Tents should always be pitched over wooden floors which are raised well
from the ground. (p. 16.) They should be built with square corners and
braced on the under side. The dimensions of each floor should be the
same as the length and width of the tent to be pitched over it. They
should only be put into place after considering the direction of the
sun, the prevailing winds, their relation to each other and the general
camp plan.
Large floors should be raised several inches from the ground and
supported with posts or flat stones at each corner, at the center of
each side and at intervals under the center of the floor to keep them
from sagging. When putting up a wall tent instead of using pegs, build a
frame work running parallel to the sides of the tent to which the guy
ropes can be fastened. (p. 18) This frame is made by driving into the
ground opposite the two sides of the tent floor, and 3 feet from it,
three posts, each 3 or 4 inches in diameter, and long enough to extend
when set, above the tent floor a distance equal to the height of the
tent wall, plus five inches. One post should be placed opposite the
center of each side, the others on a line with it and opposite the
corners of the floor. Nail securely to the outside of the posts and two
or three inches from the tops a strip which will extend beyond the end
posts 6 or 8 inches. Unless the ground is rocky the posts need not be
braced. If care is taken to measure and place the posts correctly the
frame will be evenly made and look trim. Small tree trunks can be used
for posts and strips, where wood is plentiful; otherwise 2 x 4's can be
used.
Where tent floors are found to be prohibitive, tents must be pitched
over dry, well drained ground. In addition a ground cloth should be
used and a ditch dug on either side of the tent to carry off rain water.
[Illustration: Camp for a single Scout Troop. Three tents and simple
accessories enough for week-end trip.]
Tents without floors are of course used when hiking or camping for a
short time only, or in exceptional climates. (p. 20.) Specific
directions for pitching tents are given in a later section.
A small group of girls wishing to build their own camp could make two or
three lean-tos, using trees five or six inches in diameter, saplings,
boughs and vines, the latter for binding the thatch roof to the beams.
The lean-tos should be faced so the sun will shine into them some part
of the day, turned away from the prevailing winds and each one should
have in front of it a fireplace to be used for cooking as well as for
keeping the lean-to dry and warm. (pp. 105, 110, 112.)
A group of girls could also build a slab house with a good floor, a
wooden roof covered with tar paper, windows, door and even build a
fireplace, the completed building giving them permanent camp quarters.
(pp. 96, 118, 122.)