As springtime approaches, and the weather becomes favorable for outside activities, Royal Ranger leaders will want to take this time to prepare your outpost for the camping season. To make an outpost ready for the camping season, attention needs to be paid to several areas: leaders, equipment, parents and boys.

The first area that we will take a look at is leaders. The responsibility for the health and safety of the boys lies with the leadership in any Royal Rangers activity. Leaders need to be equipped with everything they need to faithfully carry out this responsibility. First of all, a leader needs to be trained. The Royal Rangers Leadership Training Course is a must for any leader who will be responsible for boys. A leader must be capable of taking care of the boys. This includes the ability to discipline the boys, the ability to plan activities that are both fun and safe, and the ability to handle any problems that might arise. An integral part of this training course is a First Aid course, which will teach the leader what to do in the event of injury during an outside activity. I encourage every Senior Commander to pay attention to the leaders in your outpost. It is your job to prepare them to lead the boys. Make certain that they are taking advantage of the training opportunities that are available. Make certain that every Royal Ranger activity has mature, experienced leaders present to take care of the boys. If you find that additional training is needed, plan a time to provide that training before the camping season begins. Your sectional commander can assist you in obtaining training opportunities for Royal Ranger leaders.

Another area that needs to be looked at is your equipment. This is the time of the year to make certain that everything works properly and is sufficient to meet the needs of your outpost. Take a look at your tents, your lanterns, your cooking equipment, and every item that you will use on a campout. If it is broken, repair or replace it before you get in the woods. Make certain that you have enough tents, etc. for the boys and leaders that will be using them. Hopefully, your outpost will have grown since the equipment was used last, and may need to be added to.

One of the most important items of equipment- and one that should be present at any Royal Rangers activity, is the Outpost First Aid Kit. There is absolutely no excuse for there not being a First Aid Kit readily available if a boy gets hurt. There are a number of first aid kits commercially available, but most likely you will need to put together a kit that will meet the needs of your outpost. A pocket-sized first aid kit containing two Band-Aids and a packet of ointment is not sufficient for an outpost. I would recommend that a plastic tackle box be used, and that it contain sufficient bandages and medications that might be needed in the event of cuts and scrapes, burns, insect bites, etc. The kit should include scissors, material that can be used to make a sling, and other items that you could need in the event of injury. A small first aid book could be helpful in the event of an injury. I would also suggest a supply of Tylenol, benadryl, and Pepto-Bismol. Information about putting together a First Aid Kit can be found in Adventures in Camping, can be obtained from the American Red Cross, and can be found on the internet. Commanders, let's be Ready.

Now let's talk about the parents. They, also, need to be ready for the camping season. Parents need to be aware of the fact that their boys are going to be taking part in a camping program. They need to be aware of the kind of equipment that their boys will need to purchase, including sleeping bags, canteen, cook kits, etc. The time for parents to find out about these kinds of purchases should not be the Wednesday night before the Friday camping trip. Parents should be aware of the kind of clothing that is needed for the camping experience. Long pants are a necessity in the woods- even though it is hot weather.

An important responsibility of the parents is that of providing information to the Commander. Before a camping trip, the Commander will send a permission slip home for the parents to sign. On this form should be a place for medical information about the boy. It should tell and medical condition that the boy has, and should list all medications that the boy takes. It should also list any allergies, and should list the date of the last tetanus shot. Insurance information, as well as permission to obtain medical treatment in the event of an emergency, should be given on the form. In the event that the boy has to take regular medications, these medications should be sent on the campout with the commander in a bottle from the pharmacy that contains the name of the boy, the name of the medication, and the name of the physician. Commanders should remember that many of the medications that a boy might take, such as Ritalin and Adderall, are controlled substances. Possession of these substances is illegal unless they are prescribed by a physician. The best way to prove this is to insist that the medications be sent in a bottle from the pharmacy.

The boys must also be Ready for camping. The Commander has a big responsibility to see that the boys have learned their toolcraft, firecraft, ropecraft, and other skills necessary for survival in the wilderness. Refreshers are good for both the leader and the boys, and should be a part of outpost activities in the weeks before the camping season begins. The boys should know First Aid, and should have their own personal first aid kit prior to camping. These can be made as an outpost activity. The boys should also know how to properly use any equipment that they will have on the camping trip.

Your camping program can be a life-changing experience for the boys in your outpost. The goal of every Commander should be to prepare his outpost, so that every camping trip can be safe, fun, and a positive Christian experience for every boy that attends. This is the season to get everything ready, and to plan and take full advantage of every opportunity to minister to the boys.