I plan to go camping at a local state park over the weekend. What are the basic items I will need?

Question

Any advice for the novice camper?

Answer 1

Basics??? Water, food, skeeter spray.

Extras --- anything and everything your vehicle will hold, that might contribute to your 'creature comfort level' while in the wilderness!

Enjoy --- after a few tries - you'll get good at leaving extras at home.

Answer 2

Rope-to hang your garbage in a tree.
Bags-to take your garbage out of the park.
Toiletries
Extra clothing-you might want to jump in the river.
A Tent-Tents are very affordable at Sam's Club. They give you a day pass if you have never been. Costco is thier equivalent. Walmart has good prices too, all owned by Mr. Walton.
Firearm-Regardless of your personal beleifs, you need to bring a fire arm to the woods. If you are in Grizzly country, you need to bring a large caliber weapon, .357 hotloaded or a .44 mag with a 240 grain ARMOR PEIRCING jacketed round. A bears skull is very thick, it may take a couple rounds to bring it down. Make sure you have a back up Rifle. Plus, plinking, as we call it in MT, is fun for a family outdoor activity when practiced with responsability. 306 springfield or 7mm Remmington or 7.62 Kolishnikoff (SP?) Sniper all more than enough to take down a angry Grizzly. .22 ruger or marlin is a great starter rifle, but it will only aggrivate a bear. A child can learn very young with a .25 auto. With a child always let them use an semi-automatic weapon as the shock recoil of lock chambers can hurt them.
Food-you might not catch fish
Fun stuff-Whatever you like to do for fun.
Peace-meet your fellow campers, you will meet people from all over.
Fire Starting Materials-Make sure you have lighter fluid. Several bottles, rainstorms come unexpectadly, as with snow up north.
Axe and Hatchet-you might need to chop down a cherry tree.
Prepare for all possible ranges of climate. Don't think that because you are going in the summer it won't snow.

I got frostbite (it healed) at a scout jamboree in spring. We went up there and it was 78 degrees, we woke up in 2 feet of snow with our tents iced.

Answer 3

tent, sleeping bag, cooler for food (so animals can't get to it, even it doesn't need to be iced down), a small bucket or something to carry your personal hygiene stuff in, long pants (can get cold at night in some places), good shoes: hiking style is best, a good flashlight, extra batteries

Depending upon where you are, swimsuit, wood for a fire, marshmallows, chocolate, grahm crackers, a long metal rod to poke and work the fire wood after it is lit, a lighter, some newspaper to start a fire, a radio, a multi-outlet extension cord, a hose (if site has water), folding chair, air mattress or camp pad, hot dog fork (for cooking hot dogs & smores over a fire) a ball or frisbee. sunblock, radio

Answer 4

Contact the state camp site director for a complete list of items needed for the area you are in.

Answer 5

A decent tent (no wallmart crap...go to academy), sleeping bag, sleeping mat if you don't want to sleep directly on the ground, pillow, changes of clothes (generally 2 more than the amount of days your staying), warm clothes for at night (it even gets cold at night in Texas...don't over-do it...just long sleeves or a jacket), bug spray, sunscreen, LARGE jug of water (drinking, washing, brushing teeth, etc...), food, cooler, eating stuff (paper plates, utensils), firewood (if fires are allowed...no gathering fire wood in state parks...you'll get fined), fire starter, towels, radio/music, beer (or other if that's your thing), cash.

Answer 6

Flashlights / Matches / Charcoal / Cooler / Hotdogs / Buns / Tent / Sleeping bags / Bug spray / Battery-operated radio / Pillows

Answer 7

Do they have some time of bathroom? Bring toilet paper. A sleeping bag, tent unles they have like cabins or set up tents. You will want to brinmg clothes. A lantern or flashlight. a Water bottle, food.

Answer 8

if you aren't eating out every night you might want to bring like a propane stove thing to cook your food on. Ohhh, and bug spray is a must, it gets very buggy at night in the woods. Some bottled water is a good thing to bring.

Answer 9

tent, tarp for under the tent, FLASHLIGHT, pillow, sleeping bag

That's the basics.

If you're going to eat there you probably need some sort of cooking appliances/utensils and food. (but never ever leave it sitting out - animals have a much stronger sense of smell that we do!!!)

and then of course your clothes, toothbrush, etc.

have fun!

Answer 10

A tent, cook stove, sleeping bag, change of clothes, first aid kit, utensils, lantern, bug spray, food and water, toiletries, a deck of cards, matches.

That's a start.