How to Set Up a Girl Scout Camping Sink

Overnight camping with a scout troop is a memorable experience for girls and their scout leaders. But as wonderful as it is to get away from distractions and enjoy the outdoors, camping means leaving some of the comforts of home behind and leaving some of the safety of home behind too. Being able to properly clean cookware and eating utensils at a campsite will prevent infections and food poisoning.

Things You'll Need

  • Three dishpans
  • A large pot
  • Cooking stove
  • Dish soap
  • Sanitizing tablets
  • Plenty of water
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Instructions

    • 1

      Find a suitable spot to set up a sink. This should be near the eating site, but not so close that the two interfere. The dishpans should be set at a height between waist and elbow, to make the process of dishwashing comfortable, fun, and fast.

    • 2

      Boil the water that you will use in your dishpans if you are getting it from a local well or a natural water source. The water from these sources may look clean, but it must be boiled to ensure that no bacteria or fungus is present.

    • 3

      Add the boiled water to the dishpans. Remember that the dishpans should be in a particular order: wash, rinse, and sanitize. The easiest way to do this is to add the detergent and sanitizing tablets to the first and last dishpans before you add the water. When the water is poured into the pans, the force will agitate and mix with the detergent and sanitizing tablets naturally.

    • 4

      Wash the dishes. First wipe the plates clean so that the wash water is kept as clean as possible. Put a plate in the first dishpan with the detergent and scrub it until it is squeaky clean. Shake off the suds and dunk the plate in the rinse water at least three times. Shake off the rinse water, and allow the plate to sit in the sanitized water for about 10 seconds. Dry it thoroughly.

    • 5

      Store the cookware and plates in an appropriate place. The dishes should preferably be enclosed, in a bag or other container, to protect them from insects and dust.