American Summer Camp - Camp Counsellor

This summer I'm heading to Maine to act as a Camp Counsellor at Camp Modin. The Camp America assocation in GB has a forum which I'm active on. The question just came up about torches and I stepped in!

I've reccomended people to a) spruce up their dad's old mini-maglite, or b) look to fenix-store for a L2d-CE.

I have suggested both these because they run from AA's, not the best I know but very very availiable! I personally will be taking my new P3D, but trying to explain CR123 batteries to people in the UK is a non starter!

I know people will instantly jump in with surefire related responses, but the people that are going to be counsellors havent got much spare money, and need something with plenty "bang for the buck"

Has anybody here experienced (as a Counsellor or participant!) the summer camp experience, and what torch would you reccomend if asked?

Hmmmm.......

Inova X1, may be good for inside tents.
Fenix has some options for AA setups, couldn't tell ya right off the bat as I'm not a Fenix guy myself.

Streamlight Propoly 4AA or 3C
Any of the Magleds would probably be affordable for most. Or even regular Magleds.

Do you have Dorcy or Garrity over there? They may have some cheap options as well.

The new Ultrafire C5 can use 2 AA. Around $21.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3356�?_veR=32712036

Depends on what kind of camping you're doing - I live at a year-round camp, with traditional summer camp during the summer and school camps, retreats and other groups during the rest of the year. Most people are either going to have the cheapest D flashlight they can find or a minimag. I dazzled people with my Everled-modified Maglites, and when they saw what a Surefire was capable of they just went crazy..

Personally, for night hikes and trips to the bathroom, I'd recommend a small LED. Nothing fancy - MagLED or smaller. You don't need brightness, you just need to see enough to not hurt yourself. You're outside in the dark, THAT'S THE POINT OF A NIGHT HIKE!! Even as non-staff, I hiked at night and enjoyed it most when I was hiking by moonlight alone. Second place would be in a DRIVING rainstorm with my Barbolight U15, but that's another story

A big box of $0.25 cent lights. that way you can hand em out to the kids who loose their or forgot to bring one, lol. ok, ok...

on a more serious note. If you are trying to come up with recommendations for counselors, sporting goods stores in the area might carry Princeton Tec lights, something like a Tec20 or Tec40 if you are looking for AA size only..

however: I am a big fan of "C" size lights when recommending "general duty" lights. The streamlight propoly 3C luxeon comes to mind.

Has anybody here experienced (as a Counsellor or participant!) the summer camp experience, and what torch would you reccomend if asked?

Click to expand...

5 year camp administrator here. I spend my summers in the Berkshires of Western Mass.

the most popular lights among the general staff are Princeton Tec led lights because they are available in the local EMS. The kids seem partial to Streamlight twin-task lights; I think the camp clothier catalog offers them. Since mom stocks and packs almost every campers bag, they get what they get...

among the Admins, I count 2 SF U2's, 3 A2's at least 4 C/P/Z series 2 and 3 cell lights...

My primary camp light this summer will probably be my flupic driven A19 XR-E on a E2d body...

The bump in the night go-to tends to be a D3 running 2x17500.

EDIT: I just looked into Camp Modin, and it looks like a nice place. a bit smaller than my summer home, but co-ed

if this is your first summer at camp, get ready for the adventure of your life! otherwise, welcome back. :rock:

I have used and recommend the streamlight 4AA or 3c polypro,leds, as they last nearly for ever on one set of batteries.

I know one thing's for sure, those Councilors at Camp Crystal Lake could have used better flashlights. (You older guys might get the joke).

tebore said:

I know one thing's for sure, those Councilors at Camp Crystal Lake could have used better flashlights. (You older guys might get the joke).

Click to expand...

That ain't no lie. A M*G 11 mabey? For those that don't get the joke, tebore is refering to Camp Crystal Lake from the Friday the 13th series of movies.

speaking of hockey, the Detroit Red Wings just closed out the San Jose Sharks! We are on our way to the Western Conference Champion finals to face the Ducks...

Go Wings!

tebore said:

I know one thing's for sure, those Councilors at Camp Crystal Lake could have used better flashlights. (You older guys might get the joke).

Click to expand...

LOL

I hope you do some flashlight modding at Camp Modin.

i did two years of outdoor education with two lights, a brinkman longlife and a red inova microlight. our night hikes were all about experiencing the night and focusing on other senses. if an instructor had blazed along the trail with even a fenix they would not have done so the second night.

The LED Mini-maglight.

I say this not because it's the best (it isn't) but because it runs AA's it can withstand drops without blowing it's lamp (which the mini-mag is famous for), i'd say because it's a known factor from a very well known company.

As a watch person I could tell someone to buy a Rolex. Simply because it's a safe bet from a well known international manufacturer, while knowing that there are a dozen (or two or three) manufacturers that kick the stuffin out of Rolex, but 99.99% don't know and really don't care.

So I would suggest the Mini-mag LED, it's safe and well known.

Outdoors Fanatic said:

I hope you do some flashlight modding at Camp Modin.

Click to expand...

Groan... I don't think I'll take my only mod with me... 6D Rop would take up half my luggage allowance!

mdocod said:

A big box of $0.25 cent lights. that way you can hand em out to the kids who loose their or forgot to bring one, lol. ok, ok...

Click to expand...

Great minds think alike, I already stocked up on these to use as bribes/prizes, It's amazing how many have found there way onto my familys keys though!

It's my first ever summer American summer camp, I've been a Scout leader in the UK for years... something tells me I'm in for a shock! Never been on a scout camp with water-ski boats!

Retinator said:

Any of the Magleds would probably be affordable for most. Or even regular Magleds.

Click to expand...

You're having a laugh aren't you? Here, in the UK, any MagLED will cost upward of $80 ! ! ! ! !

I've actually got no Idea what a new mag-led costs over here, but I still wouldnt reccomend them to anybody over a Fenix... Just seems like yesterdays technology trying to play catch-up. Having said that I still love the maglite body shape, just wish I could match the brightness of one of my Cree equipped fenixes.

Well, one time, at band camp!


Seriously, I think an Inova XO would be plenty of light.

tebore said:

I know one thing's for sure, those Councilors at Camp Crystal Lake could have used better flashlights. (You older guys might get the joke).

Click to expand...

They could've also used a couple of shotguns, too!