Camping

Camping on DoE expeditions varies from family sites with facilities like sinks and showers and toilets to wild camping on an empty mountainside with a stream and no toilet facilities at all.

You are assessed on how well you organise your life at camp.

Follow this routine immediately when you arrive at your camp:

1.    Camp!

  • When you arrive, put up tents immediately.  Choose the location carefully.
Choose your camp site carefully.

Pitch your tent immediately…

  • Choose flat, soft & dry ground, clear away any sharp stones.
  • Avoid trees and hollows where water may collect.
  • Place entrance to tent away from wind.
  • Pegs go in at 45°. Hand pressure only (do NOT use feet!).
  • Some tents do not need guy ropes. If you use guy ropes then these should be long and on the ground at the peg. Use hand pressure only and stabilise with rocks if necessary.
Flat, well drained ground is best
  • Don’t leave stuff scattered about. Put spare pegs back in the bag and put peg and pole bags inside the tent bag.  Put everything inside the tent porch!
  • Arrange sleeping bag, clothes and camping mat inside tent.
  • Store EVERYTHING in the porch: do not leave anything out overnight.
  • Keep tent doors shut to keep bugs out.
  • Change out of wet clothing and into dry, hang up wet clothes.

Hang up wet clothes outside in nice weather or hang up in tent.

How NOT to camp!
Good camping… even in the rain.

2. Cook!

  • Set up the stove carefully , at least 2m away from the tent.
  • Attach the gas and light extremely carefully. Have food read to place on the stove.
  • Organise food and get water: cook food according to instructions.
  • Set up a rubbish bag.  If you drop anything pick it up immediately.
  • Share food, cook together.
  • Turn off gas valves on stove.

3. Clean!

  • LEAVE NO TRACE: keep a tidy camp at all times.
  • Keep all camp site facilities clean and tidy.
  • Wash up and put everything inside the porch of your tent overnight.
  • Wash up at designated sinks.  Do NOT wash up at water taps or in toilet sinks! Do NOT push waste food into sinks. Find wash up sinks or wash up at your tent with warm water.
  • Dispose of waste carefully. Scrape food waste into a rubbish bag and pour away dirty water in a sink or discretely and safely and never in a stream.
  • Toilet block: clean up after yourself.  Do NOT leave any mess.
  • For wild camps with no toilets: dig a hole (bring trowel) at least 60 metres away from running water and camp.  Burn toilet tissue in hole. Replace turf over and leave no visible trace.
  • Personal hygiene: wash your face & clean teeth etc. If no showers, a personal “tent wash” can be completed discretely with a face cloth or wet-wipes.
  • Carry out your rubbish in bags. Staff might also dispose of rubbish for you.

4. Curfew!

Clear up before dark. Leave nothing outside at night.
  • Leave nothing outside your tent overnight. All in or under flysheet.
  • Leave no trace outside your tent.
  • Keep a torch handy.
  • Get things ready for the morning.
  • Quiet after 10.00pm and stay in your tent! Unnecessary disturbances at night will be dealt with firmly.

5. Check and Clear Off!

  • Get up early, usually around 6.00am, keep quiet.
  • Dress, breakfast, wash-up (at sinks if available, NOT at water taps!)
  • Pack sleeping bag in bin liner.
  • Take all stuff out of your tent! Even in bad weather.
  • Take tent down. Pack rucksack.
  • Sweep search and collect any litter: you MUST leave your site spotless.
  • Leave No Trace