Packing List

Please label all clothes and gear, so if he's on a trip we can put it in his shelter!

Required Clothing

  • 4 pair wool hiking socks
  • 4-5 pair cotton socks
  • 3 long-sleeved shirts
  • 4 pair long pants
  • 6 pair underwear
  • sandals for in camp
  • sneakers for light hikes
  • boots for hiking and chopping
  • old sneakers to use as wet shoes while canoeing on trips (NOT SANDALS OR FLIP-FLOPS. These need to protect tops and sides of feet in rocky rapids, and not come off in knee-deep mud!)
  • lightweight sweatshirt
  • sweat pants
  • WOOL sweater or FLEECE jacket (NOT COTTON)
  • heavy WOOL sweater and/or WARM jacket
  • raincoat and pants
  • poncho, in addition to raincoat
  • hat of choice, a baseball type with brim is good or a hat with an all around brim or both
  • warm ski-type hat
  • 2 swimsuits
  • 4-5 t-shirts
  • 3-4 pairs of shorts
  • polypropylene long-sleeved shirt (NOT COTTON)
  • belt

Bedding

  • good quality trip sleeping bag with stuff sack (Please not a flannel-lined slumber party variety — your son will use this on trips and it must keep him warm even if it gets wet!)
  • 2 sheets (cot size); we can sell you a set, just let us know
  • 2 blankets, or a second sleeping bag (slumber party variety is fine here!) to use in camp
  • pillow and extra pillowcase

Personal Equipment

  • 4 small towels. Huge bath towels don't dry fast enough.
  • pack towel
  • biodegradable soap (like Dr. Bronner's)
  • toothbrush & paste
  • 2 laundry bags (not mesh please; it has to keep clothes clean too, and lives in the dirt)
  • pens, pencils & stationery
  • nail clippers
  • comb or brush
  • sunglasses and strap (inexpensive is fine)
  • sunblock (not tanning oil)
  • pocket knife small
  • flashlight and extra batteries
  • spare flashlight
  • canoe pack (heavy duty duffel bag; shoulder straps helpful) 
  • waterproof river bag that fits in canoe pack (medium or large)
  • hiking backpack: with padded hip belt that fits snugly
  • large sealable (Ziploc) bags to organize gear and keep it dry on trips
  • 6 20-gallon kitchen-type trash bags
  • mess kit (mug, bowl and spoon)
  • small pack for dayhikes (an old bookpack works well)
  • 2 leakproof water bottles 

Optional

  • long-handled axe (we have many to loan)
  • camera and extra film and batteries
  • fishing equipment (we have some old poles we loan)
  • playing cards
  • good books (we have a small library the boys can use)
  • musical instrument (not the best or very valuable)
  • Silva or similar compass
  • tent
  • game/crossword puzzle books

If you wear glasses BRING an old extra pair and a STRAP! This is important as glasses get lost, broken, or go overboard.

It happens every summer...