We spend so much time making sure our Scouts will have the best summer camp possible—mentally preparing them to be away for a week, checking after them to see if their camping gear still looks good. We work hard to ensure they’ll have fun and make wonderful memories, but all that pre-camp preparation can sometimes get in the way of our ability to prepare ourselves! If you’re a parent or leader gearing up to volunteer at a local Scout camp this summer, read these super-helpful tips from our in-house summer camp expert Alan Sanders—Director of Support Services for the Heart of America Council Camps.

Do you need help packing for camp? Download our Summer Camp Checklist!

Try to participate in all the fun activities—don't just sit around and attend meals! Get out of camp (and step out of your comfort zone). Hike the trails, paddle a canoe, and learn things about Scouting and the camp you otherwise didn't know anything about. I would recommend attending a merit badge with your Scouts; it's a great way to see and hear what is going on at camp. Be willing to help with advancement at the campsite and join in all the youth's fun. Take a kid to the pool and help them get their swimmer’s band if you can! From my experience, the leaders and parents that have the best time participate like the youth.

I recommend doing fun things as a unit on top of everything the camp is already providing in terms of everyday activities. I have seen units do talent shows, corn hole, and campsite wood carving competitions. Activities like throwing horseshoes and Ping-Pong can also be a good time. In the past, some units have organized hikes to prepare for Philmont Scout Ranch or have even gone off-site to play golf to earn the Golf Merit Badge. One of my favorite unscheduled activities is toasting marshmallows and building s'mores for some late-night snacks! 

Some must-have items in terms of summer camp gear I would bring include:

• Folding Chair
• Fan (trust me)
• First-Aid Kit
• Water
• Seasonings

We try to limit Scout’s screen time at camp (they should be having fun outdoors!), but it’s good to have internet access in case of emergencies and so leaders and staff can stay in touch with loved ones while they’re away for weeks at a time. If you need to get a little bit of work done while you’re at camp, accessing the internet comes in handy.

Most local Scout camps and high adventure bases will have Wi-Fi available in key camp areas. For example, Philmont Scout Ranch offers Wi-Fi in all meeting spaces at the Philmont Training Center but not in the backcountry. The same goes for cell phone reception. There is a cell tower near the training center (and most carriers get a signal), but you shouldn’t plan to get reception if you’re going on a hike.

Learn the camp's history and go and see incredible locations on the camp. I would get to know some of the staff—many staffers have served for years, and you can learn a lot from them!

From sleeping pads and inflatable pillows to rain gear, hiking socks, power banks and more—save up to 25% on camping gear May 12 - 22 only at ScoutShop.org—the official online retail store of the Boy Scouts of America!