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Troop Committee Minutes.htm

What do I do with the tent that came back from Camp?

Purpose: On a weekend campout we try hard to permit the sun to warm and dry the tents during the weekend -- but it usually doesn't happen that way.  Even on nice days that beautiful sparkling dew keeps them fairly damp.  Rolled-up wet tents mildew, meaning smelly tents on the next campout and a fundraiser for tents before the next!

Instructions:  Ideally later on Sunday, or Monday if Sunday's weather was poor, ask your Scout to setup the tent somewhere outside, or in the garage if need be.  This is a full setup -- tent and fly. In good conditions these tents dry out in about two hours.  That's when you ask your Scout to brush off any dried dirt and sweep out the inside of the tent.  Then it's time to repack the tent to bring it back.  If the tent is damaged in any manner, or missing parts, write that down and have the Scout e-mail that information to the Adult Quartermaster Mr. Schmidt.

Your Scout should do this work but will likely need your help.  This is a good time to have them instruct YOU on how to set this up and take it down properly.  If he has problems, he should call his Patrol Leader or Troop Guide.

Parts:  A typical tent includes these parts.

  • 1 Tent bag (fully contains all parts)

  • 1 skinny pole bag (most tents will have these)

  • 1 small stake bag (some tents will have these -- for dogbones and stakes)

  • 1 rain fly (most with vestibule)

  • 2 dogbones (white plastic dogbone looking things for the poles)

  • about 15-16 poles depending on the tent.  Mostly three poles that connect for the four uprights, three more for the crosspiece and 1 or 2 that serve as an "awning" for the rain fly

  • 1 tent (of course!)

  • 8-12 stakes (this will vary -- we like the stakes with the tents, but keep a general backup supply as well)

When putting back, the pole bag, stake bag and fly are rolled up within the tent, then all is placed in the bag.  Sometimes the pole bag is placed in the bag last.

When all put back, please turn over to the Quartermaster(s) at the next meeting and be sure to have your name checked off the list.