Camper Badge

 The Carpe Diem badge requires the completion of two brown "Wild" badges.  I chose Camper and Codebreaker.  Lots of the Camper badge I felt I could back date as we camp so often, and I have been over the Clauses so many times.

Spend at least three consecutive nights under canvas - three nights is a minimum for us!

Pitch and strike a tent - The pole tent we used to have, the air beam tent we currently have, a pole ridge tent from my youth and the pop up two person tent we camp in the garden with.  I think I can safely say that one is covered!

Keep your belongings safe and dry - On our first trip as a family with little children in tow, I decided we needed a "dry box" and a "wet box" after reading about family camping online.  Our clothes go in a large Really Useful Box to keep them dry and things like toothbrushes and flannels in a smaller box with other items that can get wet.  Husband thought it was a bit much, but then it rained.  Norfolk had a month's worth of rain in one night.  The tent leaked, it wasn't designed for such downpours, and we woke up to a large puddle under our dry box.

Whilst the lower field was a pond with ducks on (seriously!), we had pitched up the slope and our clothes were dry and warm.  We take our dry box every single time we camp.

Design the menu for the trip - this is very important with my dietary restrictions and a fussy eater.  Menus are designed well in advance.

Kit out your camp kitchen - I love kitting out the kitchen!  Finding ingenious ways to reduce space and weight. Collapsible kettle and sporks for the win. :)

Cook at least four meals outdoors - where else do you cook when you camp?!

Leave minimal trace - only the squished grass under the tent is left to show we were there.

Know how to treat camp injuries - my son burns himself every time!  You'd really think he'd know that fire is hot by now.  Have also had scratches from brambles, nettle stings, that time my son was stung by a bee...

Prepare a first aid kit for your trip - we have one in the car, but I also keep basic supplies in our wet box.

Take part in three outdoor activities during camp - I decided to only count what we did last week, rather than backdating everything. We had a campfire every night, no decent photos of that.

Beach walk at Birling Gap

Cliff walk at Birling Gap / Seven Sisters

Nature Walk, this is at the campsite

Walk along disused railway

 Apparently, we do a lot of walking when we go camping.

While we were away I also kept track of anything relevant to the other badges I am completing at the moment.

• Maintained the list of personal litter for Environmentalist.
• Tracked items that I didn't need and didn't buy for Money Saver.
• However, I did find a stack of hardback books that I had to add to My Collection.  It was a necessary purchase and I stand by it!
• Added one more item to my list of Carpe Diem moments.