USVI-On-Line

Ok guys, this isn't St. John , but Saturday I am taking 11 Girl Scouts kayaking to a barrier island in South Carolina. We are going to spend the night on the beach.

An outfitter company is taking us as we will be on the intercoastal waterway and my group is too young and inexperienced to go on this adventure alone with just me and another leader. And who would trust US with their kayaks?

Anyways, one of my big concerns is "sand management" in the tent. All 11 girls are going to be in the same tent (alone)- can you believe it-they are going to have a blast. Of course I will be very close by in my tent.

I have heard about using baby powder to get sand off your body. Does that really work?

Any other hints about beach camping that might be good to know?

The outfitter is bringing the food-(OK- I cheated. I don't want to deal with EVERYTHING-we aren't Boy Scouts) the girls will get to help cook. The girls are also going to get to dig clams and fish and eat whatever they get.

I am SO excited. It is supposed to be a full moon and at this point, no chance of rain....of course that can change at a moments notice...

I like to stake a neet sheet out side the tent door to take my shoes off on and to wipe our feet on if bare foot it is so easy to shake off.

As a former camper and a girl scout, I laugh at using 11 girls and sand management in the same sentence

One night shouldn't be too bad because they probably won't sleep much anyway.

I second Waterguy's idea, no shoes in the tent.

Someone posted a while back about taking a whisk broom to STJ for sand removal, which I think is a great idea.

I have also heard of using plain cornstarch instead of baby powder.

can you imagine how pissed off some of them are gonig to get at each other about the sand?

they are middle schoolers.

You are a BRAVE woman!

I second the above suggestions regarding whisk broom and neat sheet. But really, there is NO WAY you are going to control the sand.

My advice, don't pack anything that you don't want to come home with sand in it!

Take a couple of washcloths that you can dampen with fresh water, so the girls can wipe down their face, hands, feet, etc. Its usually just enough to stop the super-grimy feeling.

Have Fun!

On their packing list I put to bring a very small pack of baby wipes. Also a wet washcloth in a ziplock and then a handtowel. Then they have to pack their clothes in ziploc bags.

If someone's period starts (for the first time) I will JUST DIE.

I have a bag of every kind of pad and tampon ever. (I'm exaggerating, but you get the drift).

It would be a VERY dramatic moment.

No toilets, eletricity, or running water on this island BTW.

I just packed the neat sheet and whisk broom-great ideas.

Need more.

A pack of middle school age girls? Yeah, I could see sand-whining.

You are a very brave woman!

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ear plugs and a good book?

No suggestions, but just wanted to say have a blast! Sounds like fun to me! Be sure to take lots of pictures.

You might need and IV of rum to put up with them

waterguy, if i didn't think I would get in trouble...

you can be damn sure I will be drinking painkillers or something Sunday night.

if I can move.

(a 2 hour paddle to the island!)

waterguy wrote:You might need and IV of rum to put up with them

I sooo thought the same thing about sneaking booze along! I likely would not be a good chaperone.

I have had many moms ask if they can have "just little wine" when it is there turn to come on our trips.

My response "How will you feel on the next trip if the parents bringing your daughter have just a little wine?"

That shuts them up pretty fast.

I am probably the biggest drinker of the moms in our troop. But not at Girl Scouts. Bad idea.

I make up for it when I get home.