How to pitch a D of E Tent.

Expedition Tents. The tent we are showing here is the Vango Mirage 300, which is one of the tents we use for Duke of Edinburgh. This is a three person tent. A great thing about this tent is that it has a sheltered porch providing somewhere to leave muddy boots and wet items so that you can keep the inside of the tent dry.

Taking the Tent on the Expedition. Although a tent isn’t a personal item, you will be expected to carry the tent or parts of the tent, in your rucksack. The tent should be split between three for example, with one person carrying the poles, another carrying the inner tent and pegs, and another carrying the outer tent. Care should be taken at all times to avoid damage to the tents. Your tent is to keep you warm and dry, if you damage it, you could be in for a wet and cold night. Tent poles can very easily bend or snap, care should be taken at all times to avoid damage.

Tent rules on Expedition. Remove boots or trainers when your inside your tent. Keep your tent dry and clean inside. All wet clothing should be removed before entering your tent. Do not cook inside your tent. Avoid playing games/sports near your tent. On expedition you are expected to keep the noise down. Campsites have a rule of 10pm. Remember your tent does not have walls!

All tents on DofE need to be spaced correctly. Space tents out approximately 3 metres apart.

How to pitch a D of E Tent. Your D of E tent will typically consist of the following items: Tent Poles. Waterproof Outer Tent, known as the flysheet. Inner Tent. (this is attached to the flysheet) Tent Pegs.

How to pitch a D of E Tent. Step 1 – Put the Tent Poles Together. Slot the tent poles together. Lay the tent poles out on the ground. In this case there are just two straight poles and one angled pole.

How to pitch a D of E Tent. Step 2 – Put up the tent. Lay the flysheet (the waterproof outer part of the tent) on the ground where you want the tent to go. Avoid placing the tent where there are rocks and stones, twigs and branches, or holes and dips in the ground. Ideally you want to place the tent somewhere flat. If there is a slope, position the tent so your head is lying up the slope when you sleep in it. Don’t position the tent sideways onto the hill, otherwise you’ll roll on top of one another when you are asleep.

How to pitch a D of E Tent. On the flysheet you will find some sleeves. Push the tent poles into the sleeves. It is quicker to pitch the tent if you all help on one pole at a time instead of each doing your own tent pole. One person pushes the pole in, the other people help guide it through the sleeve.

How to pitch a D of E Tent. When the tent poles come out the other side of the tent, you will find a strap with a metal hole in it, called an eyelet. Insert the end of the tent pole into the eyelet. Once all the tent poles are in their sleeves its time for the tent to go up. Starting with the longer poles, push the tent pole into the eyelet on the side of the tent where you pushed the pole into the sleeve.

How to pitch a D of E Tent. You’ll notice it won’t go in easily and the tent pole will start to bend. Don’t worry, it’s supposed to bend. It can be stiff and may take a few of you to do this. If the tent pole is not going into the eyelet, check that the pole is not caught on the sleeve somewhere. If it still isn’t going in, double check that you have the poles in the correct sleeves.

How to pitch a D of E Tent. Once the tent poles are bent and secured in place, you will have the main structure of the tent up. Step 3 – Pegging Out Locate the bag of tent pegs. Find the straps with the eyelets on that the tent poles are inserted into. Give them a pull outwards so that the tent is nice and tight.

How to pitch a D of E Tent. Insert a tent peg through the loop in the strap. These are your main ‘anchor points’ that will stop the tent blowing away. The angle of your tent peg should be 45 degrees.

How to pitch a D of E Tent. Your D of E tent has a porch, pull it out and insert the tent pegs. Once you’ve done that, undo the guy lines (the ropes around the tent) and peg them out too. Adjust the guy lines with the tensioner. This is the small plastic toggle on the guy line. You can move it to make the guy line tighter. Go around to the anchor points (the straps with the eyelets) and adjust those to if needed. You want the flysheet nice and tight, which helps water run off the tent if it rains.

How to pitch a D of E Tent. On your expedition your accessor will be looking for the following… Tents correctly erected using teamwork. Tents spaced 3 metres apart. Correct pegging at 45 degrees. No rubbish. Noise levels to a minimum. Correct and safe use of cooking equipment. Tents and equipment being looked after and organised.