Wow, that’s not cool! I’ve spoken out many times on this and I’m still surprised when I see troops who make these “rules” that aren’t recommended in the handbook. While each unit may have their own policies, the handbook clearly specifies that “No council, committee, district, unit, or individual has the authority to add to or subtract from advancement requirements” (see section 5.0.1.4 Statement on Unauthorized Changes to Advancement in Camp Programs, page 33, Scouting Guide to Advancement, 2019).

I would also reference the tenting policy that only prohibits adults tenting with scouts (besides parents) but otherwise there is no requirement to tent together.

Ultimately, it is your choice on whether you continue to support that troop or not. It’s a difficult choice. I do not support troops who make arbitrary rules. I sometimes try to remind troops that all the methods of scouting are just that, methods — a means to an end, not an end in itself. The handbook says the same thing. In other words, the point of scouting is to help these young people become contributing citizens with strong values. Sometimes we get caught up in the idea that the _methods_ are the point, but they aren’t.

Outdoor activities are the “fun” part of the “outing” of Scouting and should be encouraged! I know there are some Scoutmasters who really want a “military” style conformity with everyone in the same cookie-cutter tents all in a row, and while that might look awesome, I would rather see a hodgepodge of scouts in tarps, hammocks, tents, and “cowboy camping” if it means they are having fun and enjoying the experience. I have learned through hard experience that not everyone has the same comfort levels that I do when it comes to camping, so who am I to prescribe the “right” equipment that will make the experience work?

I understand there can be some efficiencies when all the scouts are trained to use the same equipment, like tents, but when I look at the handbook, they don’t prescribe specific equipment, but rather focus on principles and techniques that can be applied to ANY equipment like good knots, LNT principles, and set up techniques. If those can be applied with a tarp or a hammock, then all the better.

Yes. I have lots of ideas on staying warm in a hammock in my book.

First, i apologize for my english. I’m a scout leader from Québec and since my last Jamboree, where i past my entire and first week in hamac in nature. I must say, i have learn a lot of what and not what to do… more the not… lol

Now, 3 years laters, i’m with a new group and older kids 12-17, it took me a year to let the idea make is way… but this summer, it’s a start. Unfortunately, they are not very prepare. I will do a training day, but i’m pretty sure it won’t be enough… any tip for not making that a failure, or at least they will want to retry at the next camp?

Say, does in your book it speak about camping in winter with hamac ?

Just a quick follow-up. We had 4 hammocks at our campout Friday night. My scoutmaster was tired and not sure he wanted to try his gift out and risk a bad night, but he decided to at least lay in it. He left his tent and air mattress in the trailer. Said the thing he like the most was not having to get up off the ground in the morning, instead being able to stand from a chair height. Another Dad heard about our hammocks and bought one for his son to bring. That scout made it a couple of hours before the bugs sent him into a tent. Next on the list – Bugnets, All the scouts wanted a turn laying in them the next morning. We camp at our scoutmasters property about half the time. We cut underbrush and made room for a dozen hammocks, so anyone wanting to try it now has room.
Hope you enjoyed your trek. My kids have done that in the past…

Thanks for your insight. Youth protection is serious and I think you and I are on the same page. No one-on-one contact and the rule of witnesses. I’m glad I could be of help! Ask anytime.

Thank you for the reply, and education about the actual POLICY. I did not intend to bring up any controversial subjects, and a quick search shows there is a lot of discussion/opinion on it out there. So my 2 cents on it and support that hammocks can help there as well. My experience is it was always required (local rule I know now). I have seen abuse by boys, and that is a real risk. A campout several years ago 12 year olds with new camera phones were a real issue with real consequences. The buddy system can give protection against false accusations against leaders or scouts, but more realistic protection from predatory leaders or others is why it has always been a local rule for us (I have seen it in 3 different troops). Hammocks remove that problem to a degree by being more open except when changing clothes or trips to the latrine (primitive or improved). I totally support the youth protection which protects leaders just as much. NEVER be where I can be falsely accused of anything. Always a witness and in public. (just a short digression – on a district camp a couple years ago I was walking with just my son for a half mile or so through the woods to get other scouts. Several leaders I did not know passed us, and not once was I challenged. Scary)

We do have a BIG problem with scouts getting no sleep and staying up all night thinking the tent keeps their voices contained, and some scouts who want to wander at night (we have some challenging youth in our troop). Again, hammocks help leaders to monitor night time excursions more easily in my opinion.

Gear security – my intent was along the lines of your answer. opportunistic losses. Tents are not secure and can even give someone shelter while rifling through a pack. I had the thought of putting the closed pack in the hammock under a closed bug net to keep it more out of site and create more steps to get into it. A gear tent would not be a bad idea either. I am going to check with my sons camp for this year and see what the guidelines are for hammocks in general.

I will add my thanks to the many before me. Your site has made my learning curve much more comfortable, not having to learn the hard way outside, but reading and studying principles first. My first sleep in a hammock I was 12. 3 days into a scout camp leaders figured out they gave me another troops tent, and they gave me a net hammock for the rest of the week after taking the tent back. Learned that even in Sunny CA in the summer, you can get CBS. 🙂 had no clue what it was back then. Oh the memories.