Summer Camping Check List

Here's a handy camping list you can print out or change according to your family's needs. Already have a camping list? Look at mine and compare to see if you should add anything to yours.

1. tent
2. lantern
3. flashlight(s)
4. sleeping bags
5. air mattress/foam for under sleeping bags
6. pillows
7. plastic tarp for under tent and in front of it (for placing dirty shoes on so tent does not get dirt/sand in it, and to keep bottom of tent clean of pine needles)
8. cooking pot and frying pan
9. tea kettle
10. 2 big spoons, metal tongs (good for salad and taking corn-on-cob out of pot), metal pancake/hamburger flipper, cutting knife, knife fork, metal sticks for cooking marshmallows, corn-on-the-cob little end sticks
11. plastic utensils
12. paper/plastic plates, bowls and cups; and Styrofoam cups for hot drinks
13. can opener
14. bottle opener
15. matches
16. camping stove and tank
17. small BBQ grill and charcoal
18. watch
19. compass (show kids how to use)
20. cooler
21. bags of ice
22. sun screen
23. bug spray
24. lip balm with sunscreen
25. hand lotion for cracked hands due to dry air
26. deodorant in case you can't shower for a couple of days
27. ear plugs (nothing is worse than getting no sleep because a person in the tent or campsite next to you is a loud snorer)
28. lap blankets for when sitting in night air
29. folding chairs
30. umbrella for shade if not forest camping
31. cloth for picnic table (cloth/plastic)
32. large plastic or metal bowl for washing hands at camp
33. soap in bottle
34. 2 to 3 camp hand towels
35. paper towels (for messes and useful if camp restroom is out of paper towels. Also can be used as napkins)
36. toilet paper (in case restroom is out)
37. first aid kit ( make sure has band aids and antiseptic/anti-bacteria cream)
38. nail cutter and file (for chipped nails. It can happen when camping.)
39. tweezers for taking out splinters
40. Calamine lotion to soothe red, itchy skin
41. tooth picks/floss
42. clothes line (for wet swimsuits and towels…)
43. clothes pins
44. binoculars
45. camera
46. bird or nature books, other reading material
47. games (mini board games, puzzles, jump rope…)
48. cards, plus pen and paper to keep score
49. bikes and helmets
50. firewood (do not always assume camping places will have it or you'll find wood to burn around camp).
51. small ax for splitting firewood (put in safe spot away from kids).
52. trash bags for campsite trash
53. air freshener for stinky areas
54. ID/campsite receipt in case you have to show it to Park Ranger. Also, bring any state/national park discount cards. Your road side assistance card. If you camp a lot think about getting battery cables for battery jumps.

Clothes and such:
1. toothbrush(s)
2. toothpaste
3. shampoo
4. bottled body wash (a bar of soap gets scummy and dirty)
5. brush/comb and hair ties
6. female monthly needs products/medicine
7. wash cloths
8. body and swim towels
9. swim suits (and any water wings and life preservers if applicable)
10. swim shoes with rubber soles
11. goggles and swim toys
12. tennis shoes/sandals (pack whichever you're not wearing)
13. jackets
14. hiking boots and thick socks
15. sunhats/caps
16. regular socks
17. underwear
18. pants
19. shorts
20. long sleeve shirts (it cools down at night even at beach)
21. short sleeve shirts
22. day packs (small backpacks) for swim towels, and food and drinks when hiking

Food:
1. trail mix (buy or make your own with nuts and dried fruit. Useful when hiking for quick snack.)
2. oatmeal and/or cream of wheat packages (kids like the flavored kind)
3. pancake box mix (make sure you pack other ingredients you need to make it)
4. bread
5. lunch meat
6. cheese (sliced and if having chili- a bag of shredded cheddar to melt on top)
7. mustard/ketchup/pickles/tomatoes
8. bag/ball(s) of lettuce for hamburgers and salad makings
9. plastic container of coleslaw/potato salad
10. corn in husks
11. butter (if bring butter stick can roll corn-on-cob on top of it)
12. fruit- peaches, melon, bananas, apples
13. salt and pepper
14. sugar packets
15. small creamer packets
16. coffee in can and/or tea bags
17. hot coca packets/can (that has milk powder already in it)
18. bottled water
19. drinks
20. can(s) of soup/chili, cup-of-noodles
21. can of tuna, but then pack mayonnaise
22. hot dogs and/hamburgers
23. hot dog and/hamburger buns
24. chips (tortilla chips if having chili), and crackers if you are having soup
25. other treats- bag of cookies, Starbursts (useful for when hiking. If you have unhappy hikers tell them every half mile or mile they get a piece of candy.), smore makings (graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows), little packs of pretzels….

Special needs:
1. diapers with diaper bag
2. collapsible baby crib
3. plastic baby gates (fit together for area for baby to play in)
4. blanket for ground
5. medicine for kids or grandparents

Remember when camping where there are bears do not to have ANY nice/sweet smelling products (lip balm, baby lotion, deodorant, toothpaste…) or food in your tent. There should be bear lockers to keep your food in. If not keep items in sealed coolers in car, away from tent. The last time I went camping a bear broke the window of a truck to get the candy bar and tooth paste left in the front seat.