I am a pretty experienced camper, or at least l THOUGHT l was. I am 17, and I've been camping almost by myself since l was about 14. l was always too poor to afford Boy Scouts, so l had to learn alot of stuff on my own. l like going camping with just the basic stuff (water, boots,knife, fist aid kit,etc.) l even forgo things like a tent most of the time, cause l like sleeping out under the stars. I've taken the time to learn first-aid, and ways to survive with little to no supplies. My problem is that l seem to be a ''hate magnet'' fo my friends folks. This one time it was alot colder than l expected, and l froze, but that was MY fault. But this other time, my friends dad said l was an idiot, and l did not know what l was doing, and HE did, because he was a Boy Scout leader. He said l was an idiot for wanting to take as little as possible when camping. You'd figure that if l did not know what l was doing, l would've died sometime over these past 3 years. Do you think there is something wrong with camping this way? l do not know, maybe l am wrong, and am an idiot. Camping is just bout the only thing l figured l was good at though.

are you kidding me? your doing what its all about. only the stars to talk to, and the earth to keep you warm. boy scouts is so overrated, l could learn everything they did from the internet. l think its awesome you could survive with that, and iv always wanted to do that. of course your right, that guys an idiot and does not know what camping is.

You kinda were wrong for camping with as little as possible. Granted, it is great to know how to do, it should only be done in situations you have no choice. For casual camping, bring plenty of supplies, but not too many, or that takes away from the experience.

You do sound like an experienced camper, but it is good to bring tools you may need to survive in case something goes wrong. Like you should know how to scare a bear off, or a wolf or something. A tent protects you from the elements, which can be helpful in cold and hot times, to stay comfortable. If you are agitated and uncomfortable you may slip up or make a bad choice in something.
You do not sound like an idiot, but take some precautions just to be safe.

l think theres a fine line between what is taking enough & what is suicudal. l was a boy scout & when we went on trips we hardly took anything, in fact we would have competitions to see whos weekend pack was the lightest for backpacking trips. it could just be that troop, some like to take everything while others camp the real way. hell, some scouts r so bent on packing light, they take day pack to use for backpacking! we went to philmont on a 10 day backpack trip & a group carried an average of 10lbs per person, while our packs were around 30. its obvious u havent died yet, & sure maybe sometimes it helps to carry more, but hey if it works for u then stick with it & screw taking everything & the kitchen sick.

your good

sounds as if he only knows camping by a book only!!
Our ancestors camped like you are---go for it!!!
You are far from an idiot,believe me!

Well, l see the attraction of sleeping under the stars. After all, part of the purpose of camping is ''keeping it simple.'' Of course, there is a fine line between simplicity & unpreparedness.

There have been a lot of questions on Y/A lately about this issue of bare minimum camping. To be honest, l am seeing a lot of defensiveness and/or insecurity on the part of the minimalist campers, as if they need to justify their camping methods to others. A lot of ''Am l a bad camper just because l almost got myself killed once? Is this a stupid thing to do? How come my dad wants me to take a tent?'' And yours is at least the second I've seen in the last couple of days to mention a disagreement with a Boy Scout over whether u r ''prepared'' enough. It is making me suspect that there is a trend forming out there among young people that may not be entirely healthy, which is why it is encountering some resistance.

l believe that there is a valid place for minimalist camping. Someone who really knows what he is doing can find a special challenge in seeing how little it can take to keep him not just alive, but comfortable. Such a person will go into this with eyes wide open, knowing that the outdoors is not always a safe place. There is cold, rain, snow, ice, bears, hunger, thirst, etc. etc. If u have carefully learned what conditions u will be facing & how to deal with them with the minimum supplies, then u r engaging in a very interesting hobby, one that in fact involves a lot of careful advance preparation.

On the other hand, if u use ''traveling light'' as an excuse for failing to think ahead, then l think that is just plain irresponsible. Basically, it is just being a bum. (You know that fine line l said was between simplicity & unpreparedness? Well, that same line is between camping & vagrancy.) It can endanger others by putting them in a position of having to ''rescue'' a person from a situation they had no business being in.

l do not know u well enough to know which description applies to you. It sounds as if the parents of ur friends r concerned that it is the second. Even if it is not, they may be right to worry that their children will become enthusiastic about ur method of camping before they have the skills to do it safely.

Is there any kind of compromise u could come to? Maybe camp with a backpack of supplies when u camp with their kids? After all, just because u bring a tent IN CASE it gets cold does not mean u have to sleep in it if the night proves to be mild.

By the way, at 17, ur parents should still be paying attention to what u do with ur free time, & they certainly should have when ur were 14. What is their opinion about this ''pocket camping'' that u do? ( l like that term better than ''dirt camping''--just ''camping out of ur pockets.'')

Ahhh, forget him. The point of camping is to leave the luxuries behind & test yourself. If u had no idea what u were doing, u would be dead or would have stopped camping. l am a Boy Scout myself, & l often take only the bare essentails ( l am a pansy & use a tent everytime l can; ) ). l can scrape by a weekend with just a days worth of clothes (and a couple extra socks). You would be an awesome backpacker. l do have to say though, testing yourself is OK, but l would make sure l checked the weather first & made sure that l had everything l DO need before l left. Take care of yourself.

na aint nothing wrong wit that.. that scout leader is a pussy... l been to scouts before its fukin gay word.. some people camp wit nothing but them selves.. like survival man on tv

Some people try and make a life style of going through life with as little as possible not only camping.

Nothing wrong with survival camping. The Boy Scout guy is just a know it all.

it depends how you go camping. If you are backpacking taking less is good but you should take what you need. Like if you re going in the winter do not not take jacket becuce it weights a lot. If you are just driving into a camp ground take as much as you want. You do not have to carry it so what does it matter. hope this helps

You may be an idiot to him, but most people would find it admirable that u try to go camping with as little as possible. l personally feel better about camping in just a tent in the middle of nowhere, but a lot of people l know take their ''campers'' (more like wheeled houses) to over-packed campgrounds & think it is ruffing it. The one concern l do have is that u can not become obsessive about taking very little, there r some thing that u should always have regardless of how u feel about it.

Dude you are totally cool. l am a former girl scout, explorer scout and now l am in my second year for a cub scout den leader. l have the best time with going camping with barely any supplies. l look to sleep under the stars and try new things like cooking insects and stuff bt you r doing so great. maybe sometime you can give me some pointers

ur right the boyscouts r expensive. l am 56 now & my parents could not afford it way back in the sixtys but there r certain advanages to them like scolorships for eagle scouts. true it sounds like ur good at it but why get wet if u do not have to. learn to build a shelter,build an emergance fire,as well as a signal fire. Let alot of people know where ur going & when u will be back. Do not stray from ur plan. Bears & wolves r bull if u do not have alot of garbage around. Of course u probley know all this & l am just wasting ur time but u sound good enough at this to become a scout leader one day & be able to teach more than knot tying. luck to you

Most of the previous have it right. My biggest question is: could u have avoided being frozen by checking the weather or bringing the appropriate gear? It is all about being prepared for the most likely of bad conditions. The human body can only take so much, so u definitely want to be knowledgeable about hypothermia, & the like. Preparedness goes beyond just gear, it also means informing people of where u r going & when u will be back, especially if u plan on going solo. ''Minimalist'' camping is fine, just take the appropriate precautions. If nothing else, have ur car packed with stuff that u may need, but likely wont use ''just in case''. Does it defeat the purpose? If u r hiking to ur camp site then l say no. Safety first.

l am a Girl Scout leader, but was not in Scouts growing up for the same reasons. l did spend a lot of time in the library since it was free. You can visit your local library and look up basic camping and survival tips and check the internet too. You do not have to be a Boy Scout Leader to learn about camping and adults should not be treating you like that! There are probably groups in your community you can join to sharpen your social skills too. Check your newspaper. Good luck!

First of all let me say up front that l am a Scoutmaster. l disagree with ur friends Dad, respectfully, because basic wilderness survival is at the heart of the original scouting movement. When Lord Baden Powell started the Boy Scouts over 100 years ago in England it was with the intent to teach young men, such as yourself, how to survive in the wilderness & become good citizens.

Six years ago 5 boys started Troop 747 with the idea that they wanted to camp 10 months out of the year. Now it gets plenty cold here in Wisconsin, but the boys have learned how to be prepared for anything that may come their way. We r regarded as a ''Throw Back'' troop because we tend to take only what is needed. No electronics & as little gear as needed. l do find that this shocks many adults who grew up in the late 70 is & 80's. Older gentleman, mostly Veterans, r impressed by the boys outdoor skills. l find that the attitude that u r running in to is indeed generational, & that the pendulum is swinging back the other way with ur generation. Thank u Les Stroud! Once a year l take the ''experienced'' scouts in my group on a ''Survival Weekend'' they r aloud only what they can fit in their pockets. It is great to see what kinds of shelters & foods they can come up with. To date no boy has ever starved on one of our camp outs.

The only thing that l have a problem with ur camping experiences is that u did not have a ''Buddy'' there to help u out if something were to go wrong. This is usually when people run into trouble. l am planning a 7 day trip into the Boundary Waters with minimal gear & no tents next June, but l am taking my 13yo son & one other adult just in case of trouble.

Scouting is a great movement if administrated properly. Scouting can be, & should be, for every boy regardless of his economic situation. My former committee chairman used to say, ''No boy will be left behind for lack of funds. There is always a way & we will find it.''

l hope u someday get involved with a good Scout Troop. You sound like my kind of leader. You will always be welcome to come camp with us.

l am a boy scout and what the other dad said was wrong. it is good that you are camping. Good job