Let’s get you one step closer to earning your Eagle Scout rank.

Camping is one of the quintessential experiences in Scouting. Honestly, we encounter some of the best moments in our lives at camp: the satisfaction of finding the perfect log to sit on after a hike, sharing stories with friends by the fire, star gazing inside the comfort of our hammocks as we drift to sleep. Ahhh… Okay, we’re not afraid to admit—camping is AWESOME. Yes, and more than likely, you’ve been camping once or twice in your life—especially if you’re a Scout. One of our favorite side benefits of all those nights outside is that it will bring you one step closer to earning the rank of Eagle Scout. To help you achieve that lofty goal, we're sharing some pro tips to help you earn the Eagle-required Camping merit badge!  

The Camping merit badge is one of the 21 required badges you will earn to become an Eagle Scout. This merit badge signifies that you can safely lead a patrol on an overnight or multi-day campout. Like any merit badge, the skills you acquire to reach the Camping merit badge will help you and your patrol camp (and thrive) in the wilderness. If you earn the Camping merit badge, you're capable of many things, including but not limited to identifying, preventing, and responding to hazards at the campsite, showing that you know how to prevent injuries, and responding with first aid when the situation requires it. 

• Practice Makes Perfect
• Get Updated Camping Equipment
• Cook a Meal at Home
• Replenish Your First Aid Kit
• Practice Pitching a Tent

The best thing you can do is camp as much and as often as possible. The more you participate in a campout, the more you’ll truly learn about life in the outdoors. Sure, you can read a book on building a campfire, but the only way you can master the art of fire building is by doing it. The same goes for finding your way in the wilderness using a topographical map and a compass. We can’t stress this enough— the more you camp, the more you will get used to the experience and come closer to earning your Camping merit badge!

The last thing you want is to bring your tent on the trip and realize there are holes in the fabric during a heavy downpour. Ensure you inspect your tent, sleeping bags, hammocks, backpacks, and other camping equipment before setting off on your journey. Making a habit of this step will help you develop a pre-campout routine that will help you memorize what you need to lead a patrol on a successful campout.

To earn the Camping merit badge, you will have to cook a few meals outside (obviously!). If you’ve never prepared a meal before, doing so can seem like a scary ordeal, but don’t sweat it! Having the right gear can make all the difference in how easy it is, so make sure to stock up on a mess kit with lightweight pots and pans to carry with you on your next trip! To make sure you’re comfortable cooking meat or other food products that must reach a high internal temperature to eat safely, try cooking a few meals at home to understand what the food should look like before serving it to other people.

Knowing how to administer first aid is a super important step to earning your Camping merit badge. Before each campout, make sure your first aid kit is stocked with bandages, gauze pads, antibiotic ointment, and more first aid essentials. It’s best to check the contents of your first aid before each trip and replenish necessities as needed, so everyone is safe on the trail.

Pro tip: Earn the First Aid merit badge first. Then, this step will come as second nature.

Setting up a shelter should be one of the main priorities for your next campout. Tents offer protection from foul weather and pesky insects that can bite or nest in your sleeping bag. We recommend pitching your tent in the backyard to get the most practice. Before you know it, you will be a pro at setting up shelter in minutes.

In a nutshell, to earn the Camping merit badge, you’ll need to camp a total of at least 20 nights at designated Scouting activities or events. You’ll also have to sleep in a tent that you have pitched, so make sure you practice your skills in the backyard and read this super helpful blog article “Pitch a Tent, Not a Fit - Pro Tips on Where to Set Up Your Tent” to help you master the craft of setting up your shelter at camp. Though the Merit Badge Series guide on Camping is available in full on Scouting.org, we figured we’d save you a few clicks (but you can find the full list here). Here’s a SUPER condensed outline of requirements for obtaining the Camping merit badge, so you can get a sense of what you’ll need to know.

• Explain hazards you’re likely to encounter during camping activities.
• Explain how you can prepare if the weather turns bad during a campout.
• Show your first aid skills.
• Learn the Leave No Trace principles and the Outdoor Code.
• Show you can make it to your campsite using a topographical map.
• Produce a duty roster with assignments listed for each member.
• Help a patrol prepare for an actual campout.
• List clothing you’ll need for an overnight campout in warm and cold weather.
• Discuss footwear for different kinds of weather.
• Explain the proper care and storage of camping equipment.
• List the outdoor essentials necessary for a campout.
• Present yourself to your Scoutmaster with your pack for inspection.
• Describe the features of four types of tents.
• Demonstrate two ways to treat water.
• Describe the factors to be considered in deciding where to pitch your tent.
• Tell the difference between internal- and external-frame packs.
• Explain the proper care of your sleeping bag and how to keep it dry.
• Make a checklist of personal and patrol gear you’ll need.
• Explain the safety procedures for using a propane or butane/propane stove, a liquid fuel stove, and proper storage of extra fuel.
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different types of lightweight cooking stoves.
• Prepare a camp menu.
• Cook at least one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner for your patrol.

You’ll also need to do at least one or two of the following:

• Hike up a mountain, gaining at least 1,000 vertical feet.
• Backpack, snowshoe, or cross-country ski for at least 4 miles.
• Take a bike trip of at least 15 miles or at least four hours.
• Take a nonmotorized trip on the water for at least four hours or 5 miles.
• Plan and carry out an overnight snow camping experience.
• Rappel down a rappel route of 30 feet or more.
• Perform a conservation project.

And last, but not least, you’ll need to explain how Scout spirit and the Scout Oath and Scout Law apply to camping and outdoor ethics!

Whether your tent has a tear in the fabric, or someone’s outgrown the comfort of their sleeping bag, you can find all the latest camping gear at ScoutShop.org. From tents and sleeping bags to hammocks, first aid kits, mess kits, and more, ScoutShop has everything you need to feel at home in the great outdoors!