Outings Overview + Guidelines

Prerequisites for Outings:

• Youth Protection Training for Adults: All registered leaders, including "Uniformed" Leaders, Committee Members, are required to be Youth Protection Training (YPT). Non-registered adults going on outings for 72 hours or more (such as summer camp) must take the new YPT (the 72 hours are cumulative, not consecutive).
  • Quick Link: BSA Youth Protection Website.
  • Quick Link: BSA Youth Protection Barriers to Abuse and Reporting
• RSVP in Scoutbook: Scouts and/or their Parents should indicate their availability (or not) through the Calendar and RSVP system within Scoutbook.com. To do so, the Parent or Scout should Login to Scoutbook and navigate to My Dashboard > Events > Choose Event > Click on your profile icon > choose "Yes," "No," or "Maybe."
• Permission forms for each outing can be electronically signed within Scoutbook, or printed, signed, and brought to the departure site.
• Venue Permission Forms/Releases: Some activities or venues require their own permission forms or releases in addition to BSA/Troop. These will be provided to Parents ahead of time and are required for participation.
• Payments can be made at the Weekly Troop meetings (most preferably before the Outing), or at the departure site. Checks should be payable to St. Davids Episcopal Church. Activity fees and deposits paid to the Troop are not refundable if the boy does not attend the activity. Fees collected to purchase food are not refundable after the food has been purchased.
• Medical Forms (Youth and Adults): All Scouts and Adults in attendance must be registered active with a current BSA Annual Health and Medical Record on file with the Troop Health and Safety Committee member.
• Youth Protection (Adults): Any adult participating in any Troop activity must have a current Youth Protection Training certificate on file with the Troop Committee Chairman.

General Rules and Practices:

• Trips typically are scheduled to return on Sunday around Noon.
• Menus, foods, preparation, and clean-up for camping trips are the responsibility of each Patrol. Typically a Grub Master is assigned to lead the Patrol in planning and preparing meals for the trip. See the Grub Master page for more details. The Grub Masters and Patrols are encouraged to keep unused and non-perishable food items in storage for use in future activities.
• All Troop Campouts and Activities will be conducted in accordance with the policies and regulations of the Boy Scouts of America.
• No conduct unbecoming a Scout will be allowed or tolerated.
• The Troop will leave the area in the best of condition, and will in fact leave it better than we found it. We will practice “Leave No Trace” camping as a matter of Troop Policy.

Uniforms and Gear:

• Full Field Uniform (“Class A”) is required for all Troop outings and District activities and events, such as Camporee, Summer Camp and Webelos Woods. BSA and Troop policy requires that all Scouts be in Full Field Uniform (“Class A”) while being transported to and from all activities. For other Troop outings, the Scoutmaster will set uniform requirements based on recommendations by the PLC.
• All Scouts, as well as adult leaders and other participants, are required to bring rain gear, their personal first aid kit and at least one filled water container on all Troop outings and activities.
• Parents are highly encouraged to allow Scouts to pack their gear themselves in order to learn this responsibility and skill, be aware of what they have and where they can find it, and be prepared to pack it to return home.

Supervision and Youth Protection:

• Parents are expected to assist with supervision during outings. Volunteers will be identified at the Annual Planning Conference. In the event that the number of Scouts attending an activity exceeds the capacity of the vehicles of the Leadership and parents attending the outing, volunteer drivers will be asked to step forward. Transportation to and from outings is the responsibility of all parents.
• One adult, typically a member of the Scoutmaster’s Staff or Committee Member will be designated as primary contact for each outing. Permission forms, medical concerns, and special arrangements should be directed to this contact. Scouts will not be allowed to attend Troop outings without a signed permission form for that outing. In most cases, camping outings leave from St. David’s Episcopal Church at 6:00 p.m. on Friday evening.
• In accordance with policies of the Boy Scouts of America National Council, there must always be a minimum of two adults present at all campouts or other activities. This policy is referred to as Two Deep Leadership. For weekend or extended outings and campouts, the number of adults required would increase to three, to ensure that in the case of an emergency, two adults will remain at camp. Above this minimum, a ratio of one adult for every 10 Scouts is ideally recommended.
  • If adult supervision is not confirmed two days prior to the outing, the event will be cancelled.
  • At no time will an adult leader be allowed to meet privately with a single Scout other than that leader’s son.
• Because of the need for adequate supervision, parents play an important role in the outdoor program. When participating in Troop activities, it is recommended that you report situations requiring adult attention to the Scoutmaster Staff for appropriate action, except in the case of activities which threaten the health and safety of individuals or the group. In these situations, parents are empowered to stop dangerous activity immediately.

Health and Safety:

• Our Scouts’ safety is our primary concern. In the event of an accident, the individual involved will promptly notify the Scoutmaster and Committee Chairperson. The Scoutmaster, Committee Chairperson, and any involved adult will be available to explain the occurrence as soon as it is practical.
• Scouts will not leave the immediate area of a Troop activity unless they have the permission of the adult leadership. Any hiking or activity outside the campsites must be in groups of two or more, which we refer to as the BUDDY SYSTEM. The only exception is at Summer Camp when traveling to and from classes.
• In general, Troop activities will go on as planned, regardless of weather, unless dangerous conditions exist. The Scoutmaster or the Assistant Scoutmaster in charge of the event will be responsible for making the decision to modify or cancel an event due to weather.
• Trash will be disposed of using containers provided at the campsite or brought back home. The Troop does not bury any refuse.
• Only water drawn from spigots marked as potable will be consumed or used for cooking. Techniques for purifying water will be demonstrated and practiced, but should only be used at special backpacking outings or in survival situations.
• Fires will be built in only designated containers or with the permission of adult leadership. No holes will be dug as fire pits, and rocks gathered to contain a fire must be returned to the edges of the campsite.Some parks prohibit the gathering of firewood. In these cases, campfires for cooking and pleasure will be limited to purchased firewood or wood brought from the Scouts’ homes.

Prohibited Items:

• Sheath knives, aerosol cans, cigarette lighters and personal electronic equipment are prohibited at Troop 430 outings and Campouts.
• Consumption of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and non-medically prescribed drugs is prohibited on all Troop 430 campouts and activities.
• Under no circumstances will flames of any kind be carried into or used in tents, including, but not limited to: matches, lighters, candles, or fueled lanterns.
• Fireworks and firearms are strictly prohibited on all Troop 430 outings.

Transportation and Driving:

It is essential that adequate, safe, and responsible transportation be used for all Scouting activities. Because most accidents occur within a short distance from home, safety precautions are necessary, even on short trips. General guidelines are as follows:

• All trips greater than 4 hours of driving time will require 3 drivers per 2 vehicles. This requirement is to insure our safety on the road and the availability of fresh drivers on long trips. Please be prepared to offer your fair share of the driving.
• Established public carriers—trains, buses, and commercial airlines—are the safest and most comfortable way for groups to travel. Chartered buses usually are the most economical transportation for groups of 20 or more. It may be necessary for small groups to travel in private automobiles; however, the use of chartered equipment from established rail, bus, and airline companies is strongly recommended. The advantages are many. These companies have excellent safety records because of their periodic inspections and approved health and safety procedures.
• Seat belts are required for all occupants.
• All drivers must have a valid driver’s license that has not been suspended or revoked for any reason. If the vehicle to be used is designed to carry more than 15 people, including the driver, the driver must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL).
• The driver must be currently licensed and at least 18 years of age. Youth member exception: when traveling to and from an area, regional, or national Boy Scout activity or any Venturing event under the leadership of an adult (at least 21 years of age) tour leader, a youth member at least 16 years of age may be a driver, subject to the following:
  • Six months’ driving experience as a licensed driver (time on a learner’s permit or equivalent is not to be counted).
  • No record of accidents or moving violations.
  • Parental permission granted to the leader, driver, and riders.
• Trucks may not be used for transporting passengers except in the cab.
• All vehicles must be covered by automobile liability insurance with limits that meet or exceed requirements of the state in which the vehicle is licensed. It is recommended that coverage limits are at least $50,000/$100,000/$50,000. Any vehicle designed to carry 10 or more passengers is required to have limits of $100,000/$500,000/$100,000.
• Obey all laws, including the speed limit.
• Driving time is limited to a maximum of 10 hours and must be interrupted by frequent rest, food, and recreation stops. If there is only one driver, the driving time should be reduced, and stops should be made more frequently.
• Travel and rest time is limited to a maximum of 10 hours in one 24-hour period, regardless of the number of drivers available. The intention is to include sleep and thorough rest breaks while traveling long distances.
• Drivers should refrain from using cell phones (including hands-free units) and text-messaging devices while driving.
• Don’t drive drowsy. Stop for rest and stretch breaks as needed. Fatigue is a major cause of highway accident fatalities.

Camping Links

• Directions to Camp Woodruff - location of Summer Camp and other Events
• Atlanta Area Council Boy Scout Camp Sites - Our District Scout Camping WebSite
• Dutch Treat: Dutch Oven 101 - A Primer on Dutch Oven Cooking
• Guide to building portable shelters - From Nancy and her school classroom members
• Wilderness Nurses: First Aid Preparedness - A great link to Wilderness First Aid.