Through our partnership with 2nd Bracknell we like to have at least one "night away" a term, with more in the summer when we can sleep outside in tents. Having a "Pack Holiday" where you sleep in a hall extends our camping season so that we can do it throughout the year.

There are 4 levels of camping. You will see the levels referred to on our camp publicity. The higher numbers indicate that the camp is more challenging.

Kit list
There is a standard kit list that we expect the Cubs to bring to camp. We may have to make small changes to it for particular camps to cope with things like special activity gear (e.g. swimming), themed activities (e.g. costumes) or if we are camping indoors (e.g. need indoor shoes). When we are at camp we generally do a full kit inspection on the last day so that we can make sure everybody has got all their gear. To do this the kit is laid out according to the district kit layout.

Bedding roll
We like you to make a bedding roll with your sleeping bag and blanket on the inside and your groundsheet tied securely round it. This is designed to keep your bedding dry when you are on your way to camp. Even though our tents have groundsheets, you can then sleep on your own one which may help you keep all your things together. We used to make the bedding rolls on the pack meeting before camp but don't do that now. That means you'll have to make it at home so you may find these instructions helpful.

Millets discount
A 10% discount is available in Millets & Blacks shops, although not on sale items. All you need to do is prove that you are a Scout Association member by showing them your group scarf.

First time campers
We are often asked about the sort of kit that needs to be bought. We also sometimes find that people who don't ask end up with unsuitable equipment so thought it might be worthwhile saying a few things about the camping equipment you need.
Although a camp in a hall is not very strenuous we do have camps under canvas and so it is worth buying equipment that will be good enough for them.

Sleeping bag - ideally a "mummy bag" that can be compressed into a small bag. It should be a synthetic (rather than down-filled) bag and may be sold as a 2 season bag or have words like 200 or 300gsm. In the Argos catalogue items such as 927/6196 and 927/6206 would be suitable. They cost £14.99 and £19.99. Since we don't camp outside in the winter there is no need to buy anything more expensive (or more than 300gsm) unless you are looking forward to Scouts. Don't forget to practice getting the sleeping bag back in the bag! Because sleeping bags cannot be washed easily we recommend using a simple cotton sleeping bag liner (927/6093, £9.99) which can then be washed after each camp.
When camping outside or indoors on the floor you will need to have a camping mat (340/5712, £5.99) under your sleeping bag to stop damp and cold rising up. If we are camping in tents you will need a groundsheet that is at least 6' x 4' (Argos have 927/8761 at £8.99 but it is a bit large) to go under everything else and also form the outside of your bedding roll.
The leaders always groan when we see kit arrive in black bin bags. They always split and end up with the kit on the floor in a big heap. An alternative is the nylon "stuff sacks" which are sold in places like Millets for a few pounds each.

This sounds like a simple idea but really works. When we are staying indoors, we have to change in to our indoor shoes. To stop the shoes getting in a complete mess and spreading across the floor please bring a clothes peg with your name on it. If you peg your spare shoes together then there is less chance of them wandering off and because your name is on the peg it is unlikely that somebody will put the wrong pair on by mistake. It works in tents too as you always have to remove your shoes before you go inside so peg them together to keep them tidy.

Finally, a special plea, please remember to make sure that everything is named. This especially applies to items such as uniform. It is inevitable that some personal gear will get mislaid or mixed when on camp and if it is named it can easily be returned to the right person.

We hope this helps. If you have any questions please ask before spending a lot of money on something you are not sure about. The Argos descriptions are just a guide to the minimum standard required as you can see the products online and prices are generally reasonable. You can get similar equipment from camping shops like Blacks, Millets or Mountain Warehouse in Horsham. If you shop at Millets or Blacks you can get a 10% discount for being a Scout Association member.