For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the message was lost.
For want of a message the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
The moral of this proverb dating back to 13th Century Germany is that neglect can have catastrophic consequences. This is an important message as we look to prepare for summer camp. Over my time as a scoutmaster, I have seen many necessary things that Scouts have failed to pack. For example, no water bottle... not the best bet for a week in the summer sun. No soap, towel or shower shoes... how do you think that goes after a couple of days? No rain jacket or waterproof boots... note that we went to the same summer camp last year and I seem to remember that it rained some every day. No red Troop T-shirt... with the Scout knowing that this is our uniform every day. Bottom line: if it is on the packing list, bring it. We carefully built the list after many years of experience. With the right equipment and care in packing, we keep ourselves safe and have a more-enjoyable time.
Be Prepared!