Caring for Troop gear

Part of the responsibility of being in the Troop is taking home some Troop gear, then cleaning it and bringing it back ready for the next outing. Scouts should do the work, and parents should supervise so it is done properly. Cleanup is not fun, but it is necessary: gear has to be ready to go when it is checked back in.

Troop gear is tracked in the gear app. Open My gear to see what is checked out to you or your Scout. Each type of gear, such as a tent or a patrol box, has an inventory checklist in the app listing every item that should come back. Go through it item by item and submit it as your return report. Report anything bent, torn, broken or missing. You do not need to buy replacements: note it in the app and the quartermaster takes care of it.

Tents

After each activity, one Scout in each buddy pair or group takes home a Troop tent. Tents must be aired out immediately or they will mildew and be ruined.

Take everything out of the stuff sack as soon as you get home.
Take inventory using the tent's checklist in the gear app. It lists every part (the stuff sack, the ground cloth in its mesh bag, the tent, the rain fly, the poles and the stakes in a small bag) for that type of tent.
Unzip the doors and shake out loose dirt.
Set up the tent, or hang the tent, rain fly and ground cloth, to dry. A garage works if it is raining. The tent has to come back bone dry.
When everything is completely dry, fold the ground cloth into its mesh bag.
Fold the rain fly in half, and in half again (or in thirds), and roll it up. Do the same with the tent.
Put the tent, rain fly and poles into the stuff sack with the stakes parallel to the poles, and the ground cloth down the side. When it is packed properly you can look inside and see every part.
Note anything damaged or missing in the gear app.

Patrol boxes

After each activity, the Scout responsible for a patrol box takes it home to clean and inventory. A patrol box holds everything a patrol needs to cook and clean on a campout, so it has to be cleaned and inventoried after every activity for the next patrol to use.

Unpack everything and set it out to dry.
Wash all pots, pans, utensils and cutting boards. Soak or scrub the pots if you need to; a scrub pad helps. Run everything through a dishwasher so it is sterilized properly.
Wash the Gladware containers.
Launder the pot bag and the dish towel.
Throw away the sponge. It stays wet and mildews, and the Troop puts a new one in each time.
Take inventory using the patrol box's checklist in the gear app. Check each item that is there and undamaged. Anything you leave unchecked is flagged as missing or broken for the quartermaster.
Repack the box.
Do not pack anything wet or damp. It will mildew.

When you finish the checklist, the app asks you to confirm the box is clean and dry. Add a note for anything the checklist did not cover. The griddle is optional and is no longer stocked.

Stoves

Camping stoves

After each activity, clean a regular camping stove before it comes back.

Wipe down all surfaces with a soapy sponge or rag.
Wipe everything again with a sponge or rag that has only water on it.
Never submerge the stove or pour liquids on it.
Make sure it is fully dry before you close the lid.

Backpacking stoves

Backpacking stoves need annual maintenance. See the Dragonfly stove maintenance video and the MSR stove annual maintenance video. For Jetboil stoves, Jetboil's own how-to videos cover care and troubleshooting.

Bringing gear back

Bring gear back to the Troop gear cage at the next Troop meeting if you can. Tents come back at that next meeting even if it is the very next day, once they are dry. If a patrol box needs extra time, the following week is fine. Do not leave gear unattended: find the quartermaster, say who you are and what you are returning, and check it in. If something gets in the way, tell the quartermaster.