keep your feet warm and dry.   You can bring an extra pair of lighter hiking boots or shoes to wear if it gets warmer than usual.   If all you have are tennis shoes, try to bring an extra pair in case they get wet.
  3. A warm coat with a hood if possible.   This hood does NOT replace the hat.
  4. Multiple layers of warm clothes like sweatshirts, fleeces etc.   Several loose fitting layers of clothing will keep you warmer than tight fitting cotton jeans.   You can take off or add layers depending on the temperature.   You should have enough layers to keep you warm without a heavy coat.   The heavy coat is a protection plan. If you need your heavy coat to stay warm with then you do not have enough layers on.   For clothing material, wool is best, a synthetic is second, and a synthetic/cotton blend is third. 100% cotton as a layer next to your body holds moisture from you sweating which can make you cold. If cotton is all you have then bring an extra pair so you can change out of them if they become wet. The idea is to stay cool, so you don’t sweat while exercising, but not to cold. Layering makes this possible.
  5. An extra change of clothes in case you get wet during the day.
  6. Rain gear that will fit over all your clothes.
  7. Your Scout Uniform.   We need it Friday night and Sunday morning.   You can wear plain clothes on Saturday.   You can wear a sweatshirt under your uniform to keep warm and still show off your uniform.  (Note: The Order of the Arrow sash is NOT a normal part of Class A.  Sash should only be worn at OA functions and at formal Troop functions like Courts of Honor.)
  8. Night Gear to sleep in.
    NOTE: Sleeping clothes are separate from day time clothes. You need two separate sets! (This is tailored for tent camping.)

    1. totally separate, clean, dry set of clothes to sleep in. This especially includes underwear and socks. Sweat pants and a sweatshirt work well for winter sleeping. A clean dry ski type pullover hat to sleep with. This is separate from the hat listed above which may become wet during the day. You do not want to sleep in the same clothes you wore all day and sweat in. The oils trapped in your clothes will make you cold during sleeping.
    2. A piece of plastic 5 ft. x 7 ft. to go INSIDE your tent to keep moisture out.   This size fits our troop tents.   This does not replace the plastic that goes under your tent, it is in addition to that.   A dry camper is a happy camper.
    3. pad to go under your sleeping bag. This is a key element.   You have to separate yourself from the cold coming up from the ground.
      If you do not have a pad, an extra blanket will work.
    4. A sleeping bag.   If you only have a summer 30 degree bag or warmer bring 2 extra blankets: one for on top and one for inside your sleeping bag.   You can also use two summer sleeping bags stuffed inside each other with one extra blanket.   If you have a 10 to 20 degree or colder bag you need to bring at least one extra blanket to go inside the bag or under the bag.   Better to have an extra blanket than be cold.

And finally, here is a link to a more complete and easy to use Cold Weather Gear checklist you can use when packing for a winter campout.

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