Bridge Point Elementary

Cub Scout Pack 39

A 2007 Quality Unity of the Boy Scouts of America

Good Rules to Follow for Camping Safety

Respect campfires

Do not play with fires or around them.

No flames in tents.  No tent is completely fireproof.  Do not use flammable chemical near tents like aerosols (bug spray) or charcoal lighter.  Do not pitch your tent close to a campfire.

Gray ashes can fool you. They may be just as hot as a flame.  They can burn just as well, too.

Ask permission to throw wood or other things on the campfire.

Do not throw plastic (juice boxes have plastic) on the fire. They smell, make a mess and probably put off toxic fumes.

Put out your campfires with water before leaving.

Use a campfire ring if available.  Ground fires can leave their trace for thousands of years.

Respect lanterns and stoves

Adults should supervise the use of chemical fuel lanterns and stoves.  Never use a chemical fuel lantern or stove too close to a fire or inside a tent.  Do not leave a stove or lantern unattended.

Gas (propane) lanterns are hot to the touch and can burn you; use the handle.

Lanterns have glass cylinders that are very fragile. If you break glass, call an adult to help clean up.  Warn others so they do not step in the broken glass.

Lanterns and stoves are not toys, they’re tools, do not play with them.

The battery lanterns will not hurt you -- be sure you know which type of lantern you have.

Respect campsites

Try not to walk through another den's campsite when you’re going somewhere. If you’re visiting another Scout in the den that’s fine, but don’t make it a shortcut.

Be especially careful of campsite that belong to other campers who are not in the Pack.

Put your trash in trash bags, not on the ground.

Sticks

If a stick goes in the fire, it stays there.

Do not run with sticks or other sharp objects.  You could hurt yourself or your den leader.  Do not hit others with sticks

Turn carefully.  You could put out someone's eye.

If you are on a bike, do not carry a stick.

Bikes

Wear helmets.

Ride your bikes in open areas and trails only.  Do not ride between cars or through other people's campsites.  Your parents have expensive cars, you do not want to have to pay for repainting them.

It is a good idea to scope out an area or route on foot first so that you will know if there are any obstacles.

People on foot have the right of way, slow down and show them courtesy.

Exploration

If you are going anywhere, tell your leader and tell your parent.

Do not go anywhere alone;  bring a buddy.  If you get in trouble, your buddy can go back for help.

Running in the Dark

A bad idea, particularly around the tents.  You can trip and hurt yourself badly.  In other packs and troops, scouts have broken legs and arms, which put a stop to their fun.

If you follow these rules, fewer things are likely to happen that slow down or stop your fun.