What to buy and pack for a survival weekend

A survival weekend needs more than tents and sleeping bags. Plan the food, cooking setup, lighting, water and shared equipment before you leave, especially if the site has limited power or running water. Use four-person tents, sleeping mats and sleeping bags for the overnight setup, then organise coolers and gas burners so meals can be prepared safely. Check every participant’s dietary requirements before shopping and pack a few spare items for weather, damage or late arrivals.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Foldable tablesqty 6
Folding chairsqty 36
Picnic benchesqty 6
Party tentsqty 2

Camping

Four-person tentsqty 10
Tent pegsqty 80
Tent hammersqty 4
Sleeping matsqty 36
Sleeping bagsqty 36
Tarpaulinsqty 12
Guy ropesqty 30

Kitchen

Gas burnersqty 4
Gas cylindersqty 6
Cooking potsqty 4
Coolersqty 6
Cutting boardsqty 4
Kitchen knivesqty 6
Serving spoonsqty 6
Water jugsqty 6

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 40
Reusable platesqty 40
Reusable cutleryqty 40
Thermos flasksqty 6

Equipment

Water boilersqty 2
Handheld megaphonesqty 2
Flashlightsqty 12
Power banksqty 6

Lighting

LED lampsqty 8
String lightsqty 4

Sports equipment

Compassesqty 12
Conesqty 24
Ropesqty 12
Climbing netsqty 2
Hoopsqty 12
Buckets of waterqty 8
Blindfoldsqty 12
Assignment cardsqty 30
Topographic mapsqty 12
Whistlesqty 12
Stopwatchesqty 4

Safety

First aid kitsqty 3
Emergency blanketsqty 12
Reflective vestsqty 12
Tweezersqty 6
Sunscreenqty 6
Mosquito sprayqty 6
Handwashing stationsqty 3
Barrier tapeqty 4

Office

Participant listsqty 6
Pensqty 20
Waterproof markersqty 12
Clipboardsqty 6
Name stickersqty 40
Duct tapeqty 6
Plastic document sleevesqty 40

Cleaning

Washing-up bowlsqty 4
Spongesqty 12
Towelsqty 12
Broom setsqty 3
Dustpan and brushqty 3
Litter pickersqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Whole wheat bread - 12 loaves
- Balls - 48 pieces
- Wraps - 48 pieces
- Oatmeal - 3 kilograms
- Muesli - 2 kilograms
- Cornflakes - 2 packs
- Peanut butter - 4 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 - 8 tubs
- Cucumbers - 12 pieces
- Tomatoes - 3 kilograms
- Bell peppers - 12 pieces
- Carrots - 3 kilogram
- Lettuce - 8 heads
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Bananas - 40 pieces
- Grapes - 4 kilograms
- Oranges - 30 pieces
- Strawberries - 2 kilograms
- Baby potatoes - 8 kilograms
- Rice - 5 kilograms
- Pasta - 5 kilogram
- Kidney beans - 12 cans
- Chickpeas - 8 cans
- Corn - 8 cans
- Diced tomatoes - 16 cans
- Passata - 8 packs
- Vegetable stock - 2 boxes
- Vegetable mix - 8 kilograms
- Onions - 3 kilograms
- Garlic - 6 bulbs
- Chicken breast - 5 kilograms
- Vegetarian pieces - 3 kilograms
- Eggs - 60 pieces
- Yogurt - 8 liter
- Milk - 12 liters
- Plant-based milk - 4 liters
- Grated cheese - 2 kilogram
- Feta - 1 kilogram
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Sambal - 2 jars
- Olive oil - 2 liters
- Sunflower oil - 1 liter
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Curry powder - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Cinnamon - 1 jar
- Sandwich toppings for allergies - 4 packs
- Muesli bars - 48 pieces
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Popcorn - 2 kilograms
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Marshmallows - 4 bags
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 8 cartons
- Multifruit juice - 8 cartons
- Spa Blauw - 12 bottles
- Sparkling water - 6 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 2 packs
- Honey - 2 jars
- Lemonade syrup - 3 bottles
- Ice cubes - 10 kilograms
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 60 pieces
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- Hand soap - 6 dispensers
- Disinfectant wipes - 6 packs
- Aluminum foil - 4 rolls
- Plastic wrap - 4 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Diet-friendly snacks - 12 packs

Tips

Allow at least two litres of drinking water per person per day, plus extra water for cooking and washing if the site has no reliable supply. Fill the water jugs before departure and keep one container available for the camp kitchen.
Pack one sleeping mat and one sleeping bag per participant, then bring spare tent pegs, guy ropes and a tent hammer for each tent group. These are easy to overlook and difficult to replace once you are at the site.
Plan chilled food around the cooler capacity rather than buying everything at once. Chill food before loading, separate raw ingredients from ready-to-eat food, and refill the coolers with ice or cold packs during the weekend.
Bring one reusable cup, plate and set of cutlery per person, plus at least 10% extra. The spare set covers forgotten items, damage and participants who arrive without their personal kit.
Pack flashlights and power banks for every small group, with LED lamps for shared areas. Test all batteries and charge the power banks before leaving; do not rely on string lights as the only light source after dark.

Frequently asked questions

How much water do I need for a survival weekend?: Allow at least 2 litres of drinking water per person per day, then add water for cooking and washing. For 20 people over two days, that means at least 80 litres for drinking alone.
How many four-person tents do I need?: Divide the participant total by 4 and round up. For example, 18 participants need 5 four-person tents, with sleeping mats and sleeping bags for all 18 people.
How early should I buy food for a survival weekend?: Buy dry goods and fuel 3 to 5 days before departure. Buy chilled goods 1 day before, chill them overnight and load the coolers just before leaving.
What should I pack for cooking at a survival camp?: Pack gas burners, gas cylinders, cooking pots, cutting boards, kitchen knives, serving spoons, water jugs and coolers. Bring at least 1 burner per 10 people so meal preparation does not become a bottleneck.

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