The holidays are a perfect time to help fuel a Scout’s adventures for the coming year. Every season, parents, grandparents, extended family, friends, and even the Scouts themselves find they could use a little inspiration when choosing the right gift for a Scouter. The best gifts are fun, practical, and often spark a whole new type of adventure. And sometimes, they simply make the next outing safer, easier, or more memorable.
Many of the ideas below are inspired by experiences from the past year, when I was fortunate enough to spend time outdoors and see firsthand what truly makes a difference on the trail.
Here are eight ways to support an adventure outdoors this holiday season:
(Click to read more on each gift down the page.)
- Satellite Connection: T-Mobile
- Lightweight Chair
- Game
- Polyester Tent
- High Adventure Base
- First Aid Go Bag
- Camping Blanket / Quilt
- Microfiber Towell
SATELLITE CONNECTION
It’s no longer just about finding the nearest cell tower. This recommendation isn’t tied to a specific phone, but to T-Mobile’s service – which can connect through Starlink satellites. (In reality, more carriers and devices will likely have this function.)
What does this mean in Scouting? It means you can send a text message from the bottom of a mountain valley, or any place traditional cell service can’t reach. When safety, coordination, or reassurance matters, that capability is huge.
And for those who need more than texting, Starlink also offers mobile internet options that let you bring a reliable connection wherever your adventure takes you.
LIGHTWEIGHT CHAIR
After one good hike at Philmont, you quickly learn what you wish you had packed. I didn’t have a chair, and I wish I did. I can enjoy sitting on the ground, a tree log, or a rock only for so long. It used to be that lightweight meant not durable, but that’s no longer true. Today’s backpacking chairs are strong, ultralight, and surprisingly comfortable. Check out this page from Backpacking Light, which gives all the different possible ideas on chairs.
GAMES
Bananagrahms or Nerts are awesome options that are light and can offer hours of entertainment. Everyone has downtime when backpacking or camping. Some people want to sleep or chat – others need something to do. A simple, packable game can make a difference.
POLYESTER TENT
You really do get what you pay for. For years, polyester tarps were bulky and heavy—hardly an ideal solution for staying dry. But thanks to smarter engineering and improved thread construction, polyester tent flies and floors are now lighter than most other materials on the market. Only Dyneema is lighter, but it comes with a much higher price tag.
Modern polyester is top tier for tents: extremely lightweight, highly waterproof, and reliably durable. These tents tend to cost more, but if you’re looking for a quality shelter that performs, polyester is hard to beat.
After researching several options, I went with the Marmot Tungsten UL 3-Person. It’s a little roomier, weighs just around 3 lbs., and has handled wind and rain without any issues—even without a separate ground tarp. The team at Clever Hiker also offers a great breakdown of lightweight tent choices if you want to dive deeper.
HIGH ADVENTURE BASE
Scout camp builds skills and character that last a lifetime – and high adventure bases take that experience to an entirely new level. Whether you’re a youth or an adult leader, the bonding, challenge, and pure excitement of places like Montana Outdoor High Adventure Base, Philmont, Northern Tier, Sea Base, or the Summit are unforgettable.
But these trips aren’t cheap. Beyond registration fees, the gear and preparation can add up quickly. Supporting a Scout or Scout leader in attending one of Scouting America’s four High Adventure Bases is a meaningful gift that fuels growth, confidence, grit, and memories they’ll carry forever.
FIRST AID GO BAG
Anyone who has taken a Wilderness First Aid course and needs to carry supplies into the wilderness is thinking about one of these MOLLE bags. You can buy them fully stocked or empty and ready to customize with the exact items you prefer. Either option makes a thoughtful gift. And while you’re at it, consider helping someone register for a first aid training course. Trained leaders save lives.
CAMPING BLANKET / QUILT
Does your sleeping pad slide around at night? Need more space or flexibility in your sleep setup? Here’s something many campers don’t realize – once you lie on your sleeping bag, the insulation underneath you get compressed and provides almost no warmth. That’s where camping quilts come in.
A quilt sits on top of you while your sleeping pad stays underneath, providing the insulation your bag can’t. Some quilts even attach directly to your pad to block drafts. After trying this setup recently, I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable and warm it was.
Before committing, I experimented with putting my pad inside my sleeping bag. It sounds worth trying, but it doesn’t work well – mainly because you’d need a much larger, heavier bag to make it fit. And the whole point of switching to a quilt is to reduce weight.
For a deeper dive into the benefits of quilts, Outdoor Vitals has a great article on the topic.
MICROFIBER TOWEL
Having a towel to dry off while camping is a nice amenity after a quick shower or a refreshing dip in a mountain lake. But nobody wants to haul or hike with a bulky cotton towel from home. A lightweight microfiber towel is the perfect solution. They pack down small, dry quickly, and come in plenty of colors and sizes to suit everyone in your family or group. Consider adding one of these to your gear list.
Yours in Scouting,
Pat Dannenberg
Pat Dannenberg is the former Director of Field Service for the Montana Council and is currently the Scout Executive for Gateway Area Council in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
