Atlanta Area Council Blog Read Scouting Stories from throughout the Atlanta Area Council on our new Council Blog. Hear first-hand from Scouts, Leaders and Parents on the impact Scouting has had on their lives. Click here to download the latest edition of the Stakeholders' Report. 4Scout Day with the Hawks5Scout Sunday8The Fundamentals of TrainingScout SabbathThe Trainers EdgeStrategic Training Plan Course (formerly Master Trainer Conference)1Scout Day at the Georgia State Capitol3Wood Badge Course 1 - Weekend 14Allatoona Aquatics Base SOLO Wilderness First Aid View all upcoming eventsIf you are a new camper preparing for your first camping trip, either by yourself or with friends or family, it’s important to know what types of tents are on the market so you can choose the right one to suit your needs and environment. There are some important factors to think about when choosing a tent, and this article aims to help you identify the various styles so you can make the best choice.

Before going through the different styles, here are a few things you need to bear in mind. Probably the most important factor to think about is the size of the tent. It needs to be big enough for sleeping comfortably and big enough to store camping gear and accessories. supreme backpack 13awHead room, eating space and living space is optional, depending on what you require.pleasanton backpack by jansport It’s worth thinking about the material of the tent. red sox backpack llbeanWhile canvas is durable, it’s also very heavy. 85l backpack too bigNylon is much lighter, but it is designed for calm conditions. m6800 laptop backpack

Polyester is good for long periods of time in sunny conditions, as the material withstands exposure to sunlight. Whatever tent you end up buying, make sure it’s suited to the weather you might be up against. That means ensuring it’s 100% waterproof with a rain fly that offers total coverage. backpack rschConsider a tent porch for storing wet items that you don’t want inside the tent. A strong tent will be invaluable against strong winds and other conditions. Strong tent poles, high quality pegs and secured fastenings will help. Choose a tent with double sewn seams for overall durability. Is the tent easy to pitch? Can you do it alone, or do you need help from your camping associates? Now that you have something to think about, let’s move on to the various styles of tents available on the market. A-frame tents are your typical ‘A’ shaped tents when erected. They are lightweight by themselves but have an added tarp for extra weather protection.

However, they can be a little heavier to carry around. Inside they aren’t very spacious due to the steep sloping sides. They are a simple shelter but are not very sturdy in strong winds. Typically, these tents consist of two poles at each end to form an apex with a single ridgepole running down the center. The difference between a modified A-Frame tent and a traditional A-frame tent is that the modified version utilises curved poles instead of straight poles. This provides more stability and improved head and interior space. The other benefit of a modified A-frame tent is the full coverage rain fly that allows you can leave the tarp at home! Tunnel tents provide excellent stability if pitched end-on to oncoming winds. However, when they are pitched the other way, they are much less stable. Typically made up of two or more poles running the width of the structure, this shape makes for much better interior space and head room. Overall strength and durability varies from tent to tent, based on quality of materials, sizes and tent poles.

Hoop tents have curved poles at either end to help retain shape and stability. Guy ropes need to be tied with pegs, staked carefully for optimum pitching. Typically, they are made up of three arched frames for spacious interior areas and head room. The benefit of this shape is that snow and water can simply slide off. Make sure to support any fabrics because if they are not staked down properly, they will rattle and flap in the wind. This type of tent is the lightest and most compact packing tent on the market. Single hoop tents are made up of a single curved pole and are usually only designed to sleep one or two people maximum. These tents don’t do very well in strong side winds but are quite sturdy if the wind runs against the spine of the tent. These tents are ideal for cycling or backpacking due to their space and weight factors. Dome tents are most popular among family and group campers. Typically made up of two or three poles passing each other across the center of the roof, these tents provide spacious living areas, great head room and sometimes the ability to have separate rooms and porches to store gear and equipment.

They are easy to pitch, stable and can handle conditions such as snow much better than other styles. Dome tents are usually free standing, so you can move them around while erected, which can come in handy in time of events like weather or wind direction changes. There are other types of tents available, such as yurts and safari tents, but I won’t go into those here because they are usually more permanent for different purposes. I hope you found this guide useful and remember to bear these points in mind when you purchase your tent. This guide was kindly written by the folks at World of Camping, Europe’s number one choice for camping equipment and accessories online.Free Safe Hiking Worksheet / quiz for requirement #5  of the Boy Scout Tenderfoot Copyright @2002  Brad Whaley   Reproducing this document by Scout Leaders for Scout Rank Act ivies is permitted To print this, highlight it and and select "Copy" and then paste into Microsoft Word and then click on the "print" option

First Aid 2nd Class Your Way At Night Safe Hiking Questions  (circle the best When hiking, you should:  (a) take extra sticks of chewing gum to keep from getting a dry mouth  (b) don't wear wool or cotton socks   (c) hike with a buddy   (d) eat lots of carrots the night before highway & roads (p.38) If there is no sidewalk along a highway or road you should  (a) hike with traffic in a single file (b) hike facing traffic standing side by side (c) hike with traffic side by side  (d) hike facing traffic in a single To make it easier for drivers to see you:  (a) wear light colored clothes  (b) brush your teeth with whitening toothpaste (c) bleach your hair blonde  (d) wear two pairs of socks  (e) non of If you are hiking along a road at night  (a) make sure the moon is out first before you start  (b) take a paper bag for snipe hunting (c) tie strips of white cloth or reflective ribbon around your left arm and leg

(d) tie strips of white cloth or reflective ribbon around your right leg Carrying a flashlight while hiking at night along a road or highway (a) is good because you can warn traffic you are coming & brighten your way (b) is bad because you could blind on-coming traffic and cause an accident (c) is something only little girls need to do  (d) is good to have incase you need to send out the bat signal. Hitchhiking is (a) dangerous  (b) may be against the law (c) spoils the spirit of a good hike (d) all of the above. Trails & Cross Country (p.38-39) Your footsteps (a) help create small puddle homes for mosquito larva (b) can trample plants and cause erosion (c) should be very soft when hiking to not scare away wild javalina (d) should be at least a size 9 to go hiking. T___ F____  Hiking on a path makes it easier to get lost. When hiking you should (a) never look up at the beautiful surroundings or you could slip or fall  (b) avoid looking down & don't worry about

where you step  (c) put your ear to ground frequently (d) frequently glance down to avoid slipping or twisting an ankle. T___  F____  Don't try avoid walking through streams / rivers. T____ F____  Keep the hip belt of your pack tightly fastened around your wade when crossing a stream. T___  F____  If you hike to a dangerous area, it's better to back track a ways and look for a safer path. T___ F____   Your safety is not more important that reaching the destination of your hike. Staying found   (p. 40) The key to staying found is to (a) blow on a whistle every 25 seconds (b) keep track of animal droppings as you walk (c) have access to a signal mirror (d) mark and study a map before hand, know Hills, streams,  valleys, buildings, and big landmarks are (a) good to keep an eye out for (b) important to avoid at costs (c) are quite boring so bring headphones T__  F___   It's good to look backwards often when hiking.

The Stop Method has four steps, unscramble them and put them in correct lpna sborev khtnki  ycaaltsm   1__________ Step _____   is to breath slowly and steadily, pace yourself, and stay warm if it is cold. Step _____   is to look for footprints to see where you've been and landmarks to figure out where you are. Step _____  is: If you have a good idea which way to go,  proceed cautiously, use a compass if you have one, mark your trial.   If you're not sure then stay put and wait for help. Step _____ is: Try and remember how you go to where you are.  your map and see what you can learn from the symbols and contour lines. The universal distress call for help is: (a) two logs and a pile of rocks (b) three shouts or whistle blasts (c) a sleeping bag or tent hanging from a T___ F____  You could try attracting attention be building a bright fire in the day , and a smoky fire at night For a Smokey fire use grass and green leaves

T___ F____  Do not spread your gear and bright colored equipment in the open, it could attract wild animals. T___ F___  Flashing a mirror at a pilot flying over head should not be done because you might cause a plane crash if you blind the If you are waiting to be found, you should (a) make yourself comfortable  (b) take shelter by a rock  (c) take shelter by a tree (d) pitch a tent (e) all of the above. Use what you have in your pack  & pockets to (a) carve messages in a tree (b) keep warm and dry (c) earn a merit badge (d) test the direction of the wind T____ F___  If you are taking a nap put a T-shirt or bright object above you so search people can still find you. T___ F___  Worrying can be helpful, it keeps the senses stimulated so you will have better odds of surviving a wild animal T____ F____  You can survive several weeks without water, and several days without food.. T___ F____ Stay put and stay calm, you will be found.