Troop198

Each year our scout troop runs into new scouts and new parents. The intro to camping lesson is always fun. Here's the start of a list of tips, no particular order.

1. Use a ground cloth under your tent.
2. Take off boots or shoes when entering the tent. ( a must when it rains)
3.Never store a wet or damp tent (dry it at home if you must)
4. NEVER store food in your tent. Store food in your car if possible or in approriate animal proof boxes. Love those Racoons
5.Don't store your sleeping bag in its sack. Fill material that is compressed for a long time will lose its insulating ability.
6. Consider buying a sleeping pad to prevent the cold ground from sapping away your body heat while you sleep and will also give you a soft sleeping surface
7. Seal the seams of your tent

Camp on
More another day

riverrat

8)When it's cold, put extra clothes inside your sleeping bag at the foot section to take up dead air space. Makes it easier to put them on, too, if you change into them first thing (they're still warm)!

9)Sleep with a knit hat/cap on when its cold.

10)Always have a flashlight close at hand.

11) If its an extended campout with fluctuating weather (ie, the Hill country in late Fall and early spring) use a large, clear plastic rubbermaid type container to pack your belongings in. This can be stored outside of the tent to maximize indoor space or if you have the room, it makes a nice "nightstand". Makes for easy "finding of that last clean pair of warm socks" or that one pair of shorts you brought, etc.

toejam

I haven't sealed the seams of a tent in years - if a tent needs the seams sealed, it prolly wouldn't help anyway. Proper design and factory taping make this unnecessary.

All tents must have the floor constructed like tub - a seam at ground level will collect water and always leak in the lightest rain.

Something I learned this year is to bring ear plugs to help you sleep in wind or if you have noisy neighbors.

Always have an extra pair of socks.

Hike in comfortable shoes.

Have flip-flops/sandals for giving your feet a break after hiking all day in boots.

happybooker1

Bring a small hand broom & dustpan for sweeping out the tent everyday. ALWAYS put up the rainfly (don't ask me how I know this ). Carry a small rug for outside the tent to collect *some* of the tracked in dirt. Take off shoes OUTSIDE when possible.

srds

12. take a extra pair of shoes or swim shoes
13.bring extra clothes
14. extra's for your shower
15.Flashlights so you don't have to share
16.first aid kit
17.combs or hair brushes
18.something to read
19.a pillow
20.medications and a list of how you take it.Signed by parents

srds
Have Fun

Troop198

101.Make sure you choose a big enough but not gigantic tent. Cub scout families and other families new to camping usually need tents for family camping. Tents come in three basic shapes: A-frame, dome and walled tents. Our troop uses Dome tents. Dome tents have flexible poles that bend over the tent and give it stability. Many domes have interiors with plenty of headroom.
Tents are sold as as two-person, three-person, four and five. Regardless of how they are sold, pick a tent that suits your space requirements for campers and don't forget your gear. We have found that many two-person tents will barely fit two scouts (6th graders on up) and generally these have no room for backpacks and "stuff". Four person dome tents give two scouts lots of room and plenty of space to stow backpacks inside. So if adult is taking a son, get a four man tent Two adults and a son may not fit all four man tents so look for stores with hands on displays of tents before you buy.

Troop198

Reply for toejam and others
Most new tents do have what’s called a "tub floor". It's a seamless, heavy-duty waterproof material that lines the floor of the tent. It should go up the wall a few inches before it is sewn into the wall. Its purpose is to keep side seams away from the ground so that leaks can’t occur.

Older tents with bad seems will leak. Tents that are put away wet will leak. A good ground cloth should keep the floor dry, don't let the ends stick out, as many scouts find out that is a water magnet and now you have trapped water between two layers of fabric.

When we buy new tents, (more often than you think) we use sealer. We also setup the tent in the hall to become used to the setup and take down

Maury

Thats a great tip for tent campers Happybooker1! I use one of those heavy duty rubber/carpet front door mats like you would see in front of an office entrance and it stays put even on windy nights. Also you can fold it over on itself when you turn in at night to keep the dew off it! Nothing worse than crawling out of your tent onto a wet mat! I somehow left my $35. mat at Kerrville Schiener park site #49 a few weeks ago!!!! Thanks for reminding me!

Maury

Turn Key

21) Assume that it will rain and plan for it. It WILL the first time you don't plan for it.

Happy Camping!

__________________

Troop198

Sounds like some folks have experienced those Texas rain showers. Unfortunately no matter how often you tell parents and there boys to bring rain gear, its often not there when needed. When your in a tent for 2 full days, and it doesn't stop you get wet

toejam

Don't bail out on a camping trip just because there is a chance of rain in the forecast - chances are it won't be too bad and it might scare off some of the other campers.

Don't be afraid to bail out if it actually does pour down rain - go get something warm to eat and pack up you wet stuff when the rain stops.