For most of our Camps, the scouts won t be needing a ruc-sac a large strong bag will do. Whatever you choose make sure that it can be zipped close.

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1 Equipment will vary according to the season. These guidelines contain basic information for an Easter/ winter camp of 4-5 nights duration. For queries please contact the leaders. Some important tips for the parents: Though most probably you will be doing the actual packing yourself, do make sure that you are HELPED by your children. Packing and all the skills that go with it eg. Drawing a list, finding the things in your wardrobes/ cupboards, folding, etc is an important thing which your child needs to learn as he/she grows up Your child should be there while you are doing the actual packing we ve had many children over the years who did not have the foggiest idea what their parents had packed for them with all the obvious consequences. Make sure that you label your child s belongings the kids do not have wardrobes/ cupboards at camp and things do get mixed up a simple mark on your child s belongings saves us and you a lot of trouble. Make sure that the things which you give your child are of good quality they need not be the most expensive brands actually we advise you against giving your children top quality brands but such equipment as footwear has to be of good quality and hardwearing. Giving your kid a pair of jogging shoes to take to camp before it gets thrown away IS NOT a good idea. You need not buy specialist equipment at this stage but it would be a good idea if you start building bit by bit a good stock of equipment. Encourage relatives to give pieces of camping equipment to your child for birthday/ Christmas presents. Your main luggage: For most of our Camps, the scouts won t be needing a ruc-sac a large strong bag will do. Whatever you choose make sure that it can be zipped close. Make sure that you fit everything in one bag and that there is nothing hanging outside except the rolled up mattress.

2 Should my ruc-sac/ bag have a carrier? A duffel bag which is NOT meant to be carried on the shoulders can have a carrier to allow your kid to carry it around easily However please be aware that school bag type haversacks the ones which are meant to be carried on the back SHOULD NOT have a carrier. Research has shown that haversacks which have this carrier, tend to end up being carried on the shoulders thus, the carrier ends up increasing the weight which the child has to carry around. If you are going to tie your mattress on the outside of your luggage, make sure that your child can undo it and do it up again EASILY. We ve had children with mattresses tied with impossible knots to the outside of their luggage and then we usually have to cut everything free! Also keep in mind that the child will have to roll up and tie everything himself at the end of camp. So do not make it too difficult for them! Camping stores sell compression straps which are very convenient for this purpose. Good and cheaper substitutes are old belts which you might store for this purpose.

3 Now let s focus on the personal equipment Personal Medical Equipment Make sure that you inform the leaders that the children have to make use of this equipment. Write the instructions for the leaders. A mini first aid kit Protection against the sun A FIRST AID KIT SHOULD NOT INCLUDE ANY MEDICATION it should have only dressings, elastoplasts and small bandages. The children are not allowed to administer first aid, but having a little kit helps them appreciate the need to BE PREPARED. High factors are best not less than 50 for a camp. Teach the children how to apply it well. A sun cap is a must and it must be worn at all times during camp Lip saver Protection against mosquitoes If your child tends to get cracked or red lips in the cold, it would be a good idea to include a small tub of lip salve or blisteze with his equipment. This item is crucial. Teach your children how to apply it and spread it well on the exposed parts (arms, legs and face) Try to avoid aerosol spray cans lotions are best. There are also roll on varieties which are good. LABEL ALL CONTAINERS WITH THE SCOUT S NAME

4 Water bottle, empty lunch box and a small haversack Most useful items of equipment for excursions outside the campsite. Make sure that the water bottle has a strap in order to carry it out on excursions or mini hikes during camp. JACKET A warm, cosy, padded jacket to put on everything. If the jacket has a hood, it is even better! This can double up as the rain jacket - however, if this is going to be the case, then the jacket MUST BE WATERPROOF. Sleeping bag Sleeping bags come in a mummy shape or square. If your kid tends to toss and turn around a lot at night, a mummy shape bag may be better. Sleeping bags should be waterproof and give adequate protection against cold. Foam roll Make sure that when you buy one you are given its compression bag this is the bag in which it is contained ideally complete with straps to compress the bag. In a winter camp it would be a good idea to give your child a thermal blanket so that he can have an extra wrap if it gets too cold. A small foam mattress can provide a really comfortable camping experience for your child, especially during a winter camp. It doesn t need to be very wide or very long. Just enough for a kid to sleep on Go to page 7 for more information about bedding

5 Camp isomat The purpose of the mat is to isolate the camper against humidity. There are self inflatable types which are a bit more expensive but give a more comfortable experience Blanket A small fleecy thermal blanket together with your sleeping bag provides a night of great comfort during a winter camp Pillow A small inflatable pillow or a small cushion provides a lot of comfort at camp Rainjacket A MOST ESSENTIAL item during a winter camp. Make sure that it provides adequate protection not just for light showers. Zip up jackets are ideal. Ponchos offer good protection too. Comfort clothing A beanie (skufja) and a pair of gloves offer fantastic protection against the cold. Research shows that a lot of heat is lost through the head. A beanie will keep your general body warmth in. A shemagh scarf provides a lot of protection too. Underwear Make sure that your child has a good reserve of underwear and socks. Socks ARE A MUST and should not be of the ankle type. Thick army socks are great during a winter camp Thermal vests are a great comfort too.

6 Clothing Make sure that your child has enough for around a change every day In winter, you must have warm clothes, but it would be a good idea to include a pair of shorts in case of a hot spring day. Warm sweaters, and a warm jacket or a heavy jersey are a must Jogging suits/ track suits are ideal for every day wear at camp. AVOID jeans they are not quite suitable to keep you warm. Pyjamas This is a MUST during a winter camp. A warm pyjama will guarantee a warm cosy night inside your sleeping bag. Footwear ALL CAMPERS should be wearing jogging shoes OR trekking shoes during camp. FOOTBALL SHOES and SANDALS ARE NOT ALLOWED Do not forget a pair of flip flops for the showers.

7 BEDDING FOR REASONS OF SAFETY AND SECURITY, THE FOLLOWING ITEMS CUB SCOUTS ARE NOT ALLOWED THESE ITEMS AT CAMP: Inflatable mattresses Camp beds Since in Easter it tends to be a bit cold, we allow foam roll up mattresses. For reasons of space, these roll up mattresses HAVE TO BE AROUND 1 METRE IN WIDTH PLEASE DO NOT GET VERY WIDE MATTRESSES AVOID SMALL, THIN BEACH MATS!!!! There is no need for a personal groundsheet as we supply each tent with a thick groundsheet from the group s stores.

8 SHOWER BAG AND MESSKIT The following items should be in individual bags. This is done to make sure that even the youngest members do not forget things when they are called to get the stuff for a shower or for meal times. drawstring bag SHOWER BAG homemade borza ta San Martin Avoid plastic bags tightly tied up with knots which have to be torn and thrown away after a single use! Go for dark towels and facecloths. This bag should contain a complete change of underwear too. Include a pair of light flip flops to protect your feet in the showers. As we won t be taking a shower on a daily basis include a SMALL PACKET of wet wipes for personal hygiene. Teach your child how to use them please!!!! MESS KIT Plates and mugs must be in durable plastic. Knives must have rounded edges. Cutlery sets are usually the items of equipment to be mislaid most. MARK EACH ITEM WITH YOUR CHILD S NAME

9 Swimming costume We won t be going to swim this will be worn by the kids in the shower. Do not pack this in the shower bag put it in the main luggage with the rest of the clothes. Some extra items TORCHLIGHT Any style of torch head or hand held will do Make sure to include a set of spare batteries POCKET MONEY Around 8 euro would be enough The pocket money is collected at the beginning of the camp in a campbank CLOTHES PEGS AND LAUNDRY BAG BOARD GAMES OR OTHER AMUSEMENTS The clothes pegs are used to hang out the towel to dry. A laundry bag can be a largish plastic bag in which the children can keep used underwear, dirty clothes, etc. DOES NOT include electronic games

10 SNACKS, FOOD and SUGARY DRINKS DEODORANTS AND AEROSOL SPRAYS MATCHES, CANDLES, etc. SNORKELLING EQUIPMENT MOBILE PHONES COMPUTERS ELECTRONIC GAMES KNIVES JEWELLERY / BANGLES, etc CAMERAS If the campers are found in possession of these items, they will be confiscated and returned to the parents at the end of the camp.

11 SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT EASTER CAMP Can we visit the kids during camp? NO! The main educational value of camp is that the kids learn to be independent of their parents. The children s stay at camp won t be that long Show that you trust them by refraining from visiting. Parents are only allowed at the campsite on the following days: To drop off the kids and kit For the campfire What if my child is homesick? We try to encourage the children to stick it out by looking at the fun side of things and to enjoy themselves, however if we see that the child will not make it through, we will call you straight away. What about night time? The children will be snug and comfortable in their bedding. The tents take around 8-10 kids in them and they are securely anchored to the ground with very strong ropes. There is also a night watch made up of 2-3 adults at a time on duty all through the night. These night watchmen have special instructions to take care of the children and escort them to the toilets, etc. What if my child is very particular about toilet? We have four flushing toilets connected directly to the campsite s drains just like home so no need to worry about that. We have separate toilet and showering facilities for boys and girls. Can I call the leaders to check if my child is OK? This has to be by special arrangement with the leaders concerned. If there is an emergency, we will call you straight away so in our case, no news is good news. However, we can make special arrangements for first time campers for you to get in touch with the LEADERS only NOT your child to rest secure. Will you be uploading pictures on Facebook during the camp? No. This is against group policy. Photos will be uploaded after the activity for your enjoyment. What if my child has an accident? We will get in touch with you IMMEDIATELY. We have qualified first aiders at camp who will administer first aid. The nearest clinic is at Mosta which is only a couple of minutes drive away from the campsite. What if it rains? The tents are waterproof and we can have wet weather activities under our mess tent. In case we cannot cope with the weather, we will call you straight away. However in the past 20 years or so, this has only happened once.

12 Our child is a bit finicky about food, what if he doesn t like what is on offer? We have a healthy, wholesome menu planned (balanced out with some universal favourites as well) our long experience in this type of activity has taught us a lot about what children like and what they don t. Our cooking is just like home s!!! We try to encourage the children to eat what is offered whether it is a salad or pasta. However, if the child does not like the meal which is being served, we offer an alternative meal as a last resort. So don t worry, the children won t go hungry! However, in our experience we have always had children who eat what is offered, especially if they see their friends eating their fill. These are some typical dishes which are usually served during our camps: B Fast Meals Cereal A hot drink English Breakfast Continental breakfast Breakfast is a MUST at camp Usually this is cornflakes served with milk and sugar The children have a choice between tea, coffee and hot chocolate This is served once and it is a universal favourite. It usually consists of baked beans, fried egg, sausages, bacon and bread. The children can opt out of any item Jam/ ham and cheese/ egg sandwiches again the children can opt out of any item they don t like Lunch/ dinner served at 12.30/ Pasta with Bolognese sauce Burgers/ hot dog Chinese meal Packed meal for outings Chicken Universal favourite. If there are any children who prefer to eat their pasta without sauce, they are easily accommodated. served in a bun/roll with a fresh green salad, a potato salad and coleslaw The kids really love this!!!! tuna rolls/ ham and cheese and crackers roasted chicken parts, mashed potatoes, salads Main meals are followed by fresh fruit desserts and cups of orange drink/ water Children are also offered second helpings There will also be a bar run by the leaders which will sell treats at reasonable prices. The kids will be allowed to buy sweets/chocolates/packets under strict control the bar is opened after the main meals and the children will be allowed only ONE treat and a drink.