Camping in Canada provides outdoor adventure, exploration, physical fitness, and fun all the while maintaining your own social bubble with your family members. It is one of the few summer travel options deemed low risk by the many governments. Ontario’s Provincial Parks are a great choice and are nice to enjoy even if you are new to camping. Whether you are car camping, beach camping or canoe camping, a camping checklist is a sure-fire way to remember everything you need.
The basic premise is that you throw a few things in the car, pick a direction of travel and drive until you are ready to stop for the day. But you need to have a camping checklist to ensure that you have packed the essential camping items. If you are planning a canoe camping trip, you will require a slightly different canoe camping checklist. As well, if you are travelling with a baby or a dog, different items will need to be added. Either way, here are the essential items you should pack.
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With proper planning and a camping checklist, camping can be a relaxing getaway in the great outdoors.
But What Essential Equipment Do You need?
It goes without saying that there are some pieces of equipment that are essential when it comes to camping. If you plan on back-country camping, more lightweight varieties are available in specialty shops. Here are the most essential items that should be included in your camping checklist:
Unless you plan to sleep under the stars and open to the elements, a tent is required. It should be big enough for the number of people plus a bit extra for any luggage/bags you bring.
An air mattress is a good idea for making sleep a little more comfortable. No matter how flat the ground looks, there is always that one tree root or rock that will find your back. A must for your camping checklist.
- Flashlight
Depending on the campground, the trip to the washroom in the evening or during the night can be very dark. A flashlight will help prevent you from getting lost or stumbling on something in the dark.
For the evening after the sun has done down, a lantern can help shed light on ant clean-up required or to prepare any food you plan on cooking in the campfire.
A sleeping bag is required for every member of the camping group. There are different weights of bags for different temperatures so it is best to get one that will suite most of your needs. For children, it is best to purchase a full-size bag for them to grow into rather than must buy a second one as they grow. A must on your camping checklist.
- Cooler
A cooler is required to keep any food or drinks cold. It should be large enough to be able to put at least two bags of ice in plus the food. If you plan on drinking a lot, sometimes a separate beer cooler is warranted.
- Stove (and Lighter)
Some type of portable stove is required to cook any meals. Many come with propane cylinders as the heat source and are easy to use. A light or matches is required to light the stove as well as light any campfire you choose to start. Unless you want to eat cold food, this is a must on the camping checklist!
A toaster is not a necessity, but it does come in handy. These can be purchased to sit on top of the stove to obtain a nice texture to the bread.
- Coffee pot/French press
For many, coffee is a must to start the day. Either you can boil some water and use a French press to make coffee, or you can buy a stove-top percolator coffee pot. If you know your site has electricity, a small k-cup machine can be brought from home. For some, a definite MUST on the checklist!
- Set of pots (and Utensils)
Two to three sizes of pots are valuable for cooking. A large pot can be for boiling water for pasta or for making stew or chili. Smaller pots can be for making soup or anything else you desire. Do not forget the spatulas and utensils for the large pots. Oven mitts are also a good idea around the stove or campfire.
- Fry pan
A frying pan is great for cooking that morning bacon and eggs as well as making grilled cheese or that freshly caught fish.
- Dishes for 6 Dishes
Dishes should be available for everyone that you are camping with. Service for 6 is a good number. Any more than that it can get cumbersome to pack. These are essential on the camping checklist if you want to eat!
- Cutlery/utensils
Again utensils are required for everyone you are camping with.
- Insect repellant
Depending on the location of your campsite and the time of the year, this is a MUST. Early in the season blackflies are hungry. A little later mosquitoes and deer flies can be a problem. A definite must on the checklist!
A tarp or two are great items to bring for the just-in-case moment. If you are arriving after a rain, you will want to put a tarp on the ground to protect you from the dampness. If you are in a treed site, a tarp strung in the tress overhead can provide a shady spot from the sun or added protection from the rain.
- Sunscreen
If you plan or any time in the sun, you will need to apply sunscreen. In water areas, the sun will reflect off the water and can make the sun more damaging. Always remember to re-apply after swimming.
Lawn chairs are very handy to have to sit around the campfire or to just relax while reading a book. You are on vacation after all. Again, one for everyone is best. Smaller ones are available for children if desired. Unless you plan on sitting on the ground or around the picnic table all the time, chairs are a must!
And finally, food
The type and quantity of food you bring on a camping trip is entire your own preference. However, there are some things to keep in mind for your food camping checklist.
You need to remember that anything that needs to be kept cold must fit in your cooler. If not, it will go bad.
The scheduling of mealtimes may not follow the same routine as you have at home. You need to be more flexible. Children always like snacks and do tend to become dehydrated very quickly while camping. Drinks need to always be available. Alcohol is not necessarily considered a valuable beverage although it is fun to drink with friends.
If you are bringing meat, the meals should be planned in such a way that the most delicate of the meat is eaten first. For example, chicken or fish followed by beef, pork, sausage, and anything pre-cooked like stew or chili.
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If you are going for a longer trip, consider making something ahead of time and freezing it. This can then be used as an ice block to keep other products cold in the cooler. Again, remember the size of the space.
When camping in the summer, keep in mind that some food products that normally do not need refrigeration may require it to prevent melting which incudes anything with chocolate. This can also include fruits and vegetables. Bananas will brown much more quickly in the summer heat.
So, there you have the most essential items that should be on your camping gear checklist. With proper planning, you can enjoy the outdoor adventure and fun that camping has to offer.
Do you have everything you need?
And if you decide to bail or the weather just won’t cooperate, Booking.com has some great, warm alternative accommodation !
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Great list of essentials. I don’t think the need for tarps can be over-stated: useful for ground mat, shade, rain protection, or outside the tent entrance to (try to) keep the dirt out of the tent! I would add a small brush/broom and a headlamp to the list.
I have a fully-equipped campervan but will take off and tent in the backcountry when the places I want to go are inaccessible, but my days of long-term tenting are over.
Happy Camping!