Personal Camp Kit List

What a Scout needs for a weekend camp.

Based on a list by Scouter Liam Morland, October 2000.

This is a camp gear suggestion list for a weekend camp. This is an all-season list. What you actually bring will depend on the weather and the type of activity.

Important note on packing

Scouts are big people. Parents must not pack their gear for them. At most, parents can help their Scouts by laying out their gear and ensuring that everything is there. They should never actually put the gear into the pack. This is for two reasons. Scouts need to know where something is packed so that they can find it, and Scouts may not be able to pack their gear as tightly as their parents can, leading to problems when it comes time to repack at the end of camp. Everything should be labeled with the youths name!!

Also note that everything the Scout is taking to camp should be inside, or at least fastened to, the pack as quite often Scouts will have to hike to where the final campsite is located.

Camp Gear

Packs

• Backpack. Many styles and types. Look for one that will hold all your gear.
• Day pack: Small school backpacks are ideal.

Sleeping Gear

• Sleeping Bag: should be warm as the weather may drop below freezing. Two summer sleeping bags, one inside the other, or a sleeping bag liner work well in cold conditions. An extra wool blanket can be useful as well.
• Foam Sleeping Pads: self-inflating, blue foamy, Therm-a-Rest, etc. Air mattresses are only appropriate for warm summer nights. In cooler temperatures they will make you feel colder than lying directly on the ground.
• Small camping pillow.

Eating Gear

• Unbreakable plate, bowl, & mug.
• Knife, fork, & spoon.
• Mesh bag for hanging dishes to dry.

Scout Gear

• First Aid Kit.
• Flashlight with extra batteries.
• Water bottle.
• Campfire blanket.
• Compass.
• Small pocket notebook and a pen or pencil.

Outerwear

• Warm coat or jacket appropriate to the season.
• Snow pants in winter.
• Rain gear: There is always a risk of rain.

Footwear

• Hiking boots
• Waterproof boots.
• Winter boots.

Clothes

• Scout uniform: shirt, necker, & woggle. Sash should be brought but kept carefully folded in the backpack. It is only worn for ceremonies
• 2 pair blue pants (not jeans!) & 2 pair of shorts. 
• 2 Tee shirts.
• 2 pair long underwear bottoms.
• Jogging pants.
• Sweater or sweatshirt.
• 3 pair of underwear.
• 3 pair of socks.
• Swimsuit & towel.
• Mittens & gloves: always bring gloves, even in the spring.
• Toque in winter: keeps head warm on cold nights.
• Sun hat: light coloured Tilley-style is the best.
• Plastic grocery bag for dirty clothes.

Miscellaneous

• Toothbrush & toothpaste.
• Comb or hairbrush.
• Small bar of soap and a facecloth in zip lock sandwich bags.
• Medication: must be noted on the medical form.
• Sun screen.
• Bug repellent.
• Camp chair or stool.
• Wrist watch.
• Deck of cards.
• Sunglasses.

Please do not bring

• "Blue jeans" as they take so long to dry when wet.
• Food besides the food on the Troop menu.
• Electronic games, Walkmans, or similar.
• Non-folding knives.
• Anything that might lead one to disregard the Scout Law.

Dressing for Winter

Keeping warm in winter requires attention to a few important details. To start with, one must keep dry. This means not overdressing which leads to sweating, and changing your clothes before bed. You must change all your clothes before going to bed. You must have extra clothes to change into.

The other trick comes in layering. A warm coat on its own is not enough. Insulation must be spread over the entire body. Your layers should be something like this:

1. Long sleeved tee-shirt, long underwear, thin socks.
2. Sweater, jogging pants, heavy socks.
3. Winter jacket, snowpants, winter boots.
4. Hat (touque) and scarf. Gloves and mittens.

There are certainly many excellent outdoor clothing products on the market these days. Treated polyester long underwear, special socks, and just about any piece of clothing made of fleece. This high-tech clothing is excellent, expensive, and unnecessary for introductory winter camping. Waffle knit cotton long underwear, jogging pants, wool sweaters and socks will be fine for a weekend camp. If one is further interested in winter camping, then it is reasonable to look at special equipment. The main difference is the performance of the clothing when it is wet or damp. Cotton must be kept dry and replaced when it gets wet. No other piece of advice is as important.

 

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