Polar Bear Camping is for Scouts BSA, Venturers, and Explorers and their Leaders!
Long popular with Vermont Scouters, we hope that every Unit will TRAIN and TRY for a Polar Bear Experience. Not all Scouts can make it. It takes training, equipment, and good planning. It can become a real solid adventurous experience in proper planning and self-reliance.
Your Unit can be a POLAR BEAR Unit! Here’s How:
Principle Resources include Camping Merit Badge Pamphlet; Field Book; Venture Program Book; talking with a Unit that has conducted successful Polar Bear Campouts in the past, and other books on winter camping available at the Scout Shop or your local library. There also many local men and women who are trained in winter survival that would be happy to assist you and your Unit with Polar Bear Activities.
Long popular with Vermont Scouters, we hope that every Unit will TRAIN and TRY for a Polar Bear Experience. Not all Scouts can make it. It takes training, equipment, and good planning. It can become a real solid adventurous experience in proper planning and self-reliance.
Your Unit can be a POLAR BEAR Unit! Here’s How:
- The Polar Bear Campout is held on a Unit or inter-Unit basis.
- It must be conducted between December 1st and March 31st.
- The Unit Leader or Polar Bear Leader should attend a training that includes information on Cold Weather Camping. These are usually conducted as a part of the District Round Table monthly meeting.
- A Training Session has to be conducted at the Unit level for participants. THIS IS MANDATORY.
- The Unit Committee is responsible for seeing that adequate health and safety standards are maintained. Requirements for participation should be REGISTERED Scouts BSA, Venturers, or Explorers who have had SEVERAL overnight camping experiences with their Unit before attempting Winter Camping.
- The Polar Bear Campout must be conducted by sleeping outdoors in tents or in open-front shelters or improvised shelters when the temperature is below 32◦F for at least 20-24 hours.
- Upon completion, the Unit files the campout report, due at the Council office by April 30.
Principle Resources include Camping Merit Badge Pamphlet; Field Book; Venture Program Book; talking with a Unit that has conducted successful Polar Bear Campouts in the past, and other books on winter camping available at the Scout Shop or your local library. There also many local men and women who are trained in winter survival that would be happy to assist you and your Unit with Polar Bear Activities.