Meetings
Day: Monday Nights (except on school holidays)
Time: 7:00 - 8:30 (please arrive at 6:45).
Location: Dacula United Methodist Church, 2655 Fence Rd., Dacula GA, 30019 (enter on the left end of the building as you’re facing it.
Attire: Troop Uniform
What to bring: Boy Scout Handbook, pen

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Get Access to the Troop Calendar
You may add the Troop 503 Calendar to your Google, Smartphone and Outlook calendars by following these instructions →Instructions

New Parent Orientation
New parent orientations are held twice per year. The first is usually in November afer Fall Recruitment is complete, the second usually in March after Webelos Cross-over. The dates will be released via email and on the troop calendar.

What do we need to get started?
Boy Scout Handbook – This is essential as this is your son’s guide to skills, knowledge and rank.
Troop Uniform

• Scout shirt
• Scout belt
• Scout socks
• Scout pants/shorts (preferred) or blue denim pants/shorts
  • Get what you can, when you can)
  • All available at the Scout Shop (use the Lawrenceville location - 203 Swanson Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30043)
  • The staff will walk you through getting what you need.

Let them know you are with Troop 503 of the Northeast Georgia Council.

Camping Equipment

• This is covered in separate article.

Perhaps the most overwhelming aspect of scouting is where to buy equipment, what to buy and how to not spend too much money.  It’s easy to say “Go to REI, they’ll help you, educate you and stand behind their products.”  That’s all true, but one thing you didn’t see in that statement is anything about being on a budget.

I’m going to make a few recommendations and give a few of my own perspectives in this email, which I hope you’ll find helpful in choosing the right equipment for your scout(s) according to your own budget. 

REI

For $20, you get a life time membership to REI.  You don’t have to buy it, but since you get 20% off your first purchase when you do, it pretty well pays for itself.  The advantages of membership are:

• You receive coupon offers for 20-30% off a few times per year, all of your purchases are tracked so returns without a receipt are no hassle.
• Your satisfaction is guaranteed.  If you buy it, use it and hate it, you can return it….the next day, week or year.
• Every year you’ll receive a 10% dividend on you purchase for the following year, which were made without coupons and weren’t from the scratch & dent sales/ bins.
• They will help you and educate you and the staff does have experience.
• Some of the  REI brand gear was designed using what they know about the other brands they sell and what they’ve learned from their customers.  Very good stuff.
• They are not a discount outlet.  Most days you’ll pay full retail for what you purchase.

hikerdirect.com

This is a special purchase route only for scouts and scouting  leaders only, direct from the manufacturer of Alps Mountaineering products. 

• This programs gives scouts ~45% off retail pricing and the ability to purchase sales samples (salesman used it to show dealers) at truly incredible prices. 
• Mr. Fraley has experience with them and says they make great stuff.
• There are no Alps dealers local to us , so you’ll have to do your research online.
• Go to http://www.hikerdirect.com/hd/faq to learn more about the program and register.
• Go to http://www.alpsmountaineering.com/ to see the gear and RETAIL pricing.
• Go to https://www.hikerdirect.com/hd/sales_items to see the sales sample which are so deeply discounted.  You’ll need to look the item up on the Alps website to learn about the item itself.
• Order will be placed by phone, email or fax.  No  shopping cart at this time.
• Mr. Fraley says they have a strong return policy.

The Scout Store

• Growing selection of equipment
• Usually good quality gear
• Price is usually at or below retail
• Return policy is VERY limited

Bass Pro Shops

• Offers a variety of equipment with a little less expertise than REI.
• Offers a 10% scouting discount (bring you membership card, hat, something).
• They’re a little far off, but have a lot of good gear.

Coleman Stores

• Sells only Coleman gear
• Offers a scouting discount (just tell them)
• Light on the expertise (they know what the book says)
• Equipment is middle range quality.  Good enough for many, but I’d say more family camping oriented.
• I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a trail stove hear or some accessories where quality really won’t vary much.

Sports Authority

• About the same as the Coleman store, but without the discount. 
• Clothing items are usually at full retail.
• Return policy is limited.

Dick’s Sporting Goods

Just not worth MoG traffic and hassle.

• Good selection of gear, high and low quality
• Some expertise
• Not a great return policy
• Prices are a little high for the quality in my opinion

Walmart

Zach and I started with Walmart equipment.  In the end, I paid about the same as I would have if I’d bought at REI as I had to keep replacing the gear.

• Offers no expertise or guidance.

• Very budget oriented and with a few good items, but the term “you get what you pay for” applies hear.
• The return policy on used equipment (things you’ve tried out) is hit or miss.
• Good inventory of items.
• Use as a last resort if you can help it.

While I’d like to tell you all exactly what to buy, we all have different means and preferences.  However, I will say that if you can, buy from REI.  Why?  Because if you don’t like it, it turns out to be junk, too complicated, etc., you can take it back…even after using it. 

Here’s my two cents.

Sleeping Bags

Mummy or not? – If you’re only going to have one sleeping bag, I recommend a mummy bag.  You can always unzip in the heat.  I’d say a 15-40 degree rating.  If you’re buying at Wal-Mart, you may want to lean toward lower temperature ratings as these ratings don’t mean much.  However, REI holds their suppliers to a higher standard on these ratings.  A sleeping bag liner can always be used in colder weather AND SHOULD BE.

Is bag weight important? - There are times when we backpack or hike into camp.  It is recommended that you buy a bag which is in the 0-4 pound range, I say the lighter the better.

Learn more about sleeping bags – This is probably the single most important item on a campout.  If your son doesn’t sleep, nothing will be fun.  Go to REI, let them show you some bags and features, even if you don’t by there, you’ll get useful information.

Sleeping Pads

Sleeping pads are used to not only provide comfort from the hard ground, but to also provide thermal insulation from the ground. It is especially needed in cold weather to prevent heat loss through the ground. There are two types of pads; closed cell foam and self-inflating with open cell foam. The self-inflating pads are more comfortable, will pack to a smaller size, and are usually more expensive than the foam pads. Your son will be fine starting off with a foam pad.  I  think they’re about $5 at Wal-mart (blue).

Mess Kits

A mess kit is a Boy Scout essential.  Yes, your son WILL NEED this.  A mess kit is used for light cooking and to eat out of.  They are available at the scout store, REI, Wal-Mart, and Sports Authority to say the least.  They range from $10 to $130.  He’ll be fine to start with a cheap mess kit, I recommend something he can heat water in.  In the beginning, they ALL lose parts, bend them, etc.  Even the titanium kits bend.  As he gets older you can upgrade.  The basic kit should include a pot w/ lid, sauce pan and cup.  He’ll also need utensils; most use sporks w/ serrated ednge on the prongs which can be bought in the camping section at Wal-Mart.  They do break, so buy the box or look for a better one at REI.  Camping utensils are fine, but remember what I said about losing items.

Pocket Knives

The boys should have pocket knives.  They will need to be trained in proper use and to care for them before they’ll be allowed to carry them, so there isn’t a rush.  This will likely happen before summer camp.  The pocket knives should be of decent quality, so it doesn’t break during use (dangerous), but doesn’t need to be surgically sharp.  I personally prefer a non-serrated edge and I have had little use for sawing through something with my pocket knife.  Knives should be folding and not sheath knives (some camps don’t allow them).  They should have locking blades for safety and should be something he can safely open and close (you’ll have to see him try it).

Hammocks

Hammocks are allowed, but not all camping locations are suited to hammocks (sometimes no trees) and the boys won’t be allowed to wonder away from their patrol to hang them.  Additionally, hammocks have a whole other set of parameters to keep the boys safe in the cold and dry in the rain, which can get very expensive.  Everyone should start with a tent.

Tents

For most of what we do, a 3 season tent is sufficient.  I’m not saying we’ll never camp on snow, but it isn’t likely any time soon.  A 4 season tent would be heavier and not as suitable for hot weather (more of that in Georgia than snow) or backpacking which we’re more apt to do.

Size - I don’t recommend tents larger than 1-2 or 3 man.  These ratings don’t mean plus gear.  That’s just how many people are expected to fit up against each other laid flat out.  Look at the dimensions of the tent.  If it’s wide enough for the number of occupants, but 2-3 feet longer than they will be tall, that leaves room for some gear.

Shape – Please avoid tents which aren’t square or rectangular.  They are harder to setup (especially when it’s already raining) and are difficult to stake out tightly, which increases the chances of leaking.  Tents with 4 corners are best.  Rectangular are easier to reinforce with tarps.

Rainfly – This is a critical feature.  I HIGHLY recommend a tent with a rainfly which covers the entire tent. The larger the rainfly is to the size of the tent the better. Tarps can make a fine reinforcement, but they don’t fit to the shape of most tents well.  The harder/longer it rains directly on the sides of a tent, the higher the likelihood the tent will saturate and leak.  This also serves as protection from wind during the winter.

Footprint (ground cover) – This provides added protection from debris on the ground, ground temperature and moisture in the ground coming through the bottom of the tent.  Some tents have a footprint that is made to the exact dimensions of the floor of the tent, I recommend using one of these tents with its footprint.  A tarp can also be used as a ground cover, but is awkward to setup and must be installed properly to prevent other problems.  They are also heavy for backpacking.

Weight – I’d say stay below 6 pounds.  When we’re backpacking, the boys can buddy up and split the load.  That said, most of the boys should only be carrying 18-25 pounds, which isn’t much when you add clothes, other equipment, and food.

Simplicity – If your son can’t set it up without an adult, it’s too complicated.  While he may choose to bunk with a buddy (most do), the buddy will likely know even less about the tent than your son. Your son should set the tent up before the trip. If he needs help with it he can work with his Patrol Leader or one of the Assistant Scoutmasters to schedule an appointment before a troop meeting.

Price – You have to decide what you’re comfortable with.  Wal-Mart tents are well priced, but often fail after a few uses and usually require tarp reinforcement.  At the same time, high end tents aren’t made of steel and will be housing rough boys (another reason to buy from REI).  Below are a couple of links which may be helpful.

In my opinion, this tent is ideal.  That’s not to say it’s what you need to buy, only that it has all of the features I think are important, so it makes for a good example. http://www.rei.com/product/878519/rei-half-dome-2-tent#tab-specs .  I definitely recommend this tent or the slightly longer model (Half Dome 2 Plust) for adults.  The rainfly can be assembled on the poles, and then you can get underneath to install the foot print and tent while being covered from the rain.

This tent is an example of what is not recommended to get: http://www.walmart.com/ip/GigaTent-Cooper-2-Dome-Backpacking-Tent/19218410. Notice that there is a very small, almost non-existent, rain-fly. This causes two issues; First, virtually no protection from rain. This tent will leak in the rain unless an external tarp is used above it. Second, the small ventilation area under the rain-fly is not sufficient to allow the moisture generated from the occupants to fully ventilate throughout the night. That means the moisture will collect on the inside of the tent making the walls wet.

In Summary:

Ideally you want to get the highest quality you and your son are comfortable with.  At this point, there is no need to get the top of the line tent but you also do not want to get the bottom of the line either.  The example tent I showed you is currently at a great price and is what I have used for years (older model) and is what I’ve just bought for my wife.  You should balance cost with life expectancy.  This also holds true for sleeping bags and knives. A cheaper mess kit and sleeping pad are fine for now.

I hope you find some of this helpful.

There are times in life when we’re flush and times in life when we feel like we’ve been flushed.  The single most important thing to me and my team is your son.  If times are tough, let Mr. Pritchard or myself know and we’ll figure out how your son can participate and you don’t have to worry about anyone else finding out.

Uniforms – We have a small stock of previously loved uniform bits.

Tents – Not every scout needs a tent.  Most of the time, boys will want to share a tent.  If neither scout has a tent, we do have some serviceable troop tents.  We will need to know BEFORE we leave on a given trip that you need a tent and you should come early one night to learn how to set it up before the outing.  The borrower is then responsible for ensuring the tent is cleaned up and packed away properly after use.

Sleeping Pads – We have a few of these.

Sleeping Bags – We have a couple.  They must be washed after an outing and promptly returned.

Mess Kits – On many of our outings, we take the troop trailer, which has some disposable plates and such.  We don’t like to use them unless we have to, as they aren’t reusable (think green).

Attendance at Outings – On most trips, you’re only paying for food, which your son was going to eat anyway, plus a little gas money.  If you run into a struggle here, please let Mr. Pritchard know. 

Summer Camp – Camperships are available.  You can always donate money to the council later when times are better for you, so you can think of it as a friendly loan if you like.

Don’t let your son miss out because of MONEY!  Scouting isn’t any fun without camping.  Most of the time, something can be worked out to help a scout participate, if we know assistance is needed of course.  Mr. Pritchard and I keep a lot of information about a lot of people in close confidence and don’t even share with each other unless it’s necessary.  All we care about are the kids!  If life is getting in the way, we want to help.