Sleep in a tent you pitch

Pitching your own shelter is a core outdoor skill that builds true self-reliance. A tent pitched improperly sags in the wind, channels rainwater under your floor, or collapses during a midnight squall. Setting it up correctly ensures you stay dry, warm, and well-rested.

Choosing and Preparing Your Site

• Select flat, durable ground: Look for level, well-drained ground free of rocks, sharp sticks, pinecones, and roots. Avoid depressions or low spots where rainwater can pool.
• Inspect overhead hazards: Look straight up for dead branches, hanging limbs (“widow-makers”), or damaged trees that could break and fall in high winds or rain.
• Check wind and weather orientation: Face the smallest profile or lowest side of the tent into the prevailing wind, and position the entrance door away from direct oncoming winds.
• Maintain safe spacing: Keep your sleeping tent well away (and upwind) from fire rings, cooking areas, and patrol sumps.

Step-by-Step Pitching Technique

1. Clear the footprint area: Gently remove loose rocks and twigs from the spot without digging trenches or damaging living vegetation.
2. Lay out the ground cloth (footprint): Spread your footprint flat. Critical Rule: The ground cloth must be 2–3 inches smaller than the base of the tent floor, or have its edges folded completely underneath. If the footprint extends beyond the tent edges, it acts as a funnel, catching rain running off the fly and channeling pools of water right underneath your tent floor.
3. Unroll and align the tent body: Lay the tent floor squarely over the footprint. Pin the corners down with stakes placed at a 45-degree angle pointing away from the tent center.
4. Assemble and seat the poles: Carefully snap pole sections together from the ends inward (avoid “whipping” shock-corded poles, which can crack or splinter aluminum and fiberglass ferrules). Slide poles through sleeves or snap tent clips to the frame, then seat the pole tips firmly into the corner grommets or eyelets.
5. Attach and tension the rainfly: Drape the rainfly over the frame, aligning door zippers and color-coded webbing straps. Fasten all internal Velcro wrap-tabs to the poles for structural stability in heavy winds.
6. Guy out for airflow and stability: Stake out the rainfly and vestibules tautly. Ensure there is a distinct, unobstructed air gap between the outer rainfly and the inner tent body. If the two layers touch during rain, moisture will wick straight through the breathable inner wall.
7. Open ventilation vents: Keep rainfly peak vents propped open, even on cold or rainy nights. Trapped human breath contains high amounts of water vapor that condenses on interior walls if fresh air cannot circulate.

Nighttime Routine & Tent Care

• Dedicated sleep clothing: Never sleep in the clothes or socks you wore during the day. Daytime clothing absorbs body moisture and sweat, which will make you feel chilled as soon as temperatures drop. Change into clean, completely dry thermal underwear and dry wool socks right before getting into your sleeping bag.
• Keep smellables out: Never bring food, snacks, candy wrappers, lip balm, toothpaste, or scented items into your tent. Store all smellables in bear-proof containers or suspended bear bags.
• Store boots properly: Place muddy hiking boots under the rainfly vestibule outside the tent door. In the morning, shake boots upside down before putting them on to dislodge any spiders, insects, or scorpions.
• Post-campout maintenance: Sweep out sand, pine needles, and dirt before packing. If the tent is damp when breaking camp, pack it loosely and pitch or hang it indoors immediately upon returning home until 100% dry to prevent mildew growth and urethane waterproof coating breakdown.

This requirement is completed by actively participating in setting up your shelter and spending the full night sleeping in it during a troop or patrol outing. Be prepared to explain to your patrol leader or scoutmaster how you selected your site and pitched the tent properly.