All Woodcraft Folk activities will be slightly different and you will need to slightly adapt your kit list for each event depending on time of year, the expected weather, which activities you will take part in, age of participants and the length of the event.
It is good practice to share the recommended kit list with all young participants and adults to ensure all have the right equipment needed and if they don’t they have time to acquire. At some sites it may be possible to arrange the loan of equipment (e.g. waterproofs are available at Lockerbrook) but could also talk to the group about where there can be loans
For different types of events, think about sleeping accomodation. Often, if staying at a residential centre bedding can be provided (sometimes at an extra cost) so ensure whether this is the case before sending out information.
Essential
- Sleepwear
- Washkit and towel
- Waterproof coat or cagoule (should be able dry quickly)
- Warm clothes that can be layered on top of each other
- Underwear and socks (ideally including walking socks)
- Warm hat and gloves
- Walking boots or wellies
- Trainers or other outdoor shoes
- Water bottle for carrying drink on outings
- Small rucksack or daysack for outings
- A plastic or cloth bag for dirty clothes
- Any medication e.g. asthma inhalers/antihistamines
- Any menstrual products that may be needed
- Torch
- Sandwich box for lunches
- Sleeping bag (if required)
- Sleeping matt (if required)
- Swimwear (if required for an activity)
Useful but not essential
- Slippers or slipper socks (outdoor shoes are not allowed inside some residential centres)
- Woodcraft shirt, T-shirt, sweatshirt or hoodie
- Waterproof overtrousers
- A small pillow (if not provided by venue)
- Books to read
- A pack of cards or small non-electronic game to share
- Musical instrument
- Small amount of pocket money if desired (to be spent at a cafe/shop on an offsite activity or onsite)
- Essential teddies only!
Young people should not bring
- Extra food or drink (including sweets/biscuits etc.)
- Smartphones, electronic games, radios, music players
- Your best clothes that shouldn’t get wet/dirty
- High value items
Should young people be allowed to bring mobile phones to camp?
Mobile phones are a reality of modern life and it is a reality that a lot of young people have their own personal phones. Some groups have a no mobile phones at camp policy whereas others allow young people to bring phones with conditions (e.g. phones not to be used during the day or phones to be handed in before bedtime or no phones allowed in bedrooms, dormitories or changing spaces). For some young people on camp, phones will be an important part of managing a long-term health condition (e.g. blood-sugar monitoring for diabetes), and any guidance or agreement about mobile phone use at camp will need to recognise use for such purposes is essential.
Pros
- Can make contact
- Young people can take their own photos to remember an event (with consent)
- For some young people using certain apps/calming methods using a device to help decompress or manage their mental health
Cons
- Being less present in activities
- Feeling self conscious that others have a ‘better’ device
- Not everyone does have a phone
- Contacting home during an event can help to support a young person but can also amplify feelings of home sickness
- Campsites (and some residential centres) can having a limited power supply so hard to charge everyone’s phone.
Having ground rules for the whole event which have come out of conversations with young members can help prepare everyone for what to expect at the event. When having these discussions (especially older Pioneers and Venturers) before camps/residentials remind the group about appropriate phone use and reminding around appropriate photo taking and consent. This may also include young people asking adults to take into account using their own phones during the event! Keep these conversations open during the camp and be clear about trust (if allowing phones with conditions) and that if anything is not understood to ask more questions.
It is good for adults to have mobile phones to use to contact parents. If on a campsite make sure there is somewhere to charge an emergency phone or bring portable chargers. It’s helpful to remind parents before the event that you will always make contact with them in an emergency or if their young person needs to make contact. For some parents/carers it may be their first time sending their young person to a camp so they may also have some anxiety around making contact.
Is there anything adults might need to bring?
Often when camping there will be space for adults to have their own tents/sleeping space where as young people will be sharing with others. Adults should remember that even at events in summer months, it can get cold during the night so make sure to bring an extra blanket, jumper, gloves to ensure you are as warm and comfortable as possible to get as much rest as possible.
If you are responsible for an emergency phone or device, think about charging it, does the venue have electricity? Or could you need a portable charger?
Are there example kit lists I can use?
Woodcraft Folk have put together an example kitlist for indoor events and an example kitlist for camping under canvas. You can use these as a starting point and add or change items that are specific to your event.
Is it okay to ask young people to bring pocket money to camp?
During some events there may be a chance for participants to buy souvenirs of treats. Some of our centres such as Cudham have an on-site shop selling Woodcraft Folk merchandise and other trinkets. You could let young people know they can bring some money to spend in the shop or during an offsite activity (e.g. to the local farm) but ensure to set an upper limit as it wouldn’t be fair for one child to bring more money than others.
The group could pay for everyone to get a badge, hot chocolate or something small to remember the trip if pocket money is a barrier and there is space within the camp budget for this to happen.
During longer or larger camps you may want to think about keeping track of money, especially for our Elfin and Pioneer campers. Some groups opted for opening a camp bank which could be run by older young people so they can withdraw money when there is an activity that might involve spending (e.g. a day trip) and keep safe the rest of the time. Older young people may want to take responsibility for their own pocket money.