Camping Tips

 

The original file for these low-cost equipment/ideas/fixes for Scouting and camping in general was originally found on a F-Net Scouting board and was reposted on Fidonet on Nov 11/92 by Steve Simmons.  The file evidently originated with BSA Troop 886 in the USA.

·         Channel lock pliers make good pot holders.

·         Make an oven by lining a moving box with aluminum foil and pushing coat hangers through both sides about half way up the box to form your grill.
Put coals in a pan and put the pan on three stones on the bottom of the box.  Close the doors (lid) and bake away.

·         Canning rings can be use to cook your eggs in for egg sandwiches.  (Works well for English Muffins or Hamburger buns).

·         Nylon rope can be used as shoe laces.

·         Use a large zip lock plastic bag, filled with air, as a pillow.

·         Plastic butter tubs make good storage containers for your camp kitchen. (Not a good idea to use in a backpack).

·         A plastic bottle makes a good latrine for cold weather camping.  (You don't have to 'go' very far from your sleeping bag).  Keep it just out side the tent flap.

·         An old closed cell foam exercise pad will make a passable sleeping pad.

·         Plastic bottles can be used for canteens.  Make sure the lid does not leak before using in a backpack.

·         The pins which hold the backpack and shoulder straps to the frame can be replaced with a small piece of coat hanger threaded through the hole and twisted around itself.

·         Twist ties can be used to hold up another tarp from your dining fly to form a wind screen.

·         A small automotive water hose clamp can be used as a stop for your dining fly's upright poles.

·         Drill a hole in the bottom of nested poles and put a screw in to stop inner poles from sliding out.

·         Short lengths of coat hanger or wire can be thread through the holes and springs of the summer camp cots to replace the missing springs.

·         Carry several pieces of lumber cut into 2 inch squares to summer camp and use these to level platform, tent and cot.

·         If for health reasons you must sleep on a cot in cold weather insulate yourself from the cold air under the cot with several layers of newspaper.

·         Old shower curtains make great ground clothes.

·         Make a double boiler for melting paraffin from a 1 lb. coffee can and a 2 lb. coffee can.  Bend a coat hanger so it will support the 1 lb. coffee can inside the 2 lb. can.  Pour some water in the 2 lb. can and put the paraffin in the 1 lb. can.

·         Waterproof matches by dipping in melted paraffin.

·         Make fire starters by filling paper condiment cups with saw dust and pouring paraffin into the cup.

·         Put matches in corrugated cardboard strips (about every other hole) and dip into paraffin for fire starters.  Cut off what you need to start a fire.

·         If your hand warmer came without a bag or the bag has been lost, replace the bag with a sock.

·         A length of chain and a piece of coat hanger bent into an S-shape will allow you to hang your lantern from a tree limb.

·         Use a cookie tin as a dutch oven.

·         Keep batteries in an appropriate size prescription bottle to insure that they cannot run themselves down by accident.