Cub Scout Pack 371 – Evansville, Indiana

Pack Meeting and Popcorn Awards to be held Friday, January 28th at 6:00 PM

We should have a pretty good day Saturday as far as weather is concerned, but it looks like it could dip down into low temperatures saturday evening. Here are some tips to keep you warm through the night…

1. Most important, buy a good sleeping bag. This is not one of those decisions you want to make based on falling prices at Walmart. Buy a good zero degree mummy bag if you can.

2. Change clothes right before you go to bed. Even if they don’t appear to wet, your clothes you’ve worn during the day contain moisture and will lower your body temperature during the evening. Change everything from underwear to socks, shirts and pants. Make sure those kiddos change clothes before bed!

3. Put a hand warmer in the foot of your bag, you can even stuff a towel in the bottom of the bag if you wish for some extra insulation in the toe area.

4. Cover your head. You loose the majority of body-heat straight out your head. If your bag does not cover your head wear a sock hat.

5. Don’t breath inside your sleeping bag. This creates moisture inside the bag and will cool and get you colder.

6. put a moisture proof tarp or ground cloth underneath your tent. It should not stick out from your tent though because any moisture or rain running off the tent will then go between the tarp and tent. It should run off the tent onto the ground.

7. Do not use cots in cold weather. This allows cold air to get at all sides of your body. Instead use a foam or thermarest pad. Air Mattresses, while more comfortable than pads, create the same problems as cots.

8. add a wool blanket to in the inside of your bag if you feel your bag is not rated for low enough temperatures. Wool is about the best insulator you can have.

9. Drink plenty of water (Not Soda. That’s not water!)

10. Eat something before going to sleep that has a high complex carbohydrate value, such as a power bar. Avoid foods high in sugar and caffeine.

By following these steps you can stay nice and warm and snug in your tent all night. Just remember to stay clean and stay dry. Bring plenty of warm clothes that you can wear in loose layers for the evening and mornings.