ORCHID PARK SECONDARY SCHOOL

National Police Cadet Corps

Campcraft – Tent Pitching (Notes)

Rank & Name: _________________________________ Level: Sec _____ Date: __________

Tent Site Selection

1. Select an area that is flat or gently-sloped, not marshy and not low-lying so as to avoid flooding
around the tent site.
2. Select an area where the ground is not too soft so that the pegs can be securely anchored into the
ground.
3. Select an area where there are no stones underneath so that the pegs can be anchored deep into the
ground and to prevent damaging the pegs.
4. Select an area away from bushes, animal tracks and holes to avoid running the risk of encountering
unfriendly or dangerous animals (e.g. snakes and wild boars).
5. Select an area that is insect-free (e.g. away from ant nest and bee-hive) so as to avoid being attacked
by them or having to re-locate the tent later.
6. Select an area that is not under or near trees as they may fall or may contain dead branches that can
drop anytime damaging the tent or injuring the occupants.
7. Select an area that has natural wind breakers (e.g. hedges and boulders) so that the tent do not get
toppled and can last longer.

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6-Men Tent

Logistics:
Items Quantity Function Remarks
Ground Sheet 1 Base of tent No sleeve rings and smallest
Has 8 sleeve rings along its sides,
Inner Sheet /
1 Shelter of tent 2 door flaps on each length and a
Tent Roof
wall flap on each width
Outer Sheet / Protect inner sheet and keep the
1 Has 8 sleeve rings along its sides
Flysheet inner sheet / inside of the tent dry
Vertical Pole /
2 Keep tent upright Has a pin on one end
Upright
Horizontal Pole / Has a hole through the pole on
1 Support inner and outer sheets
Crossbar each end
Pegs 14 Keep tent upright and in place
Mallet 1 Hammer in pegs
Main Guylines
2 Secure vertical poles to peg Length = 2 m
(twine)
Side Guylines
4
(twine)
Secure inner and outer sheets to pegs Length = 1.5 m
Corner Guylines
8
(twine)

Horizontal
Pole
Pin
Window
Vertical Flap
Pole

Outer
Sheet

Peg Wall
Flap
Corner Side
Ground
Guylines Guylines
Sheet
Mosquito Main
Net Guyline
Inner Door
Sheet Flap

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Manpower:
6  cadets

Procedure:
1. Remove all stones, sticks or anything that might be hazardous to the occupants and the tent
from the tent site.
2. Lay the ground sheet on the tent site such that the tent widths face the prevailing wind to
maximise ventilation and minimise air resistance or the area of the tent that is subjected to the
wind.
3. Place the pegs for the inner and outer sheets at least 25 centimetres away from the tent.

Inner Sheet
Peg length

Vertical Pole length Outer Sheet

4. Hammer in the pegs such that half of it is underground and 45 from the ground level.
Peg
Top View
45 2 ~ 3 cm

5. Lay the horizontal pole on the ground sheet parallel to the tent lengths and midway along the tent
width.
6. Tie one end of all the side and corner guylines to their respective sleeve rings on the inner and outer
sheets using bowlines.
7. Lay the inner sheet on top of the ground sheet and the horizontal pole.
8. Erect the two vertical poles midway along the tent widths such that the pins on the vertical poles are at
the top.
9. Lift up the horizontal pole with the inner sheet on top of it.
10. Attach the horizontal pole to the two vertical poles by inserting the pins on the vertical poles through
the two holes on the ends of the horizontal pole.

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 11. Insert the pins on the vertical poles through their respective sleeve rings on the inner sheet.
12. Pull the four corner guylines of the inner sheet tight.
13. Secure the four corner guylines of the inner sheet to their respective inner corner pegs using Tent-Guy
Loops and a few half hitches.
14. Pull the two side guylines of the inner sheet tight.
15. Secure the two side guylines of the inner sheet to their respective inner side pegs using Tent-Guy
Loops and a few half hitches.
16. Secure one end of all the main guylines to their respective pins on top of the two vertical poles using
Clove Hitches.
17. Pull the two main guylines tight.
18. Secure the two main guylines to their respective pegs using Tent-Guy Loops and a few half hitches.
19. Roll up the two door flaps on each width of the inner sheet.
20. Secure the two door flaps on each width of the inner sheet.
21. Fly the outer sheet over the inner sheet.
22. Insert the pins on the vertical poles through their respective sleeve rings on the outer sheet.
23. Pull the four corner guylines of the outer sheet tight.
24. Secure the four corner guylines of the outer sheet to their respective outer corner pegs using Tent-Guy
Loops and a few half hitches.
25. Pull the two side guylines of the outer sheet tight.
26. Secure the two side guylines of the outer sheet to their respective outer side pegs using Tent-Guy
Loops and a few half hitches.

Remarks:
• Steps 1 ~ 5 can be done concurrently with step 6.
• Steps 3 and 4 can be done concurrently with step 5.
• Steps 14 and 15 can be done concurrently with steps 16 ~ 18.
• Steps 19 and 20 can be done concurrently with steps 21 ~ 26.

• When pulling tight and tying the four corner guylines of the inner sheet to their respective pegs (step
12), the two vertical poles should be supported and kept in an upright position.
• The four corner guylines of the inner / outer sheet (steps 12 and 23) can be pulled tight and tied two at
a time (diagonally opposite to each other).
• The side guylines of the inner / outer sheet (steps 14 and 25) and the main guylines (step 17) can be
pulled tight and tied one at a time.
• For ideal tightness, the four corner guylines of the inner / outer sheet should be pulled tight and tied at
the same time (step 12 and 23), the two side guylines of the inner / outer sheet should be pulled tight
and tied at the same time (step 14 and 25) and the two main guylines (step 17) should be pulled tight
and tied at the same time.

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• When pulling tight and tying the four corner guylines of the outer sheet (step 23), ensure that there is a
gap of 15 ~ 20 centimetres between the lengths of the outer and inner sheets for better ventilation.
• Ensure that the two wall flaps are perpendicular to the ground and the gap between the wall
flaps and the ground should be a minimum.
• Guylines can be secured to surrounding (e.g. trees) and pegs for better stability, especially
when the ground is soft.
• Pegs can be further enhanced with other pegs, stones or rocks for better stability, especially
when the ground is soft.

• When placing and hammering in all the pegs (step 3), ensure that they are all aligned properly (in
straight lines) for extra stability.
• If a mallet is not provided, a peg can be used instead (step 4).
• Tie stopper knots, add a half hitch or two half hitches to the two Clove Hitches (step 16) for
extra security.
• When the tent is left unattended, wrap the belongings with the ground sheet to keep them dry,
unroll the door flaps and tie them together with a piece of twine or bootlace using a quick
release knot (e.g. chain knot).
• The window flaps on the door flaps can be rolled up and secured for better ventilation when
the door flaps are unrolled.
• Trenches with outlets can be dug around the tent prevent flooding of the tent site.
 Type A Trench is dug directly under the edges of the outer sheet to collect and divert
the rainwater rolling off the outer sheet.
 Type B Trench is dug around the tent site to collect and divert water from the
surrounding areas.

Type A Trench Tent Roof

(Outer Sheet)

Type B Trench

Top View

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• Sulphur powder can be scattered around the tent site to repel snakes.

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