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Friday Night
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Sunday
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Set up camp
Camp orientation and fire drill
Pitch tents
Build a woodpile
Post duties
Prepare tent for sleeping
Singing, night games, or astronomy
Snack
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7:30-Rise & shine
7:45-Cooks report to Quartermaster
8:00-Colour ceremony and flag raising
8:30-Breakfast
9:00-Campsite duties
9:30-Guides' Own
9:45-Wide game or craft
10:15-Take down camp and final cleanup
11:30-Lunch (easy, no dishes)
1:00-Leave for home
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Saturday
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7:30-Rise & shine
7:45-Cooks report to Quartermaster
8:00-Colour ceremony and flag raising
8:30-Breakfast
9:00-Explain campfire duties
10:30-Snack
10:45-Games
11:45-Cooks report to Quartermaster
12:30-Lunch
1:00-Campsite duties
1:30-Quiet time
2:30-Outdoor badge work/Keys to Camping/Going Outside/Going Camping
3:30-Crafts
4:30-Cooks report to Quartermaster
5:30-Dinner
6:00-Campsite duties
6:45-Work on a challenge, wide game, or free time
7:30-Wash
8:00-Prepare tents for sleeping
9:00-Campfire songs and snack
10:00-Brush teeth and lights out (age dependent)
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Sparks should experience:
- helping with chores
- deciding what to wear on an outing and what to take
- a sleepover or;
- a day camp or;
- a residential camp
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Sparks should be introduced to:
- the environment and how she can help to keep it clean
- the environment and what grows there and what lives there
- nature
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Brownies should be introduced to:
- map and compass
- laying a fire and striking a match
- basic first aid
- basic environment conservation (recycling)
- nature (nature bingo, nature treasure hunt)
- knots
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Brownies should experience:
- helping with chores
- how to prepare for an outing
- an overnight outdoor camp
- packing her own gear
- a weekend residential camp
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Guides should experience:
Guides should have knowledge of:
- making and using a fire starter
- basic first aid
- camp and fire safety
- storing food safely
- washing dishes and cleaning of their cooking and eating area
- proper garbage and liquid disposal
- local fire rules
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Guides should be working towards the following skills with little or no assistance:
- roll a waterproof bedroll
- pack own gear
- put up a tent
- lay and start a campfire
- cook on a campfire
- plan a short program element (game, craft, etc.)
- light a stove and lantern
- tie a sheet bend, clove hitch, round turn and two half hitches
- lay and follow a trail
- make a simple camp gadget
- Guides should have the ability, with help, to:
- string up a tarp
- prepare an emergency shelter
- plan a menu and do the shopping
- read a compass and negotiate an orienteering course
- practice basic first aid
- prepare a woodpile
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Pathfinders should experience:
- an adventure camp (winter, kayaking, cycling, backpacking etc.)
- an outdoor camp of 5 consecutive nights
- applying for Provincial, Inter-Provincial, National, or International camping events
Pathfinders should have knowledge of:
- tent repairs
- different types of tents (dome, ridge pole, etc.)
- how to pitch a tent when the use of pegs is not possible
- storm lashing
- what camp equipment is needed (tent, rope, pegs, stove, lanterns, etc.)
- their local environment (what lives there, what grows there)
- emergency preparedness
- how to read the weather
- finding directions without a compass
- appropriate clothing for different outings (footgear, winter clothing, sleeping bags, backpacks, rain gear, etc.)
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Pathfinders should have the ability to:
- run a camp, provide leadership
- enforce good safety practices
- plan and carry out a program
- create a budget for camp
- make a more complicated camp gadget
- practice minimum impact camping
- return all camp gear clean, dry and in good condition
- use, sharpen and care for a knife, hatchet or axe
- use and care for a camp and hike stove
- prepare and use a first aid kit
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Useful Knots at Camp
Bowline
Clove Hitch
Reef
Girl Guides of Canada Pinterest
Boondoggle - gimp/plastic lacing
Easy Camp Projects - Ultimate Camp Resource site
List all of the duties (on a piece of paper) that need doing on a regular basis in your campsite. This can include:
Setting up the campsite
Collecting firewood and rocks
Collecting and carrying water for cooking and cleaning
Cooking
Washing dishes
Doing a sweep of the site before dark to make sure it is clean from debris and food
Taking down camp
Helping to run activities
Sort how often each duty needs to be done, and create a schedule for the duration of your trip.
Assign one or two people to each task on a rotating basis, so nobody is stuck doing the same task too frequently.
How to Build a Campfire
Materials
• Kindling (sticks, small logs from fallen branches, dry leaves, paper) and logs
• Bucket of water, or water source
• Shovel
• Small- to medium-sized rocks and stones (for optional fire ring)
• Fire starter (optional)
Steps:
Build your fire at least 10 feet away from tents, trees, roots and other flammable items. A fire ring is simple to build with stones and rocks and helps contain the fire. If you can't build one, just clear a space 60-80 cm (24-32 inches) across in each direction.
Gather dry firewood and kindling (using only fallen branches) then build a small, loose pile of twigs, dry leaves, paper, and kindling, allowing space for air to flow through and feed the fire.
Build a log cabin of dry twigs and small sticks around and above the pile of kindling, allowing space for the air to flow through and feed the fire. Light the kindling with a match. Or use a fire starter. See below for how to make one.
As the fire grows in strength, add increasingly larger sticks, then logs, making sure to always leave enough space between them for the fire to breathe.
Building and Burning
• Build a fire only as big as you need.
• Never build a fire near tents or other flammable items.
• Never use flammable fluids to start a fire.
• Never leave fire unattended.
• Keep a bucket of water and a shovel nearby just in case.
Afterward
• Make sure to completely extinguish the fire when you're done.
• Scatter the ashes or embers, and then sprinkle with water. Stir with a stick. Repeat.
• Drench the charred logs.
• Repeat until everything is cold.
How to Build a Campfire - Game
Materials required:
Backpack
Obstacles such as pylons or chairs
Logs or pencils
Fire pit (hula hoop or circle made out of rope)
Instructions:
1. Have the girls divide into groups, the same number as the tents.
2. Each backpack is placed inside the tents.
3. The girls are to go into the tent and bring the backpack out and put it on.
4. The girls than go through the woods (chairs) looking for firewood.
5. The girls pick up the firewood (one log) and put it in the backpack. If it's not
too heavy they can put the backpack back on.
6. The girls come back through the woods and take the log out of the backpack and place it in the fire pit.
7. The backpack is then put back into the tent.
8. The next girl does the same as the first and so on until all girls have a chance to do the game. You may have to take the logs out of the fire pit and place at the end of the woods again if you have a large unit.
9. When the last girl in the group places the backpack in the tent, the group can sit down by the campfire.
How to make a Fire Starter
Egg cartons (cardboard) - Fill the egg carton with sawdust, lint from dryer, or cotton balls. Fill with paraffin wax. Add a loop of string if desired. To use, tear each section apart.
Rolled newspapers - Roll newspaper and tie with string. Soak in paraffin wax until saturated. Cut into smaller pieces.
Small candle stubs - Using small candle stubs, wrap in several layers of wax paper and twist both ends. Tie with string.
Pine cone starters - Using pine cones or spruce cones that are dry, dip into wax.
* Fire starters can be purchased very inexpensively at Camping and Hardware stores.
Campfire Programming
Guides' Own is a time of reflection. It is planned and conducted by girls of any age. It can be thought provoking and inspirational.Example of Guides' Own for Camp
Materials needed (per person): small square of fabric, elastic band, small rock, shell and feather.
Hand out square of material (about the size of your palm).
The world we live in is a material world; but it is not the things we buy, or wear or what we look like that counts-it's what is on the inside that matters most.
Hand out the rocks.
The rock represents the Earth. In our busy lives, whether at school or work, with our friends, or in our families, we need a solid base to build on. As Guiders and girls, we help to give each other this solid base.
Hand out the shells.
The shell represents the water. All living things need water; all things on land; all things in the air; all things in the water. Through Guiding and in other parts of our lives, we explore the flowing currents of our beliefs.
Hand out the feathers.
The feathers represent the air. What we do and say can build up or hurt others. Our words are like the wind -- you do not see them, but you see their effects.
Now wrap these things inside the material and tie it up with an elastic.
Remember - IT'S WHAT'S INSIDE THAT COUNTS!
Created by: Wendy Baker - GGC, Ontario Council
Planning the Campfire Program
A Campfire in the Guiding tradition has a definite shape and structure. Keep in mind the way the fire itself will burn. Plan your Campfire Program the same way:
1. The fire is lit (opening song, poem or reading)
2. Gradually the flames spread (unifying songs, rounds, part songs)
3. It gathers momentum (lighthearted/fun/action songs)
4. Until finally it reaches its high point when the flames are snapping and crackling and burning their brightest (silly songs, games, yells, skits, creative stories, legends)
5. The fire at this point begins to burn down (joyful songs)
6. Until it is burning gently (quiet songs, rounds, part songs, spirituals, reflective songs)
7. Finally, only the embers are left glowing as the fire and the day draw to a close (vespers and Taps)
Celebrate with Song publication available to Guiders at www.thegirlguidestore.ca
Web Resources for Campfire activities
http://www.ultimatecampresource.com/site/camp-activities/camp-songs.html
http://dragon.sleepdeprived.ca/songbook/songbook_index.htm
http://www.acacamps.org/campmag/1007/camp-songs-history-and-traditions