When I was a Boy Scout leader I had to take training on weather hazards. I started carrying a NOAA weather alert radio, but the threat of lightening continued to bug me. The radio would give me sufficient warning about storms (high winds, tornado, ...) to get the boys to a shelter, but I felt it didn't really provide sufficient warning about lighting strikes.

I finally bought a StrikeAlert lightening detector - a pretty slick device. With the lightening detector I felt that I could reasonably allow the troop to "weather" moderate storms. The detector could give me enough real-time warning that I could load the boys into cars (most of our camping was pretty close to cars).

Now that my Scouting days are done and retirement is in view I plan on bringing the lightening detector with me when out on lakes.