Emergency considerations

Bug bites, snake bites
Poison oak, poison ivy
Cuts, scraptes, burns
 Broken bones
Allergic reactions

Locate closest hospital

Equipment

Here's the average weather for this time of year, pack accordingly.   The days are warm, nights are cold.  The average temp is in the 40s, but it has gotten down to the 20s, be prepared.  Please make sure the girls are prepared for the cold with warm clothes, sleeping bags and blankets.

The park asks that people keep the tent sizes down to a 4 person tent because of the nature of the site.  If you don't have a tent for 4 persons or smaller, tents can be rented from NCSC, Balboa, and REI.  If this is a problem, contact Deborah Chandran debchandran@gmail.com.

Tools for the service project:  the rangers have asked us to help them plant acorns, as their oak trees are dying from beetles.   If your troops has shovels and garden spaces that they can bring, let me know.




Troop Gear

Lantern (for outdoor use)
Cooking supplies (pots, pans, utensils, and so on)
Cooler for food storage
Portable cook stoves and fuel whenever possible (to reduce the use of firewood) 
Plates, bowls, cups, silverware, or mess kits, and dunk bags
Tents with groundcloth and covers, 4 person or smaller
Mallet for tent stakes
Food: Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast, snacks; Sunday breakfast
Water
First aid kit
Swaps
Shovels, spades, and small buckets (like a beach bucket) for carrying acorns

Girl Stuff: The fashion of camping

Sack dinner for Friday night (Collect all the dinners together before leaving)
Mess kit if not using disposable dishes


Large plastic bags (if things get wet)


Reusable water bottle with strap for hiking
Daypack
Book, quiet activities
Camera (optional)


Sleeping bag (rated for anticipated temperature - may get into 20s)
Sleeping bag mattress (blow up mattress pads worked well)
Pillow
Sleeping cap (to stay warm at night), or hoodie, or both
Maybe an extra blanket,  or sleeping bag insert for added warmth

Snugly, but maybe not the most favorite (optional)
Flashlight, two changes of batteries


Rain poncho
Sunscreen (non-comedogenic)
Chapstick
Insect repellent
Sun hat (eg baseball cap or rimmed hat)
Sunglasses
Gloves

Whistle for hiking, in case someone gets lost (whistle 3 times and wait)

Hair ties (for around the campfire)
Small towel
Toiletries (soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush)
Feminine products (just in case)
Tissues


Three changes of clothes (in case one gets wet or something), with layers.  Please don't send anything that's nylon, we will be around the campfire, and that could melt.  Cotton is perfect.  It's going to be cold, please bring clothes accordingly.


2 tshirts (no spaghetti straps)
2 long sleeve shirt
1 pair of long pants
2 pair of shorts
1 warm jacket
1 sweater, sweatshirt (layers)
3 underwear
3 pairs of socks
1 long underwear or leggings (for layers)
PJs - 2 pair (if one gets soiled)
Close toed shoes only
Socks - 3 pair


Suggestions:  put names on everything; pack things that go together in individual bags, such as a complete change of clothes; let your girls pack the bags so they know what they have and where it is.

All girls must carry their own gear.  Please pack in one small duffel bag.

Make sure all bags and items are well marked with girl’s name and troop number.

No food, candy, gum, money, phones, or electronics.  We will be in the DIRT!

All medications must be turned over to the leader (in original container).

We will be Happy Campers, rain or shine!

Girl Rules

William Heise is a public campsite.  We have reserved an entire are just for us to give us as much privacy as we can get.  Nonetheless, we need to be more careful that at a site that is just Girl Scouts.

Form a Troop Sandwich on hikes and walks

We don't want any girls to get lost.  A good policy is to have one adult in front and one in back, girls need to stay in between.

Just Ask!

Girls should be in constant communication with their leaders, asking first if they want to leave the group.  Girls should be accompanied by adults at all times.

Buddy Up!

Use the buddy system. Girls are divided into teams of two. Each girl has a buddy and is responsible for staying with her buddy at all times, warning her buddy of danger, giving her buddy immediate assistance if safe to do so, and seeking help when the situation warrants it. If someone in the group is injured, one person cares for the patient while two others seek help.

Leave no trace, take nothing but pictures

Respect the environment and keep campsite clean. Use the principles of minimal-impact camping described by Leave No Trace. Store garbage in insect- and animal-proof containers with plastic inner linings, and cover it securely when there is a campsite garbage-pickup service. When there is no garbage-pickup service, remove garbage from campsite in plastic bags and discard, as appropriate. Recycle whenever possible. Do not bury food; carry out garbage, grease, and fuel canisters. Do not remove natural materials such as leaves or branches.

• Working as a group, participation in responsibilities, listening to leaders
• Respecting the site and equipment
• Learning to cook (slicing a bagel or a banana to begin with)

Possible activities

Geocaching

Hiking

Orienteering

Arts and Crafts

Linking Girls to the Land   EPA projects and Water Drop Patch

Get with the Land GS Patch

Safety Checkpoints

GS Safety Activity Checkpoints 

Applicable Girl Scout rules:

1. All attendees must be members of Girl Scouts.

2. Training requirements

First aid and CPR trained adult

Overnighters: Let's Camp; Let's Cook; Let's Tent

Day campers: Just come and join the fun!

3.  Forms for each girl and adult: permission slip, health history(copy)

Permission slip:

Girl health history:

Download: PDF (English)    DOC (English)    PDF (Spanish)    DOC (Spanish)   

Adult health history: 

PDF (English)  

   

4. Adult to girl ratio, from Safety Activity Checkpoints:

The recommended adult-to-girl ratios are two non-related
adults (at least one of whom is female) to every: 

• 6 Girl Scout Daisies (See “Camping With Girl Scout Daisies” details in this checkpoint’s introduction)
• 12 Girl Scout Brownies
• 16 Girl Scout Juniors
• 20 Girl Scout Cadettes 
• 24 Girl Scout Seniors
• 24 Girl Scout Ambassadors

Plus one adult to each additional:

• 4 Girl Scout Daisies (See “Camping With Girl Scout Daisies” details in this checkpoint’s introduction)
• 6 Girl Scout Brownies
• 8 Girl Scout Juniors
• 10 Girl Scout Cadettes
• 12 Girl Scout Seniors
• 12 Girl Scout Ambassadors 

Camping safety checklists:

• Group Camping
• Hiking 
• Playgrounds
• Orienteering
• Outdoor Cooking
• Trip/Travel Camping

Feb meeting

Theme: Mighty oaks from little acorns grow

Site introduction

Troop requirements

Girls with disabilities, let me know.  If someone is in a wheel chair, we can rent a cabin with a bed.

Hand out flyer

List of things I need help with.

What would you like to do?

Point to my website

To do

Now:

Activity Approval form

Check for liability insurance.  Emailed AC.

ARP: Nurse

Reserve day picnic area?

Budget Approval

Feb Leader meeting

announcement sheet (pointer to my blog), call for activities (suggestions), call for help (nurse, cooking)

Get receipt for Betsy

Camp map, trails on website

Emergency plan: nurse, ranger, local hospital....http://mightyacorns2011.blogspot.com/2011/01/emergency-considerations.html

Upload permission form

Gear list: see Group camping, list from last year

Planning activities:

• ARF: Specific activities: if someone wants to do something special (eg. challenge course, rappelling, rock climbing), check Safety Checkpoints, and get an ARF:  Check for skill level requirements.  Any special equipment. Risks and safety.

At signup:

• ARF: Participant skill level: verify leader/girl ratios
• ARF: Collect health history records - a copy
• ARF: Who has training for First Aid/CPR, LC/LC/LT

At campsite:

• Trail map, campsite map
• Where is nurse
  

Contacts

Deborah Chandran

debchandran@gmail.com

h: 760-930-0797 , c: 203-820-9357

Current volunteers


Needed:

check in

check out

nurse or Level 2 First Aid and Wilderness First Aid training

cooking

Saturday dinner

badges

swaps

opening and closing ceremony