Parent Handbook
Camping Out
Campers at Falling Creek have many opportunities for spending a night or more in the great outdoors. Weekly overnight campouts with your cabin, canoe trips on rivers or lakes, backpacking adventures, mountain bike outings, and several rock climbs are a big part of our camp program. These could be some of the most exciting times your son spends with us at camp.
Your son will need a few basic items for these camping trips:
Frame Backpack
Find one with either an internal or external frame. The frame is critical because it lets the pack maintain the proper shape for holding camping gear. Typical school-type day packs or book bags don’t have enough room for carrying a sleeping bag, clothes, and other camping gear.
The pack needs to be large enough to fit about four soccer balls inside, plus have outside pockets and places where a sleeping bag can either be stuffed into it or attached to the outside. Lastly, be sure that the straps (shoulder and waist) fit your son.
Sleeping Bag
Hollofill and Polarguard are two recommended fillings for sleeping bags on backpacking trips. Those, or some other synthetic filler, are what is needed for summer camping trips. Be wary of down or cotton. You do not want a bag with either of these fills for camp use. Wet cotton, in a sleeping bag or on a camper’s body, is cold and miserable.
Insist on a sleeping bag that will fit into a stuff sack. When stuffed, it should be about the size of a watermelon or smaller.
Rain Gear
Fleece, Fleece, Fleece! Jackets, sweaters, hats made of this material retain their warmth even when wet. Again, please stay away from cotton items. A rain jacket to go over the fleece will keep the wind away. Avoid plastic ponchos which are easily torn when walking in the woods.
Other Camping Items
Except for long trips, where a boy may be carrying 1/4 to 1/3 his body weight in his pack, most boys will not need hiking boots. Trail-running shoes are fine, as are running or tennis shoes.
Flashlights with LED’s are wonderful on trips as are reusable eating utensils, plates and cups.
A pad to place under their sleeping bag is essential. Some are made of foam material that is more comfortable than simply sleeping on the ground. Others fill with air when used, and then deflate for packing.
We suggest you buy from a knowledgeable outdoor specialty store, not from a discount store. Visit the Helpful Links Page for reliable vendors of outdoor equipment.
