Tent in Four Roles: Pitch, Check, and Pack

Groups of four or five pitch and strike a tent with assigned roles: reader, inventory, and builders. It builds teamwork and care for camping gear.

How to play

1. Each group lays out its tent on the grass; the inventory student counts poles, stakes, and guylines with the card before starting (6 min).
2. First pitch: the reader directs from the instructions and the builders work; no one does another role's job (10 min).
3. Cross-check: another group inspects the tent with the checklist (angled stakes, tight guylines, closed zippers, rainfly not touching the inner tent) (6 min).
4. Strike and fold the tent, with a full piece count before packing (8 min).
5. Second round with roles swapped: full pitch and strike, trying to fix what the check pointed out (10 min).

Rules

• Fit poles together gently and don't whip them around; a snapping pole can hit someone.
• No one steps on the tent or goes in with shoes on.
• Stakes are either in the bag or in the ground, never loose on the grass.
• No tent is returned without a full count.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: be the reader or inventory lead, both key to the group's success.
• Students who struggle with reading: picture instructions with numbered steps.
• Students who tend to take over: give them inventory so they look after the gear instead of building.

Learning goals

• Pitch and strike a tent safely.
• Carry out a role within a group.
• Take care of camping gear and return it complete.

Equipment for a class of 25

• tents: 6
• role cards: 24
• checklist cards: 6

Teacher tip

If the school has no tents, borrow from families or a local hiking club; a tarp with ropes also works. Common mistake: losing stakes in the grass, so count them out and count them back.

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