What to buy for a winter camp

A winter camp needs more than food and sleeping bags. You’ll need warm sleeping gear, shared kitchen equipment, hot drinks, lighting, transport-ready storage and materials for indoor and outdoor activities. This shopping list gives you the supplies to check before departure, including items that are easy to overlook when the weather is cold or daylight is short. Confirm dietary requirements and participant numbers before buying chilled products or packing shared equipment.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 40
Coat racksqty 6
Storage cratesqty 12

Sleeping gear

Sleeping matsqty 36
Sleeping bagsqty 36
Cushionsqty 36
Blanketsqty 12

Tableware

Platesqty 40
Bowlsqty 40
Mugsqty 40
Drinking glassesqty 40
Cutlery setsqty 40

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 6
Serving spoonsqty 6
Pansqty 4
Kettlesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 4
Coolersqty 4

Equipment

Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Portable speakersqty 2

Lighting

LED lanternsqty 8
Flashlightsqty 12

Decorations

Buntingqty 8
Tableclothsqty 8

Sports equipment

Footballsqty 3
frisbeesqty 3
Conesqty 24
Tug-of-war ropesqty 2
Game cardsqty 6
Board gamesqty 8

Safety

First aid kitsqty 2
Reflective vestsqty 12
Whistlesqty 6

Cleaning

Bucketsqty 4
Cleaning clothsqty 20
Dish brushesqty 4
Dustpans and brushesqty 3

Catering

Groceries
- Whole wheat bread - 12 loaves
- White rolls - 60 pieces
- Wholemeal rolls - 60 pieces
- Croissants - 40 pieces
- Butter - 2 tubs
- Young cheese - 3 kilos
- Ham - 2 kilos
- Chicken breast slices - 1.5 kilos
- Chocolate spread - 3 jars
- Peanut butter - 3 jars
- Strawberry jam - 3 jars
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Eggs - 60 pieces
- Oatmeal - 3 kilo
- Cornflakes - 4 packs
- Natural yogurt - 6 liters
- Milk - 12 liters
- Apples - 45 pieces
- Bananas - 45 pieces
- Mandarins - 5 kilos
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Carrots - 5 kilos
- Bell peppers - 15 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Lettuce - 6 heads
- Potatoes - 10 kilos
- Rice - 5 kilo
- Pasta - 5 kilos
- Tomato sauce - 8 jars
- Diced tomatoes - 12 cans
- Chickpeas - 8 cans
- Kidney beans - 8 cans
- Corn - 8 cans
- Vegetable stock - 2 packs
- Chicken soup - 4 liters
- Soup vegetables - 4 kilos
- Chicken breast - 5 kilos
- Vegetarian burgers - 36 pieces
- Hamburger buns - 40 pieces
- Grated cheese - 2 kilos
- French fries - 8 kilos
- Mayonnaise - 3 bottles
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Salt - 2 packs
- Pepper - 2 jars
- Paprika powder - 2 jars
- Italian herbs - 2 jars
- Garlic - 6 bulbs
- Onions - 4 kilos
- Raisins - 2 kilos
- Muesli bars - 80 pieces
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Popcorn kernels - 2 kilos
- Marshmallows - 4 bags
- Cookies - 10 packs
- Chocolate bars - 40 pieces
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Apple juice - 10 packs
- Orange juice - 10 packs
- Spa Blauw - 8 crates
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Hot chocolate - 4 cartons
- Sugar - 2 kilos
- Honey - 2 jars
- Whipped cream - 12 aerosol cans
- Dish soap - 4 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 4 bottles
- Disinfectant wipes - 6 packs
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Trash bags - 4 rolls
- Aluminum foil - 4 rolls
- Plastic wrap - 4 rolls
- Napkins - 400 pieces

Tips

Plan one complete eating and drinking set per participant, plus at least 10% extra plates, bowls, mugs, glasses and cutlery for breakage or late additions.
For a cold-weather camp, allow at least one sleeping mat, sleeping bag and blanket per person. Check sleeping arrangements before shopping so nobody is left without suitable insulation.
Buy or pack enough hot-drink capacity for the group: kettles, thermos flasks and mugs should cover the first shared drink break without everyone waiting for one kettle.
Pack lighting by area, not just by person. Provide LED lanterns for shared rooms and flashlights for movement outside, and test batteries or charging before departure.
Keep non-perishable food and game materials in labelled storage crates, while chilled products go into coolers as late as possible. This reduces forgotten supplies and keeps the cold items usable during transport.

Frequently asked questions

What food and drink do I need for a winter camp?: Plan meals and snacks for every scheduled day, then add food for one extra meal in case transport or weather causes a delay. Allow two to three hot or cold drinks per person during the first few hours, and check dietary requirements before buying.
How many sleeping bags and mats do I need for winter camp?: You need one sleeping mat and one sleeping bag for every person with an assigned sleeping place. Add at least one spare of each for damage, wet gear or an unexpected participant, and confirm room assignments before packing.
How much tableware should I buy for a camp group?: Provide one plate, bowl, mug, glass and cutlery set per participant, plus 10% extra. For 30 people, that means 33 of each item where practical, so a dropped or missing item does not disrupt a meal.
What should I pack for lighting at winter camp?: Pack at least one LED lantern for each shared room or activity area and one flashlight per participant or supervisor moving outside after dark. Test all lights and charge communication devices no later than the day before departure.

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