Evan Andreassi is a Life Scout in Boy Scout Troop 6 of Butler. He is working toward attaining the rank of Eagle Scout and just completed his Eagle Scout project. In this article, Evan discusses his most memorable Scout camping trip.

While I was attending summer camp at Camp Powhatan in Virginia last summer, I was working on my wilderness survival merit badge.

One of the requirements was to construct and sleep in a shelter made out of natural materials for one night.

First, our group had to hike two miles back into the mountains of Virginia where we finally reached our clear-cut camping area.

Breaking into small groups, we started to construct shelters.

The first big stone we flipped over for our fire ring produced a poisonous copperhead snake!

After we built our fire ring, we prepared and ate a quick dinner. Since it was getting dark fast, we headed to our sleeping area to get our gear ready.

It was at this point, I realized a strange smell in the air like spoiled or rotten food.

As I unfolded the garbage bag that held my sleeping bag and pillow, I discovered it had mildewed corn and rotten chili in it!

It was then that I realized my assistant Scout leader had given me a “used” garbage bag from a prior camp out.

Being that our group was in black bear country, I didn't want to sleep in a garbage bag filled with rotten food, so I carried the bag far away from the sleeping area at camp.

I spent a long cold night on the bare ground with part of a rain poncho and another spare, clean garbage bag and lots of Virginia mosquitoes!

On top of that, I heard many noises in the woods that night.

Believe it or not, there are many uses for garbage bags while camping or surviving in the wilderness:

• A rain poncho

• To keep clothing, food or matches dry

If you have a few bags, then you can:

• Make plastic boots/leggings to cross creeks

• By stuffing them with leaves from the forest floor and tying them shut you can make insulated covers and a mattress to sleep on

• Tie them as a windbreak or shelter to protect yourself from bad weather

• Last, but not least, you can use them as a garbage bag.

But if you're in bear country, do not let a bag with spoiled food anywhere near your campsite!

Dispose of it or carry it far away.