What to buy and bring for a winter camp
A winter camp needs more than tents and food. Plan for hot meals, warm drinks, early darkness, wet ground and activities that keep people moving. This shopping list covers the practical supplies for cooking, serving, lighting, navigation and safety, including items that are easy to overlook. Use your final participant count to adjust food, drink and tableware quantities, then check fuel, batteries and emergency equipment before you leave.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Tablesqty 5
- Folding chairsqty 35
- Benchesqty 4
- Party tentsqty 2
- Windbreaksqty 6
Tableware
- Reusable mugsqty 40
- Reusable bowlsqty 40
- Reusable platesqty 40
- Cutlery setsqty 40
Kitchen
- Large cooking potsqty 3
- Cutting boardsqty 4
- Kitchen knivesqty 6
- Serving spoonsqty 4
- Serving tongsqty 4
- Can openersqty 2
Equipment
- Outdoor cooking stovesqty 3
- Gas cylindersqty 6
- Coolersqty 3
- Thermos flasksqty 6
- Hot water boilersqty 2
Lighting
- LED lanternsqty 8
- Headlampsqty 35
- Spare batteriesqty 40
Safety
- Fire extinguishersqty 2
- First aid kitsqty 2
- Reflective vestsqty 8
Sports equipment
- Compassqty 10
- Rope tiesqty 6
- Marker conesqty 20
- Ballsqty 4
Camp equipment
- Ground tarpsqty 6
- Pioneer polesqty 12
- Guy ropesqty 12
- Herringqty 40
- Firewoodqty 2
Cleaning
- Waste binsqty 4
- Bucketsqty 3
- Broomsqty 2
- Hand broomsqty 3
- Reusable cleaning clothsqty 12
Catering
- Groceries
- Potatoes - 6 kilograms
- Carrots - 3 kilogram
- Onions - 2 kilograms
- Leeks - 1,5 kilogram
- Bell peppers - 12
- Garlic - 4 bulbs
- Diced tomatoes - 12 cans
- Kidney beans - 8 cans
- Corn - 6 cans
- Lentils - 6 cans
- Vegetable bouillon - 3 packs
- Ground beef - 3 kilograms
- Vegetarian mince pieces - 1.5 kilograms
- Cooking cream - 2 liters
- Grated cheese - 1,5 kilograms
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Hummus - 1 kilogram
- Peanut butter - 2 jars
- Jam - 2 jars
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Cumin - 1 jar
- Chili powder - 1 jar
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Olive oil - 1 liter
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Mandarins - 40 pieces
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Cookies - 8 packs
- Marshmallows - 4 bags
- Chocolate bars - 40 pieces
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Cocoa powder - 2 packs
- Sugar - 2 kilograms
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Drinking water - 60 liters
- Apple juice - 12 liters
- Orange juice - 12 liters
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sparkling water - 8 bottles
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 10 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Freezer bags - 2 boxes
- Trash bags - 4 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Hand soap - 3 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 3 bottles
Tips
- Plan at least two hot drinks per person for the first few hours, plus extra hot water for anyone arriving cold. Fill several thermos flasks before activities start so the serving area does not become a bottleneck.
- For every participant, prepare one reusable mug, bowl, plate and cutlery set, then add at least 10% spare tableware. Label meals and dietary options before serving rather than trying to identify them at the campsite.
- Bring one working headlamp or equivalent light for every two people moving around after dark, and pack spare batteries separately. LED lanterns should cover the cooking, seating and registration areas, not just the tents.
- Test every gas cylinder, outdoor cooker and hot-water boiler before departure. Take enough fuel for the planned cooking time plus one extra cooking session, especially if cold or wind will slow heating.
- Keep first aid kits, fire extinguishers, reflective vests and a compass together in a clearly marked safety point. Pack rope ties and marker cones where they can be reached during setup, instead of leaving them at the bottom of a vehicle.
Frequently asked questions
- What food and drink do I need for a winter camp?
- Plan the main meal and dietary alternatives for every registered participant, then add about 10% extra portions. Allow two hot drinks per person for the first few hours and keep additional hot water available in thermos flasks or a hot-water boiler.
- How many mugs, plates and bowls should I bring camping?
- Bring one reusable mug, bowl, plate and cutlery set per person, plus at least 10% spare. For a group of 30, that means 33 of each item so lost or dirty tableware does not stop the meal service.
- How much lighting is needed for a winter camp?
- Light the cooking, serving, registration and main walking areas separately. Provide one headlamp for every two people who may move around after dark, and bring at least one spare battery set for each battery-powered light type.
- What safety equipment should a winter camp have?
- Keep a first aid kit and fire extinguisher at the cooking and fire area, and carry a second first aid kit if the group splits up. Check the weather forecast, route and fire permit no later than the day before departure, then repeat the weather check on the morning of the camp.
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