Summer Camp Shopping List
Packing for a summer camp means more than bringing tents and sleeping bags. You also need enough cooking gear, tableware, seating, shade, storage, and supplies for the full group. Start by counting registered campers, then add shared items and a small buffer for breakage, spills, and unexpected weather. This list helps you check what must be bought, borrowed, collected, or confirmed before camp begins.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Camping chairsqty 12
- Foldable tablesqty 6
- Picnic tablesqty 8
- Beer tablesqty 4
- Waste binsqty 6
Camping
- Tentsqty 12
- Air mattressesqty 30
- Sleeping bagsqty 30
- Sleeping matsqty 30
- Cushionsqty 30
- Ground tarpsqty 12
- Herringqty 120
- Tent hammersqty 6
- Tarpaulinsqty 4
Tableware
- Reusable cupsqty 40
- Platesqty 40
- Soup bowlsqty 40
- Cutlery setsqty 40
- Serving plattersqty 12
- Pitchersqty 6
Kitchen
- Gas burnersqty 4
- Gas cylindersqty 4
- Large cooking potsqty 6
- Frying pansqty 4
- Cutting boardsqty 6
- Chef's knifeqty 6
- Serving spoonsqty 8
- Colandersqty 4
- Measuring cupsqty 4
- Coolersqty 6
- Kettlesqty 3
- Thermos flasksqty 5
- Barbecuesqty 3
- Pliersqty 6
Sports equipment
- Footballsqty 6
- Volleyballqty 3
- Basketballsqty 3
- Frisbeesqty 8
- Tug-of-war ropesqty 2
- Conesqty 30
- Relay batonsqty 12
- Skipping ropesqty 12
- Water gunsqty 20
Game materials
- Board gamesqty 10
- Scavenger hunt signsqty 20
- Flashlightsqty 20
- Card gamesqty 8
- Quiz buzzersqty 4
- Writing boardsqty 6
- Colored pencilsqty 12
- Markersqty 12
- Craft paperqty 10
Decorations
- Buntingqty 8
- Name stickersqty 40
- Chalkboardsqty 4
Lighting
- String lightsqty 6
- Battery lanternsqty 10
Equipment
- Portable speakersqty 2
- Power banksqty 6
- Extension cordsqty 4
Safety
- First aid kitsqty 2
- Pocket whistlesqty 12
- Reflective vestsqty 12
Cleaning
- Bucketsqty 6
- Cleaning clothsqty 20
- Washing-up tubsqty 4
- Broom setsqty 4
- Litter pickersqty 4
Catering
- Groceries
- Whole wheat bread - 12 loaves
- White rolls - 60 pieces
- Wholemeal rolls - 60 pieces
- Wraps - 50 pieces
- Croissants - 40 pieces
- Butter - 2 kilos
- Margarine - 2 tubs
- Peanut butter - 4 jars
- Chocolate spread - 4 jars
- Strawberry jam - 4 jars
- Cheese - 4 kilos
- Young cheese - 3 kilos
- Ham - 3 kilos
- Chicken breast - 3 kilo
- Hummus - 2 kilos
- Cream cheese - 1 kilo
- Eggs - 120 pieces
- Yogurt - 10 liters
- Muesli - 4 kilos
- Oatmeal - 3 kilo
- Milk - 20 liters
- Soy drink - 6 liters
- Apples - 60 pieces
- Bananas - 60 pieces
- Pears - 40 pieces
- Grapes - 6 kilos
- Oranges - 40 pieces
- Cucumbers - 12 pieces
- Tomatoes - 5 kilos
- Bell peppers - 30 pieces
- Carrots - 5 kilos
- Lettuce - 10 heads
- Corn - 12 cans
- Kidney beans - 12 cans
- Potatoes - 15 kilo
- Rice - 8 kilo
- Pasta - 8 kilo
- Pasta sauce - 12 jars
- Diced tomatoes - 12 cans
- Vegetable stock - 3 boxes
- Chicken breast - 8 kilos
- Vegetarian burgers - 40 pieces
- Hamburger buns - 60 pieces
- Hot dog buns - 50 pieces
- Sausages - 50 pieces
- Chicken satay - 5 kilos
- Vegetarian satay - 2 kilo
- Tortilla chips - 10 bags
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Popcorn kernels - 3 kilos
- Marshmallows - 5 bags
- Crackers - 8 packs
- Muesli bars - 60 pieces
- Cookies - 10 packs
- Ketchup - 4 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 4 jars
- Mustard - 3 bottles
- Barbecue sauce - 3 bottles
- Olive oil - 3 bottles
- Sunflower oil - 2 bottles
- Salt - 2 packs
- Pepper - 2 jars
- Paprika powder - 2 jars
- Italian herbs - 2 jars
- Curry powder - 2 jars
- Garlic - 10 bulbs
- Onions - 5 kilo
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Apple juice - 10 packs
- Orange juice - 10 packs
- Spa Blue - 12 crates
- Sparkling water - 4 crates
- Syrup - 6 bottles
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea - 4 boxes
- Sugar - 3 kilos
- Tea milk - 6 liters
- Ice cubes - 20 kilo
- Aluminum foil - 4 rolls
- Plastic wrap - 4 rolls
- Baking paper - 4 rolls
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Trash bags - 100 pieces
- Dish soap - 4 bottles
- Hand soap - 8 bottles
- Disinfectant spray - 4 bottles
- Sponges - 20 pieces
- Kitchen gloves - 6 pairs
Tips
- Count campers before buying disposable or shared supplies, then add about 10% extra plates, cups, and cutlery for loss, breakage, and seconds.
- Plan coolers by meal rather than using one large cooler for everything. Keep drinks separate from food and chill them at least 12 hours before departure.
- Check every tent, air mattress, sleeping bag, and sleeping mat before camp day. Inflate mattresses and inspect tent fabric, poles, herring, and tent hammers at least 3 days in advance.
- Allow one cooking station for every 8 to 10 campers when meals are prepared on site. Confirm that you have enough gas cylinders, large pots, frying pans, cutting boards, knives, serving spoons, and colanders.
- Bring weather cover even when the forecast is dry. Ground tarps and tarpaulins protect sleeping areas and cooking equipment, while waste bins and reusable cups keep the campsite manageable throughout the day.
Frequently asked questions
- What do I need to buy for a summer camp?
- Plan for camping equipment, cooking gear, tableware, coolers, seating, waste bins, and weather protection. For each camper, provide a sleeping setup and enough food and drink for every planned meal, plus roughly 10% extra shared tableware.
- How many tents do I need for summer camp?
- Use the sleeping capacity stated by the manufacturer, but avoid filling tents to their absolute limit. Leave roughly one sleeping space free per tent for luggage and comfort, and confirm the final tent layout at least 3 days before camp.
- How much food and drink should I bring to summer camp?
- Plan three meals per camper for each full camp day, plus two snacks. For drinks, allow about 2 to 3 litres of water per person per day in warm weather, with extra water reserved for cooking and emergencies.
- When should I prepare the summer camp shopping list?
- Prepare the first list at least 2 weeks before camp, once registrations and dietary requirements are known. Do the main shopping 1 to 2 days before departure, and chill drinks and perishable food for at least 12 hours.
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