There’s No Place Like Camp

Through Scouting I’ve been on all sorts of camps, in all shapes and sizes. Since getting my camp permit four years ago I’ve been able to plan and run many of these. Some of these camps are just one night away where we cook simple food and plan our programme as we go, and some are multiple weeks long with thousands of people and more activities then you could possibly fit in.

I’ve camped in sub zero temperatures, in the wild, in a bothy, overseas, during a storm, and even on my balcony during lockdown. This month I ran a weekend survival themed camp at Fordell Firs for 15 Scouts, where we all slept in shelters in the woodland. Through experience and learning from others I’ve come to acquire good practice for keeping your campsite organised and safe, this can make all the difference to your camping trip.

Camp Kit

• Lay out your kit as you pack before putting it in the bag. This allows you to see what you have and means you are less likely to forget something.

• Do not overpack! Take what you need plus essential spares. Make sure you have the appropriate kit for the location and weather.

• Pack your rucksack correctly. Lighter items go at the bottom (sleeping bag, clothes etc.) while heavier items are packed towards the top (stove, food etc.). Heavy items should also be packed towards your back to keep your centre of gravity. Use the “first in, last out” method.

• Pack items you need to access properly at the top or in side pockets (waterproofs, first aid kit, torch etc.)

• Make sure your rucksack is adjusted to your height and it’s weight and that you can carry it comfortably. Avoid having anything hanging in the outside as this could fall off.

• Pack your clothes and any other important kit in dry sacks or plastic bags to keep it from getting wet if your bag is out in the rain.

• Have an extra dry sack or plastic bag with you to put dirty and wet clothes in. This keeps them apart from your dry and clean clothes.

• Keep you kit organised during camp. You should always know where everything is and if it isn’t being used it should go back in your bag. This is particularly important if you are sharing a tent with others.

• Use your kit properly. Ensure your mat is fully inflated by topping it up with air. Use the hood of your sleeping bag and pull the toggles tight to stay warm.

• Try to keep kit from touching the inner of the tent. If there is rain, damp or even dew, this could lead to your kit getting wet. It’s especially important your sleeping bag is not touching the sides.

• Stuff your sleeping bag rather than rolling when putting it away. The prevents creases from forming in the same areas of stuffing each time, making it last longer. Make your stuff sack as small as possible when travelling but always loosen when it’s in storage.

• Keep any straps for your roll mat and use these to store it properly. If it’s an inflatable mat keep the valve open when in storage. Always keep the puncture kit with your mat.

• Air out your belongings after each camp. You don’t have to wash items each time, only when needed.

Tents

• Try to pitch your tent on a flat area, but avoid any which would become a water ditch in rain. Check the area for rocks before pitching.

• Pitch your tent with the door facing away from the wind. This will reduce its affect and not let as much cold enter.

• When unpacking the tent, keep everything together. Weigh items down if it is windy and check you have all the bags once pitched. Keep these safe in your tent.

• Set your tent up in the same order each time. This helps you remember each step and that is becomes easier to do without too much thinking.

• Be careful with poles in case they snap or crack. Never wave them around like swords! When pitching your tent poles should always be pushed and never pulled. Make sure they are not caught on any parts of the tent. Poles form your structure so need to be connected properly and creating the right bend.

• Make sure your pegs are going in at a 45 degree angle so they are doing their job. The should be holding hooks or ropes in place to keep your tent on the ground. If you have basic metal pegs do not stand on them to push them in as this will bend them. If they’ve hit a rock, readjust until they go in far enough.

• Ensure your inner and outer sheets and pitched straight and pulled taught. They should not be touching as this will cause the moisture to get through to the inside. The outer, or fly sheet, is your waterproof layer.

• Make sure your guy ropes are tight and check them throughout camp. These keep your tent stable, help in windy conditions, and pull the flysheet taught.

• Your tent bag is the same width as your poles folded inside their bag. Use this to measure the back of the tent if you don’t know how many times it folds. Also use them to check the size as you fold to save you having to re do it. When rolling the tent up, roll the poles in the middle.

• If any of the tent it wet it should be hung up to dry after camp. Putting a tent away when wet will create mould.

• Dry out pegs, polls and their bags as well to stop them rusting. Remove any dirt before storing.

• It is a good idea to take tent repair items with you. You should have a repair kit in your tent bag which you could add spare string and pole wire hook to. You can also take duct or electrical tape for quick fixes on broken poles.

Leave No Trace

• Always follow the Outdoor Access Code, Countryside Code or whatever outdoor laws affect your area.

• Pitch your site in a suitable area. Avoid areas where you will trample plant life and check you are not setting up close to an animal den or nest.

• If you are having a campfire, use a dedicated site or dirt area. If there are none and fires are permitted, remove a square section of the turf and keep it watered and stored upside down. Before you leave replace the turf.

• Have a camp bin which rubbish can be put in straight away to avoid it lying about. If appropriate use wet and dry bins or wet and dry pits. Pits should contain anything harmful to the environment and be filled in again before you leave.

• At the end of your camp do a litter pick and clear up any litter you find, even if it wasn’t yours.