Greetings, intrepid camper! You may be wondering âhow did I get myself into this mess?â or âwhat even does one bring camping??â Well fear not, brave soul, we have compiled a handy dandy guide just for you first, second, or hundredth-timers. Because we love you.
This guide is divided into convenient sections for your perusal. Should our grouping stay within 35 people then everyone will have a cabin in which to stay, which will negate the last part of the guide.
This is My First Camping Trip, Please Help Me.
Yourself (glad to have you on board, it wouldnât be a party without you!).
Your photo ID or passport. This should stay with you at almost all times.
Clean clothes for 4 days and 3 nights stay.
At least 4 pairs underwear/bras and socks, we recommend at least 1 extra of each just in case.
Shorts/pants/skirts for 4 days. At least 1 pair should be long pants.
Shirts/tank tops for 4 days.
Pair of good walking shoes or hiking boots.
A hoodie (for us cold blooded lizard folk to wear at night to disguise our scaled faces with).
Optional: Sandals/swimming shoes.
Optional: Hat to keep the sun off your head.
Optional: Sunglasses or clip ons.
Optional: A hooded rain jacket (so you donât melt if it rains).
Optional: If you are attending Bristol Renaissance Faire you may wish to bring your own costume. Costumes of any kind are welcome, so long as you donât have any exposed steel or walk around in just pasties.
Optional: If you are attending the wine tasting at the vineyards you might opt for something super fancy to make you feel classy.
Your prescription medications.
Sandals to shower in (no, really, get a pair of cheap flipflops to shower in).
Optional: Pads or tampons if shark week strikes.
Optional: Hair ties if you are of the long haired persuasion.Â
Optional: Glasses or contact cleaning solutions if you are a cyborg.
Optional: Makeup and hair styling products.
Flashlight and spare batteries.
Folding camp chair (if you are not flying in).
Optional: Reusable water bottle with belt clip for hiking.
Optional: A book to read, useful if you have to wait for a pickup.
Optional: Laptop/tablet and charger. There is wifi, but it isnât the greatest.
Optional: Camera, film, and extra batteries or charger.
A special note to our international visitors: Donât worry about packing shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, soap, skin lotion, sunscreen, or bug repellent. If you do not have a special requirement and are not staying in the States before or after camp. Roki will happily provide those things for you. Just let us know in advance so she can be made aware to bring extra. This is to help with getting past TSA because their liquid requirements can be pretty screwy. If you are staying in the States before or after it will be easier on you to purchase those items once here. It saves you in airline baggage weight coming into the States and you cannot bring them with you as a carry on to help with that.
If you want to know more about that, check out this post: Travelling to the States from Canada. Bear in mind that it will differ from country to country and between airlines even, but itâs a good starting point.
The cabins provide mattresses, so air mattresses are not required.
An extra blanket if you think you will need it.
Your own set of sheets (twin or full).
I am Staying in a Tent or Sleeping on an Air Mattress
Your tent (or negotiate with someone to have them provide you one).
Rubber mallet for stakes.
Optional: Small mat/bag to put shoes on inside tent. Prevents bugs getting in them, but also tracking mud inside.
Pro-tip: If you can, zip your tent so that the zippers are at the top of the door. This prevents curious critters from grabbing them at night.
A blow up mattress or sleeping mat.
Pump for blow up mattress.
Batteries for the pump if needed.
A sleeping bag to put over the mattress (put this down before the sheets to prevent loss of body heat through the night).
Spare blanket (if needed).
A tent lantern and extra batteries for it.
Optional:Â Clip on tent fan and batteries for it.
- Roki
Seasonal Naturalist