Things to Pack for a Camping Trip

Campcraft items:

• water bottle
• Boy Scout handbook & pen
• sleeping bag, mat or pad, pillow case
• pocket knife and your Totin' Chip
• mess kit: plate, cup for hot & cold, cutlery
• flashlight (plus a spare)
• folding chair (for hanging out around the campfire)

Clothing:

• Class A uniform, on a hanger [not needed from some trips]
• Class B uniform (Troop 150 red T-shirt)
• shirt, pants, socks for each day
• plus extra pair of socks per day
• hiking boots or sturdy shoes
• something to sleep in
• hat (any Scout or baseball hat will do; red Troop 150 cap if available)
• rain poncho

Personal care:

• toothbrush & paste
• small soap, small bottle of shampoo
• towel, washcloth, and/or bandanna
• medicine (see notes below)
• if needed: shaving needs, contact needs

Food:

• sack dinner for Friday night (subs are popular)
• energy bars, trail mix (in sealable container)

Optional:

• ball, Frisbee, etc.
• fishing pole
• playing cards
• compass
• fire starter (no liquid fuels!)
• duct tape, twine, bungee cords, rope
• hatchet, hammer, camp shovel, pliers, screwdriver
• groundcloth, tarp
• a few zip-lock bags (to hold loose items, or protect book from wet weather)
• one or two large trash bags (use to cover your gear in the rain, or to store wet clothing)
• use clear ones if possible -- to avoid the possibility that your bag is mistaken for actual trash

• bug spray
• sunscreen lotion
• light jacket or hoodie
• at least one pair of long pants or sweatpants

While using a backpack is certainly OK -- and looks very "scouty" -- most scouts have found packing in a large plastic tub to be the right level of inexpensive, functional, and rainproof.

In addition to the list for "warm weather items", you'll want to bring:

• materials required by your selected merit badges:
• stuff to bring (e.g.: First Aid badge requires you to bring a first aid kit)
• stuff to do ahead (e.g.: meal planning for Cooking; writing assignments for Environmental Science)
• money for supplies specified (e.g.: small fee for leatherworking supplies, or arrow kit used in Archery merit badge)
• for a full list of prerequisites, see the individual activities page on the Ockanickon site
• pencil and paper
• second pair of shoes
• swim suit (optional: second one)
• napsack (small backpack for day use)
• optional Friday rafting trip (if offered):
• raft-operator's permission slip
• participation fee
• optional:
• mosquito netting for your bunk
• extra money for snack bar items (ice cream, cool drinks, etc)
• wolverine repellent

• provide medicine in original containers (O.T.C. or Rx)
• just enough doses for the duration of the campout
• write out dosing instructions
• "with dinner", "at breakfast and bedtime", "as needed"
• place meds and instructions in a ziplock bag, clearly marked with scout's name and "Troop 150"
• give to the Scoutmaster or trip coordinator at the start of the campout