Family Camping Checklist

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• Family-friendly campgrounds in Canada

Be prepared for your next adventure

If you're like most of us, whenever you rush to get ready for that camping trip, you always end up forgetting "something". So here's a handy checklist to help out. Although it is not a complete list of items that you might want to bring on your trip, it does list the most common camping items. You can print this list and use it to prepare for your next trip!!

Before you go

Gather your travel guides and maps for the road
Reserve your camping site ahead of time
Ensure your vehicle is "ready" for the trip
Cancel your newspaper delivery
Install on/off timers on a few lamps in your house
Shut down your water heater (just in case....)
Ensure all windows and doors are locked
Activate your home alarm
Leave a key to your home to a trustworthy neighbor
Arrange for someone to cut your lawn (if necessary)
Arrange for someone to empty your mailbox periodically

Clothing

A hat, a baseball cap or a sun hat
A pair of long underwear ("Thinsulates" are great)
Swimwear
Shorts and long pants
Rain gear - a poncho or a rain parka with pants
A windbreaker
Footwear (sneakers, sandals, rain or hiking boots..)
A pair of thick wool socks
Sunglasses (with UVA/UVB protection)
A sewing repair kit

Health related items

A first aid kit (band-aids, antiseptic ointment, gauze, aspirin etc..)
Medication (prescribed or otherwise)
Water purification tablets (just in case....)
A pair of spare prescription glasses
Toothpaste and toothbrushes
Hairbrush, combs
An unbreakable (plastic) mirror
Soap, shampoo and bath towels
Insect repellant
Sun screen (waterproof if you're planning to go swimming), lip gloss
Toilet paper

Camping Items

Your tent (don't forget the stakes and poles)
A tube of "seam sealer" for your tent (stick, spray or liquid)
An emergency "repair kit" for your tent (patches, glue, needle, thread ....)
Your sleeping bags and/or warm blankets
A sleeping mat (foam or air-filled .don't forget the air pump)
Pillows for everybody
A folding table (very convenient)
A tarp (for your cooking area or to install over/under the tent if necessary)
A battery operated lamp (remember that using a propane lantern inside a tent can be extremely dangerous)
A lantern for outdoor use (don't forget to bring spare mantles and the propane canister)
A cooler / ice boxA cooking stove (and fuel) or a small BBQ
Cooking pots, a frying pan, a kettle, a few mugs and some utensils
A plastic egg container
A plastic butter container
A dish pan
A can opener and a corkscrew
A plastic tablecloth
A laundry bag (garbage bags also work fine)
Insulated food containers
Aluminum foil (especially if you're planning to cook on a open fire)
Hot dog sticks
A large water carrier (2-5 gallon)
A water bottle / canteen
Plastic bags! Small and large... they're always handy!
Rope - at least 100 feet (nylon being the most resistant to weather)
Tape (electrical and/or duct tape work best)
An small (folding) shovel
An axe or a hatchet
A small broom
A knife (swiss army knives are always useful)
Matches and/or a lighter (waterproof if possible)
Candles
A flashlight or two (always have a few spare bulbs around)
Batteries

Miscellaneous items

Your passports (only if necessary)
Your camera ....and extra films!
A battery operated radio
A walkie-talkie set
Umbrellas
Binoculars
Fishing permits
A good book
Board games (chess, cribbage..)
A deck of cards
A folding chair or two (or a hammock to pamper yourself)

*Contributed by Camping-Canada.com