Things to bring camping

The Zingerman’s IT Department has an annual camping trip in the middle of the summer – we have traditionally gone to Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area. We put together this list to help us remember what to bring each year. We hike in about a mile and a quarter down a mostly sandy path up and down a few hills taking generally about 50 minutes at a leisurely pace. We camp on Lake Michigan in the space between the back dunes and the forest.

• tent or tarp to sleep within
• sleeping bag or wool blanket
• sleeping pad (thermorest or closed-cell foam)
• food (light but tasty) including snacks
• two one-quart water bottles (wide mouth are great)
• clothes -  it’s not a fashion show
  • light shoes like flip flops or crocs, in case you wore heavy hiking boots
  • bandanna (you’d be surprised how many uses…)
  • hat (for sun) and a warm knit cap for night and sleeping
  • clean socks for sleeping in
  • synthetic or light weight cotton clothing (jeans bad when wet)
  • light weight wind or breathable rain jacket (good for cold, mosquitos, or rain)
  • bathingsuit (if you have a lake or river and other people around)
  • layers are good but don’t bring too much
• toothbrush
• pocketknife, small is fine, you aren’t rambo
• flashlight (headlamps are great, smaller the better)
• lighter
• stove or grate for cooking (or just wing it over a fire)
• cook pot
• hot cup (optional)
• bowl or eating cup and spoon / fork
• large garbage bag for rain protection and for picking up garbage on your way out
• a couple empty large and small ziploc bags, for your food garbage, or anything
• sitting pad or camp chair (totally optional)
• hammock (totally optional)
• thin cloth/tarp/towel to use to lie on the beach (totally optional)
• small book/art project/something to work on while lying on the beach (totally optional)
• water filter or pack in at least 1 gallon per day
• med kit with the basics you need, don’t bring stuff you don’t know how to use
• backpack to carry everything

Shareable by a group (Elph has all of this):

• first aid kit
• compass
• pots to cook in
• camp stoves with fuel
• sponge and biodegradable soap for cleaning dishes (and self)
• rope such as parachute cord
• small shovel for toilet duty (if bringing TP be prepared to burn it or pack it out)
• water filter (and backup water sterilization tablets)
• cloth bag we can use to hang the food in
• small mesh bag to hang dishes in to dry and/or attach to food bag to hang
• small bottle bug dope – herbal is usually sufficient
• small flask of whiskey or suitable after dinner liquor
• small bottle sunblock