Before we dive into long term and summer camp types we need to review the concept of the weekend outing. Weekend outings have always been a essential part of the Scouting since its creation in the United Kingdom. While there are many many many options for what you can do on weekend campouts, Troops all across the country still rely on using just a few different weekend outing purposes and themes. For this post I will be showing some more options beyond what is normally thought of for a weekend outing. Typical weekend outings include:
- First Class/Second Class/Tenderfoot Advancement Outing: A type of campout where the primary focus is to help your Scouts below First Class Rank get rank requirements signed off in a manner that doesn't end up taking meeting after meeting after meeting to cover this material that your other Scouts have already covered.
- Winter Campout Outing:
- Camping during the winter while its snowing, possibly a light blizzard, sleeting, strong winds, below freezing, negative temperatures, and in snow covered country.
- Winter Outings will be covered in greater detail later on in another post.
- Scout Craft Outings
- Outings based off a certain theme or set of Scout Craft Skills
- Examples include:
- Pioneering
- Camp Tools
- Cooking
- Wilderness Survival
- First Aid
- Weekend High Adventure
- Weekend outings that give the opportunity for Scouts to participate in adventurous weekend experiences and skills. Basically getting outdoors and experiencing nature as it was meant to be explored.
- Canoeing
- Whiter Water
- Rafting
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Rafting
- Cycling
- Backpacking
- Hiking
- Sight Seeing Outings (Camping Type Outings Only)
So I think you got the idea that there are many different themes, activities, and purposes for weekend outings. Remember weekend outings are only limited to what you youth leaders can dream of and put into action. This type of outing primarily is 1 to 3 days in length and occurs usually on a Friday-Saturday-Sunday basis with the possibility of extending to it beginning on thursday and ending on monday when there are extended weekends or days off assuming you can provide and have adequate adult leadership during the outing. Usually weekend outings do not extend pass 4 days. If its 5 days or more these outings are best labeled as long term outings due to the increased demands in regards to the outings complexity and the amount of planning required. Even when outings are 1 to 3 days long though planning can be a intensive process that requires a serious amount of preparation, knowledge, and willingness to move forward.
More or less outings in general including weekend outings have much more flexibility than most think and would limit themselves to. Remember the better your program, the more variety you have, the bigger mixture of purposes for outings, willingness to expand horizons, and finally to look beyond what most would consider to be a good program the more Scouts you can get to join your Troop and the more likely a older Scout is willing to stay active even after he has earned his Eagle.
Yours in Scouting Service
Mark West
Assistant Scoutmaster/2012 Summer Camp Chairman
Troop 1316, Troop 1616(aka 669), Troop 125
Tustumena District/ Denali District/ Eklutna District, Great Alaska Council
NSJ '05 Youth Participant NSJ '10 Subcamp 7 Youth Staff NSJ '13 Subcamp Staff
WSJ '07 Youth Participant WSJ '11 International Service Team(IST)
Eagle Scout OA Brotherhood Honor Big Horn Denver Area Council NYLT QM Philmont AA '08
If you are paid to do Scouting, you are called a professional. If you are not paid to do Scouting, you are called a Volunteer. If you pay to do Scouting, then you are called a Scouter.
