Well...your son is now a Boy Scout. If your new troop(remember its no longer a pack) is anything like ours, you were pointed to a website(www.smdscouts.com) where there is a 67 page pdf of the ins and outs, do's and don'ts.
Please note, your son will be going on a camp out every single month! and for a week in the summer! It is important to get the right gear but not have to sell one of the other kids to afford it.
Most important gear, backpack and sleeping bag. Actually, lets start with the scout clothes.
Most troops have class B's, which are simply t-shirts that they wear at camp. Your son is 11 and not a huge kid. Mine was five foot 5 at age 11, not typical. Buy the shirts big! Not huge, but big. Your troop might recommend 5 shirts, especially for camp. If you are money conscious, dont do it! They wont change their clothes at camp! My son came home from his very first weekend camp out wearing the same clothes he left in. I asked him about it, he says to me, mom, there's no where to change there but in your sleeping bag. Your son is 11 and wont want to strip down in front of other boys especially the older boys. I buy three class b's, one size larger than he needs.
Scout pants. Our troop requires the official scout pants. Yes, I know they are $40 and I dont even spend that on myself for a pair of pants. but what can you do. I suggest that you buy the ones with the zip off legs. Oh, and dont buy them big. Buy them to fit. The zip off legs work great...unless a minor flood comes along. Last summer, one camp out, they had 8 inches of rain in one night!!! One of my sons legs floated away never to be seen again. True story!
I totally recommend a good backpack, one with a frame. Internal or external, its up to you. I am partial to external because I like to have the ability to hang things on the outside of the pack, and you have more options, in my opinion, to hook things up. Yes, its a lot of money! I spent over $100 on my sons. but, keep in mind, its going to be used at least 12 months a year for the next 7 years. Its worth it. I shudder when I see kids show up in the parking lot with two or three duffels or even ,yes, a rubbermaid container! Why do we use a purse with a long strap that we can loop over our head....to keep our hands free! You can fit EVERYTHING into one of these packs! There are more pockets and hooks! We use our sons when we go to the beach. It fits everything we need in on pack!
Oh, go out and buy a dozen carabiners. They are great for hooking things on the pack! Home Depot sells them cheap!
Sleeping bags, it depends on your neck of the woods. Yes, down is the warmest, but if you are in a wet and cold area, like Chicago, you dont want down! If it gets wet, its useless!
This is a great site for explaining the types of gear. Scout Gear. Its got great information, but is a bit of mind blaster with so much information. Wicking and layering etc etc... It was a little to much for me but help me pick out the right bag for my son. You dont need to buy a $100 bag. My sons is a mummy bag that cost $30 at Farm and Fleet. It is rated -15 and they never camp outside when its that cold. Make sure it comes with a good stuff sack that can attach to the backpack. Remember, hands free.
Now, they will also need a sleeping mat. Again, they dont need a $100 mat. I think the one I bought was around $20 at sports authority. You can blow in one end to puff it up a little. Then, go to a fabric store and get some long velcro straps. Mats dont come with bags and you want to be able to roll it and attach it to your pack.
Dont forget a camp pillow! If it gets wet, its much easier and faster to dry on a line than your son's pillow from home. And it stuffs into a small bag and fits into the pack much easier.
Mess kit. Stumbling tripping boys, not watching where they are going with their food on a plate...Frisbee! I know this sounds crazy, but a frisbee! Upside down it holds quite a bit in! Knife fork cup etc yes, and engrave your sons name on it!
These are the most important items that I can think of. Yes, there is a huge list of things, but they can all be purchased cheaply at your local stores and even the dollar store. Check there for a headlamp and flashlight and batteries!
Keep in mind, what you buy will probably get lost! Which is why I dont recommend spending a lot of money on gear. Except the big gear. Harder to lose that!
Oh..one more thing that is not on most lists....a deck of playing cards! It should be a must! Last summer camp out, one of the trailers got three, count them three flat tires... yes a two tired trailer. Deck of cards can be a lifesaver!
Under no circumstances should you pack your sons pack! You can assist, with what he should put in there, but dont touch his stuff. He wont know where to find it or if its even packed, if he hasn't packed it himself! And he has to learn somehow how to fit all of it.
If rain is predicted, days of clothes in Zip Loc bags. But dont be surprised when he comes home and all of his clothes are still neatly packed in those zip loc bags.
They have a ton of fun at camp outs. They dont change their clothes, they dont brush their teeth, they dont use deodorant!
They come home smelly and filthy and exhausted!
Last bit of advice on this really log and scattered blog posting......
Make YOUR SON unpack his pack first thing! Empty it completely, and then if possible hang it outside to air out, along with his sleeping bag and pillow. They will reek! Then, have him re pack the items that he uses for the camp outs in his pack. Mess kit, first aid kit, flashlight, etc etc. That way he is not frantic five minutes before its time to leave because he can't find his spork :)
Happy Camping!!
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