What to buy for a Christmas camp

A Christmas camp needs more than tents and sleeping bags. You also need enough warm meal equipment, tableware, lighting and serving gear for the whole group, plus a reliable way to keep food and drinks cold or hot. Use your registration numbers to calculate quantities before shopping. This list focuses on the items people often overlook, especially for dark, cold evenings and shared meals outdoors.

Organize this event for free with Lizzt

What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 4
Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 55
Beer tablesqty 4
Clothes racksqty 2

Camping gear

Sleeping tentsqty 10
Sleeping matsqty 50
Sleeping bagsqty 50
Ground pegsqty 80
Hammerqty 4

Tableware

Platesqty 60
Soup bowlsqty 60
Mugsqty 60
Cutlery setsqty 60
Glassesqty 60

Kitchen

Cooking potsqty 4
Frying pansqty 3
Cutting boardsqty 4
Kitchen knivesqty 6
Serving spoonsqty 8
Serving traysqty 6

Equipment

Coolersqty 4
Thermos flasksqty 6
Speakersqty 2
Microphone
Extension cordsqty 6
Power stripsqty 6

Lighting

LED string lightsqty 8
Lanternsqty 10

Decorations

Christmas tree
Christmas baublesqty 60
Christmas garlandsqty 8
Table decorationsqty 8
Name badgesqty 60

Sports equipment

Game materials

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 6
Bucketsqty 4
Spongesqty 12
Mopsqty 4
Broom setsqty 3

Safety

First aid kitsqty 2
Fire extinguishersqty 2
Flashlightsqty 10

Catering

Groceries
- Still mineral water - 60 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 24 bottles
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 10 bottles
- Apple juice - 10 packs
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea - 3 boxes
- Milk - 8 liters
- Sugar - 2 kilograms
- Hot chocolate - 5 kilograms
- Whipped cream - 10 cans
- Sandwich rolls - 70 pieces
- Unsalted butter - 2 kilograms
- Mild matured cheese - 3 kilogram
- Cooked ham - 2 kilograms
- Vegetarian slices - 1 kilogram
- Strawberry jam - 3 jars
- Tomato soup - 12 liters
- Soup vegetables - 3 kilograms
- Ground beef - 6 kilogram
- Vegetarian mince - 2 kilograms
- Kidney beans - 20 cans
- Corn - 8 cans
- Diced tomatoes - 16 cans
- Tomato paste - 8 cans
- Rice - 5 kilograms
- Onions - 4 kilograms
- Bell peppers - 5 kilograms
- Garlic - 6 bulbs
- Chili powder - 250 grams
- Cumin - 250 grams
- Salt - 1 kilogram
- Pepper - 250 gram
- Grated cheese - 2 kilogram
- Crackers - 10 packs
- Paprika chips - 5 bags
- Plain chips - 5 bags
- Cookies - 5 kilogram
- Mandarins - 8 kilograms
- Apples - 8 kilograms
- Marshmallows - 4 kilograms
- Satay skewers - 2 packs
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 3 jars
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Dish soap - 4 bottles
- Hand soap - 6 dispensers
- Disinfectant spray - 4 bottles

Tips

Pack one sleeping mat and one sleeping bag per participant, plus at least two spare ground pegs for every tent. Bring a hammer for pitching tents on firm ground.
Allow one plate, soup bowl, mug, cutlery set and drinking glass per person, then add roughly 10% extra. Shared meals often create more washing-up and breakage than expected.
For hot food and drinks, plan at least one large cooking pot, one frying pan, two cutting boards and two kitchen knives per cooking station. Take serving spoons and trays out before cooking starts.
Use one cooler for every 10 to 12 people if food and drinks must stay cold for a full day. Prepare at least one thermos flask per 8 to 10 people for hot drinks during outdoor activities.
Christmas decorations need their own lighting plan: take LED string lights and lanterns, plus extension cords and power strips rated for outdoor use. Test every light and charge speakers and microphones before departure.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to bring to a Christmas camp?: Bring sleeping tents, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, ground pegs and a hammer, along with cooking equipment, tableware, coolers, thermos flasks and warm lighting. For a group meal, count one place setting per person and add 10% spare items.
How many plates and mugs do I need for a Christmas camp?: Plan one plate, soup bowl, mug, cutlery set and glass per participant, plus around 10% extra. For 30 people, that means 33 of each item if everything is reusable and shared.
How many coolers are needed for a Christmas camp?: Use approximately one cooler for every 10 to 12 people when food and drinks need to stay cold for a full day. For 30 people, prepare at least three coolers and check the available ice or cooling capacity before leaving.
What lighting do I need for a Christmas camp?: Take LED string lights for shared areas and at least one lantern for every sleeping or activity zone. Check extension cords and power strips the day before, and keep a tested backup light available before it gets dark.

Start this plan in Lizzt

Every task and item on this page, ready in your own event. Invite people, split the work, and see who has done what.