Before
you go
Gather
your travel guides and maps for the road
Reserve
your campsite 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 box
A
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)
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