Organizing Camping Supplies

Make a Master Supply List for Camping

Once you have developed a "standard" camping equipment list, put it on your computer in either a Word file or an Excel file. I put several columns in front of each item - How many? Have it? Find it? Buy it? and print it out for each trip. I also had lists for the kids so they could pack their own stuff when they were younger.

Source: 40+ years of Girl Scouts

By Eileen M. from Elk Grove, CA

Organizing Camping Equipment

We have always had a "housekeeping box" for the basic set-up and break-down stuff: toilet paper, paper towels, table cover, first aid kit, rope, hammer or mallet, wasp trap, trash bags, flashlight, aluminum foil, potholders, tissues, etc. This is always the last box to go into the car so it can be "first out" and we can get set up ASAP. It goes under the kitchen table to be available and yet be out of the way.

I also use a smaller action packer type box as a tool box. It has: basic tools, duct tape, flashlights, mallet, shovel, hose remnant, more duct tape, rope, clothespins, extra tent stakes, etc. I put a bunch of the smaller stuff inside an all-metal #10 can with a plastic lid, this doubles as another bucket when needed. All bins, boxes, and crates are labeled on the top and all 4 sides so I don't have to open them to figure out what's inside. Anything that is used up on a trip is replaced as soon as we get home so we aren't out of it next time.

By Eileen from Elk Grove, CA