It’s that time of the year when the earth springs into life again. But this year there is expected to be a little more activity. After having spent 17 years underground, a dozen states from NY to IL and south to GA will see billions of cicadas emerge this month or next. They will mate, lay eggs and die. The nymphs will hatch and burrow underground to repeat the cycle in 2038. Unlike mosquitoes, cicadas are pretty much harmless but their buzzing mating calls are as loud as a lawnmower or a motorcycle!
Bug Net for Camping
Regardless of the increased traffic, the main culprit to watch out for is still the mosquito. After a relatively mild winter, there are expected to be more mosquitoes this summer and thus an increase in West Nile virus cases. Which is why it makes sense to protect you and your kids with a mosquito net tent – a totally enclosed bug net with a floor. The open-air platform tents at summer camp are just that – open to all kinds of bugs and mosquito nets draped over PVC frames do little to thwart the pesky skeeters which still manage to sneak in through the gaps between the floorboards.
Seen and read:
The canvas wall tents at Camp Rodney and Curtis S. Read Scout Reservation are wide enough so there is ample space between the cots.
At some summer camps like Camp Sequassen or Resica Falls Scout Reservation, the wall tents are narrow. To optimize space, simply turn the cots sideways to align the slope of the wall tent with that of the SansBug!
Mosquito Net or Mosquito Net Tent?
It takes some time trying to figure out how to suspend a mosquito net inside a canvas tent. There usually aren’t any grommets or tie-offs inside canvas wall tents. Therefore most folks lash PVC pipes to the cot and drape mosquito netting over it. However, it is impossible to make sure there are no gaps between the netting and the floor every time you get in and out of bed… especially if it is dark.
The wooden platforms have gaps between the planks to prevent water from pooling when it rains. So there will always be space for mosquitoes to come in. One mosquito can keep you up and make your night miserable.
The SansBug screen tent has built-in poles so it pops open into shape. It is freestanding so it doesn’t need to be held up. It also has an attached floor so it is totally enclosed. You’ll sleep like a baby and be alert and focused to learn new skills the next day!
And, hey, if the weather is nice… take the cots out of the sweltering canvas tents and pop open the SansBug bug nets like this troop did at Kerr Scout Ranch.
So don’t forget to add the SansBug to your scout summer camp packing list!