# 20 Nights of Camping

Part of the Camping Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/camping/guide/index.md)

*9. Camping Experience*

> **9a.** Camp for at least 20 nights at designated Scouting activities or events. One long-term camping experience of up to six consecutive nights may be applied toward this requirement. Two nights may be counted toward the total for each additional long-term camping trip. Each night must be spent either under the sky, in a tent you have pitched yourself (if a tent is provided and already set up, you do not need to pitch your own), in a hammock that is safely strung outdoors, in a lean-to, or other three-sided shelter with an open front. Nights spent in indoor lock-in events, cabin camping, hotel stays, or other covered accommodations do not count toward the 20 nights.

Twenty nights of camping. That is the heart of this merit badge — real experience in the outdoors, building your skills one campout at a time. There is no shortcut for this requirement, and that is by design. You cannot learn to camp from a book. You learn by doing it, night after night, in different seasons and conditions.

### What Counts

Let's be clear about what qualifies and what does not:

**Counts toward your 20 nights:**
- Nights in a tent you pitched yourself
- Nights under the open sky (cowboy camping)
- Nights in a hammock safely strung outdoors
- Nights in a lean-to or three-sided shelter with an open front
- If a tent is already set up and provided for you, you do not need to pitch your own — those nights still count

**Does NOT count:**
- Cabin camping
- Hotel or lodge stays
- Indoor lock-in events
- Sleeping in a fully enclosed permanent structure

### Long-Term Camp Credits

The requirement has special rules for long-term camping:

- **First long-term camp** (like summer camp): You may count up to **six consecutive nights** toward your 20.
- **Additional long-term camps**: Each additional multi-night trip earns you **two nights** credit, regardless of how many actual nights you camp.

This means most of your 20 nights will come from regular troop and patrol campouts — weekend trips, camporees, and other Scouting events.

> **Tip**
>
> Start a camping log early in your Scouting career. Record the date, location, what you slept in (tent, hammock, under the stars), and what you learned or experienced. This log will be invaluable when you sit down with your counselor for this requirement.

### Tracking Your Nights

**Camping Log Entry** — Record these details for each campout

- [ ] Date(s) of the campout.
- [ ] Location (campground name, park, event name).
- [ ] Scouting event or activity (troop campout, camporee, summer camp, etc.).
- [ ] Shelter type (tent I pitched, hammock, lean-to, under the sky).
- [ ] Weather conditions.
- [ ] Notable skills practiced or experiences.
- [ ] Signature or verification from a leader.

### Making the Most of Your 20 Nights

Twenty nights gives you the opportunity to camp in a variety of conditions. Try to include:

- **Different seasons** — Spring, summer, fall, and (if possible) winter camping all teach different skills
- **Different locations** — State parks, national forests, Scout camps, backcountry sites
- **Different shelter types** — Tent, hammock, lean-to, or under the stars
- **Different roles** — Rotate through duty roster positions so you gain experience cooking, navigating, and leading

> **Did You Know?**
>
> The Camping merit badge is one of the most time-intensive Eagle-required badges because of this 20-night requirement. Most Scouts accumulate their nights over 1–2 years of regular troop camping. If your troop camps once a month (a typical schedule), you can reach 20 nights in about 10 months of weekend campouts.

### Where to Camp

- **Troop campouts** — Your most frequent camping opportunities. Monthly campouts are the backbone of your 20 nights.
- **Camporees** — District or council-wide camping events. Great for meeting Scouts from other troops.
- **Summer camp** — A weeklong experience that counts for up to six nights on your first attendance.
- **High adventure bases** — Philmont, Northern Tier, Sea Base, and the Summit. These are unforgettable experiences that also count toward your camping nights.
- **Patrol campouts** — Smaller, more independent trips planned and run by your patrol.

![A Scout's camping log notebook open to a page showing entries with dates, locations, and shelter types, with a pen lying across the page](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/camping/guide/camping-log-journal?v=3e4d94c8)

[Scouting America Camping Programs](https://www.scouting.org/outdoor-programs/camping/): Find camping events, programs, and resources for your troop through the official Scouting America camping page.

![A collage showing four different shelter types: a pitched tent in a forest, a hammock strung between trees, a lean-to shelter, and a Scout sleeping under the open sky with a sleeping pad and bag](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/camping/guide/variety-of-camp-shelters?v=ef254169)

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- Previous: [Cook Your Meals](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/camping/guide/req8d/index.md)
- Next: [Adventure Activities](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/camping/guide/req9b/index.md)