What to Bring to a Campout

  • Personal Camp Items
    • Tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad 
    • A camp chair or other comfort needs
  • Clothing Considerations
    • Scratches from branches and other plants: Since most of our fieldwork is off trail, we are often walking over downed logs, through shrubs thick trees, or tall sedges and grasses. Wear long sleeves and pants to protect you from getting scratched by branches and other plants. Thicker clothes (like canvas pants) are more durable but can be too hot in the summer weather and can be heavy and cold if they get wet. Thin, lightweight clothes (like nylon hiking pants) will keep you cooler if it’s hot outside but can rip more easily when snagged by a branch. 
    • Insects: We encounter ticks, mosquitoes, wasps, and other insects in all our fieldwork. Wear long sleeved shirts and pants to protect you from insect bites, bring insect repellent, and consider treating your clothing with permethrin (this must be done 2 days ahead of time to be effective). 
    • Hot weather: bring lightweight, “breathable” clothing that will keep you cool and protect you from too much sun. Wearing long sleeved shirts, pants, and a wide brimmed hat will help you stay cool. 
    • Sunny weather: This can include a baseball cap or wide brimmed hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. It is important to bring sun protective items in the summer and winter (sun reflecting off snow is very bright). 
    • Rain gear: a rain jacket and pants 
    • High Visibility Clothing: Such as a blaze orange vest and/or hat to be visible to any hunters we may encounter. Bark will have hi-vis vests available during hunting season.
  • Essential items
    • A flashlight or headlamp and extra batteries 
    • Personal Medications 
    • Sunscreen, SPF chapstick, and a hat, sunglasses, and/or other sun-protective clothing 
    • Insect Repellant (we recommend treating clothing with permethrin 2 days before a camp out or field day to further prevent mosquitos and ticks) 
    • Insect head net for wetland and beaver surveys (you’ll be thankful to have one!)
    • Bring if you have: (we have some to provide volunteers)
      • A lighter or matches (in a waterproof case) 
      • Navigation items such as a map and compass
      • First Aid kit 
    • If you have a smart phone, download Avenza Maps.  (We will send you a map to download)
    • If you plan to be gathering data on your phone, an extra battery bank and phone cord is very useful
    • For wetland surveys- a cloth or rag to wipe hands after soil sampling
    • Hand sanitizer
    • 1-2 face masks
  • Food and food preparation 
    • Plan to eat lunch away from camp, without an ability to heat anything or boil water
    • Additional food preparation materials needed.
    • Water
    • Utensils, bowl/plate, and mug 
    • Coffee/tea/hot cocoa
    • Water bottles 
  • Toiletries and Hygiene
    • Bark will have some water available and a trash bag. We will dig a latrine (a long trench in the ground), have a shovel and trowel available for participants to dig catholes, and provide toilet paper, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, and a hand washing station. If requested, we can also bring a commode chair to use over the latrine or a cathole.
    • For in the field, Kula cloth or toilet paper (and ziploc bag for packing TP out)
    • Toothbrush, toothpaste, and other personal hygiene needs
  • Other items
    • Day Pack 
    • Books, games and cards are all great to have at camp after a field day!
  • Notebook and pen
    • Bring a notebook and pen to use during Bark’s Land Acknowledgement Practice
  • Questions?
    • Email Meg, Barks Field Crew Lead