The following material is intended to go with the sheet of suggestions for laying out and building your camp. It was developed by the Engineering Service and formed part of the "Camp Layout and Construction" pamphlet in the former Troop Camping material. Also see the "Jamboneering" book for additional suggestions.

Camp Layout

When the camp site has been selected, lay it out in such a manner that it will look well. Place sanitation facilities in the proper place, and select living and sleeping quarter locations to give the greatest comfort.

1. Locate the latrine down stream and down slope from the entire camp. Certainly below the drinking water supply. At the same time pick a place high enough to keep from striking ground water in the pit. It should be one hundred feet from the cooking and eating places, but not too far from the sleeping tents. Also locate the latrine as nearly equi-distant from all sleeping quarters as practicable.

2. To bring to the front the resourcefulness of Patrol Leaders and at the same time urge to the greatest extent the full Troop Organization, pick out separate Patrol locations. These spots need to be level as possible so the Scouts will not creep in their beds and find themselves entirely out of their tents in the morning, or their feet sticking out of the tent when that midnight shower breaks over the camp.

3. Locate the Troop kitchen and dining fly central to all if you are eating as a Troop. The ground should be such as to allow digging for "Combination Fire" (p. 7) or for dishwater disposal pit.

4. The Commissioned Officers' and Senior Patrol Leader's tents should be near the entrance to the camp and easy of access for all members of the Troop.

5. If there is room, lay out a camp fire circle twenty to twenty-four feet in diameter in the center of the camp and arrange log seats around it. This may also be an ellipse.

6. It is also good camping to examine all tall trees in and near the site to be sure none are liable to blow over or have rotten limbs which may fall during a storm.

7. If the topography of the camp will permit, always have some general design for the camp. The topography determines the layout of the camp. If it is decided to have a semi-circle camp or a circle camp bring along enough cord to tie to a stake driven at the center and swing around marking with stakes and have all tents lined on the circumference. It helps if stakes are set where the front and rear end poles are to stand, thus all tents will radiate evenly from the center and look shipshape.

Do everything to create pride in the trim looks of the camp.

8. Suggested diagram of a Troop Camp.

TROOP SITE LAYOUT

SCALE 1 IN =50 FT-OIN

9. A suggested diagram of a circular Troop Camp Layout

10. Before setting up the camp the whole site should be laid out and stakes set up to indicate the location of all tents and other facilities. This should be done under direction of the Assistant Scoutmaster in charge of Physical Details and Assistant Patrol Leaders and one Scout from each Patrol. This leaves the Scoutmaster free, the Patrol Leaders in charge of the Patrols with the Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Scoutmaster in charge of Activities to stand by for further instructions from the Scoutmaster.