Question	What does my son need to stay warm on a winter campout?
Answer	In answer to the question you really want to ask—no, we’re not nuts. When properly prepared for, a winter campout can be just as enjoyable as a summer campout. Obviously, staying warm and dry is the key to not being miserable on a winter campout. Below is a recommended list of items that should accompany your son on a winter campout. Note: As important as it is for your son to have the items he needs to stay warm and dry on a winter campout, it is far more important that he remembers to actually bring them on the campout. Please take a few moments to prompt/remind him while he packs for the campout. Sleeping Gear · Warm sleeping bag—a 20 “mummy” bag with polyfill or hollowfill will work well for our campouts. Mummy bags are shaped in such a way that they minimize the amount of extra room in which cold air pockets can form. They also include a draw string that lets your son cinch the bag around his face to keep drafts from getting in and warm air from escaping. Sleeping bags packed with down are NOT recommended. · Fleece blanket to supplement the mummy bag. · Ground pad to place beneath the sleeping bag to insulate it from the cold ground. There are simple foam pads available, as well as inflatable pads. Inflatable pads provide the best protection in cold weather, but they can be more expensive. If you purchase a foam pad, it must be constructed of a closed-cell foam in order to ensure that it will not compress and lose all of its insulating value. Please ask a Scoutmaster if you have questions about the available options. · Ski cap or skull cap. Wearing some form of warm cap at night prevents body head from escaping through your son’s head. · Cotton socks to keep his feet warm and to let them breathe. Note: Encourage your son to put on dry clothes at bed time - sleeping in damp clothes will make him feel colder. Wearing clothes to bed will add additional layers between your son and the cold, helping him to keep warm. Cotton clothes are best at night, since they breathe well. Daytime Gear · Your son should have available enough clothing to be able to wear many layers (e.g. t-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, sweatshirt, fleece coat, winter coat). He can always remove layers if he is too warm, but he needs to have them available in case he gets cold. · Warm gloves. A couple of pairs may be useful, in case one pair gets wet. · Wool socks · Waterproof boots Note: Wool and fleece are particularly good during the day, since they can keep your son warm, even in wet weather.