Below you'll find some information on what's in the course that's not in these notes. The largest advantage to the course is having an instructor to ask questions and get ideas specific to your situation.
The seminar is generally structured in three parts:
An Introduction (which is really an overview of the application and why certain decisions are important).
A deep technical dive into gear and methodology.
Then back to application and how to pull all this information together to build your kit.
If you would like a seminar hosted to cover the information in greater detail, please find 10 people who also want to do the class and talk to the Scoutmaster about putting one on the schedule.
In the seminar, I go further in-depth of my background in Backpacking, experience in Scouting, and how the course has been shaped by my personal experience and what I've seen Scouts struggle with. I also talk about the differences between Traditional Scouting backpacking and modern-day backpacking, showcasing a few different styles, and a few things to be aware of before you go.
In the seminar I go further into detail around what to look for in a backpack, how sleeping bags and pads are rated, marketing examples and what to look for or avoid, gear recommendations, and a general overview of how I think about putting together my "Big 3" system while keeping in mind the trade-offs between cost, quality, functionality, etc.
In the seminar, I go further into materials and their advantages, keeping in mind trade offs between cost and functionality, and provide recommendations.
In the seminar I go further into techniques and strategies for building a cost-effective water treatment system, and techniques for carrying less water overall.
Perhaps the most complex and involved module. In the seminar, I provide overviews of different types of cooking gear, and different methodologies for cleaning your cooking and eating gear so as to minimize the chance of getting sick. I give an overview of backpacking food, and a methodology to help guide your choices when it comes to preparing meals.
In the seminar, I dive deeper into the principles of Leave No Trace, some tips for trail safety including preparation before the trip, and general trail etiquette.
A brief overview with a few trips on how to make your journey a more comfortable.
You've done your research, you've bought your gear, now here's how it all goes in your pack. This module helps in the decision-making process as having an idea of how it all comes together when your making your decisions will help you decide between gear that works better together.