Night Ops: Camp Aiken 2024 UDPATES

Here are some of the things that are changing this year:

Fire Station

This year, we are making changes to the firestarters and flame generation methods allowed.

You are permitted to bring any firestarter in its raw/uncombined form. For example, cotton balls, wood shavings, twine, fatwood, and a candle are allowed individually. However, you are not allowed to bring fire starters that are pre-mixed or combined together, such as wax-coated wood shavings or wax-infused cotton balls.  

Commercially available fire starters, vaseline, petroleum jelly, rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer or other liquid or gel based fire accelerant are not allowed.

The fire starting material that you use must fit in ONE standard sandwich size ziploc bag. Note: you can bring multiple bags (ie. if you are concerned that your primary firestarter choice will be disallow) but only one bag may be used. 

We will provide you with matches and a ferro rod for you to use for flame generation. How many matches you use will be a scoring factor this year.

First Aid Station

You will face a scenario that you must react to you and narrate your actions as you do things.

You must verbally tell the scorekeeper what you are doing as you do it. If everyone is talking at the same time, the scorekeeper will not hear/see what you do and you will not be scored well.

*Note: The scorekeeper should listen to any patrol member who speaks so long as everyone is not speaking at the same time / in a chaotic manner. Your patrol medic is a specialist but does not operate alone.

Patrol Equipment List

Prepare for Night Ops like you were going backpacking with your troop. For example, here is a list of things you should really consider bringing based on the 10 essentials:

1. Navigation
   • An Orienteering Compass (we recommend having multiple)
   • The maps and information provided to you at Patrol Check-In.
2. Sun Protection
   • Sunglasses, sunscreen – While we’ll be operating at night, you’ll need these before the sun goes down and the next day.
3. Insulation
   • Jackets, a sleeping bag or blanket. The temperature can drop, especially if we have any rain.
4. Illumination
   • Headlamps, flashlights, extra batteries.
5. First Aid Supplies
   • Consider what first aid scenarios you might encounter on a backpacking trip and prepare accordingly.
   • Something to make a stretcher with, like two stout walking sticks/poles, would be wise.
6. Fire Supplies
   • 1 sandwich size bag of fire starter material, fire starting implements
7. Useful Tools
   • Knife, duct tape, multi-tool, paper and writing implements, resource printouts/books, etc.
8. Nutrition
   • Hiking will make you hungry; bring snacks and don’t get hangry.
9. Hydration
   • Stay hydrated so you don’t become an unexpected first aid scenario
10. Emergency Shelter
    • What happens if you get caught in the woods and need to take shelter? Best to be prepared.

Some stations may give you points based on the supplies you have with you.

YouTube Channel Resources

Check out our YouTube channel for resources about Night Ops. For example, what we did last year or what to expect at Night Navigation station.
https://www.youtube.com/@nightopsadventures