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How to plan a successful camp out for family or youth group

Before you begin, you might want to check our Progression Page at www.campgirlz.com/?page_id=15

First Timers

For younger girls, a backyard campout is a fun first step & very forgiving to beginning planners.  A backyard campout is basically a dry run for campout away from home, so you want to run through all the same steps listed below.  Obviously, the bonus for adults:  if you forget something, a girl is very upset,  or the weather turns, you are steps away from the solution.   Even though you are close to a phone, try to encourage all girls to stay the night & work through any fears or problems.  From working at many camps, I know most upset girls who are offered support, can make it through the night and feel very proud of themselves in the morning.  That is the way we learn & grow.

For older girls who are beginners, a backyard campout might not be appealing. Another first step for these girls is a skills day..  Separate skills are practiced at a local park before an actual campout. Some examples of activities are hang a tarp, set up a tent, start a fire, use a map and compass, and operate a camp stove.  The great thing about a skills session is the freedom to make mistakes without great discomfort!  Developing the skills into games or contests with prizes makes the day more fun.

• Tent or tarp race…have a race to see who can set up their tent or tarp the fastest
• Learn some basic first aid & then have a ‘pretend emergency’ where the girls have to treat the person using the skills they learned
• Cook a lunch using many different fuel sources, such as reflector oven, cook stove, and fire.
• Have a ‘one match fire’ contest
• Make a bracelet with beads while learning knots
• Fill packs with a variety of items & have relays.  ‘Oh yeah, all that stuff is a lot heavier than we thought!’

Always take time to address comfort level issues and any fears/concerns before the campout or trip.  Let’s face it, if someone is afraid, they are not going to have a good time.  Fear is generally a learned behavior & can be unlearned with patience and knowledge.    Talk is good!  Establishing a safe place where kids can talk & share is a critical step. Learn about what animals are in the area & talk about night noises before you camp out.  Have a night hike before the camp out.

One of the tricks for adults working with kids it to find that balance where no one in the group is left behind, but no one is bored either.  Tricky but challenging!

PLANNING AN AWAY TRIP:  After you feel your family or group is ready for a trip away from home, we still want to take progressive steps into wild places.  Some kids will be ready to go camping in any setting quickly, while some will be more hesitant.  The location & time away from home will vary depending on your groups’ skill level and comfort level.    Decide if you want to car camp, backpack or canoe trip.  Remember that all skills and experience build on each other & create a jumping off spot for the next level.

• It is very important the girls are involved in planning as much as possible. The more your child or group of children feel that they are planning & implementing the activities, the better the mood & attitude.
• It is better to have too many activities planned and not need them, than having not enough to do.  Also, some activities may not go over as planned, so you will need a substitute.
• Plan for down time & a reasonable pace.

• Learn about the area, including any animals or insects that may need special attention.  Secure reliable maps & local emergency contacts
• Have the kids make up a Trip Agreement that each participant will sign.  This includes good conduct and safety behavior.
• There are many examples of camping checklists for various trips available in books and on the internet.  It is okay to start with an established list & tweek it for your own needs.  Everyone has their own way of camping and their own opinion on what is necessary.   Before showing them a list, it is a good exercise to have the group mentally walk through their plan, jotting down items they will be using, because this encourages critical thought!  Always a good thing.  A great site on lightweight gear and travel is www.nessmuking.com
• Have the kids make up a menu for the trip & plan out a food list, including walking through any utensils they will need & how they will keep food cold.  Help them figure out portion sizes and how much food they will need.
• Work out a tentative itinerary for your trip & make sure parents at home have a copy.  It is also important to let someone know about day hikes and trips.  If an emergency would happen, someone not on the trip needs to know about where you are and what time you were expected back.
• Have the girls plan out a First Aid Kit.  Place your local emergency contacts, home emergency contact for girls, parent permission, and any personal medications in the kit.
• Review Leave No Trace ethics!  www.lnt.org

As noted earlier, as much as possible, it is great practice to involve girls in all these steps even for a backyard campout, making mistakes and the corresponding adjustments.

SAFETY: If you belong to a particular group, such as Girl Scouts, make sure you follow all the guidelines for your organization.  They have some excellent resources on safety guidelines.  Here are just a few general tips:

• Know the area & the potential risks
• Know the weather forecast
• Plan for emergencies & be prepared
• Make sure each participant knows what to do in case of emergency
• Girls should always take a ‘buddy’ if they have to leave the group.

Trip Time! During the camp out or trip out, as a leader, one of your jobs is to read your group.  How are they doing?  Bored? Tired?  Be flexible.  If that amazing activity you planned is bombing in real life, then feel free to scrap it & do something else.  Create an atmosphere of open communication & have group discussion times if necessary.  Let go of perfection..remember these are kids.  They may say or do things that create challenges for you as a leader.  Keep the mood light & upbeat.  Check out our tips for challenging days in , ‘Mood Meltdown!’ under the category ‘Camp Out’.

Post Camp Evaluate your trip.  How did we do? What would we change? What was the best activity?  Where do we want to go next?

Have ideas to add to the perfect camp out?  Email me at campgirlz777@gmail.com