Binoculars

When camping with scouts, getting close enough to actually see an animal or bird can be a challenge. Of course, trying to minimize our impact on the local inhabitants, we don't try to get too close. But, we seldom have to worry about 'trying' to get too close - they hear us coming long before we're there. It would be nice to really see what made that squeek and then disappeared sometime.
I'll often take along a small pair of binoculars so I improve my chances. Since I'm usually up before the scouts, I can take my binoculars and go for a short walk. I'm not much of a birder, but bringing deer, elk, and even bear closer through optics is safer and less intrusive than physically moving closer.
I have Nikon binoculars, but Bushnell, Leopold, and others are also good quality. Optics are one place you shouldn't go for the low price option since they are precision instruments and you have to pay for that.
Binoculars are also useful for the Birds and Mammal Studies merit badges.

Scout On