Adventure

Camper
W hen you plan an adventure, like kayaking, mountain
biking or rock climbing, you can combine it with
overnight camping to make the most of your outdoor
experience. Adventure camping requires minimal equipment
and gear because you’ll be active during the day and possibly
moving campsites. Some adventure campers bring nothing but
a sleeping bag, lightweight stove, some food, and a backpack.
Whatever spells adventure for you, start by listing the things
you want to do—then make your camping trip happen!

Steps
“I have lots of 1. Plan your adventure camping trip
heroes: anyone 2. Gather your camping gear
and everyone who 3. Plan and prepare your trip meals
4. Use a camping skill on your trip
does whatever 5. Go adventure camping
they can to leave
the natural world Purpose
When I’ve earned this badge, I’ll have
better than they planned and gone on a camping trip with
found it.” a group of Girl Scouts or family members
—Sylvia Earle that includes adventure activities.

A DV E N T U R E C A M P E R 1
 Ready? Before You Start This Badge . . .
Choose your trip. Make a plan.
Research adventure trips Once you decide on your trip, take the steps to make it happen.
and decide which one you’ll ✴ Come up with a budget and figure out how to pay for your trip. What kind of
do. Check out trips offered money earning will you need to do? You and your troop or group may want to
by your Girl Scout council use your Girl Scout Cookie earnings.
or local outdoor groups. ✴ Find out what special gear or equipment you need for camping, such as
Then research where you fire-starting tools. Look into renting or borrowing gear.
can camp out while you’re
doing your adventure
✴ Research your destination: Will you be camping in the wilderness or in a
designated campsite? How will you get there? Is the area prone to flash floods?
activities. If you’re kayaking
What is the terrain? What types of wildlife are in the area, and will you need to
or mountain biking to new keep an eye out for any nesting birds or animals at the time of your trip?
locations, you may have to
find more than one place
✴ See what’s available at your campsite or backcountry area, and find out
what’s permitted. What campsite bathroom facilities are available? Are
to camp.
campfires allowed? Where is a water source nearby?

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 Every step has
three choices. Do
ONE
choice to compl
ete
each step. Inspire
STEP d?

1
Do more!
Plan your adventure Leave No Trace
camping trip Learn and be prepared to
use the Leave No Trace
Once you’ve figured out all the things in the “Before You Start Principles to help protect
This Badge” box, you and your group will talk to an adventure the environment on your
camping expert. Here are some questions you might ask. adventure trip:
✴ Plan ahead so you leave
✴ What type of permits, if any, will we need for our trip? nothing behind. Get to know
the area you’ll visit.
✴ What’s the best way to find campsites for our adventure trip? Repackage and store food in
reusable containers.
✴ What things are most essential for adventure camping that will
keep the load light and allow us to move locations? ✴ Travel and camp on
durable surfaces. Walk only
✴ What’s the best way to purify water? on existing trails and camp
on surfaces that are already
✴ Have you experienced any kind of emergencies on adventure impacted or are durable
camping trips? How did you handle them? enough to withstand
repeated trampling.
✴ What do you think of our budget? Is there anything we missed? ✴ Dispose of waste
properly: Carry out what
✴ What do you think of our gear list? Is there anything we missed? you carry in—never dump
anything on a campsite or
CHOICES—DO ONE: into a water source. Bury
Interview an adventure camping expert. Before you go, get the scoop solid human waste at least
200 feet from water, trails
from someone who has experience with adventure camping. She or he
and camp—and at least
could be a Girl Scout volunteer, older Girl Scout, teacher, or adult friend 6–8 inches deep.
of the family. Find out what kind of adventure trip they took and where
they camped out. Did they have to move campsites? Did they build fires
✴ Leave nature as you
find it—don’t collect or take
or cook on a portable stove? What was the easiest and hardest part about anything from the outdoors.
adventure camping?
✴ Minimize campfire
OR impacts: Instead of using
firewood and building
Visit a sporting-goods store. Talk to an outdoor retail expert about the
campfires, pack a lightweight
gear they recommend for adventure camping. Find out about easy-to- cooking stove and lantern.
carry gear for your clothing, eating, and sleeping needs. Are there cool new
gadgets to check out, like a GPS watch, portable solar shower, or multi-
✴ Respect wildlife by
checking them out at a
purpose pocket tool? Remember, this is a research mission! You don’t have distance. Never approach,
to buy anything new; just get information. feed, or follow them.
OR ✴ Be considerate of other
Talk to a park ranger or camp administrator. Once you have your visitors. Remember you’re
not alone in the wilderness.
camping plan in place, contact a ranger, camp administrator or staff
Keep your voices down and
member in the area where you plan to camp. For example, you might go let nature be the loudest
camping in the backcountry while you are mountain biking, or by a lake sounds you hear.
where you are canoeing. Get answers to your questions about resources in
Want to become an expert?
the area—from bathroom facilities to whether or not campfires are allowed. Complete a Leave No Trace
trainer course at www.lnt.org,
and spread the word by
sharing what you’ve learned
with younger Girl Scouts!

A DV E N T U R E C A M P E R 3
 Adventure Camping Safety
✴ Make sure you have a first aid kit, emergency plan, ✴ Don’t assume you’ll have cell service. If you’re far
and list of emergency contact numbers. out in the wilderness, cell service may be unreliable.
Look into cell service in the area where you’ll be
✴ Investigate your camping area. Look for signs of camping. (Some cell providers may have better service
flash flooding, ant mounds, animal tracks, and dead or
than others.) If service is spotty, make sure you can
dying trees.
easily get to a place to make a call. Have emergency
✴ Know where to go for help. Find out about park contact numbers with you at all times. Think about how
administrators or rangers who can help in an emergency. you will charge your battery.
Be sure to check in with park staff or campground hosts ✴ Take a wilderness first aid course. Before you go,
before you go on your trip, so people know where you’ll learn how to treat frostbite, hypothermia, dehydration,
be in case of an emergency. Insect bites and heat stroke.

National Parks Adventures

National Parks contain a treasure trove of places to camp out and go on
adventures. The park service’s main site (nps.gov) will lead you to places to
start looking. There are trip suggestions for each region and information about
permits, park use, and cost. For more inspiration, catch the awe-inspiring
IMAX 3-D documentary “National Parks Adventure.”

Senior
Adventurer
Badge
Check out the
Senior Adventurer
badge, where you’ll
go on a multiday
high-adventure
challenge: rock
climbing, spelunking,
ice caving, skiing,
canoeing, kayaking,
biking, rafting—or a
combination! You’ll
learn different skills
with the Adventurer
badge and Adventure
Camper badge,
so make it a point Photos, clockwise from top: Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah; Everglades National Park,
to earn both. Florida; Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.

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STEP

2 Gather your
camping gear
When you did your planning, you talked to someone and
Packing
Essentials
No matter what type of
camping you do, you’ll want
figured out what gear you need for your trip. Make your list to bring these items along.
and start collecting your items. (See the box on this page for Talk to your family before
some essentials.) Then do one of these things: you go, to make sure you’re
not missing anything!
CHOICES—DO ONE:
� Water in a reusable
Exercise to build stamina and try bottle, water purification
out your gear. Make sure you’re in gear
shape to walk some distance with
your gear. Practice carrying your � Flashlight with extra
batteries
backpack with its full load for 15
minutes a day and build up to an � Long-sleeved jacket
hour. When you do, wear the same
clothing—rain gear, long pants, wool � Poncho or raincoat
socks—you will pack for your trip. � Sun protection: hat with a
Don’t forget to break in your hiking brim, sunscreen, lip balm,
shoes, especially if they’re new! and sunglasses
OR
� First aid kit
Compare-share-repair with your
camp mates or troop. Get together with � Any medications you may
need (inhaler, EpiPen)
your camping buddies to compare packing
lists, see what’s missing and what can be shared, and clean or repair any � Pocket knife (be sure to
items. Make sure to test (and repair if needed) the water purifier, lanterns, practice your knife skills
headlamps, stove, and any other gear. before your trip)
OR � Emergency food (such as
Plan gear for a side trip. If you’re kayaking and want to take an afternoon trail mix or granola bars)
hike, or on a biking trip and decide to do some rock climbing, what
additional equipment will you need? Will you need a lightweight backpack
� Trowel, plastic bags
that zip, and toilet paper
to hold your water, snacks, and rock climbing gear? Add any additional (to make a portable toilet,
items to your packing lists. if needed)

� Whistle
� Appropriate shoes
� Matches in a waterproof
container

� Bug spray
� Map of area and compass

A DV E N T U R E C A M P E R 5
 STEP

Food Safety,
Storage, and
3 Plan and prepare
your trip meals
Plan what you will eat and drink on your trip by considering your
Cleaning nutritional needs, any food allergies in your group, the weight
and bulk of the food, and your budget. Then check your kitchen to
Reduce weight and waste by see what you already have before shopping for the supplies you
leaving as much packaging at home need. Find out if you will need to carry water or if the camping
as possible. You may want to
area has a water source. On your trip, try one of these things:
repackage some foods into sealed
plastic bags. If possible, try to group CHOICES—DO ONE:
foods together by meal and day of
trip. You can also print or write out Make a meal using a stove designed for backpacking. You have some
cooking instructions to keep with choices for ways to heat your food, whether it’s in a pot or pan, wrapped in
your meals. foil, or on a stick. A canister stove is small, lightweight, and quick to light.
Protect food (and anything else A wood-burning stove burns twigs in a canister-like contraption. A table
with a smell, like toiletries) from stove is light and compact; some fold to fit in your pocket. Make a hearty
animals. Unless you are carrying meal on your stove, like pasta and spaghetti sauce.
food for a hike, never keep any food OR
in your backpack, tent, duffel bags,
or elsewhere near your sleeping area. Prepare your adventure day-trip menu. Plan and prepare your snacks,
If you’re staying at a campsite, store water, and food for your adventures. Whether you’re kayaking on water,
food in a designated rodent-proof hiking a trail, or exploring caves, what will you pack for food?
area. If this is not available, check to OR
see if food should be hung in trees or
stored in a vehicle. Make a buddy burner and vagabond stove and cook something on
it. This stove is made from tin cans, wax, and cardboard. Research different
Use three buckets or deep pans
methods for how to make one and get it ready before you go. On your trip,
for dishwashing. The first is for hot,
soapy water; the second holds clean use it to warm up stew or heat tea.
water for rinsing; the third is either
for boiling water or cool water with
a health department-approved
sanitizing solution. Sanitize
dishes by placing them in a
net bag and immersing in
boiling water for one minute,
or according to the directions
of the sanitizing solution.
Hang the net bags to air dry.
Dirty dishwater should be
filtered to remove food
particles once the water has
cooled. If you’re staying at a
campsite, follow their rules for
disposal of your dishwater, or
practice the Leave No Trace
method of scattering strained
dishwater instead of pouring it
into the ground.

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A DV E N T U R E C A M P E R 7
8
STEP

4 Use a camping
skill on your trip
In Girl Scouting, you learn classic camping skills to use for
CAMPING
KNOTS
a lifetime, like how to build a fire, wield a pocketknife, read
maps, and tie knots. The best way to get better at anything is
to practice, so take your camping skills on the road and do
one of these things.

CHOICES—DO ONE:
Use three essential knots around camp. Find a way to use three
different knots around camp. You might use knots to secure your tent
anchors, put up a dunk line, or tie ropes together for a clothesline. Then
take a photo to document your handiwork!
OR
Become a weather expert for your trip. You can’t control the weather,
but you can be informed about it. Study the forecasts from the National
Weather Service and chart a weather map that shows where you will be
and what temperatures are expected. Learn about all the weather patterns SQUARE KNOT
in your area. What will you need for hot or cold camping conditions? Brush
up on safety procedures for a flash flood, rain, lightning strike, high winds,
wildfires, earthquakes and tornadoes.
OR
Hike a route using a topographical map and a compass. A
topographical map shows terrains, elevation, trees, vegetation and much
more. Chart out a hike on a topographical map of a trail in your camp area
and use a compass to navigate your route.

CLOVE HITCH

BOWLINE

A DV E N T U R E C A M P E R 9
 STEP

5 Go adventure camping
Start by setting up your camp in three separate areas: one for
sleeping, one for washing, and one for cooking. If you are not at a
campsite with a bathroom, find secluded spots for a backcountry
bathroom at least 200 feet from the trail or water source.

CHOICES—DO ONE:
Keep a journal of your trip. You are not just camping, you are on an
adventure! Make sure to document all you can with video, photos, or by
writing in a journal. It can be something private or something you share.
OR
Teach Leave No Trace at camp. Before you go camping, complete the
“Online Awareness Course” on the Leave No Trace website, www.lnt.org.
While at camp, educate your adventure camp mates about the Leave No
Trace Seven Principles. For example, when kayaking or canoeing, land or
store your boat only on a shoreline with sand, gravel, or rocky beaches.
OR
Explore a native feature near your campsite and write a poem, song
or story about it. Identify a spot that your area is known for and explore
it—it might be an odd-shaped rock formation, a very old tree, an abandoned
camp lodge or a waterfall. Ask a camp ranger for ideas or find something
yourself and write about it. You could describe how it looks or how it makes
you feel—or make up a fictional story about something that could have
happened there.

Camp Fun
Have a friendly contest to see who can be the first to tie a
dunk line, put up their tent, or purify a gallon of water.

Hold a storyteller circle with campers telling a scary, happy,

or funny story. Or have each girl in the circle add to a story
one sentence at a time.

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A DV E N T U R E C A M P E R 11
 Going on a Journey?
Do some badge work along the way.
Part of the MISSION: SISTERHOOD! Journey is learning
how to be a great friend to yourself by being healthy in mind
and body. Practice these skills on your adventure camping trip
by nourishing yourself with healthy food, respecting your
body, and keeping your “self talk” as positive as you can.

Now that I’ve earned this badge, I can give service by:
• Teaching my family members how to use a topographical
map and a compass
• Organizing a drive to collect gently used camping and
hiking gear for a youth organization
• Showing younger Girl Scouts how to make a
buddy burner and vagabond stove

I’m inspired to:

©2017 Girl Scouts of the United States of America.

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write to Girl Scouts of the United States of America at the address below or visit the www.girlscouts.org website to access
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First published in 2017 by Girl Scouts of the USA
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Printed in the United States
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