Somewhere on the web is a tutorial about a picnic quilt that is a top attached to some heavy oilcoth. It was a neat idea so maybe something like that would work for you. Oh here's the link --->

http://www.patchworkduck.com/2011/03...-tutorial.html

There is so many good idea on here it's hard to decide which one to use but after looking at this website site It got me thinking that her idea about the way she put it together was very good. But I also like the quick drying of the sports nylon so I may incorporate that into this quilt instead of the oil cloth.

The nylon would be great for several reasons, it holds heat, compacts smaller and is some what water proof and since he camps in the northern woods country close to Canada, I'm thinking the warmth would be an important thing. If a inner muslin fabric was used instead of the normal batting that would also dry quicker and yet give it the "quilted look" that I'm looking to achieve here. I had also thought about using the sports nylon for the quilt blocks as well but I'm not to sure how that would look or if that would be "over kill".

I'm keeping a list of all the suggestions here and from that list I will weight the pros and cons of each idea so I can figure out the "perfect" camp quilt. LOL At least I think I will.

How about using a shower curtain from the Dollar Store to throw on the ground...use it once...throw it away! I would probably wash mine and use it again, though!

LOL- we are talking about a MAN here- instructions?!!!

My suggestion is to get a sheet of something good and waterproof, slightly larger than the quilt, and attach some cute button to it in the corners and (depending on the size of the quilt) in a few spots on the sides as well. Then attach little tabs to the quilt in the right places, with buttonholes in them- this means that the quilt can be used in any situation (without the backing buttoned on) and can also be washed, plus it means that it will stay in place on the waterproof backing, when waterproof backing is called for. (Maybe made a little barrel shaped bag he can roll the tarp bit up into to make sure it is identifiable as part of the set, and does not get misplaced/ loaned to his friend who is moving house, changing the oil in his car, etc?)

Or back it with jeans...

Use a percale sheet. I backed a denim quilt with one and everything just shakes off when I pick it up.