Went to a Order of the Arrow event last weekend.There were 8 hammocks in our campsite about 1 in 3 !!! My troop now has 4 people with hammocks!! Several years ago I was the only one in our district with hammocks!!! :lol:
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Went to a Order of the Arrow event last weekend.There were 8 hammocks in our campsite about 1 in 3 !!! My troop now has 4 people with hammocks!! Several years ago I was the only one in our district with hammocks!!! :lol:
Cool, I have scouting events the next 3 weekends. Helping with leader training this weekend, OA ordeal, and then Fall camporee. Will be hanging all three weekends and using my Turtledog stand. So far, I am the only one hanging, but have another leader in the troop is is interested.
My son and I just went thru Ordeal last weekend...
He in his poncho-tarp army surplus hammock, and me in my Hennessy... (At least the second night. First night on the ground WAS an ordeal!)
Met several others in Enos, WBBBs, and others.
It's great to see more folks hanging around at events like this... It really prompts people to stop and ask about hammock camping!
Last year at summer camp we had 6 or 7 scouts that picked up the inexpensive nylon hammocks they had in the scout shop and hung them in their tents! (You remember those old canvas tents they had at camp back when? They're still there! Ha!)
Too much fun!
What you talk'n bout? Our troop still has and uses them for camporees. Canvas wall tents and cots, except for me, I haven't sleep in one in about two years. Using my hammock and stand. Now will be the first time with the Turtledog stand.Quote:
(You remember those old canvas tents they had at camp back when? They're still there! Ha!)
Great to hear. I hope they are still following the LNT way in the woods with the hammocks.
Me and my son attended a cubscout camping trip in hammocks. we were the talk of the trip. I am sure we will see more hammocking going forward.
I'm a scouter who has been camping with a hammock for almost two years. One of the boys is claiming that the Scoutmaster told him that he cannot camp in a hammock with the Troop. I'm trying to figure out what to do. My oldest son wants to hammock as well, and I'm naturally gungho about hammocks.
The first thing is I need to find out what exactly was said. Second, if the boy is accurately conveying the message, I will need an explanation for why. Third, I have to figure out in Troop politics what I can do about it.
My first year at summer camp was hot. Like middle of July South Carolina HOT. Our camp was just south of charleston on James island. My first night in the old canvas tents I remembered from my scouting youth ( in the pa mountains ) sweating like crazy. I bought a travels rest single at the trading post the next day. I had some climbing rope in my gear box and after a few knots I was hanging in pure bliss. The only bad part was every time I had to move out of the hammock I found a scout in it. After a week of telling them to get there own hammock ( but I spend all my money on candy I would hear ) parents night was here. That night ther were about twenty hammocks all over the camp site. Our scout master gave me a funny look and said it was all my fault. A few years later I went through my OA spring ordeal ( another HOT season ). After my ordeal was over I realized I forgot my hammock so back to the trading post for a brand new eno dn ( a nice gift to me ) and found that a lot of people were using hammocks like hennesys and eno's.
Yeah, might need to mention that Lord Baden-Powell camped in a hammock....
http://hennessyhammock.com/articles/scouting/
My son and I returned from Ordeal this past weekend and on Friday night we were the only 2 hammocks setup. There were 2 more that showed up on Saturday after the rain stopped. They didn't have tarps with them so they had to wait to setup. I had several questions from the non-hammockers about the setup and sleeping. Hopefully I'm converting people over to hammocks once they see the benefits.
Gotta love my HH expedition.
My last group outing in NY off of the AT there were 2 scout groups. One group was almost exclusively hammocks.
Also when I was hiking on the AT in CT there was another short section hiking group that slept in hammocks.
It's catching on pretty fast. 3 years ago I was basically the only one in a hammock when I hiked.
I suspect this was a near automatic response. In our unit we tried as much as possible to make sure the younger scouts are paired up in a tent and have any single campers be an older scout. This provides a level of safety and often helps avoid adverse reactions some times found with scouts just learning to camp. I have seen more than one new scout suffer from home sickness and fear of the real dark experience available in scout camps.
Likley you will have some success when time for a second thought is taken.
Our OA conclave had 6 hammocks, and I expect near double that next year.
I have a difficult time understanding the reasoning behind policies like this.
Here's a brand new, 11yr old Scout who crossed over from Cub Scouts just this Spring.
The photo is of his hammock set-up that he carried and used during our 50 mile AT trip this past July.
http://www.hammockforums.net/gallery...0299_thumb.jpg
Too many Scout Leaders are busy telling kids what they CAN'T DO.
I'm all about telling boys what they CAN DO.
While SM and before, our troop had no formal rules about scouts sleeping alone. If a scout was new and inexperienced he usually would pair off with another scout. If we had a new scout without a buddy I would ask an older scout to step in and be a buddy. Never a big issue. As far as hammocks, we could have a couple of scouts bring one along with their tents. Nevr had any only hamick camp. We did have about 5 leadrrs who would on occasion.
This year my webelos son took his hammock to camp ( so did I)
Hammock use has grown greatly, scouts or otherwise. One year ago, my last trip to the Sipsey Wilderness in AL, I saw more hammocks than I did tents. I bet even a year or two prior, odds are I would have seen zero hammocks on most days.
I gotta say its not really an Ordeal if you get to sleep in a hammock. My recollection of mine (over 40 years ago) was that I was led out into the woods, in the dark, told to sleep on the cold hard ground Right There. Had a sleeping bag but no pad.
I used a hammock at summer camp this year and the other adults there were very interested...
October 18 I present to two troops interested in hammock style camping. Should be fun. I'll take my stand and let them take a spin in the hammock. Soundman might be able to help me out and show his hammock too. I'm taking a tablecloth along to demonstrate a DIY gathered end hammock. Could be a cool scout project to "make your own bed and sleep in it".
I agree with Grizzly...sleeping in a hammock is a luxury. At my ordeal in 1960, I had a flashlight, pocketknife, a blanket, and a couple of matches. We were dropped off one-by-one around the camp with no one looking out for our comfort. I slept a little but kept waking up when granddaddy long-legs would crawl across my face. I sure was glad to see the sunrise. Wish I had known about hammocks then.
Our local scout troop looked at me like I was from Mars about 4 years ago when I brought out my hammock at Camp Lanochee. Fast forward 2 years and I tagged along on a campout where there were only 2 tents out of over a dozen campers. Times change.
I'm now a den leader in my son's pack. I've been reading up on the rules of camping with cubs and so far I'm a little confused about hammock use. Some seem to think they don't satisfy the "privacy" rules while others believe they do. I'm going to assume it's up to each pack to figure out what works until there's some kind of problem. Guidance seems to be a little thin, at least in our area.
Hey guys, I'm doing a college project on hammock camping. I created a thread about it.
I was wondering if anyone here would like to give me their permission to cite them as a source in my project? You guys provided some really great data on hammock camping.
Thanks for considering allowing me to cite you!!
I Started sleeping in a hammock a couple years ago at camp. The other leaders, and scouts thought I was crazy. Then I made a custom hammock for myself, and hammock fever caught on. I made 21 hammocks for the troop. All of the leaders are in hammocks. A few scouts are still in tents, holdouts. But I'm working on "elevatin their perspective!"
A tiger needs to be told what he cant do. A webelos should only need us for encouragement. I agree with Papa now quit being Gargamel. Its sad that adults hold onto scouting as power trip. Scouting is about exploring, expanding, becoming better in nature and not my little army of me's.
My son slept on the ground for his Ordeal, and since he wasn't using his hammock I used it for the night before my Brotherhood ceremony and service. He saw the hammock every time he sat down for a meal and said he wanted to give me the evil eye for taunting him with his hammock. LOL
I was the only hammock camper all weekend at Ordeal. That being said, our troop has at least 12 boys and 6 adults hanging. It's awesome to see!
The more Scouting Magazine pushes the use of hammocks, the more I ask about the National High Adventure Bases ending their ban on hanging. It's a little ridiculous that Scouting promotes hammocks, but not using them in their own camps.
Ive heard that hammocks are not aloud at Philmont, but what about the others? Northern Tier and West VA?
@Grizz. I know what you mean. In 1970 or 71 I was dropped off on a dark moonless night with just my poncho and sleeping bag, no flashlight allowed. I lay the bag down with the poncho on top. I had a very cushy springy bed. In the morning I found it was underbrush with lots of sticker vines caught in my bag! I was glad it wasn't me they caught! I really didn't notice till I got up and the sun was peeking over the horizon. Too tired and excited I guess. I sure was suprised by what that comfortable lay ended up consisting of.
I have used a hammock at summer camp the last 8 years. I am seeing more and more at other campsites these days. For years I was the only one.
I am an ASM and previous SM. I have a homemade hammock sock using Just Jeff's directions I pull up and then change cloths laying in my hammock. Nobody can see me. If I leave the sock at home I will drop the tarp sides down so I can't be seen. It's a 10 X10. I can even angle the ends in like doors if needed. I wouldn't change while the tarp is in porch mode though! :D
To provide some privacy, have a tall cheap tent available for changing clothes and such. its a good place to store their personal gear.
The problem I deal with is lack of sufficient hanging spots withing a realistic distance from camp. Our troop seems to end up at State Parks, and overcrowding is an issue. If the leaders are not careful when we pull into camp on friday night the troop gets scattered over 3 square miles.
The real fun begins when The Boys and Parents with Hammocks get into fist fights over the best spots. ;)
I just took my son (finally convinced him) to his first Cub Scout meeting last week. I'm looking forward to him getting involved. I hope to impart some of my hammock knowledge on the young, moldable minds. :D
We had a Webelos den campout last weekend. We had two leaders and 1 Scout in three hammocks (me in my Dangerbird, my son in his WBBB, and another leader in his Hennessy) and four tents. We have a big pack campout coming up in 2 weeks, and I imagine we'll have at least 5 or 6 hangers (Scouts and Scouters).
One of those Scouters whose son is in our Pack (and he's my Asst. Cubmaster) is Scoutmaster for a local troop, and they have a bunch of hangers. The boys mostly use ENO Singles but at least one leader has a WBBB and another couple have Hennessy rigs.
My son wants to go to that troop next year, and one of the factors is all the hangers!
I am an ASM for a troop in South Carolina near Charlotte. When my son and I joined this troop 3 years ago, on a typical campout there were 2-4 boys in hammocks, everyone else in tents. Two weeks ago we went on a campout to Black Mountain in North Carolina. We had 18 bodies there and only two tents set up. Most of the scouts were in ENO hammocks, a few leaders in HH, and my middle son and I in our newly finished DIY hammocks. (I had a few inquiries about my DIY hammock, might have to ramp up production!)
This from our Digital Eagle in Alabama.
HAMMOCK POLICY - The GAC Forestry Management Committee has adopted a new policy for hammock use at GAC camps. This policy can be used as a "Best Practices" teaching opportunity for both youth and adults.
* Selects trees with "tough" bark such as oak, hickory or pine over trees with "thin" bark such as maple or dogwood
* Securing the hammock must be temporary. No nails, eye bolts, screws, etc. put in trees at any time.
* 1 1/2 "-2" tension straps are approved and recommended over rope.
* Secure hammocks to trees 8" in diameter or larger.
Note the Digital Eagle is the news letter the district sends out.
Sounds like the Digital Eagle has a good plan. :)
Some very good conversation here. As a former SM and a hanger in our troop for the last 3 years, there are a couple of points I would like to add:
1) I am sure we have a lot of young scouts in our group and while it is very fun to discuss our Ordeal memories with other members, let's not forget it is an open forum. Best to keep all descriptions out of this conversation and maintain the mystery.
2) There will always be Troop policies and traditions that don't make sense to one parent or another. While I fully support having the conversation and informing when necessary, if it comes down to Troop politics, please don't make your Scoutmaster's job anymore difficult by trying to force something they are not comfortable with. You can always remove the restriction when you take over the SM position.
Been there, done that. Literally! Stepped back down to ASM after 3 years and let some "new blood" take over. It was good for both of us. We are both still going strong, even though both of our sons (Eagles) aged out several years ago.
I even get him to hang in his hammock occasionally. He still tents more than he hangs though. :( I just can't figure that one out. But I don't hold it against him! :)
Our Troop is hosting a Camporee and I had 2 troops call to see if we have trees to hang there hammocks from (which we have plenty) so we may have a dozen or more hang this weekend!!!
I just volunteered to be the District Camping Chairman.
Guess what I'm going to start pushing!!
I am waiting for the right time at a Council Camping Committee meeting to bring up a Hammock Site. Enough hammocks for an entire troop!! Oh...whew......got a little light headed there.
I started slow. Big tents lots of sleeping bags. Air mattresses. Large totes. As stuff broke( or as I felt I NEEDED things) I bought backpacking stuff. Out went the airmattress. And then I found hanging. So when I told my now 8yo we were hammock camping he got excited. Ok so we both were a little excited. As someone who never camped and was never in scouts I can honestly say it is why I am now a hanger.
you can use hammocks at northern tier also. dave
I'm not seeing many hammocks show up at camps here in southern Ontario Canada, but I'm sure other will begin see the light.
I knew that the location of the greatlakesjamboree.com last summer was a flat grassy field so I whipped up a turtledog stand and spent 8 nights comfortable nights in my troops dining shelter. I set it up each night and took it down each morning while waiting for the coffee pot. no problem!
I just took over as SM in our troop. While I agree that scouts should be encouraged to explore their options, don't disparage a leader/troop for having camping rules. Remember that a troop uses the Patrol method. If 7 members of a patrol are in tents and one member is in a hammock, he is separated from what the group is doing. This happened on one of our campouts where the patrol leader was in a hammock, and another patrol member got very upset that he was "acting better than the other patrol members."
A lot of times I require boys to pair up in tents. Why? Because Philmont requires boys to pair up and we're preparing for a trek. Please don't assume a Scoutmaster is an "out of touch power monger" just because you might not like a rule... there may be a good reason.
I bought and Hennessy hammock 1 year ago and this weekend there will be 7 of 14 scouts hanging for the annual Klondike. I'm guessing the noobs that aren't good at listening yet will have a case of CBS, but otherwise it looks to be a great time. Last summer, I took the older scouts on a 50 mile hike through the Ozarks and the boys who packed around tents have sworn to get hammocks for this summer's kayak trip. Good times. ;-)
I'm new to hammocking but it is catching on in my son's troop.
My son's ASM, first did it about 10 years ago (with his older son) and it didn't catch on until this year when he was in a group going to Northern Tier with his younger son.
This weekend is my second campout since I received my hammock. Lows will be in the Mid 30s. I don't have all the good stuff for cold weather camping but I'll try using a 0 degree sleeping bag and my sleep mat in the hammock with me.
My son is dying for me to get him a hammock but he'll have to wait until this fall when I can get another one.
Hmmm..... Maybe it would be a good project to make hammocks at a Scout meeting..... Be very interesting. Btw, what tablecloth do you use for diy hammocks?
We have 6 boys in the midst of a hammock camping merit badge course in our troop. With another 6 adults we have 12 in hammocks which is cool but brings into play some dynamics of calling dibs over trees, the buddy system, etc.
Here are a few shots of our makeshift sweatshop for under quilts, whoopie slings and tree straps.