Pitching the tent
Many of you probably haven’t used your tent for quite some time. You may even have bought it especially for this trip. To avoid having to learn how to use it at the end of the first day, try pitching it at home at least once: this will allow you to ensure that it is in good condition and that you have all the necessary pieces.
Set up your tent as soon as you arrive at the campsite. If it’s not raining or is raining very little, you’ll be glad you did should a sudden downpour occur. Rather than pitching your tent in heavy rain, wait until it lets up a bit.
Once your tent has been set up, unroll the mat for your sleeping bag, but do not unroll your sleeping bag or spread out your personal effects right away. They will stay dry in their plastic bags if it rains during the evening. Showers can happen so fast! If, when it’s time to turn in, you notice that there is water inside your tent, we can arrange for you to stay inside
the educational institution hosting the Village (but generally speaking, it’s better to sleep alone in your tent than with 60 other people in a gym). However, if your sleeping bag or clothing gets wet, we won’t be able to replace them, which is why it’s so important to use plastic bags to protect your belongings.
Dismantling the tent
If it’s raining when you get up, put your sleeping bag and clothes in plastic bags right away
Leave everything on your mat and go for breakfast. With a little luck, the rain will stop or let up a bit during breakfast and you will be able to take your tent down in dry weather. If it’s still raining, finish putting your
belongings in plastic bags and pack them away. Dismantle your tent last and put it in its own waterproof bag. Then put everything in your main bag. In fact, your tent will often be damp with dew when you take it down. The key is to prevent the rest of your belongings from getting wet. If it’s warm at the end of the day, your damp tent will dry out in about fifteen minutes.