Tuesday, July 29, 2014

The bare essentials: What do you need to camp?

I had a conversation recently with a long distance friend who was thinking about planning for a weekend camping trip.  She had never been camping before and wanted to know what all she needed to have a successful camping weekend.  This was the list we came up with:

Shelter
  • You need something to keep you protected from the elements, a tent or a camper.  If you don't have a tent, can you borrow one from someone?  Campers get a bit more tricky to borrow.
  • A tarp to go underneath the tent helps protect the bottom of the tent from something sharp and helps to keep any water from seeping in.
  • Hammer for tent stakes
Bedding
  • Sleeping bag or some bedding from your home.
  • Air mattress or one of those foamy mats, you'll want something to keep you off the hard, bumpy ground.  A pool float could work in a pinch
  • Pillows
Meals
  • Cooler and ice to keep your food cold
  • Paper plates & plastic utensils OR enough reusable dishes & utensils for everyone in your camping group
  • Cookware - pots & pans, what will you need for the food you're planning?
  • How are you cooking your food?  Bringing a small grill with you? Does the campground provide a grill?  Do you need charcoal?
  • Stick with easy food for your first time, see what works and doesn't work
  • Firewood - may need to be purchased in the campground
  • A water container for drinking and/or washing dishes
  • Grilling forks if you plan on smores or hot dogs
  • Preferred condiments
  • Beverages and cups
Other stuff
  • First aid kit
  • Garbage bags
  • Lighter
  • Lighter fluid
  • Flashlights or lantern
  • Towels, even if you're skipping showers until you get home
  • Soap & hand sanitizer
  • Toilet paper, depending on where and how you're camping
  • Paper towel
  • Trash bags
  • Change of clothing
  • Sunscreen
  • Bug spray
  • Plastic grocery bags for wet clothes or sticky stuff or dog logs or any of a million other purposes
Nice, but not necessary
  • Vinyl tablecloth to cover the picnic table
  • Small table
  • Aluminum foil
  • Ziplock type bags for food
Did I miss anything?  What would you add?

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