Late Start 1P

100% agree on the teen pup tent idea - we got our kid a Kelty Late Start 1-person and it was a gamechanger for everyone's sanity and sleep qualty!

I've had the Kelty Late Start for a few years. Not the lightest but roomy enough and tall enough. Decent quality tent that was priced right for me.

Just used this last night for an impromptu winter camp out. Definitely Not a 4 season tent but it did well enough. I use it a bunch over the summer, it's small enough to take on a small hike and is budget friendly too.

Go for the Core tent if you're a stand up in the tent & move around type. You'll like it. We got our big one pretty muddy and it was a heavy pain to clean. Hubby can stand & likes to bring a chair in. I like a smaller dome tent. I love my Kelty Late Start. The pole pockets and clips are great. I will never purchase another tent with sleeves for the poles to slide through (looking at you Coleman). Do you have any plans to backpack with the Scout Troop? Or are you exclusively car camping? Many scout camps require you to walk in your gear from a common parking area. If that's the case, having a wagon is key if you want to keep your large tent.

For three months on the road you want something you can set up alone in the dark when you're tired. Freestanding dome tent is the move. Don't go too big or you'll hate packing it every morning. I ran a Kelty Late Start for about six weeks straight and it held up to everything short of a tornado. Quick pitch, good ventilation, and fits on most platforms.

I own Kelty, North Face and Marmot backpacking tents, and can attest to their durability, ease of use and agreeable weight. I've used them both in the backcountry as well as when going car camping.