Setting Up Tents

 

       Setting up a tent, which I learned recently, is a basic requirement for a Boy Scout. Before, when I was in Cub Scouts, my dad helped me set up the tent at the campouts. I joined Boy Scouts a while ago, and I was supposed to do everything on my own.

       On our first one-week-long summer camp out in Forest Lawn Scout Reservation in Arrowhead as Boy Scouts, my buddy Darren, and I attempted setting up the tent, but we couldn’t figure out how to put  it together even after 20 minutes of trying. So I asked Josh, a Life Scout (one rank below Eagle Scout) and our troop’s Senior Patrol Leader, for help.

       Josh started explaining to us how the tent is made.  We learned that the tent is supported by two long poles,  which are secured at the four corners. Then the rainfly is laid on top of the tent. Both the tent and rainfly  are nailed down by stakes, holding it in place.

       Of course, we didn’t really get it from his words. So Josh walked us through the instructions step by step. After getting the folded poles ready, we tried pulling them through. But it was not as easy as we imagined. We ended up getting the poles stuck halfway through. Josh helped us take the poles out and gave us some advice on getting them through the bags. Always push the poles through gently and firmly, never pull. Josh gave the poles back to Darren and me for us to try again. After we finished this part with patience, Josh told us to attach clips onto the poles to hold them in place,  which was much easier and we did it in a minute. Then Josh helped us spread the rain fly on top of the tent. We used the smaller poles to hold the rain fly. For the last step, Josh gave us a hammer and told us to pound in the stakes. I was so happy to  see my tent in good shape,  I accidently hit my finger with the hammer. But luckily I wasn’t injured, or maybe I didn’t  really care . We clipped the rain fly on the stakes to stabilize it. Some stakes were not hammered in deep enough, so the clips pulled  them out and I had to hammer them in again because I wanted my shelter to be  sturdy and safe.

        Thanks to Josh for teaching us, I know exactly what to do when it comes to setting up a tent. This skill is a very useful one, because I will be going on many camping and hiking trips and it will make my campouts more enjoyable. Also, I believe after a few years, I can teach new scouts how to set their tents up.  And, of course, I will have more to teach them.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Troop 650 I am the right one in the front row