Frequently Asked Questions

The correct answer to this question is “as quickly as they want to.” In practice, it looks a little different. 

Research shows that scouts who make it to First Class within their first year are far more likely to make it to Eagle. We suspect that really just means that kids who make it to First Class in the first year are attending more meetings and outings and haven’t chosen other activities. Making steady progress is more important than the speed. 

However, from our experience, we also see that kids who do not make it to First Class in 18 months are not being engaged in a way that keeps their interest. As a rule of thumb, we recommend getting scouts to be First Class by their 13th birthday (or within 18 months of joining). If they can accomplish this, they’re likely regular participants, being engaged, and having fun. And at 13, they are ready to dip their toes into leadership positions. 

While the scouting program is intended to be youth-led and youth-driven, we also recognize that these are adolescents juggling a lot of priorities. There is an element of parental "nagging" required to help them accomplish their goals. You are not interfering with their scouting adventure when you help them set their goals and then periodically remind them to do the work. 

If you have concerns about your scout's advancement, talk to us. 

There are usually four ways that scouts will earn merit badges with us:

• Troop meetings: We will complete merit badge requirements during troop meetings. The current PLC has a merit badge theme every month and plans the meetings to complete the requirements they feel can be reasonably completed in meetings. We do not guarantee that a scout will complete a merit badge in the course of the month. Requirements will be marked in Scoutbook and the scout and their family can determine how best to complete the merit badge (or if they even want to).

• Summer camp: There is always an abundance of merit badge opportunities to complete at camp. Scouts are encouraged to select a mixture of merit badges that move them toward Eagle and other classes that are just fun. Participation in a merit badge class at camp does not guarantee completion, but we will update Scoutbook with completed requirements.

• Merit badge fairs: These are occasionally sponsored within the county or council and offer opportunities to complete merit badges with specialists in fields that are harder to come by. We will announce these as they become available.

• Personal pursuit: A scout may always look for a merit badge counselor to work on a badge on their own time. The scout should get the approval (mostly verification that they have a qualified counselor) of the scoutmaster prior to starting a merit badge. When working with a merit badge counselor, youth protection rules need to be adhered to. Generally, requirements toward rank should not also be counted toward a merit badge, unless explicitly permitted in the merit badge requirements. 

When completing merit badges, just keep in mind that the standard is different than in rank advancement. In rank requirements, we often want to see familiarity. With merit badges, we want to see proficiency in the field. 

You should also keep in mind that many merit badges take time to complete. It’s certainly possible to pick one merit badge and complete it before moving on to another. However, you might progress better if you select a few merit badges and make a plan to work them over a longer period of time. There’s no one right way to do it.

Every scout is expected to have these available and on their person during any outdoor activity. Any scout who is missing one or more of these items is required to stay within full view of an adult at all times. 

1.     Water (At least two full quarts)

2.     First Aid Kit

3.     Map and Compass

4.     Pocket Knife

5.     Rain Gear

6.     Extra Clothing

7.     Flashlight / headlamp

8.     Trail food

9.     Fire starter

10.  Sun protection

11.  Whistle

• Sleeping bag: Your scout will need at least one sleeping bag, and we recommend two. One should be rated to 45 degrees for summer use (April - September) and one rated to 20 degrees for winter use (October - April; a 30 degree bag is also acceptable). We recommend prioritizing the summer bag. The troop has extra sleeping bags we take on winter outings for those who need them. You may also supplement winter trips with extra blankets from home.

• Sleeping pad: This is an essential element of keeping your scout warm during all outings. The sleeping pad needs to extend at least from the shoulders to the knees.  

• Mess Kit: We recommend a plate, bowl, cup, and utensil set at minimum. There are thousands of options out there that all come with advantages and disadvantages. Don’t forget, however, that sour cream containers, used pie plates, etc make great eating utensils, too. We recommend avoiding collapsible silicone dishes, as they are expensive and prone to developing holes after about eighteen months.

Most of our activities can be accommodated with a duffel bag and a day pack. Occasionally, a trip may require more specialized gear, such as an expedition backpack or a dry bag. The essentials you definitely need are:

• A large duffel or tote: This is what your scout will stuff full of a sleeping bag, clothes, mess gear, and anything else that isn’t carried in their day pack.

• A comfortable day pack: This needs to hold the ten essentials with a little room to spare and be comfortable to wear. Day packs with a hip belt will be more comfortable to carry, but are not required.

These are not essential, but may be nice to have, especially as your scout gets older

• Expedition backpack: Many of our scouts will use this instead of a duffel. It is designed for overnight backpacking excursions and can hold supplies for 3-5 days, when carefully packed. This is a convenience item, and does not become essential unless your scout participates in a multi-day backpacking trip (these are usually limited for older scouts)

• Dry bag: These bags are intended for water activities such as canoeing and sailing. Properly sealed, they will keep their contents dry. This is another convenience item and is not essential unless participating in a multi-day water trip. Otherwise, garbage bags are a good alternative, but must be tightly packed. If you do not have a dry bag on a water trip, we recommend you turn electronics over to a leader (we usually carry a spare smaller bag to hold such items).

• Large, locking tote: we strongly recommend these for scout camp. It needs to be large enough to hold clothing and supplies for a week at camp. A lockable tote is preferred to discourage theft (we’ve never had a problem, but we don’t want it to ever be a problem). We recommend talking to other parents before purchasing one of these. They will have good recommendations and suggestions.

Eleven and twelve year old scouts tend to be kind of hard on gear. We recommend you avoid spending a lot of money on them just yet. Look for used gear on online sites, Facebook marketplace, etc. As long as it appears to be in good condition, we can make it work for your scout. 

If or when you are ready to purchase higher quality gear, we recommend local outfitters such as J&H Outdoors. These smaller shops might run a little more expensive, but their staff tends to be more knowledgeable and provide very good advice on getting the equipment that best meets your needs. REI will be your next best option for getting expert advice. You might also try Cabela’s, Dunham’s, and Dick’s Sporting Goods, but these locations stores are the least likely to have experts that can help you select gear and have it fitted.

Some items you don’t want to skimp on

• Socks: you don’t have to spend a lot, but try to stick with wool and synthetic fibers. Cotton socks will lead to more blisters and chronically cold feet. 

• Boots: Again, don’t spend exorbitant amounts of money, but pick a boot that is sturdy and has a solid tread. If using a used boot, make sure it has a good amount of tread left, and consider replacing the insole.

• Underwear: Not something we often think about with camping, but much like socks, you might find non-cotton fabrics more comfortable. Consider trying compression shorts or bicycle shorts in the warmer months. These will help to reduce chafing and make hot, humid days much more bearable.

Some things to avoid until about age 13 and have demonstrated the ability to care for their gear

• Inflatable sleeping pads: These are prone to puncture with mistreatment. Seek out a foam pad instead. 

• Ultralight sleeping bags: These are specialty gear that are great for minimizing weight, but often come with thinner, less resilient materials. It is assumed the owner will take good care of them. Don’t assume your young scout (or their tent mate) will be so disciplined.

• Expedition packs: Most 11 year olds aren’t big enough for an adult size pack, but child size packs will be too small very soon. Don’t invest much money in an expedition pack until they are big enough that it fits properly on the smallest adjustment (this could be as early as 12 for girls, more likely around 13 for boys).

Ultralight packs: Ultralight backpacks often omit parts of the frame to reduce the weight being carried. However, unless you can keep your total weight below 20% of your body weight, the absence of the frame will create more discomfort than the additional weight of a traditional pack. Whereas we carry group gear and act as a unit, we cannot guarantee that any one person will be able to keep their total pack weight low enough for an ultralight pack to be comfortable. 

You may notice that clothing made of synthetic/non-cotton materials tend to have lingering odors after washing them. This is somewhat inconvenient, seeing as we encourage wearing wicking materials, which tend to be made of synthetic fabrics like polyester or dri-fit. What may be more confusing is that these materials seem to smell okay after coming out of the wash, but the odors come back in force as soon as you start exercising again. 

Understanding the Source of these Odors

Body odor occurs as a combination of moisture and bacteria on the skin. In synthetic fabrics, some of that bacteria is able to hide deeper in the threads where the standard washer machine cycle is neither hot enough nor long enough to kill the bacteria. Instead, those hidden bacteria go dormant, only to reactivate again as soon as they get damp and warm again. Removing the stench of your child's adventures is a patience game.

There don't appear to be any "manufacturer instructions" or scientifically validated studies on the topic. The following recommendations come from the prevailing wisdom of the interwebs--your mileage may vary.

Using Household Chemicals

The most common themes we've seen in the reading of various blogs, fitness magazine articles, etc are

1. Try to presoak these shirts before the sweat dries. (Ha! That's completely realistic for what we do)

2. Soak the shirt inside-out in a mixture of hot water and vinegar. Most sites recommend a 4-to-1 or 5-to-1 ratio of water to vinegar. Some also recommend a teaspoon or two of baking soda. 

3. Let the clothes soak for at least 30 minutes and up to two hours. 

4. Move the clothes into the washer directly from the soak.

5. Lay or hang the shirt to air dry.

Shirts that have been through a summer camp or HEAT Trek might need a couple of repetitions to eliminate the lingering odor.

Commercial Product Recommendation

If you're willing to try a commercial product, one adult leader has had good results using Sink the Stink (www.sinkthestink.com).

1. Mix a few drops of Sink the Stink in a bucket of water

2. Let soak for at least 5-10 minutes. It may soak a few hours (or overnight) for really tough odors.

3. Set the clothes in a place outside of direct sunlight where it can dry completely.

4. Wash the clothing as you normally would

If you have other tips to share, please let us know.