Girl Scout Camping Standards
Readiness Indicators

• emotional readiness
• is not afraid to be away from home or parents overnight (and parents are prepared to let daughter go!)
• wants to go
• is willing to sleep, eat, play with all girls, not just with best friends
• can cope with unknowns
• strange places, including bathrooms
• darkness (no electricity)
• woods and night noises
• spiders, bugs and worms
• can manage with little or no privacy
• can function as a member of a group
• doesn't always have to have own way, can give in graciously
• physical readiness
• has stamina, does not tire easily
• strong enough to carry own suitcase, bedroll, bucket of water, pot of food, armload of wood, etc.
• has strength and coordination needed for planned activities; can sweep and mop a floor, hike the mile, move tables and chairs, etc.
• has necessary knowledge and skills
• can plan a simple trip
• can read and follow a recipe or kaper chart
• can use kitchen implements: hand operated can opener, grater, peeler, paring knife, etc.
• can wash dishes, clean up kitchen/cooking area, and store food properly
• can make a bed, clean a toilet
• can cut wood, build a fire, build fireplace and/or can operate a camp-stove
• knows how to operate a flashlight, camera, etc.
• has experience - proven ability
• has followed orders/instructions previously -- satisfactorily
• has been on a series of day trips, cookouts and/or has been to day or resident camp
• has done all the camp jobs usually found on a kaper chart
• has demonstrated in troop meetings her ability to pack and repack a suitcase, roll and tie a bedroll, etc.

One way to plan a campout – especially with a large troop(12 or more girls)

Each patrol is assigned one or two meals to plan.

q  Theyfill in the menu with beverage, main course, side dishes etc.

q  Thenthey figure out the shopping list from the recipe and the menu

q  Thenthey figure out the equipment list.

Each patrol is also assigned an activity to plan and lead.

q  Typicalassignments are campfire, scouts own, craft, game...

q  Inour case we could break the badge work into segments and let each patrol planone segment.

q  Theyhave to come up with what they would do and the supplies need to carry itout.  They also have to decide which oneof them would lead it.

Then the patrols are split up into committees so that eachcommittee has at least one member from each patrol.  That way if the shopping list committee had aquestion about an ingredient for lunch, there would be one girl from the patrolwho planned lunch who would know the answer.

Depending on how much time there was to fill, the committeescan also be given activities to plan and lead at camp.

The committees are:

            Food –consolidate shopping lists, add general items, shop for food

            Equipment  – consolidate equip. lists, add generalitems, pack equip.

            Program –make out the schedule

            Recorder –permission slips, kaper chart, ...

            Transportation  - organize drivers for girls & troop gear

Assume:

Patrol 1            Patrol2            Patrol 3            Patrol 4

Amy A.           BettyA.          Cara A.            Dora A.

Ashley B.        BarbB.            Cheri B.           Deb B.

Amber C.        Beth C.            Carly C.           Dixie C.

Angel D.         BiffD.                        Cathy D.         Denise D.

Allie E.            BetsyE.          Cora E.

Then:

Food                Equipment       Program           Recorder         Transportation

Amy A.           AshleyB.        Amber C.        Angel D.         AllieE.

Betty A.          BarbB.            Beth C.            Biff D.                        Betsy E.

Cara A.            CheriB.           Carly C.           Cathy D.         Cora E.

Dora A.           DebB.             Dixie C.           Denise D.       

See the next pages for the worksheets to use

It’s a lot of information to absorb, but I used these sheetsfor every campout with my Cadette troop.Once they got to be Seniors, they just planned it on notebook paper, butthe structure is good for beginners. 

            One way to fairly divide mealsbetween four patrols

CLEANING AND SANITIZING

Upon arrival,clean, sanitize and equip bathrooms or latrines (including hand washing areas)with appropriate materials.  Hang postersor charts and wash tables, benches, and chairs.   Bathrooms and latrines are provided at thesite, girls should clean them daily as part of their kapers.    Paper supplies should be replenished, thefloor swept, and sinks and toilets should be cleaned with a disinfectantsolution. 

ARRIVAL DUTIES

§Clean,sanitize and equip bathrooms/latrines (including hand-washing unit)

• Hang all posters, charts, etc.
• Fireplace/firecircle – collect firewood, place in neat piles (cover, if outdoors)
• Set up all equipment in an organized manner – put it where it will be used
• Unpack, organize and store all food – try to keep all ingredients for a meal together
• Wash tables and benches/chairs (set up first if in a cabin or house)
• Set up clothesline for dunk-bags – have clothespins nearby.
• Straighten and sweep mud room/entryway – place newspaper mats in entry area.

HOW TO CLEAN A LATRINE

§Emptytrash.

§Sweepceilings, walls and floors and pick up litter around latrine.

§Makesanitizing solution of ½ cup bleach to 1 pail of water.

§Sanitizeseats with solution and scrub brush.

§Propseats to air dry.

§Mopfloor with sanitizing solution (except in freezing weather).

DISHWASHING METHOD

When washing dishes in a “community”, it is important toproperly follow the three pan dishwashing method. 

Three Pan Dishwashing Method:  WASH-RINSE-SANITIZE

First pan – warm soapy water

Second pan – clear cool rinse water (NOTHINGADDED)

Third pan – warm water with sanitizing solution ORwater hotter than 160 degrees.  (This ishotter than hot water from a sink tap.)

HOW TO WASH DISHES:

1.) Wipe food from plate with paper napkin.  Throw napkin away.

2.) Wash dish in warm soapy water.

3.) Rinse.  Ifrinse water becomes sudsy, replace it.

4.) Sanitize.

§  Ifusing boiling hot water, use tongs or a dunk bag to dip dishes.  This water should be too hot for hands.  Leave dishes in very hot water for about aminute.

§  Ifusing sanitizing solution, follow directions for proper ratio of sanitizer towater.  Put dishes from pan #2 into adunk bag and dip them for about a minute in the 3^rd pan.  Then hang to air dry.

§If it is necessary to wipe the dishes dry, use afresh paper towel for each dish.  (whichdoesn’t follow conservation techniques that we would like to teach.)  Do not use a cloth towel multiple times.  Wait at least a minute before drying dishes,to allow sanitizing solution to kill bacteria.

Sanitizing notes:

1. The sanitizing solution MUST be in the LAST pan.  Do not put bleach in the 2^nd(rinse) pan.

WHY: Bleach binds with organic material and doesn’t letgo.  That is why it works to sanitize ourdishes.  After a dish has been washedwith soap and rinsed of the soap, the last step is to sanitize, to kill anyremaining bacteria not carried away by the rinse water.  HOWEVER – soap is also an organicmaterial.  If bleach is added to therinse pan, the bleach molecules bind with the soap, food particles, or bcteria– whichever the find first.  This severlyreduces the effectiveess of the bleach as a sanitizing solution.

2. Sanitizing solutions:

BLEACH – use ONE capful per gallon of water.  Let sanitized water to evaporate off of thedishes, this will give the solution time to kill any bacteria and let thebleach evaporate.

MORE IS NOT BETTER.  If too much is used, a film of bleach willremain on the dishes and can make you sick when you next use the dishes.

DO NOT USE SCENTED BLEACH – USE PLAIN BLEACH.  Scented bleach will also leave a bleachresidue.

If you must dry the dishes, wait at least one minute tolet the bleach kill any bacteria and then use a fresh paper towel for each dishdried (not good conservation practice).

Bleach loses it’s effectiveness if:

§  Thewater is too hot, bleach will retain it’s effectiveness in lukewarm water farlonger;

§  Thewater is in the sun; or

§  Thesanitizing water becomes soapy.

DEPARTURE DUTIES

Cabin, latrinesand surrounding areas are to be cleaned of any papers or litter.   Take everything you brought with you backhome. 

BUILDINGSITES:

Exterior:

§Pick upall litter in site area

§Cleanfire-circle/barbecues as prescribed

§Picnictables and benches returned to original location

§Returntools, tables, benches, and equipment to proper location

§Replenishwood supply

Interior:

§Sweepand mop floors with a bleach solution

§Cleanand sanitize sinks, tubs, showers, toilets

§Wipemattresses with a damp cloth, allow to dry before stacking

§Dustfurniture, windowsills and fireplace mantle

§Washtables, chairs/benches

§Garbagebagged and left as directed

§Fireplaces/woodstove cleaned as instructed

§Returnmattresses and furniture to original positions

§Closedoors and windows

§Cleanrefrigerator, stove and oven – if used

§Replenishwood supply

§Turn offlights and turn down heat

TENT ANDPRIMATIVE SITES:

§Latrinecleaned and sanitized

§Platformsswept off

§Pick upal litter in site area

§Foodboxes/cupboards cleaned out

§Fire-circleand barbecue cleaned as instructed

§Garbagebagged and ready to be picked up

§Returntools, tables, benches, and equipment to proper location

§Rakegravel under shelters

§Cleanlanterns (if used)

§Replenishwood supply

Remember … Girl Scouts leave an area cleaner thanthey found it!!

Quick & Easy Breakfast Casserole  (a.k.a. - Cholesterol Casserole)

8 slices of bread

2 pounds of sausage

16 oz grated cheddar cheese

12 eggs

1 qt. Milk

1-1/2 tsp. Dry mustard

1 tsp salt

Line a 12" Dutch oven with heavy-dutyfoil. Lightly grease the foil with butter.

Break up bread into the oven.

Crumble cooked sausage meat over bread andcover with cheese.

In a separate bowl, mix eggs (lightlybeaten), milk, dry mustard, and 1 tsp. salt (to taste). Pour the egg mixtureover the layered bread/sausage/cheese in the oven, cover, and bake for 35 - 40minutes, checking occasionally.

The cheese rises to the top, melting into agolden brown crust over a fluffy layer of eggs, making a super filling camp breakfastfor a crowd!

Hobo Hash

Ingredients

4 or 5large potatoes cut into 3/8” chunks

1 dozeneggs

Ham cutinto ¼” chunks

Gratedcheddar cheese (mild or sharp)

Process:

1. Add asmall amount of olive oil to Dutch oven.

2. Bring upto temperature.

3. Add hamand cook until done.

4. Removeham.

5. Insertpotatoes and cook until they are well browned.

6. Add hamand eggs.

7. Stir andcook until done over low heat.

8. Coverwith grated cheese until it all melts.

Serve withToast.

Mountain Man Breakfast

Ingredients

1/2 lb bacon (or pre-cooked sausage)

Med onion

2 lb. bag of hash brown potatoes

1/2 pound of grated cheddar

1 doz eggs

Small jar of salsa (optional)

The following requires 6-9 bottomcoals and 12 -15 top coals:

Cooking process:

1. Pre-heat 12" Dutch oven.

2. Slice bacon and onion into smallpieces and brown in the bottom of the DO until onions are clear.

3. Stir in the hash brown potatoesand cover;

4. Remove cover and stir occasionallyto brown and heat potatoes (15-20 minutes)

5. Scramble the eggs in a separatecontainer and pour the mixture over the hash browns.

6. Cover and cook until eggs start toset.(10 - 15 minutes)

7. Sprinkle grated cheese over eggmixture, cover and continue heating until eggs are completely set and cheese ismelted.

Optional:

1. Cover cheese/egg mixture with asmall jar (about 1 cup) of salsa.

2. Cover and cook for an additional3-5 minutes.

3. Slice and serve like quiche. (Realmen don't eat quiche but I sure get

4. lots of requests to cook up theMountain Man.)

Cooking times will vary with theweather and your state of awake but its almost impossible to screw up.

Serves 6.

Pita Pocket Breakfast

1 lb sausage (pork, turkey or ground beef)

1 medium onion, minced

6 Pita breads, medium

1 clove garlic

1 bell pepper, diced

12 eggs, beaten

1 jar salsa

Pre-heat Dutch oven (12 coals on the bottom).Brown sausage drain fat, saving 2 TBS. Stir in onion, garlic, pepper, sautéwith sausage. Add eggs, sausage fat and cook together until eggs are scrambled.Spoon into Pita Pockets top with salsa to taste. (Hints: Brown sausage andsauté garlic onions and peppers in advance, refrigerate or freeze in Zip lockbags. Add 2 TBS of Olive Oil when cooking in camp in lieu of sausage fat. Thiswill save time and reduce the sausage fat that will need to dispose of). Divvyup and stuff mixture into a pita bread.

Camelot Chicken

Ingredients:                                                                 Glaze:

10Chicken Breasts                                                     6egg yolks

¼ cupwalnuts, coarsely ground                                 2Tablespoons honey

¼ cupfilberts, coarsely ground

4Tablespoons butter

3Apples cored and peeled

¼ cupraisins

¼ cupcurrants

½teaspoon cinnamon

½Tablespoon salt

2/3cup chicken broth

Method:

1.Preheat Oven to 350 degrees

2. Ina Dutch Oven or shallow covered baking dish, sauté the chicken and nuts inbutter until the meat is white.

3.Leave in dish and remove from heat.

4.Cut apples into thin slivers.

5.Mix the salt, cinnamon, raisins and currants with apples.

6.Distribute the spices and fruits amongst the chicken and nuts.

7.Pour on the chicken broth.

8.Baked covered in a slow oven for 45 to 55 minutes, until the chicken is tender.

9.Remove from oven while preparing the glaze.

10.Beat the egg yolks and honey thoroughly.

11.Evenly pour over chicken as to coat each piece.

12.Return it to the oven uncovered at 400 degrees for 5 to 7 minutes.

13.Serve warm.

Slum Gullion

Ingredients:

3lbs. ground beef

8medium-sized potatoes

1 lb.Bacon

1 32oz. Can tomato sauce

1 lb.Velveeta cheese

2medium onions

Method:

1.Peel and boil potatoes in medium pot.

2.Slice cheese into chunks.

3.Fry bacon in frying pan. Dispose of grease properly, leaving bacon in thefrying pan.

4.Add ground beef, then brown and drain the meat in the frying pan. Put cookedmeat into the Dutch Oven.

5.Peel and slice onions and sauté (fry) in the frying pan. When cooked, add themto the Dutch Oven.

6.Add all other items to the Dutch Oven, stir, then cover and bake until thecheese is melted.

7.Best served with bread, corn, and milk!

Estrem Guadalupe Chili Pie

(Named in honor of Dan Estrem, former Troop701 leader who improved an existing recipe)

Ingredients:

3lbs. ground beef

1medium onion

2Tbsp. margarine

2 15oz cans chili beans

2tsp. chili powder

1/2tsp. salt

1 lb.cheddar cheese

2 8oz cans tomato sauce

2 6oz boxes cornbread mix

Method:

1.Brown ground beef, onion and margarine.

2.Add beans (do not drain).

3.Add chili powder and salt.

4.Add tomato sauce and cheese.

5.Cook for 15 minutes in Dutch oven.

6.Mix cornbread according to directions on box.

7.Add cornbread to Dutch oven and cook for 20-30 minutes, until cornbread isdone.

8.Serve with tossed salad (below).

TossedSalad

Lettuce

Hard-boiledeggs

Chickpeas

Tomatoes

Carrots

Mushrooms

Saladdressing

Shred(tear) lettuce into small pieces. Cut tomatoes into small, thin slices. Cut

carrotsinto small pieces. Peel hard-boiled eggs and cut up eggs into small pieces.

Alloweach Scout to fix his own salad and add dressing to individual taste.

Wollet's Witches Brew

Ingredients:

1pound uncooked bacon, cut into 1" squares

2 poundsground beef

2stalks celery, diced

1medium onion, diced

2cans (15 oz.) diced tomatoes

1 can(15 oz.) red kidney beans

1 can(15 oz.) black beans (frijoles negros)

1small bag (8 oz.) egg noodles, uncooked

1tsp. salt

1/2tsp. black pepper

1/4tsp. garlic powder

Method:

(Combinespices into small zipper lock bag before camp.)

Frybacon and ground beef in Dutch oven or large skillet, stirring frequently. Whendone, drain off fat. Add celery, onion, tomatoes, beans, noodles and spices.Stir.

CoverDutch oven and bake 45 min.-1 hr. Dinner is ready when most of the liquid hasbeen absorbed and the noodles are done.

Yield:8-10 servings

Corn Casserole

Ingredients:

½ C.butter or margarine

17oz. whole kernel corn, drained

17oz. can, cream style corn

8 oz.sour cream

8 oz.box of yellow corn muffin mix

2eggs, slightly beaten

Method:

1.Melt butter in 2-quart casserole pan

2.Beat eggs and add sour cream

3.Stir in all corn and muffin mix

4.Spoon into casserole

5.Bake uncovered for 55 minutes at 350 degrees

 
Banana Boats

Ingredients:

1banana

1tablespoon chocolate chips

1Tablespoon butter

1/2Tablespoon brown sugar

Aluminumfoil

Method:

1.Slice open the top of the banana, but do not remove it from the skin

2.Add brown sugar along both sides of the banana

3.Sprinkle chocolate chips on the top

4.Add butter to the top of the banana

5.Wrap tightly in aluminum foil and place in the coals

6.Cook until chocolate chips and butter have melted

Chocolate Lovers Upside Down Cake

Ingredients:

1 cupflour

¾cups sugar

2teaspoon baking powder

¼teaspoon salt

5teaspoons cocoa

½cups milk

1teaspoon vanilla

2tablespoons melted margarine

1 cupchopped pecans

1 cupboiling water

Topping

½cups sugar

½cups brown sugar

¼cups cocoa

Aluminumfoil

Method:

1. Ina small pot, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cocoa

2.Stir in milk and vanilla

3.Add melted margarine and pecans

4.Line Dutch Oven with foil, grease, and flour

5.Pour batter into oven

6.Combine sugar, brown sugar, and cocoa (topping)

7. Spreadmixture over cake batter

8.Pour 1 cup boiling water over top of cake

9.Bake at 350 degrees for 30 – 35 minutes

10.When done, carefully turn over Dutch Oven with the lid on

11.Attempt to remove cake onto lid

12.When cool, carefully peel off foil and serve

Indian Fry Bread

2cups Flour

2tbsp. Salt

2tbsp. Baking Powder

1 cupMilk (can be powdered milk)

Vegetableoil

Heatvegetable oil until hot.

Frydough in vegetable oil until golden brown

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Ingredients:

Yellowcake mix (Jiffy cake mix doesn't require eggs)

Pineappleslices

Brownsugar

Maraschinocherries

Butteror margarine

Use ametal pan that will fit into the Dutch oven *or* use foil.

Method:

1.Put the pan into the oven so that it rests above or on top of 1/2 inch of water

inthe bottom of the oven. If you are using foil, wrap the foil over the sides ofthe Dutch oven, so that you have a "pan" inside that just rests ontop of the water / other but won't fall in.

2.Use several layers of foil. Put dots of butter in pan.

3.Sprinkle brown sugar over bottom.

4.Place pineapple slices in a single layer on the bottom.

5.Place maraschino cherries in the holes in the pineapple slices.

6.Pour cake batter over this.

7.Close up Dutch oven, place coals on top if desired or possible, and bake untildone.

8.For added flavor, you can include walnuts.

Camp Rules

1. BUDDY SYSTEM.Everyone must have a BUDDY when they leave the site.

            Do notallow girls to wander from the rest of the group.

            If girlsare taking someone somewhere and they are not going to stay,

there must be 3 sothat the girl who leaves has a buddy to come back with.

            Discusswhat to do if someone becomes separated from the group.

            Have a planthat they all are aware of.

2. NO RUNNING.  Thereare too many ruts, holes, puddles…

3. OFF LIMITS.  Thefollowing are not allowed:

            Do NOT playon the docks, dam, millwheel or roof of boathouse.

            Do NOTcreek hike without an adult and only in boots or old sneakers.

            Do NOT playwith dinner bell or blow car horns in the parking lot.

– They are emergencysignals

            Do NOT usethe phones except in an emergency.

            Do NOT gonear the horses, horse stable or riding ring.

4. LEAVE NO TRACE. 

            Hike onlyon trails.

            Do not pickany living thing – flower, branch, etc.

            Stay awayfrom animals.

5. FLASHLIGHTS

            Keepflashlights out of anyone’s eyes

            Keepflashlights pointed to the ground

            Only useflashlights when necessary -  let eyesadjust to darkness for better vision.

6. RESPECT OTHERS

            Keep yourpersonal gear neat and orderly near your mattress.

            During theday, no one should be in the bedroom areas.

            Whenvisiting another site, keep from tracking dirt throughout the site.

            Feel freeto peek into the various rooms, but do not touch anyone’s belongings.

            Respectcamp property, do not deface or damage anything at camp.

            Help whenand where you are needed in a cheerful manner.

7. RESPECT AUTHORITY

            All adultsshould be respected as if they are your leader.

Camp Rules

1. BUDDY SYSTEM.Everyone must have a BUDDY when they leave the site.

            Do notallow girls to wander from the rest of the group.

            If girlsare taking someone somewhere and they are not going to stay,

there must be 3 sothat the girl who leaves has a buddy to come back with.

            Discusswhat to do if someone becomes separated from the group.

            Have a planthat they all are aware of.

2. NO RUNNING.  Thereare too many ruts, holes, puddles…

3. OFF LIMITS.  Thefollowing are not allowed:

            Do NOT playon the docks, dam, millwheel or roof of boathouse.

            Do NOTcreek hike without an adult and only in boots or old sneakers.

            Do NOT playwith dinner bell or blow car horns in the parking lot.

– They are emergencysignals

            Do NOT usethe phones except in an emergency.

            Do NOT gonear the horses, horse stable or riding ring.

4. LEAVE NO TRACE. 

            Hike onlyon trails.

            Do not pickany living thing – flower, branch, etc.

            Stay awayfrom animals.

5. FLASHLIGHTS

            Keepflashlights out of anyone’s eyes

            Keepflashlights pointed to the ground

            Only useflashlights when necessary -  let eyesadjust to darkness for better vision.

6. RESPECT OTHERS

            Keep yourpersonal gear neat and orderly near your mattress.

            During theday, no one should be in the bedroom areas.

            Whenvisiting another site, keep from tracking dirt throughout the site.

            Feel freeto peek into the various rooms, but do not touch anyone’s belongings.

            Respectcamp property, do not deface or damage anything at camp.

            Help whenand where you are needed in a cheerful manner.

7. RESPECT AUTHORITY

            All adultsshould be respected as if they are your leader.

Situpons

Part of Guiding tradition calls for thesehandy and practical items. What is a sit-upon? For the uninitiated -- it is aninsulated and (usually) waterproof pad, often homemade, used to protect the user'sbackside from the cold and damp while "sitting upon" the ground! Itis also great to keep mosquitoes from biting you from underneath your webbedlawn chair! :-)

A simple sit-upon made be constructed by taking several layers of newspaper,folding to the appropriate size and inserting them into a plastic "kitchencatcher"-type bag. Squeeze out any air, fold the bag snuggly around thenewspaper, and use duct tape or packing tape to hold it all together. Add yourname with a permanent marker!

Fancier sit-upons can be constructed with a little imagination... Old babychange pads make good insulation, and don't crackle like newspaper!. Or coveryour pad of choice with cloth -- plain, patterned -- you choose -- add yourname with t-shirt paints, and then enclose in a CLEAR garbage bag. Tape alledges with clear packing tape... Voila!

To add even more interest, ask at your local t-shirt shop for their usediron-ons. These come in an amazing array of pictures and styles. As long as youpick one with no words (words would be mirror-imaged), you can carefully cutthe picture out, tape it to your sit-upon fabric or plastic, and cover with theclear plastic as described above.

Functional, yet elegant -- or at least with personality! And often aconversation-starter!

Take your sit-upon everywhere, and sit in comfort!

Karen Marks, Junior Troop 289, Austin, Texas:  When we were brownies, we used vinyl tableclothes, if I remember correctly I think we were able to cut out four situponsper tablecloth and egg crate foam mattress which were donated to the troop. Thefoam is much lighter than newspaper--something to keep in mind if doing a dayhike with them.

Jane Schuler, Junior/Cadette Troop 5, Knoxville, Tennessee:  Watch out for the woven newspaper sit-upons.When they get damp, everyone has the news printed on the back of her shorts. :)The sit-upons in the Brownie handbook leak if they are made as suggested. Whenwater gets into these, the newspaper inside can become very heavy.

A much simpler, and more leak-proof, sit-upon can be made by placing foldednewspaper inside a large Ziplock storage bag. These can be decorated withpermanent markers.

My daughter's first sewing machine project (at age seven) was a sit-upon. Westacked up two squares of ripstop nylon (the fabric used in outdoor banners),added a square of the same size cut from quilt batting, and stitched threesides. She then clipped the corners, turned it, and stitched the remaining sideshut. This is waterproof, machine washable, can be folded to stuff into abackpack or fanny pack, and lasts for years. She is now thirteen and still usesit.

Margaret Kieser, Guide Guider, South Africa:  Here is my 1c worth (inflation ate away the2c!) about how I have made situpons with the Guides here in South Africa. Wealso use the weaving method, but use plastic supermarket bags. We fold the bagsinto strips, weave them under and over and then tie the loose ends stickingout, in pairs with a reef knot. This is great for the "Thrift Badge"work as well, and it is not only waterproof, but folds up small and can bere-used for a few camps!

Sallie Zeil, GSCCC, Virginia Beach, Virginia:  If you don't have an unwanted foam "eggcrate" mattress available for putting inside situpons, try leftover carpetpadding. A friend of mine found an even better free source of foam: soft foampadding used in packing medicines for shipment to pharmacies. The ones she got(from a mom who worked at a major drug store chain) were already a perfect sizefor situpons - about 13 to 14 inches square, and about 1 inch thick.

The mom who gave her these said all this foam is normally just thrown out,so this is a good way to recycle too!

Barb:  If you go tothe good-sized fabric stores (Jo-Annes, Cloth World here on the east coast),they have bolts of vinyl tablecloth-like fabric, often in wonderful colors andquite heavy-duty. They are all a fairly standard size and I've found that thewidth is always just right for making two situpons.

The length you buy is simply the size of a newspaper (measured side-to-side),plus about a half inch on either side. I use a paper hole puncher to put holesaround the three sides of the vinyl, and the girls put in about a half inch maxor smaller bunch of newspapers and then we lace it up with gimp. The knots atthe end are not always "pretty", but since we go in a whip stitchfrom one side to the other, then whip back to make an "X", I haveNEVER had a problem with moisture getting into our situpons - and some of themhave already had 3 hard years of use.

As opposed to vinyl tablecloths, the vinyl fabric at fabric stores is oftenwonderfully colorful and unique - our situpons always stand out at Service Unitevents!

Carol Metz, Brownie Troop 1312 leader, Penn Laurel Girl ScoutCouncil, Frederick County, MD:Our troop made easy, light-weight, and comfortable(!) situpons so Icouldn't resist sharing this idea with everyone. We made these as Daisies.

• Take a gallon size Ziplock baggie and lightly fill with Styrofoam peanuts so that it lies flat, not overstuffed and round.
• Clip the corners to let out the air so it won't pop.
• Cover with Contact paper. (Lay the Contact paper on the ground, peel half the backing off, place bag, peel rest of backing off and flip over top, leaving a slight lip all around. Trim if needed. Younger girls may need extra hands to help them keep the Contact paper even, but we told everyone wrinkles don't matter.)
• Punch two holes with a paper punch and add string to make it easy to wear around your neck for carrying.

Adults may need to use a plastic grocery bag to make their sit-upon a littlelarger. (At my parent meeting, the parents all got a chuckle out of that part.)

Sue Parenti, Westchester, Illinois:  When I was a scout (in the 60's) we made oursitupons with a strap to tie it around your waist while hiking. So, now thatI'm a leader I had to use my old Girl Scout knowledge with my troop. We madeours using flannel backed table cloth fabric from the fabric store, filled itwith carpet padding (real cheap at home improvement stores), laced the edges usinghousehold twine and made the "belt" part with a piece of regularclothes-line, long enough to wrap around the waist and tie a generous bow.

The kids loved it. They walked around the cabins with their sit-upons oneven when they weren't hiking!

You do have to untie it to sit down, it's too tight around the belly if youtry to sit with it tied.

Tammy Rice,Northern Horizons Community, Circle T Girl Scout Council,Take an old pair of adult blue jeans and cut-off about three inchesbelow where the legs come together. Sew across legs and across the top of thebelt loops. This will secure the batting. The girls then unzip the zipper andstuff with batting. They can then use fabric paint and decorate the bottoms anyway they want. Tie a long piece of cord through the belt loops and they can tieit around their waist on hikes or use it to carry the sit-upons. These werereally cute. I can't wait to make them with my troop.

Kathi Reed,Kathi@AOL.COM:I saw the same blue Jean sit upons that Tammy Rice did only modified.Instead of stuffing with batting the troop uses the inside to store things likeextra jackets, bandanas and money. It was so cute!!

Linda Gardner, Cadette Troop 2001, Patriots' Trail Girl ScoutCouncil,:  I used an old shower curtain for my Brownietroop. One curtain made 12 sit-upons. We filled with newspaper (they could havebeen woven and they would have been more comfortable). Pieces were cut so thatboth sides were one piece--fold in half and then only 3 sides needed to beclosed. Sealed the edges with duct tape (others have had girls 'sew' edges withyarn using the overhand stitch). Girls decorated with permanent markers. Sevenyears later, the ones I have are still going strong.

Another source of vinyl could be a business using vinyl for its products(auto interiors, for example). There used to be a place around here, whichwould gladly donate the remnants.

Carolyn Ayers, Tierra Del Oro GS Council, CA, Some of the nicest sit-upons I've seen weremade from samples of vinyl wallpaper. My daughter's leader a few years ago wentto wall paper stores and asked if they had any sample books they were throwingout and got plenty. They are already "cut" to size and the girls hadsome pretty neat prints to choose from. Hope this helps.

Teresa
316th Rangers, Winnipeg, MB  Here is an idea for a situpon I made inPathfinders. You need a carpet sample and two floor tiles. Remove the backingfrom one of the floor tiles and place it on the carpet sample. The decoratedside of the tile will be touching the wrong (not decorated) side of the carpetsample. Fold the extra sides of the carpet tight onto the glue of the tile. Youmay have to cut the corners to get it as flat as possible. Remove the backingof the other tile and stick it to the glued side of the other tile. I hope thismakes sense! It is best to use a very flat carpet sample, you could also useanother tough fabric sample.