Rules
Each scout will be responsible to pack any gear he needs for the weekend. Use the pack-up list There will be a maximum weight of 35 pounds of gear. We will have a weigh-in before we leave on the hike so make sure you are not carrying too much gear.
What you eat depends on what you bring! All food and water must be packed-in by each individual. Since this is not a real survival situation no hunting is allowed.
Shelter must be constructed after we arrive at 29 acres. You can bring tarps, plastic, nylon, a poncho or construct your shelter from available trees and materials at the site. No tents.
Each person must build an emergency hiking kit to have with them at all times. As a minimum it must contain: flashlight, wooden matches, compass, whistle, knife, watch, string or rope, hiking first aid kit, $1 in change, rain gear or large trash bag. For those of us that wear glasses we also need to carry an eyeglass repair kit with spare screws. (Optional items: lip balm, phone card, snacks, space blanket, sparker, mirror or old cd, fishing line and hooks, sewing kit, safety pins, birthday candles, aluminum foil, and wire). This is best carried in a small fanny pack so you won't feel the need to take it off (you never know when you might need it!)
"Challenges"
There will be various challenges during the weekend. Some will be scored by leaders, others will be voted on by the other scouts. They will include Shelter Building, Fire Starting, Target, Survival Trivia, Cooking, Puzzle Solving, Animal Tracking, and possibly others to be announced.
The scout with the most votes overall will win the title of 29 Acre Survivor!
Use your imagination in all your planning. Unusual shelters, interesting menus for meals and being prepared will count allot towards the final score. Good Luck!
Hints
Pack your water in smaller containers to make it easier to pack. Bring around 1 gallon total. Leave a little air in some of the bottles and freeze them the night before (not all of them though!). They will thaw out slowly and give you a cold drink for most of the day. If you have a water filter you can save weight by gathering more water from the site.
Condiment foil containers of ketchup, mayo, mustard, etc take very little room and add much to the enjoyment of your dinner. If you bring meat (hamburger, hot dog, chicken) you might freeze it so that it doesn't spoil.
Make your own camp gear. Tin cans can be turned into billabongs (an Australian cooking cup). If you make several, use different sizes so they will fit inside of each other. Small soda bottles can be canteens. Just tie a string around the top and lash to your belt loop. Garbage bags make serviceable rain gear. A backpack can be made out of your bedroll and some rope.
Any scout needing items of gear should contact Mr. Cross or one of the other leaders.
Electronics
Only survival items of electronics are permitted, not recreational. Watches, cameras/camcorders, GPS units, 2-way radios, weather radios, flashlights and an emergency cell phone are allowed. Cell phone number for the weekend will be 781-690-2689 (Mr. Cross).
References
US Army Survival Manual Sample Emergency Survival Kits Another Survival Kit Kit Review and Pricing