What to Bring for a 3-Day Swimming Camp

A three-day swimming camp needs more than swimwear and towels. Plan supplies for meals, hydration, storage, sleeping arrangements and repeated pool sessions, with enough backup equipment for a wet or misplaced item. Reusable cups, plates and cutlery reduce waste, while coolers and thermos flasks keep food and drinks usable throughout the day. This shopping list also covers training gear, team identification, supervision tools and basic emergency equipment so the camp can keep moving when something gets forgotten.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Foldable tablesqty 6
Folding chairsqty 40
Coat racksqty 4
Storage cratesqty 12
Laundry basketsqty 8

Tableware

Reusable drinking cupsqty 40
Reusable platesqty 40
Reusable cutleryqty 40
Serving spoonsqty 6

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knifeqty 4
Large potsqty 4
Coolersqty 4
Thermos flasksqty 4
Measuring cupsqty 3

Sports equipment

Swimming kickboardsqty 20
Pull buoysqty 20
Swim armbandsqty 12
Dive ringsqty 20
Water polo ballsqty 4
Whistlesqty 6
Stopwatchesqty 6
Team Jerseysqty 30
Swim capsqty 35
Spare swim gogglesqty 10
Emergency blanketsqty 6

Equipment

Bluetooth speaker
Extension cordsqty 3
Power stripsqty 3
Power banksqty 4
Walkie-talkiesqty 6
Laminator
Printer

Sleeping

Sleeping matsqty 35
Sleeping bagsqty 35
Cushionsqty 35
Blanketsqty 10

Safety

First aid kitsqty 2
Flashlightsqty 8
Reflective vestsqty 8
Emergency contact foldersqty 3

Decorations

Team flagsqty 6
Name stickersqty 40
Markersqty 12
Whiteboardsqty 3
Whiteboard markersqty 12

Cleaning

Bucketsqty 4
Mopsqty 4
Dustpan and brushqty 3
Sponge clothsqty 12

Catering

Groceries
- Whole wheat bread - 12 loaves
- White rolls - 60 pieces
- Wholemeal rolls - 60 pieces
- Croissants - 40 pieces
- Oatmeal - 3 packs
- Cornflakes - 3 packs
- Muesli - 2 packs
- Yogurt - 8 liter
- Milk - 12 liters
- Plant-based drink - 4 liters
- Butter - 4 tubs
- Peanut butter - 3 jars
- Chocolate spread - 3 jars
- Jam - 4 jars
- Chocolate sprinkles - 3 packs
- Cheese - 4 kilogram
- Ham - 3 kilograms
- Chicken breast - 2 kilogram
- Eggs - 60 pieces
- Chicken breast cubes - 5 kilograms
- Ground beef - 4 kilograms
- Vegetarian meatballs - 3 kilograms
- Pasta - 6 kilograms
- Rice - 5 kilograms
- Potatoes - 8 kilograms
- Pasta sauce - 10 jars
- Diced tomatoes - 12 cans
- Coconut milk - 8 cans
- Vegetable stock - 2 boxes
- Carrots - 4 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 12 pieces
- Tomatoes - 5 kilograms
- Bell peppers - 20 pieces
- Onions - 3 kilograms
- Lettuce - 8 heads
- Apples - 50 pieces
- Bananas - 50 pieces
- Grapes - 5 kilograms
- Oranges - 40 pieces
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Rice cakes - 6 packs
- Muesli bars - 60 pieces
- Cookies - 8 packs
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 3 jars
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Salt - 2 packs
- Pepper - 2 jars
- Paprika powder - 2 jars
- Italian herbs - 2 jars
- Garlic powder - 1 jar
- Chili powder - 1 jar
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea - 3 boxes
- Sugar - 2 packs
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Apple juice - 8 cartons
- Orange juice - 8 packs
- Spa Blue - 12 crates
- Sports drink - 60 bottles
- Ice cubes - 10 bags
- Trash bags - 5 rolls
- Small trash bags - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 40 rolls
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 50 pieces
- All-purpose cleaner - 3 bottles
- Disinfectant wipes - 6 packs
- Hand soap - 6 bottles
- Sponges - 12 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 3 rolls
- Cling film - 3 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Paper napkins - 6 packs
- Diet-friendly sandwich fillings - 4 packages
- Sunscreen - 12 bottles
- Sunscreen lip balm - 10 units

Tips

Plan at least one reusable cup, plate and set of cutlery per participant, plus 10% extra for loss, late washing or breakage. Add two to three serving spoons for shared meals.
For a full day around the pool, prepare roughly 2–3 litres of drinking water per swimmer. Use coolers for cold drinks and thermos flasks for drinks served between training sessions.
Bring one swim cap and team jersey per participant, then add at least 5–10% spare caps and jerseys for size changes or forgotten kit. Keep spare goggles in a labelled swim bag.
Match training equipment to the group size before shopping: one whistle and stopwatch per supervising coach, and enough kickboards and pull buoys for the largest drill group rather than the total camp headcount.
Set aside power banks before departure and pack extension cords and power strips together. Charge power banks the day before, and keep emergency blankets dry and accessible instead of leaving them in pool bags.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to buy for a 3-day swimming camp?: Plan food and drinks for three days, reusable tableware, coolers, thermos flasks, kitchen tools, storage crates and laundry baskets. Add pool equipment such as kickboards, pull buoys, swim caps, spare goggles, whistles and stopwatches, plus sleeping and emergency supplies.
How much water should I bring to a swimming camp?: Allow about 2–3 litres of drinking water per swimmer per day, depending on the training schedule and weather. For a three-day camp, that is roughly 6–9 litres per person, with extra capacity for coaches and refills.
How many spare swimming goggles do I need?: Pack at least one spare pair for every 8–10 swimmers, and more if the group is young or equipment is shared. Check the spares before the camp and store them in a labelled, dry swim bag.
When should I do the shopping for a swimming camp?: Buy dry goods, kitchen supplies and equipment 3–7 days before departure so missing items can still be replaced. Buy fresh food as late as practical, usually the day before, and charge power banks at least one day in advance.

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