Is your patrol ready to roll?
You’ll need
- Camp kit to check
- Tools and replacement parts (such as whipping cord or guy ropes)
- Cleaning products (such as rush remover)
Before you begin
- This activity is best run in the weeks leading up to a camp or event. It could be run as a base or set of bases for small groups during a session, alongside other camp preparations.
- This activity follows on naturally from Keep your kit fit, and the group will be checking the position of parts, their function (whether they work properly) and what condition they’re in.
Tool check
- Set out the tools from the camp kit. This might include gardening implements and sharp hand tools, like knives, axes or saws. Everyone should choose a tool to check.
If anyone chooses a sharp tool, check these one at a time with close adult supervision.
- Everyone should look at their tool. Check that it has any coverings, sheaths or other components that are supposed to be with it.
- Now, check how well the item functions. Look out for loose handles, dents and blunt edges.
Loose handles on tools can often be fixed by tightening a bolt or wedge. It’s important that any loose grips are fixed as soon as they’re found, to stop the tool injuring someone next time it’s used.
- If a sharp tool is blunt, it should be sharpened using the right sharpener for that kind of item. Handle sharp edges with care, even where they’ve been blunted. An adult should supervise all tool sharpening.
- Now, everyone should look out for general wear on the tools. Look out for tarnished or rusty metal parts. These should be cleaned and treated with oil or another lubricant, as over time corrosion will weaken the metal.
- If planning a large camp and camping in several groups, it’s wise to mark each tool with the name of its group, so that it doesn’t get mixed up with other tools if borrowed or misplaced.
You don’t need to wait for a big camp to do this. Numbering, naming or colour-coding equipment is a useful exercise to check and keep track of everything day-to-day in your stores.
Tent check
- Set out the tents. Everyone should check a component of each tent, so that each part listed below is checked as described.
- Once all of the items attached to the tent have been checked, the group should put the tent up together.
- If everything’s as it should be, take the tent down, fold it neatly and put it back into its bag. Everything you need to put up the tent should fit into the bag, so that it’s all in one place.
If it won’t fit into the bag, mark each loose component part so that it isn’t lost or separated from the tent itself.
Fabric
- The fabric parts of a tent that make up its roof, walls and floor have different names, depending on the type of tent, and are attached or detached in different ways. The checks are the same. First, look for tears or holes in the fabric. If there are holes in the parts that make up the roof or walls, you’re likely to get wet or visited by insects. These holes can be repaired but how to do this depends on the material itself. Plastic tents will usually require a special patch, which is glued in place rather than stitched. Canvas patches can be sewn in place. There’s more on this helpful patching step-by-step.
Poles
- The poles of a tent hold it up. Whatever the material, the main thing to establish is that the poles are the right length and that they’re not split or bent. This will make sure they hold the tent fabric in the right shape.
Pegs
- The pegs are usually made from wood, metal or sometimes plastic. Pegs have a hard life, being bashed into the ground and often left behind by careless campers, but without them, it’ll be very difficult to keep your tent in one place. Check that your pegs haven’t split or bent out of shape too much. They should be straight, apart from the hooked or mushroomed head that holds the guy line or fabric loop in place. Some metal pegs can be bent back into shape, but otherwise pegs are difficult to repair if damaged. The main thing to check is that you have enough pegs for each guy line and fabric loop, and some spare.
Ropes
- The guy ropes and any other cordage on your tent help to pull it into shape and keep it up in windy weather. Check that the ropes aren’t tangled or frayed. If they are, a whipping or splicing can help to repair them. It’s good to keep some suitable cord with a tent that could make a replacement guy line, in case one is damaged during use.
Other parts
- Some tents will have zips or toggles for their doors, or to adjust the fit of vents or walls. Check that all of these work before you set off on your adventure, as a broken tent door on winter camp can make for an uncomfortable draft!
- Other parts could also include the bag that the tent comes in. This should fit everything in comfortably and be kept safe and dry during your camp, ready to pack up the tent again at the end.
Reflection
Taking responsibility for your kit is much easier when we all promise to take care of possessions and property. Shared equipment, like tents and tools, may be used by thousands of people over the course of its life. This is only possible if the equipment is taken care of.
Some people see equipment as disposable, with thousands of pieces of camping equipment left at music festivals and other events every year. This extreme form of littering has an impact on the environment, and shows little care for your temporary home. Whilst it doesn’t seem like the most enjoyable part of the camping experience, caring for and putting equipment away properly makes it easier for whoever needs it next time to get on and have fun.
Safety
All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.
- Poles and long objects
Be careful when moving poles or long items. Take care if the ends are sharp. Have appropriate supervision for this activity.
- Sharp objects
Teach young people how to use sharp objects safely. Supervise them appropriately throughout. Store all sharp objects securely, out of the reach of young people.
Give everyone a list of things to sort and pack or get them to decide what they might need, and see if there are any things that people miss off.
All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.
For more on tools, take a look at these resources from Victorinox and our Toolkit training activity.