Camping Equipment Care

Tents

• • The key word is “dry”.  It’s so important.  If tents are stored wet, even just overnight, they get stinky and start to fall apart. So please, please, please, spread the tent out somewhere right away so it can dry.  A shower curtain rod often works. Or spread them over the bikes in the garage: find a way to get air circulation above and below.
  • Don’t put tents in the washing machine – it ruins the seams, removes the waterproofing from the cloth, and then they leak when it rains. (Wet campers are rarely happy campers.)
  • Make sure you have all the parts for the same tent.  All tents are numbered and every bag and tent part is numbered (except the pole set and the stakes).  Often, parts get mixed up when the troop is packing up to leave camp.
  • Make sure everything looks OK (e.g., not bent or broken or ripped or missing) and you have the right number of everything. The correct number of tent stakes for the tent is written on the tent bag.
  • Make sure everything is clean – no mud, grass, etc. on the parts. The best option is to gently rinse my tent (both sides of every part and also the tent stakes and poles) with water from a garden hose in the driveway. Don’t scrub the tent cloth as that will likely damage the seams and cloth.  Also, don’t walk on the tent when it’s spread out because those tiny stones from the concrete will poke tiny holes in the tent cloth.  Holes in the tent cloth means the tent leaks in the rain and then we’re back to unhappy wet campers.
    • 1. Fold and role the tent up neatly so it fits in the bag. The tent footprint bag is mostly rectangular.  The footprint should be folded and rolled in an elongated shape so it fits easily in the footprint bag.  Put the tent footprint in the main bag first so the main tent keeps it from falling out of the bag.  
      2. Roll the tent around the rain fly with the tent pole bag and tent stake bag in the very center so they are cushioned by the tent.  You should have a fairly nice cylinder-shaped roll to put in the bag. 
      3. Use the flap near the drawstring to over the end of the rolled tent.  Then pull the drawstring to make a nice package and so nothing can fall out.
  • We will take the tent apart when the tent is “checked in” at a troop meeting to double check things.  Please tell us about any problems/issues with the tent.

Dining Flys

• • Like tents, dining flys need to be clean and dry, dry, dry.
  • The rain fly bag is numbered and has a list of all the parts.  Make sure all the parts are all in the bag.
  • Tell us about any problems or missing stuff when the fly is checked in.

Patrol Bins (cooking supplies)

• Make sure that everything is accounted for (there’s an inventory on the bin lid)
• Check sponge: if it is irreparably dirty/damaged, discard; otherwise, rinse and let dry completely
• Wash & dry towels and potholder in laundry
• Rewash all cookware, prep supplies, and utensils, and clean-up tools
• Make sure that everything is completely dry before repacking in the bin
  • Make sure that knives are completely dry before putting them back in their sheaths or they will rust!
• Take note of anything that needs to be reported to leadership for replacement/repair
  • Any consumables that are running low
  • Any tools that are in poor condition and need to be replaced
  • Any tools that need their labels refreshed

Backpacking Stoves

• • These stoves are (1) extremely tough; (2) old – almost antique; (3) no longer manufactured; (4) extremely valuable because of (1) and (3).
  • All stoves are numbered – see each part for an etched number.  Make sure that the parts all have the same number.
  • There’s also a foil-covered foam insulator pad that has the stove number written in black.
  • Clean all the aluminium parts – SOS pads and Bar Keeper’s Friend work great.
  • Don’t worry too much about scrubbing the brass gas tank and burner, but do wipe them down: refully clear off any loose crud left over from the “fire paste” used to start the stove burner.  It’s OK to leave gas in the burner tank.
  • Make sure you have all the parts – including the tube of “Fire Paste”.
  • Make sure everything is dry.
  • At “check-in time”, we will open up the stove and double check that all the parts are there and that it’s clean and ready to use.  Please tell us about any problems/issues with the stove.

Canteens

• • Make sure the canteen is clean and dry.
  • At “check-in time”, someone will inspect it.  Please tell that person about any problem.

Water Pumps (Filters)

• • Like tents, the key word is “dry” – really dry.  After cleaning, put the filter element of mine in a sunny window for a couple of days.  If stored wet, the filter will grow black crud, stink, and not work.  Remember, we all depend on clean water and the filter element is where the action is.
  • Water filters are really expensive.  Ours last a long time because they are well cared-for.
  • Every pump comes in a bag that is numbered.  The pump body should be numbered also.  Make sure they are the same.  Also note that there are some maintenance items in the bag as well as the pump and parts.
  • Take the pump apart and clean it and the filter.
    • 1. The images below have pictures and instructions and will also tell you what parts should be in the bag.
      2. The instructions suggest using either “Micropur” tablets or household bleach.  We don’t provide the tablets, so feel free to use bleach and note that it’s a really small amount.
  • Thoroughly and completely dry the filter and the pump and the hose.  As noted above, put my filter element in a sunny window for a couple of days to make sure it’s “bone dry”. 
  • Reassemble the pump and put everything back in the bag per the attached instructions.
  • At “check in time”, report any problems.