Tent Pitching Team Challenge
In teams, students learn how to pick a site, pitch, tighten and strike a camping tent, and then compete to do it right and in the shortest time. They work on cooperation, splitting up tasks and getting ready for camping trips.
How to play
- Spend 3 minutes explaining how to choose a site (flat ground, no rocks, away from streams and dead trees) and the parts of the tent: body, poles, rainfly, stakes and guylines.
- Form 5 teams of 5; each team, with its tent, does a first guided pitch with no timer, following your instructions. 7 minutes.
- Strike the tent and pack everything in the bag, counting the pieces: if one is missing, find it before moving on. 3 minutes.
- Timed pitch: on the signal, each team pitches its tent; stop the clock when every guyline is tight and the door is zipped. You check it and add 30 seconds for each fault (rainfly touching the tent, loose stake). 6 minutes.
- Second round: timed strike, with the bag closed and all pieces accounted for. 4 minutes.
- Compare times and discuss which task split worked best. 2 minutes.
Rules
- Stakes are pushed in with a foot or a mallet, never a rock, and nobody runs holding them.
- Every team member has a specific job in each pitch.
- Poles are assembled and taken apart without yanking the ends, so the shock cord does not snap.
Variations
Easier
Use pop-up or quick-pitch tents and skip the timer in the first round.
Standard
Timed pitch and strike with penalties for faults.
Harder
Pitch the tent with two members blindfolded, guided only by their teammates' voices.
Adaptations
- A student with limited mobility directs the pitching sequence or assembles the poles seated.
- For students with autism, provide a picture sheet showing the pitching sequence and a fixed job within the team.
- Students with less strength can handle the rainfly and the final guyline check.
Learning goals
- Pitch and strike a camping tent correctly and safely.
- Choose a suitable campsite based on safety criteria.
- Organize team tasks to work efficiently.
Equipment for a class of 25
- camping tents: 5
- stopwatch: 1
- cones: 10
Teacher tip
If the school has no tents, borrow them from families or a local outdoor club and check they are complete before class.
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