By van to a children's summer camp: transporting equipment and supplies

By van to a children's summer camp: the base goes, not the children

Camp begins before the participants arrive. Tents, tent platforms, kitchen equipment, insulated drinks urns, a first-aid kit, materials for games and supplies for the first few days all have to get to the meadow. By van to a children's summer camp, you can take this base in one or two trips instead of six.

What gets transported when setting up

The bulkiest items are the kitchen equipment and the tents. Canvas sheets, poles, cauldrons, drinks urns, gas stoves, tables, benches, tools for building latrines and the playing field. On top of that, boxes of craft materials and sports equipment.

Ongoing supply runs

Supplies are also brought in during the camp. A week's food shopping for fifty people won't fit in a car. If you are planning regular trips, take a look at the PROFI programme — it is handy for organisations that drive repeatedly.

Taking down the camp

The end of camp tends to be more demanding than setting up. The same equipment goes back, but damp, dirty and less neatly packed. Canvas weighs more after rain and takes up more space, so allow a margin for the return trip.

Split the trips by date

Setting up, ongoing supply runs and taking down are three different trips. Book each one separately and preferably well in advance — summer holiday dates are among the busiest. Cancellation is free up to 72 hours before the start of the rental, so you can reserve dates before your schedule is finalised.

Organisation and documents

Only the person named in the contract may drive. At camps, several leaders often take turns, so a second driver must be registered and added to the contract in advance, not on site.

All you need at pick-up is two valid identity documents, one of which is a category B driving licence. No registration or user account is needed; the whole rental is handled via the web app.

No deposit is paid and nothing is blocked on your card. Payment is by card online only; we don't accept cash — take this into account in advance when doing the group's accounts.

Mileage within the Czech Republic is unlimited, so a campsite at the other end of the country doesn't add any surcharges for kilometres. The vehicles are driven only within the Czech Republic and include a valid motorway vignette in the price.

Loading the base

Load according to what gets set up first

The kitchen and the main tent are set up first. Load what you need straight away last, so it can be taken out without rearranging the whole van. Materials for games and craft supplies go right at the front — they won't be unpacked for a few days.

Poles, canvas and long items

Carry tent poles and battens along the wall, tied in bundles. A loose pole will slide forward when braking and cause damage. Stack canvas sheets and tarpaulins on top; they hold the rest of the load in place.

Food and drinks

Carry your shopping in crates, not bags. Crates can be stacked, don't tip over and are easy to carry from the van to the site. Put chilled items in a cool box and load them last, just before you set off.

Gas and flammables

Gas bottles and fuel cans must always be secured and upright. Stand them against the side wall and strap them in. Don't leave the van standing in direct sunlight with them inside for longer than necessary.

The journey to the campsite

The last few kilometres tend to be the worst

Campsites lie at the end of a forest or field track. After rain, a track like that is a problem for a loaded van. Agree with the landowner on which way you can drive in, and if in doubt, transfer the load for the shorter distance some other way.

Unload with help

Plan who will be available on site. We don't offer vans with a driver or with movers, so you handle loading and unloading yourselves. With three people it is done in a fraction of the time.

First-aid kit and documents in the cab

The first-aid kit, lists of children and paperwork belong up front with the driver. Under a pile of canvas in the cargo area you won't find them when you need them. Put them in one folder and keep it to hand.

Photograph the equipment

For equipment borrowed from the group, it is easier to prove its condition from a photo. Photograph it before loading and after unloading. You photograph the van itself at pick-up via the web app.

Return

The van is returned with a full tank to the same location where you picked it up. We operate non-stop, so you can return it even after a night-time supply run. Any remaining questions are answered in the FAQ section.