BSA Troop 112

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Bruce A. Black Memorial Scholarship Fund

50th Anniversary

Resica Falls - 2008

Seabase 2008

Yards Creek Shooting Weekend

2007 Klondike

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Yards Creek 2009

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Gift Wish List and Guide

updated 4/28/2010

updated 5/16/2010

updated 5/28/2010

updated 2/5/2010

Scouting Birthday Ideas and Christmas Wish List

We recommend traveling to any of the council Scout stores for ideas and purchases. You can shop on-line for many ideas and purchases as well at www.scoutstuff.org !!

Merit Badge Booklets (122+ Merit Badges)
BSA Field book
Resource Camping Books / Wilderness Books
Topographical Maps of our area
Star Maps
Compass
Scout Pocketknife
Fishing Gear
First-aid Kit
Water Bottle
Flashlight
Whistle
Binoculars
Watch
Disposable Camera
Mountain Bike
Personal Overnight Camping Gear
Hiking boots
Backpack – Internal frame
Rain cover for backpack
Sleeping Bag
Ground Cloth
Sleeping Bag Pad
Sleeping Pillow
Mess kit
Personal gear kit
Extra Rope (for knot tying, tents, etc.)

For additional equipment information and hints on buying, see the Parents Guide to buying Scouting Equipment

Parents Buying Guide to buying Scouting Equipment 2008

Backpack: A good quality backpack should last 20+ years with proper care. Look for an internal frame, with as much space as possible. The backpack becomes the camper’s closet, dresser and storage area at camp. It should be able to carry his clothing, sleeping bag and personal gear with some room to spare. Decent quality backpacks can be found for around $100 and up at most outdoor stores.
Sleeping Bag- Here’s an easy way to improve the camper’s outdoor experience. Get a good quality sleeping bag. Avoid “backyard” or “overnight at a friends house” type bags, They’re hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Watch for the “Degree rating” on most good bags. Add 10 degrees to the manufacturers claimed comfort level. Decent bags should start around $60.
Sleeping bag liner- whatever bag you choose, supplement the comfort with a fleece liner or fleece blanket. Wal-Mart has fleece liners for about $15. You can use them by themselves as bags in the summer, or insert them into a good bag for the coldest winter campouts. Seems to add another 20 degrees in winter comfort.
Sleeping bag pad- Keeps the camper off of the damp ground and provides support for comfort. Don’t let your camper sleep on the tent floor-it’s uncomfortable and usually cold even in the summer. $10 up to $100.
Sleeping pillow- Small airline type pillows are great. A sleeping bag stuff sack filled with clothing can work almost as well. Inflatable or stuff able camp pillows start around $15.
Hiking boots – Sneakers are fine for hanging around camp, but a good pair of lightweight, waterproof hiking boots can’t be beat for safety and comfort. Look for rubber lowers and leather or synthetic uppers. A 6” – 8” boot height will keep the weight down, provide support and make it easier for lacing. Higher boots are great if the scout understands the trade-off. Starting around $45.
Mess kit- Every scout needs his own mess kit to eat. His kit should have a plate (high sides are great to keep the beans from spilling all over his lap), a cup and a bowl. There are several on the market from around $10 and up.
Personal utensils- Fork, knife, spoon. Usually sold as a nesting type set, it’s easy to keep together, and it becomes evident very quickly if anything is missing. About $10.
Rain gear- Here’s another area that can greatly enhance the camper’s experience. Stay away from rubber, vinyl, plastic and other non-porous surfaces. They are a tempting choice for price, but we all know perspiration will not escape eventually chilling the wearer to uncomfortable and dangerous levels. Instead, look for fabrics that allow moisture to escape. Gore Tex brand is one. There are many other equally good products. A good rain parka and a pair of pants or coveralls worn over a pair of waterproof boots will keep the camper comfortable for days, even in a monsoon. Start with a good parka for about $60 and add the pants ($70) later on. Get a larger size so it can be worn over insulating layers. Similar to getting him a good sleeping bag, get him good raingear as well.
Hat- Besides the BSA cap, the camper should have a comfortable hat to shield him from sun, rain, cold, heat or bugs. Many scouts will have a few – one for sun (large brim) one for rain (water proof) and one for winter (wool caps are great sleeping in). $15
Personal gear kit- Even though he won’t admit it, there’s nothing like a hot shower and clean teeth after a hard day camping. A small kit to hold a toothbrush, toothpaste, some liquid hand/body wash and any meds, contact lenses etc. is all he’ll need. Newer scouts likely won’t even open it for a few campouts. Don’t get discouraged - when they do figure it out, you’ll be refilling the toothpaste and soap on a regular basis. $20
Knife- No sheath knives please. Folding knives with one or two blades works fine for 99% of a scout’s purposes. A 2”– 4” blade length is plenty. Get it with a locking device to reduce injuries from folding. About $20 will get him started.
Axe/Hatchet- Neither is needed for most BSA campouts as the Troop has these items, but your scout is welcome to bring his own hatchet if he prefers. Hatchet should be in good condition (no loose handles please) and covered with a serviceable sheath. $25 and up.
Knife Sharpener- This will keep a sharp edge on his tools, and teach him proper care and maintenance of his cutting tools. A starter stone should be less than $10.
Flashlight- The “Mag-lite” style flashlights are great. “AA” size is a small lightweight, inexpensive and very effective for snooping through his backpack or finding the latrine at night. The larger “C” or “D” sizes work well. The 2 cell model gives plenty of light for nighttime activities, but are heavier than “AA”. The latest “hat visor” clip-on models are great for hands free tasks, but otherwise blind other campers. Hand-held models are preferred for our camping. $15 - $50 at any Home Depot.
Compass- Every Scout needs his own compass. Any readable compass will do. Most will cost around $10 - $30.
Clothing- Layers are the way to go. Undergarments that wick perspiration is the most important and first layer. Popular brands are “Patagonia” or “Heat Gear”. Most outdoor catalogs will have information on various wicking and layering systems. Stay away from cotton. It gets wet and stays that way. Wool is a great natural fiber that insulates well for outer layers even when wet, but it can cause sweating during active periods. Try the new synthetic blends for highest comfort and care. Stay away from ski outer garments. They get dirty easy and take a beating on most campouts. Try to avoid bright colors. Scouts should wear muted tones that better match their surroundings. Zippers, Velcro, snaps or a combination thereof all work well. Be sure to size your choices wisely keeping scout growth and under layering in mind. Winter clothing in particular should fit loosely. The sky is the limit here on cost. $50 - $500
Fishing gear- Assuming you and he are beginners, there are many package deals available that combine rod/reel and line along with some hooks and lures. Caution here: There are many off-brand (junk) kits that won’t last long, and will just frustrate your boy. Go to a sporting goods store or catalog. Ask for a decent “medium” or “light/medium” spinning combination. This is the open-faced spinning reel, not the closed face, thumb operated style. Stay way from the “micro-spin” rigs. They’re cute and inexpensive but are not adequate for the bass and trout fishing in our camps. Hooks, lures and tackle boxes are too numerous to list here, speak with a customer service rep. for some basic tackle. Tell them we fish local ponds and lakes for bass and pickerel, and streams for trout. Don’t go overboard until you really understand what works locally. Also, Troop 112 leaders Mr. Britt, Mr. Durdan, Mr. Matuska, and Mr. Bavaro are all well versed in what equipment and where to buy it. To outfit your boy plan on spending $50 - $5,000.