Did you come to summer camp this year? Did you learn how to pack for a backpacking trip? Are you curious?
At Camp Unalayee we teach all of our campers how to pack for an overnight trip in the wilderness backcountry. It’s actually a lot of work! Not only do we need to gather all the things we need to survive in the wilderness, we have to fit them in our backpacks! Which is sometimes proves to be quite a challenge.
Packing heavy things like food and sleeping bags at the bottom of your pack helps make it easier to carry. Strapping light things like sleeping pads and tarps to the outside makes it possible to fit everything. And really the key is just packing lightweight items and bringing as little as you possibly can!
Here are all of the things that Unalayee camp counselors and campers need to pack before leaving for a backpacking trip:
Group Preparations
- Get a Wilderness permit
- Check out a Radio
- Stove and Fuel – make sure to test both. You may want more than one fuel bottle depending on the length of your hike, destination and current fire restrictions.
- Swim float for lifeguards
- Rain tarps – check they are big enough, have any holes, and have enough cord
- Biffy shovel (for going to the bathroom)
- Smileys – make sure lids fit. (These are our pots!)
- Slotted spoon and ladle
- First Aid Kit – make sure to check the kit for everything (especially moleskin, tape, and sunscreen!)
- Trash bags – one for each camper as a pack cover for rain
- Extra plastic bags
- Bake pan if desired
- Other optional food goodies (e.g. scones, cobbler, extra ramen, veggies)
- Oh yeah… And ALL your food: breakfast, lunch, dinner, trail snacks, dessert, tea, cocoa….
Personal
- Backpack – make sure it fits.
- Sleeping Bag – is it warm enough?
- Sleeping Pad – it should be lightweight.
- Ground tarp
- 2 one-liter water bottles
- Rain gear – Must have! Lightweight?
- Boots – broken in and comfortable?
- Extra shoes – lightweight (no opened toed!)
- Socks – 1 or 2 pairs per day. Wool is better. It’s nice to have an extra pair to put on at the end of the day.
- Underwear – 1 pair per day
- Shorts – 1 for hiking (Optional 1 extra for relaxing)
- Swimsuit
- Warm pants – fleece is best. No Jeans!
- T- Shirts or tank tops – 1 for hiking 1 for relaxing
- Long-sleeve shirt – lightweight
- Long-underwear
- Jacket or sweatshirt – warm and light. No Denim!
- Beanie – wool is best
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Chap stick
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- Flashlight
- Bowl and/or cup– Not metal
- Spoon
Optional:
- Lightweight towel – no full size beach/bath towels
- Sun hat
- Gloves
- Camera
- Light Book
- Journal
- Writing Material
- Crafts
- Lotion
- Insect Repellent
- Hairbrush
- Pocket Knife
- Cards
Do NOT Bring:
- DENIM (jean material)
- Avoid Cotton when possible
- Large Towels
- Heavy and Bulky Clothing
- Pillows
- Deodorant
- Soap/Shampoo/Conditioner
- Full Mess Kits
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