What to Bring to a Survival Camp

A survival camp needs more than tents and sleeping bags. Pack equipment for shelter, navigation, cooking, lighting, water challenges and supervised activities, then keep food and emergency supplies easy to reach. Waterproof storage matters because field folders, assignment cards and spare clothing can quickly become unusable when conditions change. Use the lists below as your shopping and packing plan, and check every item before loading the vehicles.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Foldable tablesqty 6
Folding benchesqty 6
Folding chairsqty 10
Reception desk

Camping

Lightweight tentsqty 8
Waterproof tarpsqty 6
Sleeping bagsqty 10
Ground tarpsqty 8
Herringqty 60
Guy ropesqty 20
Ropesqty 12

Sports equipment

Compassesqty 10
Waterproof field foldersqty 10
Barrier tapeqty 4
Assignment cardsqty 10
Safe survival knivesqty 6
Work glovesqty 12
Buckets for the water challengeqty 6
Water filtersqty 3
Measuring tapesqty 4

Equipment

Coolersqty 4
Portable gas burnersqty 2
Gas cylindersqty 4
Power banksqty 4

Lighting

LED lanternsqty 8
Headlampsqty 10
Spare batteriesqty 24

Kitchen

Cooking potsqty 3
Cutting boardsqty 4
Kitchen knivesqty 4
Serving spoonsqty 4
Pliersqty 3
Jerry cansqty 6

Tableware

Reusable mugsqty 40
Reusable platesqty 40
Reusable cutleryqty 40
Reusable bowlsqty 40

Safety

First aid kitsqty 2
Fire extinguishersqty 2
Fire blanketsqty 2
Reflective vestsqty 8
Whistlesqty 8

Catering

Groceries
- Spa Blue - 48 bottles
- Sparkling water - 12 bottles
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Lemonade syrup - 3 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Honey - 1 jar
- Sandwiches - 40 pieces
- Whole grain bread - 4 loaves
- Butter - 3 tubs
- Young cheese - 1,5 kilo
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Jam - 3 jars
- Peanut butter - 3 jars
- Vegetarian burgers - 20 pieces
- Hamburgers - 25 pieces
- Vegetarian sausages - 20 pieces
- Hot dog buns - 45 pieces
- Lettuce - 6 heads
- Tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Bell peppers - 2 kilos
- Onions - 1 kilo
- Potatoes - 5 kilos
- Corn on the cob - 30 pieces
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Bananas - 30 pieces
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Nut mix - 2 kilo
- Muesli bars - 40 pieces
- Marshmallows - 2 kilos
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Barbecue sauce - 2 bottles
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Garlic powder - 1 jar
- Napkins - 4 packs
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Disinfectant wipes - 4 packs
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Firelighters - 2 boxes
- Charcoal - 2 bags

Tips

Pack one headlamp per participant, plus spare batteries and several LED lanterns for shared areas. Test every light before departure rather than discovering flat batteries after dark.
Keep sleeping bags and ground tarps dry in waterproof bags during transport. Set up lightweight tents, waterproof tarps, herring and guy ropes before the evening meal so the camp is ready before daylight fades.
Store food in coolers and keep fresh ingredients refrigerated until departure. Prepare vegetables and bread close to the start, label meals by dietary requirement, and take enough cooking pots, cutting boards and kitchen knives for the planned groups.
Give each team a waterproof field folder with its assignment cards, compass and any measuring tape or rope it needs. Bring extra waterproof folders because one wet set can stop an entire activity.
Check the first aid kit, safe survival knives, work gloves and water filters before packing. Print emergency numbers and keep them at the reception desk and with supervisors, rather than relying only on charged phones.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need for a survival camp overnight?: Bring lightweight tents, waterproof tarps, ground tarps, sleeping bags, herring and guy ropes for shelter. Add one headlamp per person, spare batteries, warm clothing and a dry storage bag for each sleeping bag.
How much drinking water should I pack for survival camp?: Plan at least 2 to 3 litres of drinking water per person for a full day, then add water for cooking and handwashing. Water filters can support a supervised water activity, but they should not replace a safe drinking-water supply.
What cooking equipment is needed for a survival camp?: Pack portable gas burners, gas cylinders, cooking pots, cutting boards and kitchen knives, with enough cookware for the number of teams eating at once. Keep fresh food in coolers and prepare a separate labelled meal for every recorded dietary requirement.
How early should I prepare a survival camp shopping list?: Make the first list at least 1 to 2 weeks before camp, when you can still reserve the campsite and check registrations. Confirm quantities again 2 to 3 days before departure, after the participant list and dietary requirements are final.

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