INDIANAPOLIS — Summertime means graham crackers, marshmallows and a bar of chocolate — but before you head for the s'mores, there are things you need to know.
There are more than 35,000 scouts in Central Indiana, and we have the best in town showing their camping techniques.
"It's very stress relieving to be out in nature," Cecilia Rowland, a Boy Scouts of America scout, said.
Cecilia and fellow BSA scout, Eli Gessner, love the outdoors, but they say there are six essentials you need to know to be out in nature.
"Water, snack, sunscreen, or a hat, flashlight or whistle," Eli said.
Make sure to pack bug repellent and have an emergency kit for your trip, Cecilia says. It's essential to learn first aid in case of any injuries.
"You need to know what to do if that happens, so you can treat yourself," Cecilia said.
Let someone know you're going camping, where you're going and when you'll be back. Then look around for a site to set up. Scout members say to pick an open space not too close to the fire.
"Yeah regulation with a tent, you're looking at ten to 15 feet away, because embers will fly up," Nathan Lutterman, BSA District Executive Sakima, said.
And when you start getting hungry, keep foods in tight containers. Store them from all the wildlife and cook food a proper temperature to avoid food poisoning, but be safe while doing it.
Scouts learn to cook with Dutch ovens. Adult supervision is a must as well because the ovens get as hot as 400 degrees.
"One of the principles of safe cooking around the fire is having a fire as small as possible," Matt Roth, a scout with BSA, said. "That's what the charcoal does; it's a very controlled way to heat our food."
Scouts say to use sand or water to put out your fire when you go to bed or leave the site.
