Backpacking Resources for Leaders

LINKS TO BACKPACKING AREAS LOCAL TO SAN FRANCISCO BAY

• Castle Rock State Park
• Coyote Hills Regioal Park
• Monte Bello Preserve
• Henry W. Coe State Park
• Portola Redwoods State Park
• Point Reyes National Seashore
• Sunol Regional Park

Our backpacking group has many years of experience in training girl scouts from ages 12-18 in safe, leave-no-trace backpacking. Here are some resources other backpacking leaders (or girls) may find useful.

• Training Materials. We use this handout in our introductory training.

• Weekend Trip Packing List The Wednesday before the trip, a pack inspection takes place. Under senior scout or adult supervision, each item is removed from the scout's pack and checked off. Anything remaining afterwards is put in a bag to take home. Anything missing is noted on the packing list and brought on the day of departure. After the inspection of personal items, patrol equipment is distributed.

• Miler Information
  ("Milers" are longer trips, typically 8 days and 7 nights at higher elevations). Miler Packing List: About a week before the trip, a pack inspection takes place. Under senior scout or adult supervision, each item is removed from the scout's pack and checked off. Anything remaining afterwards is put in a bag to take home. Anything missing is noted on the packing list and brought on the day of departure. After the inspection of personal items, patrol equipment and food is distributed. Everything is repacked, and packs are impounded until the day of departure.

• California Girl Scout Backpackers (CAGS)

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