Personal Camp Kit List

What a Scout needs for a weekend camp

By Scouter Liam Morland, October 2000

Below is a personal camp gear suggestion list. This is an all-season list. You need to think about the weather and type of activity when choosing what to bring. Talk to your Patrol Leader or Scouter if you are unsure about what you need. You are responsible for making sure that you have everything you need and that it is properly packed. Your parents must not put things into your backpack for you. You need to know where things are packed so that you can find them quickly.

Kit List

Packs

• Large backpack or duffel bag
• Day pack: school packs are good

Sleepwear

• Sleeping Bag: Warm as the weather may drop below freezing. Two sleeping bags, one inside the other, work well in cold conditions
• Sleeping bag liner (optional)
• Insulated sleeping pad: closed-cell foam, Therm-a-Rest, etc.
• Pillow (compact camping version) or pillow case to fill with clothes (optional)

Eating Gear

• Unbreakable plate, bowl, and mug
• Knife, fork, and spoon
• Mesh ditty bag: for hanging dishes to dry

Outerwear

• Rain gear: Jacket and pants; there is always a risk of rain
• Super-compact plastic rain poncho to carry always as a backup (can be bought for $2 at Canadian Tire)
• Warm jacket
• Snow pants (winter only)

Footwear

• Running shoes or hiking boots
• Waterproof boots or winter boots

Clothes

• Troop uniform: shirt, necker, and woggle
• Navy blue trousers
• Navy blue shorts (warm weather only)
• Tee shirts
• Long underwear
• Warm fleece or sweater
• Warm clothes for sleeping: Jogging pants or fleece, sleeping toque, warm socks or booties
• Underwear
• Pair of bread bags for wearing over socks to keep them dry if footwear is wet
• Dry socks: thin liner socks and wool or fleece socks; two layers help prevent blisters
• Dry socks
• Dry socks
• Mittens and gloves: even in the spring or fall
• Toque: even in summer; may wear at night
• Sun hat: light-coloured Tilley-style is the best
• Large mesh ditty bag to store dirty clothing
• Swimsuit and towel (if specified)

Scouting Gear

• Fox 40 whistle
• Outdoor knife, folding (optional; see below)
• B-P Kit; only once you have made it (see below)
• Flashlight: Compact LED headlamp recommended
• Water bottle (full)
• Campfire blanket (optional)

Miscellaneous

• Facial tissue or handkerchiefs
• Hand sanitizer (pocket size)
• Hand towel, camping style such as "PackTowl" recommended
• Plastic shopping bag (for garbage)
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Lip balm (optional)
• Comb
• Medication: must be noted on the medical form
• Sunglasses
• Sun screen, 30 SPF minimum (in season; no aerosols)
• Bug repellent (in season; no aerosols)
• Watch
• Smile

Please do not bring

• Food besides the food on the menu
• Clothing in camouflage pattern
• Any electrical or electronic devices besides flashlights and watches
• Non-folding knives
• Family heirlooms
• Anything that might tempt one to disregard the Scout Law

Preparing for the Cold

Dress in Layers

Proper clothing is essential for keeping warm, dry, and comfortable in the winter. Wearing multiple layers is both warm and allows one to take layers off and on so that they always have enough to be warm, but not so much that they sweat. Modern fleece and long underwear made of Merino wool or polyester is the best: It is warm, lightweight, retains much of its warmth when wet, and dries quickly. Avoid cotton. Insulation must be spread over the entire body. Your layers should be something like this:

1. Base layers: Long sleeved tee-shirts, long underwear, thin socks.
2. Insulation layers: Sweaters, warm pants (fleece is best; jogging pants also work), heavy socks (fleece or wool).
3. Winter jacket, snow pants, winter boots.
4. Hat and neck-warmer, gloves and mittens.

Bring extra clothes, particularly socks and mitts, so that you can change out of wet clothing. Remember to dry any wet clothing.

Warmth at Night

• Clothes worn to bed must be completely dry. Anything worn during the day will be at least slightly damp from sweat. One method is to put on the next day’s clothes right before bed.
• Wear a full set of clothes to bed, including long underwear, socks, and a balaclava or toque.
• Bring two sleeping bags (used one inside the other) and a sleeping pad.
• Boots with removable liners are the best.
• Put the next day’s clothes and your boot liners in the bottom of your sleeping bag so that they will be warm when it is time to put them on.

Knife

A knife is a key tool in the outdoors, but a low-quality knife can be dangerous. You are better off with a high-quality knife with a single blade than a low-quality multi-tool. Choose a knife with a straight (not serrated) blade, 2–3.5 inches in length. A locking blade is preferred. A good choice is a genuine Swiss Army Knife from Victorinox with a lock blade. Other quality manufacturers are Wenger, Gerber, and Leatherman.

Compass

A good orienteering compass for the beginner hiker or boater is the Suunto A-10 or Silva Polaris.