Scout Standing Camp Packing List: Multi-Day Camp with Catering Provided

A standing camp is a different kind of outdoor experience to a hike camp. Your unit sets up at a campsite and stays there for the full duration — typically 3 to 5 days. Meals and cooking are handled centrally, which means the food, cooking equipment, and kitchen setup are all provided and managed by leaders or a catering team. What you bring is your own tent, your own sleeping gear, your own clothing, your own mess kit, and your own personal kit.

Because you are not carrying everything on your back across kilometres of trail, you have more flexibility in what you bring. That flexibility is where most Scouts over-pack. A standing camp does not mean bring everything — it means you can bring slightly more than a hike camp, but you still need to fit everything inside your tent and keep your campsite organised for the full duration.

This list is written for Scouts aged 12 to 15 attending a multi-day standing camp in Australia where food and cooking gear are provided by the camp.

Tent and Shelter

Your tent is your home for the duration of the camp. On arrival, choose your site carefully — pitch with the door facing away from the prevailing wind, on flat or gently sloping ground so water drains away from the tent rather than toward it, and away from spots where water naturally collects after rain. Keep the inside tidy throughout the camp. A disorganised tent on a multi-day event means wet gear mixed with dry gear and things you cannot find when you need them.

• Tent inner and fly — confirm with unit leadership whether you are bringing your own or using unit-supplied tents
• Tent poles
• Tent pegs — standard kit plus 4 to 6 extras in case of hard or uneven ground
• Mallet
• Guy ropes — peg them out fully and correctly even if the weather looks fine on arrival
• Groundsheet or tent footprint to protect the floor across multiple nights

Practise pitching the tent at home before camp. Arriving knowing how to set it up means your first hour on site is productive rather than frustrating.

Sleeping Gear

Nights at camp are often significantly colder than days, especially in autumn and winter. Check the overnight low temperature forecast for the camp location in the week before you leave and choose your sleeping bag accordingly. A bag rated to at least 5 degrees Celsius is suitable for most Australian spring and autumn standing camps. For winter or higher-altitude locations, choose a warmer rating.

• Sleeping bag rated appropriately for the expected overnight low temperatures
• Sleeping mat or self-inflating mat — important for both insulation from the ground and comfort across multiple nights
• Pillow — a regular pillow is fine at a standing camp if you want one, or use a stuff sack with a fleece inside to save space

Mess Kit

Even though cooking and food are provided at a standing camp, every Scout brings their own mess kit for meals. Catering provides the food — you provide the gear to eat it from. Keep the mess kit together in a small bag so nothing gets lost across the duration of the camp.

• Plate or bowl — a deep plate handles most camp meals
• Cup or mug
• Knife, fork, and spoon (or a spork)
• Small washing-up cloth or sponge
• Biodegradable dish soap — a small amount in a travel container
• Tea Towel for drying up your kit

Clothing and Layers

Camp days at a standing camp involve a mix of physically active programme activities, sessions where you are sitting and listening, and general camp life in whatever the weather does. The layering system handles all of it — a moisture-wicking base layer, an insulating mid-layer, and a waterproof outer shell.

Pack for the full camp duration plus one spare set of base layers. Five days means five pairs of socks, five sets of underwear, and enough layers to rotate between. Do not bring cotton base layers — they absorb sweat, stay damp for hours, and become cold and uncomfortable in cooler temperatures. Merino wool and synthetic fabrics are the correct choice.

• Moisture-wicking base layer tops — at least 2, merino wool or synthetic
• Warm mid-layer — fleece jacket or light insulated jacket
• Waterproof and windproof outer jacket with hood — required regardless of the forecast
• Waterproof over-pants or rain pants
• Camp pants — one or two pairs depending on camp length
• Shorts for activity days if weather permits
• Wool or synthetic socks — one pair per day plus one spare
• Underwear — one set per day
• Warm beanie or buff
• Sun hat or cap with a brim
• Gloves — lightweight liner gloves at minimum
• Thermal base layer bottoms if cold weather is expected overnight

Footwear

At a standing camp you need footwear for activities and something that gives your feet a break in the evenings. Wearing the same boots or shoes continuously for a multi-day camp without a break creates hot spots and blisters. Rotating between activity footwear and camp footwear is the simple fix.

• Hiking boots or sturdy trail shoes — worn in before camp, not brand new
• Camp shoes, thongs, or sandals for around the site after activities
• An extra pair of dry socks accessible inside the tent — dry feet at the end of an active day matters more than it sounds

Hygiene and Personal Care

Personal hygiene matters more on a multi-day camp than on a day trip, and it has a direct effect on the people sharing your tent and your patrol. Camping facilities vary widely between sites — some standing camps have good amenities, others are more basic. Plan for basic and you will be fine either way.

• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Biodegradable camp soap
• Shampoo — travel size
• Deodorant
• Microfibre towel — dries quickly between uses
• Sunscreen SPF50 or higher — enough for daily application across the full camp duration
• Insect repellent
• Lip balm with SPF
• Toilet paper — keep your own supply even if the camp has toilet facilities
• Hand sanitiser — use before every meal, without exception
• Sanitary items if needed
• Prescription medication in original packaging
• Any personal medical equipment required

Activities and Programme Gear

Most standing camps run a structured programme of activities across the duration. Check with your leaders what is planned before you pack — some activities require specific gear, and knowing in advance prevents you being the only one without what you need on the day.

• Day pack or small backpack for activity days away from the main campsite
• Water bottle — minimum 1.5 litres capacity, more for hot weather or high-output activity days
• Headlamp with fresh batteries — for night activities and walking around camp after dark
• Sunglasses
• Notepad and pencil for programme sessions, navigation exercises, and patrol planning
• Swim gear if swimming is on the programme — confirm before packing
• Gum boots or waterproof boots if wet activities or extended rain is likely
• Scout uniform as required — confirm which sessions require uniform with your leader before you leave

Lighting and Power

• Headlamp — more useful than a handheld torch at camp because it keeps both hands free
• Spare batteries for the headlamp — test it the night before you leave
• Small lantern for inside the tent (optional but worthwhile for a multi-day camp)
• Power bank if you are bringing a phone — check the camp rules on personal devices before packing one

Camp Organisation

A standing camp runs long enough that a disorganised campsite becomes a genuine problem. Being able to find gear in the dark, keep wet items separated from dry items, and maintain a tidy tent for the full duration makes the experience significantly better for everyone on your site.

• Large duffle bag or soft-sided luggage — easier to manage inside a tent than hard cases or bulky backpacks
• Dry bags or zip-lock bags for clothing, electronics, and anything that cannot get wet
• Rubbish bag for your campsite — used consistently from the first day
• Small stuff sacks for organising gear inside the tent so you can find things quickly

What You Do Not Need to Bring

Because food and cooking are provided, a large category of gear stays at home. Not bringing it saves space in your bag, space in your tent, and weight in your load to and from the campsite.

• Stove, fuel canister, or any cooking equipment — provided centrally
• Food — all meals are provided by the camp catering (a small amount of personal snacks is generally fine, confirm with your leader)
• Large quantities of lollies and snack food — not appropriate for camp
• Portable Bluetooth speakers — these are inappropriate at camp and a reliable source of conflict
• Full-size toiletries — travel sizes only
• Cotton base layers — they do not work in the field
• Unnecessary entertainment beyond what you can read quietly in a tent in the evening

Label Everything

At a standing camp with 20 to 50 Scouts all using similar equipment, identical items get mixed up constantly. Label everything with your full name. Permanent marker on fabric tape sewn into clothing, your name written on a label inside your sleeping bag cover, your name on your water bottle and mess kit. For tent gear specifically, label your pegs, your mallet, and your guy ropes individually — they come detached from the tent during pack-up and get mixed with other tents if they are not marked.

Check These Before You Leave

1. Read the camp information sheet from your leaders and confirm exactly what is provided
2. Check the overnight weather forecast for the camp location and adjust your sleeping bag and clothing if needed
3. Pitch your tent at home to confirm all poles, pegs, and guy ropes are present and nothing is bent or broken
4. Test your headlamp with fresh batteries
5. Confirm with your section leader whether specific uniform is required for any programme sessions