Learn essential shelter and camping skills for Scouts and outdoor adventures, including campsite selection, campcraft, tents, tarp shelters, sleeping outdoors and staying warm and dry.
Wet camping equipment is almost unavoidable on some outdoor trips, particularly in the UK. Tents, clothing, rucksacks and other kit can quickly become damp after rain. The important thing is knowing how to deal with wet equipment properly so that it dries without being damaged. Deal With Wet Equipment Promptly Don’t leave wet equipment packed…
Keeping your clothes dry can make a huge difference to comfort when camping. Wet clothing can become cold and uncomfortable, especially when the weather is poor. The key is to protect your dry clothes from the moment you pack them and to keep wet clothing separate once you’re at camp. Pack Dry Clothes Properly Start…
A sleeping bag is one of the most important pieces of camping equipment you have. Keeping it dry helps you stay warm, comfortable and ready for the next night. Rain isn’t the only source of moisture. Condensation, wet clothing, damp tent floors and careless packing can all cause problems. A few simple habits can make…
Wind can change the way a campsite needs to be planned. A location that seems ideal in calm conditions may become uncomfortable or unsuitable when the wind increases. Choosing a sensible site and thinking about how the wind will affect tents and equipment can make camping safer and more manageable. Look for Natural Shelter When…
Before pitching a tent, it’s worth taking a few minutes to look around the area. A campsite can appear perfectly safe at first glance, but there may be hazards that aren’t immediately obvious. Learning to spot these hazards is an important Scout skill and helps young people become more aware of their surroundings. The aim…
Camping near a river, stream or lake can be an enjoyable part of an outdoor adventure, but water brings its own hazards. The important thing is not simply to find a scenic spot beside the water. Scouts should learn to look at the surroundings, consider how conditions could change and keep tents and activities in…
Choosing suitable ground is one of the first things Scouts should think about when arriving at a campsite. The ground affects how comfortable the tent will be, how well tent pegs hold and whether rainwater is likely to become a problem. A few minutes spent checking the area before pitching can prevent plenty of problems…
A little preparation before pitching a tent can make the whole process easier. Instead of immediately spreading the tent out and putting the poles together, take a few moments to check the equipment and make sure you’ve chosen a suitable location. For Scouts, this is a useful habit to develop because good tent pitching starts…
Tent guy lines are an important part of many tents. They help keep the tent stable, improve the shape of the fabric and provide extra support when conditions become windy. For Scouts, learning how to use guy lines properly is a useful part of understanding how a tent works rather than simply following the pitching…
Tent pegs might be small, but they play an important part in keeping a tent secure. Using the right peg, putting it into the ground correctly and checking it after pitching can make a big difference, especially when the weather changes. Learning how to use tent pegs properly is a simple camping skill that Scouts…
