What you need for a creative camping weekend

A creative camping weekend needs more than tents and sleeping bags. You will also need shared cooking equipment, coolers, reusable tableware, workshop supplies, lighting and shelter for tables and activities. Plan food and drinks around the number of participants, then check dietary requirements before shopping. Buy or pack consumables at least two days ahead, and keep chilled food in coolers or a fridge until it is needed.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Party tentsqty 2
Camping tablesqty 6
Folding chairsqty 36
Work tablesqty 6
Bar stoolsqty 4

Equipment

Coolersqty 4
Gas burnersqty 3
Gas cylindersqty 3
Kettlesqty 2
Bluetooth speakersqty 2
Extension cordsqty 4

Kitchen

Large cooking potsqty 4
Frying pansqty 3
Cutting boardsqty 6
Paring knivesqty 6
Serving spoonsqty 6

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 40
Reusable bowlsqty 40
Reusable cupsqty 50
Cutlery setsqty 40
Serving plattersqty 8

Camping

Tentsqty 18
Sleeping matsqty 30
Sleeping bagsqty 30
Ground tarpsqty 18
Tent lightsqty 18

Decorations

Buntingqty 12
Chalkboardsqty 4
Name badgesqty 40

Lighting

String lightsqty 6
LED lanternsqty 8

Creative

Painter's canvasesqty 36
Acrylic paint setsqty 12
Brush setsqty 12
Colored pencil setsqty 12
Scissorsqty 20
Glue gunsqty 6
Cutting matsqty 6
Craft boxesqty 6

Sports equipment

Picnic blanketsqty 8
Frisbeesqty 6

Cleaning

Washing-up basinsqty 6
Dish brushesqty 4
Hand broomsqty 3
Bucketsqty 4

Safety

First aid kitsqty 2
Fire extinguishersqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 4 boxes
- Semi-skimmed milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Honey - 2 jars
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Sparkling water - 8 bottles
- Still water - 12 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Alcohol-free beer - 3 cases
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Ice cubes - 8 bags
- Bread - 12 loaves
- Whole grain bread - 8 loaves
- Pistolets - 40 pieces
- Croissants - 40 pieces
- Butter - 1.5 kilos
- Young aged cheese - 2.5 kilos
- Hummus - 10 tubs
- Peanut butter - 3 jars
- Strawberry jam - 3 jars
- Turkey breast - 1,5 kilo
- Eggs - 60 pieces
- Bacon bits - 2 kilos
- Yogurt - 6 liter
- Muesli - 3 kilos
- Bananas - 40 pieces
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Grapes - 4 kilos
- Coffee cream - 4 packets
- Potatoes - 8 kilos
- Rice - 4 kilos
- Pasta - 4 kilo
- Diced tomatoes - 12 cans
- Kidney beans - 8 cans
- Corn - 8 cans
- Bell peppers - 20 pieces
- Zucchini - 10 pieces
- Onions - 3 kilos
- Garlic - 6 bulbs
- Mixed lettuce - 12 bags
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Vegan mince - 3 kilo
- Feta - 1.5 kilos
- Grated cheese - 2 kilos
- Wraps - 80 pieces
- Pita bread - 40 pieces
- Vegetable stock - 2 boxes
- Olive oil - 2 liters
- Sunflower oil - 1 liter
- Salt - 1 pack
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Cumin - 1 jar
- Chili powder - 1 jar
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Sambal - 2 jars
- Tortilla chips - 12 bags
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Nut mix - 3 kilo
- Marshmallows - 3 kilos
- Chocolate bars - 40 pieces
- Cookies - 10 packs
- Paper napkins - 6 packs
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 4 rolls
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Disinfectant wipes - 4 packs

Tips

Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then one drink per person per hour. Include coffee, tea and water, and keep extra supplies for the morning after the welcome evening.
Pack one reusable plate, bowl, cup and cutlery set per participant, plus at least 10% extra. Shared serving platters and serving spoons are easy to overlook when the shopping is focused on ingredients.
Allow one worktable for each active creative group and provide at least one extension cord per powered activity area. Check cable lengths before arrival so tables do not need to be moved after setup.
For camping, prepare one tent, sleeping mat and sleeping bag per person, with ground tarps sized to fit beneath the tents. Add tent lights before dark; finding gear without lighting is a common late arrival problem.
Buy workshop materials only after the programme and group sizes are confirmed. Sort each activity into a separate box at least one day before departure, including scissors, tools or other small items that are often forgotten.

Frequently asked questions

What food should I buy for a creative camping weekend?: Plan breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for the full stay, based on the confirmed participant count. Collect dietary requirements at least one week beforehand, then buy chilled food no more than two days before departure.
How much camping gear do I need per person?: Provide one sleeping bag, sleeping mat and suitable tent space per participant. Pack at least 10% spare capacity in shared gear such as tarps, lights and seating so one missing or damaged item does not affect the weekend.
How many reusable plates and cups do I need?: Allow one plate, bowl, cup and cutlery set per person, plus 10% extra. For 30 participants, that means at least 33 of each item, unless you have a reliable washing-up system between meals.
When should I buy supplies for the camping weekend?: Buy non-food equipment and workshop materials at least one week ahead, so missing items can still be replaced. Shop for fresh and chilled food one to two days before departure and store it in a fridge or coolers.

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