TENT-PITCHING THEORY

PURPOSE• Camping is one of the regular activities in NPCC. Campers have

to stay in tents at Adventure Training Camps in Pulau Ubin. Hence, it is crucial for cadets to be familiarized with tent-pitching.

• Not only that, tent-pitching is also an important component of the Campcraft Competition held by the NPCC HQ once every 2 years.

MATERIALS NEEDED• 1 Horizontal pole (longer pole)• 2 Vertical poles (shorter pole)• 1 Ground sheet• 1 Inner sheet (with flaps at both ends and walls on both sides)• 1 Outer sheet• 15 Metal pegs (1 extra to be used as mallet)• 12 1.5m Twine (to be used for corner and side guylines)• 2 2.5m Twine (to be used for main guylines)

KNOTS REQUIRED• BOWLINE

Form an overhand loop.Pass the running end through the loop, round the standing end and back down into the loop.

• TENT GUY LOOP KNOT/ GUYLINE(consists of slip knot)

KNOTS REQUIRED• SLIP KNOT

1. Form an overhand (underhand) loop.2. Form a bight with the working part.3. Insert the bight in through the loop, leaving the working end outside the loop.4. Pull the working end, the standing part and the bight to tighten. 5. Pull the working end to release.

KNOTS REQUIRED• CLOVE HITCH

Make one turn of the rope round the object, overlapping each other.Make another turn round the object and pass the end of the rope in between the cross.

KNOTS REQUIRED• HALF HITCH

Make an underhand loop round the object.Make a turn round the standing part with the working end going in through the loop that is around the object. Pull both ends to tighten.

PROCEDURE (6-men tent)

1. Allocation of manpower: 1. 1 person is in charge of cutting twine ( 12 1.5m, 2 2.5m) ;2. 1 person is in charge of tying bowlines for both the inner and outer sheet;3. The other 4 people will lay the ground sheet and peg the pegs (14);

Note: The person cutting twine should put the strings of different lengths into distinct, separate piles so as to avoid confusion. When anyone is done with her job, find some other role to help out with. All this should take about 3-5 min max.

PROCEDURE: PEGGING Hammer the pegs 45° to the ground Pegs should be a palm’s thickness away from the ground

PROCEDURE2. Allocation of manpower:

2 people to erect the tent frame and command the others to pull because they can see everyone at their positions;

Erect tent by inserting the 2 pins of the vertical poles into the holes at both ends of the horizontal pole to join the poles together.

Ensure that the vertical poles are perpendicular to the ground.

4 people to fly the inner sheet over and tie guylines at the four corners of the tent; Slip the inner sheet over the frame or poles. All 4 guylines should be tied at the same time to ensure that the tension is

equal throughout and the tent will be stable. The wall flaps should not be touching the ground or too high up from the

ground. If not, at least the two diagonal pairs on opposite sides of corner guylines

should tie together. The guylines should be pushed towards the bottom of the peg after they

are tied.

PROCEDURE3. Allocation of manpower:

After the guylines are tied, the poles need not be held because it is already relatively stable. The 2 people who were holding the poles can then tie the clove hitch on the ends of the vertical pole and complete the guylines near the door flaps.

When they are done, they can help to fold the tent flaps and cut the loose ends of the strings.

Meanwhile, the other 4 can fly the outer sheet over and start tying the guylines for the four corners.

4. After everyone is done, fall in neatly behind the tent to await inspection of tent.

QUALITIES OF A WELL-PITCHED TENT• A well pitched tent should have a visible ventilation gap of 15 to 20

cm throughout between inner and out sheet.

QUALITIES OF A WELL-PITCHED TENT• The pegs of the inner and outer sheet should roughly form the

shape of a rectangle. Refer to the picture below.

PROPER CARE FOR TENTS• No naked flame from candles, campfire and lamps allowed near the

tent.• Dry the tent before keeping it.• Fold the tent. Do not roll as this may cause the fibre of the canvas

to break.• No hanging of clothes on the tent for drying purposes.• No cooking allowed near the tent.

TIPS OF A GOOD CAMPSITE• The ideal site for a campsite is one on elevated land or gentle slope.

This is so to prevent flooding of tents in case of any rain.

• Surroundings should have a rich source of dry wood. • Clear away any presence of rocks and wood on the position where

you are going to pitch the tent.• Steer clear from tall/big/old trees as their dead branches may fall

and hurt someone, or even damage equipments.

TIPS OF A GOOD CAMPSITE• Pitch the tents along the side of the direction of the prevailing

wind to maximize ventilation and minimize air resistance acting on the tent. (which means that the doors of the tent should be in the direction of wind)

• Avoid dead logs and undergrowth which may be habitats of harmful insects such as army ants and bees.

TIPS REGARDING CAMPING• Dig trenches around the pitched tent for drainage purpose. In case of

rain, these trenches can lead the rain water to a slope and eventually to a low terrain. This prevents flooding around the tent areas. Dig directly under the edges of the outer sheet to collect and divert the rainwater away as it slides off the outer sheet.

• Snakes dislike sulphur, so do scatter some around the tent to repel them away.

• Loosen the guylines during cold and rainy days for the twine will contract causing it to be taut and snap. This results in the collapsing of tent.

THE END