Major Items/Equipment:

• Tent with rain fly
• Ground Tarp (put under tent)
• Sleeping bags
• Ground Pad or air mattress
• Pillow ("real one" recommended)
• Folding chair to sit on (one per person)
• Change of clothes (in waterproof bag)
• Toilet paper
• Ice chest with soft drinks & water *
  
  
  
  
  * No alcoholic beverages allowed

Suggested Accessories:

• Flashlights(one/person)
• Coleman lantern **
• Insect repellent
• Earplugs (for noisy neighbors)
• Sunscreen
• Towel, washcloth, soap, comb
• Portable tooth brush & tooth paste
• Extra pair of shoes or hiking boots
• Rain parka
• Old jacket or sweat shirt (for cold evenings)
• Medications (e.g. Tylenol)
• Plastic trash bag
• Snacks
• Sunglasses, extra pair of glasses
• Camera & film
• Money or Credit Card for Sunday breakfast on the way home
  
  ** to be used with adult supervision only

If you plan to cook your own food:

• Charcoal grill, charcoal & starter fluid
• Matches
• Portable gas stove** & coffee pot
• Pot, frying pan, paper plates, knives, forks, spoons, cooking utensils
• Large pot for heating water (to wash dishes)
• Small container of dish soap 
• Food
  
  ** to be used with adult supervision only
  

• a tent will comfortably hold about half as many people as the tent company recommends.
• good quality tents may be purchased at discount stores such as Walmart, Target, Academy, etc.
• a domed tent with fiberglass poles is suitable for family camping and is easy to carry
• set your tent up in your backyard before you take it camping
• all tents leak a little, purchase some seam seal and coat the inside tent seams according to the instructions
• after sealing the seams and allowing it to dry, spray some water on the tent to test it out
• always allow your tent to dry before packing it away
• store your tent in a dry place