Menu

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• Fri: We are trying something new and doing a light meal of hot dogs and fruit if you need it. Please plan on grabbing a more substantial dinner on the way to Woodruff.

• Sat Breakfast: Pancakes, Turkey Sausage, Scrambled Eggs, Coffee, and OJ.

• Sat Lunch: Sandwiches, fruits, chips, and Gatorade.

• Sat Dinner: Spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, and salad with all the fixings.

• Sun Breakfast: Grab and go. Doughnuts for the kids, granola bars, fruit, and coffee.

 

Dietary Note: We will have vegetarian options available for our main meals. We have 2 severe peanut allergies in the Pack so everything will be peanut free. 

 

New Parent Survival Guide:

 

Getting There & Parking

 

We don't carpool as a pack—every family drives up on their own schedule. Arrival Friday is staggered, so come whenever works for you.

 

• Campsite Access: You can drive right up to Campsite 10 to unload heavy gear. The most you'll walk is 100–200 feet. Make sure to click on the map I attached. We are Campsite 10. I will send a more detailed satellite image next week. When you pull into Woodruff, if there is a ranger, they will ask for the unit number, leader, and campsite. Pack 471, Brandon Labordus, Campsite 10. If there is no ranger, just drive straight to us and park. 

   

• Traffic Alert: If you leave Marietta after 3:30 or 4:00 PM on Friday, weekend rush hour traffic on I-575 gets brutal and can stretch a 2-hour drive closer to 3 hours.

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Rookie Pro-Tips (Save Yourself Some Pain!)

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• Practice putting up your tent at home first if its new! Do it in your yard or living room. Trying to figure out color-coded poles and rainflies for the first time by the dimming light of a headlamp on Friday night is a recipe for a meltdown.

• Leave extra layers and gear in the car. Heavy sweaters, spare jackets, and anything else you don't need immediately can safely stay in your vehicle. If you leave them sitting camp, everything will smell like a campfire smoke.

 

What You Actually Need to Buy (Keep it Budget-Friendly!)

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Camping with Cub Scouts is basic car-camping. You do not need to spend $2000 at REI:

 

• Tent: A basic 4- or 6-person dome tent from Target, Walmart, or Amazon (Ozark Trail, Coleman) works great.

   

• Sleeping Setup: An air mattress or simple foam pads with home blankets/sleeping bags. (There is electricity at our campsite, so feel free to bring an electric pump or a plug-in fan). 

   

• Pillows: Bring your regular pillows from home. Don't waste money on tiny "camp pillows." They are all literally terrible. 

   

• Chairs: Must have. Basic $10 folding lawn chairs for everyone, including the kids. 

   

• Headlamps: Cheap LED headlamps from harbor freight or amazon. DOn't bother with a $70 Petzl. The kids will lose them. I bought the ten pack on amazon for $15 and my oldest still lost every. Single. One. 

   

• Mess Kit: A plastic plate, bowl, fork/spoon/knife, and a travel mug/cup for every family member. (We do not use/provide paper plates and plastic utensils).

   

What NOT to Buy (The Pack Provides These!)

• All kitchen gear, camp stoves, pots, and pans.

• Main meals (Sat breakfast/lunch/dinner, Sun breakfast, and Friday snack).

• Firewood, large water jugs, or coffee makers.

 

Quick Facilities & Rules

• Bathrooms: Woodruff has central bathrooms that are divided into make/female right on our campsite with flushing toilets and hot showers. They are clean and serviceable but they are scout style; think cinder block walls and concrete floors. They will have plenty of hand soap, paper towels, and hot water. 

   

• Animal Safety: Absolutely no personal snacks or open food in tents! ALL FOOD AND SNACKS MUST BE LOCKED IN YOUR VEHICLE AT NIGHT. This will help to keep woodland critters (and bears) away.

   

• BSA Policies: Absolutely no alcohol, unauthorized firearms, or sheath knives on scouting property. Pets are also not permitted on Scouting property. Please leave all furry friends at home.

   

Packing Checklist

 

☐ Completed BSA Health Form (Parts A & B) with an insurance card photocopy attached (bring a printed copy for each family memeber!)

☐ Class A Uniform (Scouts are always required to travel in Class A uniforms)

☐ Medications (if applicable)

☐ Class A Field Uniform (for Saturday morning flags/ceremonies)

☐ Activity Uniform / pack T-shirts for casual wear

☐ Pants or shorts, socks, and underwear (plus an extra pair of socks & shoes/boots)

☐ Warm jacket/fleece & rain gear / poncho (mountain nights get chilly!)

☐ Pajamas or comfortable clothes to sleep in

☐ Halloween Costume for Saturday evening trick-or-treating!

☐ Tent, sleeping bag, pillow, air mattress/pad

☐ Personal mess kit (plate, bowl, utensils, cup)

☐ Camp chair

☐ Reusable water bottle / Canteen (labeled with names)

☐ Flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries

☐ Personal first aid kit

☐ Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, hand towel)

☐ Insect Repellant

☐ Sunscreen & ball cap/hat

☐ Phone charger!!!

☐ Optional: Items for downtime, games, fishing poles, etc. for downtime.