Polar Bear Winter Camping
Prepare your unit. Brave the cold. Become a Polar Bear Unit.
Take the Polar Bear Camping Challenge
Winter transforms Vermont’s outdoors into an entirely new adventure. Through the Green Mountain Council Polar Bear Camping program, Scouts BSA members, Venturers, Explorers, and their leaders can test their outdoor skills, build confidence, and experience camping in true winter conditions.
A successful Polar Bear campout requires more than warm clothing and a tent. Units must train, prepare, and work together to remain safe and comfortable when temperatures fall below freezing. The result is a challenging and rewarding outdoor experience that Scouts remember long after the snow melts.
Prepare your unit. Brave the cold. Become a Polar Bear Unit.
What Is Polar Bear Camping?
Polar Bear Camping is a unit or multi-unit winter camping experience conducted between December 1 and March 31. To complete the challenge, participants camp outdoors for at least 20–24 hours while the temperature remains below 32°F.
Participants may sleep in:
- Tents
- Open-front shelters
- Properly constructed improvised shelters
The program is designed for registered Scouts BSA members, Venturers, Explorers, and their leaders who already have experience camping overnight with their unit.
This is not an unprepared test of endurance. Instead, it is an opportunity to apply cold-weather camping skills, practice self-reliance, and discover how preparation makes outdoor adventure possible in every season.
Why Take the Polar Bear Challenge?
Winter camping gives Scouts opportunities that ordinary campouts cannot provide. Cold temperatures, snow, ice, and shorter daylight hours require participants to plan carefully, communicate clearly, and support one another.
During a Polar Bear campout, Scouts can develop:
- Cold-weather camping skills
- Greater confidence and self-reliance
- Leadership and teamwork
- Winter cooking experience
- Shelter-building knowledge
- Better equipment-planning habits
- Awareness of changing weather conditions
- Practical risk-management skills
Furthermore, winter camping encourages Scouts to move beyond their comfort zones in a safe and structured environment. Every meal prepared, shelter completed, and cold night successfully managed becomes an accomplishment the entire unit can celebrate.
Preparing for a Safe Winter Campout
Preparation is the most important part of any Polar Bear experience. Before the campout, the unit leader or designated Polar Bear leader should complete training that includes cold-weather camping information.
The unit must also conduct a mandatory training session for everyone who plans to participate. This training helps Scouts understand what to bring, how to dress, how to stay dry, and how to recognize potential cold-related health concerns.
Unit training should address topics such as:
- Dressing in layers
- Choosing appropriate winter footwear
- Staying dry in snow and cold weather
- Selecting a sleeping bag and sleeping pad
- Packing extra clothing
- Preparing warm meals and drinks
- Recognizing signs of frostbite and hypothermia
- Managing wet clothing and equipment
- Building safe fires when permitted
- Creating an emergency plan
Leaders should also review current Scouting America policies, weather forecasts, participant health needs, and local camping regulations before the trip.
Who Should Participate?
Polar Bear Camping is intended for experienced youth and adults who are ready for the additional demands of winter camping.
Participants should:
- Be registered Scouts BSA members, Venturers, Explorers, or leaders
- Have completed several overnight campouts with their unit
- Attend the unit’s required cold-weather training
- Bring appropriate winter clothing and equipment
- Follow instructions from unit leadership
- Be physically prepared for winter conditions
- Work cooperatively as part of the group
Unit leaders and committees are responsible for determining whether each participant has the experience, training, clothing, equipment, and physical readiness needed for the campout.
Not every Scout is immediately ready for a Polar Bear campout. However, units can use shorter winter activities, equipment demonstrations, and cold-weather training sessions to help Scouts prepare for a future attempt.
How to Become a Polar Bear Unit
Follow these steps to complete the Green Mountain Council Polar Bear Camping challenge:
1. Select Your Campout
Plan a unit or multi-unit campout between December 1 and March 31. Choose a location that supports winter camping and provides an appropriate emergency plan.
2. Train Unit Leadership
The unit leader or designated Polar Bear leader should attend training that includes cold-weather camping. Training opportunities may be available through district roundtables or other council programs.
3. Train Every Participant
Conduct a mandatory unit-level training session before the campout. Review clothing, equipment, health and safety, meals, shelters, weather, and emergency procedures.
4. Review Participant Readiness
Confirm that each participant has adequate camping experience and appropriate winter equipment. Unit leaders should address missing or unsuitable gear before leaving for camp.
5. Monitor the Weather
Watch the forecast closely and prepare for changing conditions. Winter weather can shift quickly, so leaders should establish clear safety limits and backup plans.
6. Complete the Winter Campout
Camp outdoors in tents, open-front shelters, or properly constructed improvised shelters. The experience must last at least 20–24 hours while the temperature is below 32°F.
7. Submit the Campout Report
After completing the campout, submit the Polar Bear Award Application and campout report to the Green Mountain Council office by April 30.
Helpful Winter Camping Resources
Units should begin preparing well before the campout. Useful resources may include:
- The Scouting America Fieldbook
- The Camping merit badge pamphlet
- Venturing program resources
- Cold-weather camping training
- Experienced winter camping leaders
- Units that have previously completed Polar Bear campouts
- Winter camping and survival books
- Local outdoor professionals and instructors
Experienced Scouters can also provide useful advice about equipment, camp locations, menus, shelters, and activities that work well during Vermont winters.
Tips for a Successful Polar Bear Campout
A well-planned winter campout can be challenging without becoming miserable. Encourage participants to focus on preparation and prevention rather than simply enduring the cold.
For a stronger experience:
- Check every participant’s equipment before departure
- Use insulated sleeping pads beneath sleeping bags
- Pack dry clothing in waterproof bags
- Avoid cotton clothing in cold and wet conditions
- Serve warm, high-energy meals
- Encourage participants to drink water regularly
- Plan activities that keep Scouts moving
- Schedule time to warm up and change wet clothing
- Keep emergency transportation available
- Evaluate conditions throughout the campout
Most importantly, leaders should be prepared to change or end the activity when conditions exceed the unit’s training, equipment, or safety plan.
Build Skills That Last All Year
Polar Bear Camping teaches lessons that extend beyond winter. Scouts learn to prepare carefully, remain calm when conditions become difficult, and rely on their training. They also discover how individual choices affect the safety and success of the entire group.
Consequently, a Polar Bear campout can strengthen both individual Scouts and the unit as a whole. Participants return with greater confidence, stronger outdoor skills, and a deeper appreciation for teamwork.
Is Your Unit Ready to Become a Polar Bear Unit?
Gather your team, begin training, and prepare for one of Vermont Scouting’s most memorable outdoor challenges. With the right equipment, leadership, and planning, your unit can safely experience the excitement of camping below freezing.
The cold is part of the challenge. Preparation is the key to success.
