Camping - Help!

[CestTout]

Just after some advice/guidance please!

Taking four of my elder Guides to an organised camp this weekend and so far it looks like it is going ahead. I am NOT a wet weather camper so are there any hints or tips to make it easier or to at least be as prepared as possible? We will have two tents but none of us are serious campers!

Thanks in advance for any help/advice you can offer...

Make sure they put their waterproofs on everytime they go out in the rain, tell them not to leave their bags of clothes in the porch of the tent unless it has a sewn in groundsheet. Put all wet clothing in bin bags unless you can get it dry on a makeshift washing line.

Definitely no running across the field in their all in one pj's[ very trendy for teens ATM] especially in the rain because there is nothing worse than wet pj's.

Dont take camp blankets to the campfire if it is raining and you are intending to use them in bed.

Insist on wellies, luckily they are trendy now so they should have them or be able to borrow some.

It would be great if you had a tent big enough for you all to sit in but this might be provided by the group you are going with.

I hope you have a fab time, I went with a small group of Guides a couple of weeks ago, the weather was chilly but it stayed dry most of the time. It was lovely and much easier than taking 20! Fingers crossed for you and have fun

I have just invested in some quick drying lightweight sporty type clothing, hopefully things that will dry between showers while I'm wearing them and not feel too hot and sweaty under my big waterproof parka.

Shorts or cropped trousers are so much better than jeans in the rain.

Thank you! Going to include all that in email round now. I'm also planning to pack my clothes in bin bags in case they do get wet. Have got a small ish tent for me then my vis-a-vis tent for them which has a decent space in the middle. They are all old enough to head off and do the activities on their own (it's Gig in a Field - I Need) so I may get away with hiding in the tent for part of it!

Thanks again, I can deal with rain, it's the mud etc that worries me!

Wear thin trousers - not jeans.

Strict rule of no shoes in the tent

Wet clothes that aren't going to be used again in bin bags in the car.

A wide brimmed hat keeps the rain out of your face while giving you a much better field of vision and hearing to supervise children than a hood.

Get some waterproofing spray and go over all the seams of your coat before you go.

Dry out the insides of wellies with a hairdryer if necessary.

A cotton mat or old towel on the groundsheet just inside the tent can catch a lot of mud and mess and be lifted and shaken outside every now and then.

If you get wet, cold and muddy the shower and clean clothes when you get home will feel so good it was worth it