How to organise a bushcraft camp

A bushcraft camp needs more than tents and outdoor activities. Start by securing a campsite and checking fire regulations, then build the participant list around dietary needs, the route and the programme. In the final week, confirm the weather, buy and chill food, prepare activity materials and remind everyone what to bring. On arrival, inspect the site, mark the safety zone and set up shelter, cooking, registration and work areas before demonstrations begin.

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The plan, step by step

Every task with its own sub-checklist, in the order you'll actually need them.

Preparations

1
Reserve campsite
2
Check fire regulations
3
Send invitations
4
Process registrations
5
Collect dietary requirements
6
Create the participant list
7
Check the weather forecast
8
Share the program and route
9
Do the shopping
2 people
10
Collect materials
2 people
11
Pack food chilled
2 people
12
Remind participants
13
Inspect the site
2 people
14
Mark the safety zone
2 people
15
Set up tents and tarp
4 people
16
Set up worktables
2 people
17
Set up cooking area
3 people
18
Set up the fire pit safely
3 people
19
Prepare materials per activity
3 people
20
Chill water and drinks
2 people
21
Set up registration desk

Event

22
Receive participants
2 people
23
Register attendance
24
Give safety instructions
2 people
25
Demonstrate bushcraft techniques
2 people
26
Collect wood
4 people
27
Practice rope connections
3 people
28
Facilitate woodworking
4 people
29
Cut Herbs and Vegetables
3 people
30
Light a fire
2 people
31
Prepare evening meal
4 people
32
Serve dinner
3 people
33
Refill drinks
34
Collect tableware
2 people
35
Lead the night walk
3 people
36
Watch over the campfire
2 people
37
Serve evening snacks
2 people
38
Fully extinguish the fire
2 people
39
Separate waste immediately
2 people

Aftercare

40
Take down tents and tarp
4 people
41
Check tools
2 people
42
Wash dishes
2 people
43
Clean cooking area
2 people
44
Check the fire pit
2 people
45
Dispose of waste
2 people
46
Leave the site clean
4 people
47
Store materials dry
2 people
48
Return borrowed items
49
Throw away food scraps

What to bring

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

Furniture

Foldable tablesqty 4
Folding chairsqty 24
Tarpqty 3
Ground tarpsqty 4
Picnic benchesqty 4

Camping

Tentsqty 8
Sleeping matsqty 20
Blanketsqty 20
Headlampsqty 20

Equipment

Coolersqty 4
Gas burnersqty 2
Gas cylindersqty 4
Water boilersqty 2

Kitchen

Cooking potsqty 3
Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 6
Serving spoonsqty 4

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 24
Reusable bowlsqty 24
Reusable cupsqty 30
Reusable cutleryqty 30

Bushcraft materials

Axesqty 6
Hand sawsqty 6
Woodcarving knivesqty 12
Rope rollsqty 8
Work glovesqty 24
Fire samplesqty 12
Logsqty 2

Safety

First aid kitsqty 2
Fire extinguishersqty 2
Fire blanketsqty 2
Flashlightsqty 4

Lighting

LED lanternsqty 8
Extension cordsqty 2

Cleaning

Dishpanqty 2
Dish brushesqty 4
Tea towelsqty 12
Towelsqty 6

Catering

Groceries

Tips

Book the campsite before sending invitations, and check its fire rules at the same time. Requirements for fire pits, wood and extinguishers can affect the whole programme.
Close registrations early enough to shop accurately. Use the final participant list to calculate food, drinking water, sleeping space and the number of workstations, then check dietary requirements before buying.
Prepare the site in a fixed order: inspect the ground, mark the safety zone, put up tents and tarps, and only then arrange the cooking and fire areas. Keep axes, saws and carving knives in the supervised work area.
Pack chilled food in coolers as late as possible and chill water and drinks before departure. A short final weather check the day before can determine whether extra ground tarps, blankets or rain cover are needed.
Set up registration before participants arrive and give safety instructions before handing out tools. Demonstrate each technique with the actual axes, hand saws, carving knives and fire materials used during the camp.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance should I organise a bushcraft camp?: Reserve the campsite at least 6 to 8 weeks ahead, especially if the camp includes overnight stays or an open fire. Send invitations after the site, date and basic programme are confirmed, and close registrations about 2 weeks before the camp.
How many people should one bushcraft instructor supervise?: Plan for roughly 6 to 8 participants per instructor during activities with axes, hand saws or woodcarving knives. Add supervision before the activity starts, while tools are being handed out, and during breaks.
When should I check the weather for a bushcraft camp?: Check the forecast 7 days before the camp to identify equipment gaps, then check it again 24 hours before departure. Use the final forecast to decide how much shelter, dry clothing storage and ground protection to prepare.
How much drinking water do I need for a bushcraft camp?: Allow at least 2 litres of drinking water per person per day, plus extra for cooking and hot drinks. For a group of 20 staying two days, that means at least 80 litres for drinking alone.

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