Using only troop tents

[ynotquilt]

Does anyone have a policy that only scout troop tents can be used? At our leader meeting last night, I was told that they are instituting this policy which puts me in a very difficult situation. The tents we have a small "2-3" man tents. I am very claustrophobic and between that and being a woman and needing my own accommodations, I have used my own tent that was purchased primarily for scouting trips. (It is a bit large though as we purchased it large enough so that our family could use it to if we were to go camping)

I'm not quite sure what to do as even the thought of sleeping in one of those tents si enough to upset me (not quite sure how to phrase that). I am an ASM and have every intention of going on every campout possible, but they are putting me between a rock and a hard place and I don't know how to get out

[Billiken]

I could see this policy be applied to the scouts (not wanting every scout to bring his own tent), but not to the leaders, especially female scouters.

If you bring your own tent then you're responsible for taking it home, making sure it's dry and storing it.
That's one less tent for the troop to worry about.

If the decision was for appearance reasons (i.e. let's have the tents in our campsites look the same) then that's just ridiculous.

Could the decision be safety concerns driven?

This is a brutal question and I sincerely hope the answer is no...but
Any chance the troop is trying to get rid of you?

[ynotquilt]

I would assume that's not the issue. I just crossed over to the troop late February. We have all different tent styles. So, they don't look the same anyways. I think it may have been because some were compleining about shy I got to bring my own tent and they didn't. "double standard" But then again, I have the claustrophobia issue, and it is partially the height of the ceiling on top of having gear in there. I'm just not sure how to approach this one. I hav been completely responsible for my own tent other than transporting it to summer camp. I do not ask for any assistance in setting it up other than one person for 2 minutes to help get the rainfly over. I also bring my own ground tarps. I have asked nothing of them in this.

[Mrw]

If they are wanting the campsite to look all nice with matching tents all in a row, maybe you could volunteer to move a little away so you don't look like a mismatched part of a group?

The other benefit to this is you can get to sleep on your schedule rather than when the last of the chatty kids FINALLY stops talking and goes to sleep.

[riverwalk]

Why would your Committee force this in your situation? I'm sure it would not apply, and must be addressed. If this prevents your attending an outing, two potential problems come up. One, is someone trying to keep you from going? Two, if this constraint reduces the number of Scouters attending the activity, you run the risk of cancelling the outing for lack of Leadership. Take your tent. If they insist you set up a Troop tent, stow your gear in it.

[cballman]

First My humble opinion If you have problems with the troop tents about being small then ask if the troop would purchase a tent of the same stlye only larger. second maybe if you tent is just a tad bit to large and maybe overpowers all the other tents. our troop uses the eureka timberline series tents and we let the adults use 4 man tents. which we do not allow backpacks and other assorted large gear in the tents of the boys now adults is a little different. but the size of this brand tents which a 4 person sleeps 2 adults comfortable is really large for just one person. lastly maybe the troop is wanting to become more uniform in the tent line for ease of setting up camp and also if something happens to one then the ease of repair of the tents. I would also ask the people in charge what seems to be the problem with using my own tent. if they say the largeness of the tent then I would have a short talk with my Doctor and get a note or letter stating the use of the tent and then if they start talking about " troop tents" again then I would consider looking for a troop that wants the person and my tent. but ask questions first before you do anything drastic.

[Lynda J]

We don't have a single tent in our troop that matches. The boys all owntheir own tents as to all the leaders. I'm not into us looking like everyone else. Don't care. The more important thing is if the boys are having a good time. My personal tent says it will sleep 4. In a pigs eye.
I put my foot locker and my cot in there and that is all she wrote.
I guess you could sleep 4 in you put them side by side with no other gear in the tent.
I would talk to the SM and the CC. Find out the reason they insist that you use this type of tent.

[deweylure]

We do not have a policy in our troop regarding use of troop tents only. The only policy I am aware of from the Boy Scouts is square footage for long term camping and flamability specifications of the fabric.

My question is why all of a sudden is this policy being put into affect.

We have a female committee member who does camp with us. Her tent is her tent. I am just grateful volunteers come out to camp.

Have a nice sleep in your tent.

[Mrw]

I will add that as a Mom, but not very picky person in general, I bring my own tent when we go on campouts just so I know it was put away right the last time. The boys pack a wet tent and it smells a little funny the next time, they WILL learn, but they will sleep in what they junked up, Not Me!

[Rick Tyler]

I would rather sleep outside on a rock than in a tent used by scouts.

But that's just me...

You can take my Meteor Light when you pry me out of it!

[scoutchallenge]

If you donate your tent to the troop, spray it with purfume so no man would sleep in it, then your problem is solved. Always volunteer to take it home and clean it and forget to bring it back till the next outing

he he he he

[BM_Crawford]

I would rather sleep outside on a rock than in a tent used by scouts.

Ha, that's great. Greatest quote used on these forums so far!

[ynotquilt]

I've done a lot of thinking about this and have decided that I will tell our SM that I will check out the tent, but if I get creeped out, I will be using my own tent. I went to a sporting goods store with my girlfriend the other day and "tried out" tents. I have discovered that it is not only square footage but headspace that causes me problems. I had problems in a 10 person tent that had a lower ceiling. Will see what the response is to that. As we have at least 4 different kinds of tents in the troop, I'm sure that uniformity isn't the issue. I will also talk to our CC who is a friend of mine. Can the CC over-rule anything? Anyways, don't know what I could even get a dr to write in a note. It's an individual thing depending on the shape, height, and size of the tent. Will just have to wait and see what SM says.

[cballman]

Y just remember that no matter what happens with the tent thing that you have tried to go camping and there is just some people that cannot handle that. Keep up the camping and just remember why we are doing this for!! its for the kids personally myself I thought it was for the patches and hey it seem to me that some other of your parents have not been out there with you and are just jealous

[ynotquilt]

I have every intention of continuing to camp. I have NO problem with camping as long as I have a tent that doesn't creep me out with feeling closed in. When we got to summer camp last week, I was almost in a panic because they had platform tents when we were supposed to be able to use our own. I did set up my own and was perfectly happy - had a WONDERFUL week. Will just wait and see what happens. If I need to, I'll go to council to be able to keep going on campouts. Don't want to blow it out of proportion and play the "what if" game before getting to the next step.

[Chief J]

Sounds like another foolish "Troop Rule". My unit has enough matching tents for every scout to sleep in the tent by themselves. However, I handle camping trips in the following manner.

You may bring your own tent or sign out and be responsible for a Troop tent. Additionally, you may sleep tow to a tent or alone if you desire.

I find no reason to tell scouts or scouters you must use Troop Tents.

Chief J

[Scouting179]

I would rather sleep outside on a rock than in a tent used by scouts....

What exactly do you mean by this? That you dislike Scouts or you are trying to follow Youth Protection guidelines or what?

[Mrw]

I know exactly what he means.

We keep a couple troop tents set aside for adults so we don't need to use what the scouts might not have cleaned up properly the last time around.

[Scouting179]

Sounds like the adults and QM need to inspect gear better before it's put away.

[Mrw]

Actually, the boys learn really fast if they set up the tent and need to clean out all the dead leaves, etc before they can use it. We do ensure dry tents are stored, but it is the boys responsibilty to clean them out.