What to Bring and Buy for a Scout Camp

A scout camp needs more than tents and sleeping bags. Plan the sleeping setup, cooking area, shared tableware, lighting and food storage before shopping day. Group equipment is easy to overlook, especially water jugs, waste bins, guy ropes and spare batteries. Use the full plan below to check quantities against your number of campers, leaders and camp days, then keep chilled groceries refrigerated until departure.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Camp tablesqty 6
Folding chairsqty 20
Registration desk
Waste binsqty 4
Sink tablesqty 2

Camping gear

Group tentsqty 6
Sleeping matsqty 45
Sleeping bagsqty 45
Cushionsqty 45
Ground tarpsqty 6
Tent hammersqty 6
Guy ropesqty 30
Herringqty 80

Lighting

Rechargeable lanternsqty 10
Headlampsqty 12
Batteriesqty 24

Kitchen

Gas burnersqty 3
Gas cylindersqty 4
Cooking potsqty 4
Frying pansqty 2
Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knifeqty 4
Serving spoonsqty 6
Measuring cupsqty 2
Water jugsqty 6
Coolersqty 4

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 50
Reusable bowlsqty 50
Reusable cupsqty 60
Cutlery setsqty 50
Mugsqty 50
Washing-up bowlsqty 3

Game materials

Compassesqty 10
Rope rollsqty 6
Conesqty 30
Barrier tapeqty 4
Assignment cardsqty 40
Water balloonsqty 200
Bucketsqty 10
Sponge ballsqty 20
Flashlightsqty 12
Safety vestsqty 12

Decorations

Camp flag
Buntingqty 6
Camp sign
Chalkboardsqty 3
Chalkqty 2

Safety

First aid kitsqty 2
Fire extinguishersqty 2
Pocket whistlesqty 10
Emergency blanketsqty 5
Waterproof phone casesqty 6

Cleaning

Spongesqty 10
Dish brushesqty 4
Mopsqty 4
Buckets for cleaningqty 4
Towelsqty 12
Toilet brushesqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Whole wheat bread - 12 loaves
- White rolls - 60 pieces
- Raisin buns - 45 pieces
- Wraps - 50 pieces
- Oatmeal - 3 kilograms
- Cornflakes - 3 packs
- Muesli - 2 kilograms
- Peanut butter - 3 jars
- Chocolate spread - 3 jars
- Strawberry jam - 3 jars
- Chocolate sprinkles - 2 packs
- Cheese - 3 kilograms
- Ham - 2 kilograms
- Chicken breast slices - 2 kilograms
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Eggs - 60 pieces
- Butter - 1 kilogram
- Yogurt - 5 liters
- Milk - 12 liters
- Soy drink - 3 liters
- Potatoes - 8 kilograms
- Rice - 4 kilograms
- Pasta - 5 kilogram
- Pita breads - 50 pieces
- Chicken thigh fillet - 6 kilograms
- Vegetarian burgers - 20 pieces
- Ground beef - 4 kilograms
- Tomatoes - 4 kilogram
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Bell peppers - 12 pieces
- Onions - 3 kilograms
- Carrots - 3 kilogram
- Corn - 8 cans
- Kidney beans - 8 cans
- Lettuce - 8 heads
- Apples - 50 pieces
- Bananas - 50 pieces
- Grapes - 4 kilograms
- Oranges - 40 pieces
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Garlic - 6 bulbs
- Ginger - 300 grams
- Bouillon cubes - 2 boxes
- Diced tomatoes - 12 cans
- Tomato paste - 6 cans
- Coconut milk - 6 cans
- Cooking cream - 3 liters
- Grated cheese - 2 kilogram
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Satay sauce - 3 jars
- Olive oil - 2 liters
- Sunflower oil - 2 liters
- Salt - 1 kilogram
- Pepper - 2 mills
- Paprika powder - 2 jars
- Curry powder - 2 jars
- Italian herbs - 2 jars
- Chili powder - 1 jar
- Cinnamon - 1 jar
- Sugar - 2 kilograms
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Hot chocolate - 2 kilograms
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 liters
- Multivitamin drink - 6 liter
- Spa Blauw - 60 liters
- Sparkling water - 12 liters
- Ice cubes - 10 kilograms
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Popcorn - 3 kilograms
- Marshmallows - 4 kilograms
- Liga cookies - 50 pieces
- Rice cakes - 6 packs
- Diet biscuits - 4 packs
- Charcoal - 10 kilograms
- Firelighters - 2 boxes
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 4 bottles
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Trash bags - 60 pieces
- Freezer bags - 2 boxes
- Aluminum foil - 3 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Tissues - 10 packs

Tips

Count one sleeping mat and one sleeping bag per camper, plus a small reserve for damaged or forgotten gear. Add cushions only after checking how much floor space the group tents provide.
Allow at least one reusable plate, bowl, cup and cutlery set per person, then add 10% extra for loss, dirt or late arrivals. Shared serving spoons and measuring cups should stay in the cooking area.
Plan lighting for both the campsite and each sleeping group: rechargeable lanterns for shared areas, one headlamp per person, and enough batteries or charging capacity for the full camp.
Check gas burners, cylinders, cooking pots and frying pans against the menu before shopping. A large group may need multiple burners so cooking and boiling water do not depend on one ring.
Prepare one cool box or cooler space for every food group that must stay cold, and label water jugs and waste bins before loading. Do the food shop close to departure so chilled groceries spend no more than a few hours outside refrigeration.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need for a scout camp?: You need group tents, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, ground tarps, tent hammers, guy ropes and herring, plus lighting, cooking equipment, reusable tableware and coolers. Plan one sleeping place and one basic tableware set per person, with about 10% spare.
How many sleeping bags and mats do I need for scout camp?: Bring one sleeping bag and one sleeping mat for every camper and leader staying overnight. Add at least 5% spare equipment, or one extra set for every 20 people, whichever is more.
How much tableware should I buy for a camp?: Provide one reusable plate, bowl, cup and cutlery set per person for each meal period. Add 10% extra, so a group of 30 needs at least 33 of each item if washing facilities are limited.
When should I buy food for a scout camp?: Buy dry goods up to 1 week ahead, but shop for chilled food 1 day before departure or on the morning of the camp. Keep refrigerated groceries in coolers until they are stored in the camp cooking area.

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