Check List of Toilet Articles
One comb, not silver-backed.
One hand-mirror to hang or stand up.
One tooth-brush in case.
One tube of tooth-paste, or its equivalent.
One nail-brush.
One cake of unscented toilet-soap.
Two cakes of laundry-soap.
One package of borax or securely corked bottle of ammonia.
One tube of cold-cream.
One baking-powder can of pure, freshly "tried out" mutton tallow, made so by boiling in pure water until melted, then allowed to cool and harden. When taken from the water, again melted and, while hot, strained through a clean cloth into the can. Good to remove pitch and balsam-gum from the hands, to use as cold-cream to soften the hands, and excellent to water-proof the shoes.
One wash-cloth, washed, aired, and sunned every day. In rainy weather, washed and dried.
Two hand towels, each washed as soon as soiled.
One bath towel, washed as soon as used.
One manicure-scissors.
One package sandpaper nail-files.
Two papers of hair-pins.
One paper of common pins, also little flat pocket pincushion well filled around edge with pins.
Two papers of large-sized safety-pins.
Check List of Personal Camp Property
One note-book and pencil for taking notes on wild birds, animals, trees, etc.
One needle-case, compact with needles and strong white and black thread, wound on cardboard reels (spools are too bulky). Scissors, thimble, and large-eyed tape-needle for running elastic through hem in bloomers and head-net, when needed.
Two papers of very large sized safety-pins of horse-blanket kind
One roll of tape, most useful in many ways.
One whistle, the loudest and shrillest to be found, worn on cord around the neck, for calling help when lost or in case of need. A short, simple system of signalling calls should be adopted.
One compass, durable and absolutely true.
One watch, inexpensive but trustworthy. Do not take your gold watch.
One package of common post-cards, with lead pencil attached. The postals to take the place of letters.
One package writing-paper and stamped envelopes, if post-cards do not meet the needs.
One pocket-knife, a big, strong one, with substantial, sharp, strong blades, for outdoor work and to use at meals.
One loaded camera, in case which has secure leather loops through which your belt can be slipped to carry camera and hold it steady, leaving the hands free and precluding danger of smashing the instrument should a misstep on mossy stone or a trip over unseen vine or root suddenly throw you down and send the camera sailing on a distance ahead. Such an accident befell a girl camper who was too sure that her precious camera would be safest if carried in her hand. Wear the camera well back that you may not fall on it should you stumble, or the camera can be carried on strap slung from the right shoulder.
Three or more rolls of extra films, the quantity depending upon your length of stay at camp and the possibilities for interesting subjects.
One fishing-rod and fishing-tackle outfit. Choose the simple and useful rather than the fancy and expensive. Select your outfit according to the particular kind of fishing you will find near camp. There is a certain different style of rod and tackle for almost every variety of fish. If fishing is not to be a prominent feature of the camp, you might take line and hooks, and wait until you reach camp to cut your fishing-pole.
One tin cup, with open handle to slide over belt. The cup will serve you with cool sparkling water, with cocoa, coffee, or tea as the case may be, and it will also be your soup bowl. Keep the inside of the cup bright and shiny. While aluminum is much lighter than other metal, it is not advisable to take to camp either cup, teaspoon, or fork of aluminum because it is such a good conductor of heat that those articles would be very apt to burn your lips if used with hot foods.
One dinner knife, if you object to using your pocket-knife.
One dinner fork, not silver.
One teaspoon, not silver.
One plate, may be of aluminum or tin, can be kept bright by scouring with soap and earth.
Two warm wool double blankets, closely woven and of good size. The U.S. Army blankets are of the best. With safety-pins blankets can be turned into sleeping-bags and hammocks.
One poncho, light in weight to wear over shoulders, spread on ground rubber side down to protect from dampness, can be used in various ways..
One pillow-bag.
One mattress-bag.
One water-proof match-safe.
One belt hatchet in case, or belt sheath small axe, for chopping wood and felling small trees, but, be very careful when using either of these tools. Before going to camp find some one who can give you proper instructions in handling one or both, and practise carefully following directions. Be very cautious and go slow until you become an expert. Outdoor books and magazines should be consulted for information, and if you do not feel absolutely confident of your ability to use the hatchet or axe after practising, do not take them with you. For the sake of others as well as yourself, you have not the right to take chances of injuring either others or yourself through inability to use safely any tool. Do not attempt to use a regular-sized axe, it is very dangerous. One guide told me that after a tenderfoot chopped a cruel gash nearly through his foot when using the guide's axe, that axe was never again loaned, but kept in a safe place and not allowed to be touched by any one except the owner.
Check List for First Aid
One hot-water bag, good for all pains and aches, and a comfort when one is chilly.
One package pure ginger pulverized or ground, to make hot ginger tea in case of chill, pains in the bowels, or when you have met with an accidental ducking or are wet through to the skin by rain. Never mind if the tea does burn, ginger always stings when helping one. Be a good sport, take your medicine.
One box of charcoal tablets for dyspepsia or indigestion.
One package bicarbonate of soda (baking-soda); good for burns, sprinkle well with soda, see that the burn is completely covered, then cover lightly with cloth, and do not disturb it for a long time.
One bottle of ammonia well corked. Tie the cork down firmly in the bottle ([Fig. 32]); a flannel case or raffia covering will protect the glass from breakage. Good to smell in case of faintness, but care must be taken not to hold it too near the nose, as the ammonia might injure the delicate membranes, as would also smelling-salts. Safer to move the bottle or cloth wet with ammonia slowly back and forth near the nose. Good also for insect bites.
One roll of adhesive plaster. Cut into lengths for holding covered ointment or poultice in place, the strips criss-cross over the poultice, but are not attached, the ends only are pressed on the bare skin to which they firmly adhere.
Two rolls of 2-½ or 3 inch wide surgeon bandages (not gauze) for general use where bandages are needed.
One small package of absorbent cotton.
Two mustard plasters, purchased at drug store; good for stomachache.
One package of powdered licorice to use as a laxative. Dissolve a little licorice in water and drink it. To keep the bowels open means to ward off a host of evils. It is even more essential that the inside of the body be kept clean than it is to have the outside clean. To this end make a practise of drinking a great deal of pure water; drink it before breakfast, between meals (not at meals), and before retiring. If you do this, you will probably not need other laxative, especially if you eat fruit either fresh or stewed. Fruit should form part of every day's fare. Keep your bowels open.
One tube of Carron oil, to use for burns or scalds.
One small bottle of camphor, for headaches.
One small bag of salt—good dissolved in water, 1 teaspoonful to 1 pint of water, for bathing tired or inflamed eyes, often effects a cure. Good for bathing affected spots of ivy poison, good for sore-throat gargle, also for nosebleed; snuff, then plug nose. Good for brushing teeth. For all these dissolve salt in water in proportion as given above.
One white muslin 24-inch triangular bandage, for arm sling or chest, jaw, and head bandage. A man's large-sized white handkerchief can be used; never bind broken skin with colored cloth.
One bottle of fly dope, warranted to keep off pestiferous flies and mosquitoes. All these may be kept in one-half of a linen case of pockets, your toilet articles in the other half, and the case can be opened out and hung to the side of your tent or shelter.
Check List for General Camp
Two basins, of light metal, paper or collapsible rubber. The last is easy to pack and light to carry. One basin will serve for several girls. If you camp near a body of fresh water let that be your basin; it will always be ready filled. No need then to bring water to your shelter, for a delightful dip in the river or lake every morning before breakfast will obviate all necessity, and do away with the otherwise needful hand-basin.
One reliable map of location and surrounding country for constant reference.
One water-pail, light weight, for every two or three girls. Can be canvas, aluminum, paper, rubber, or your own selection in other materials.
Six toilet-paper packages or more.
One or more tents of water-proof material.
One or more sod cloths for tent flooring.
One or more inner tents of cheesecloth for protection from mosquitoes, etc. These can be made at home or purchased with the tents at the regular camp-outfitters'. There is on the market a spray, claimed to be absolutely effective against mosquitoes, etc., and to keep both tent and camp free from pests. One quart is said to last two weeks with daily use. Cost, fifty cents per quart.
One carborundum stone for sharpening all cutting tools.
One or more lanterns. Folding candle lanterns may be purchased, but the simple ten-cent kind with lamp-chimney for protection of candle are good. They can be had at country stores in Cresco, Pa. May possibly be found at camp-outfitters'. If a glass chimney is to be used, pack most carefully. Fill the inside of the chimney with stockings, handkerchiefs, etc.; then wrap the chimney all over with other soft clothing and tie securely. Have this outside wrap very thick.
One package of one-half length candles to use in lantern.
One tin box of one or two dozen safety-matches. Tin will not catch fire from the matches.
One strong tool-bag with separate labelled pockets for different tools; each pocket with flap to fasten securely with dress snaps. In this tool-bag put assorted nails, mostly big, strong ones, screws, awl, well-sealed bottle of strong glue, ball of stout twine, a few rawhide thongs, three or four yards of soft strong rope, a pair of scissors, two spools of wire, and several yards of cheesecloth.
One rope—long for mountain-climbing.
Check List of Kitchen Utensils
Two dish-pans, one for piping-hot sudsy water for washing dishes, the other for scalding-hot rinsing water. The last pan can also be used for mixing and bread-making. Select pans strong and of light weight—canvas, aluminum, or tin—and be sure they nest or fold.
Two water-pails, fitted one within the other, both light weight
One coffee-pot, size to fit in pails, must not be too high. Cocoa can be made in the coffee-pot.
One frying-pan, for corn-dodgers, flapjacks, fried mush, eggs, etc.
One folding camp-oven, for hot biscuits, bread puddings, and many other good things relished by hungry campers.
One wash-basin, to be kept strictly for washing hands, when cooking.
One large spoon, for stirring and general use.
One kitchen-knife, suitable for cutting bread, carving meat, turning pancakes, etc.
One kitchen-fork, strong and big, but not a toasting-fork.
One Dutch oven pot, a strong seamless pot with cover, to use for baking, boiling, and stewing.
Three dish-towels, washed after every meal.
One dish mop or cloth, washed and dried after each meal; dry in sun when possible.
Four large cakes of soap.
One thick holder, for lifting pots. Hang this up in a certain place where it may always be found when needed.
One pepper and one salt shaker, small and light in weight.
One net air-bag, for meat, fish, and anything that must be kept fresh ([Fig. 33]) and protected from the flies. Use strong net and two or more hoops for the air-bag. With pincers you can twist the two ends of strong wire together and make the hoops of size large enough to hold the net out away from a large piece of meat. Cut the net long enough to stand above and hang below the meat. Gather the top edge tightly together and sew it fast; then sew the hoop near the top of the bag. Other hoops on either side of centre of bag and a hoop near bottom of bag, or sew only one hoop at the top and one at the bottom. Have strong draw-strings in the bottom of the bag, and fasten a pendent hook at the top to hold the meat hanging free inside of the bag. With copper wire attach a good-sized ring on top of the bag, wire it through the handle of the pendent hook and weld them together. When in use, the bag should be suspended high from the ground by means of a rope pulley run through the top ring and over the limb of a near-by tree. Similar air-bags can be obtained, if desired, from camp-outfitters.
When selecting cooking utensils for the camp, you will find those with detachable handles pack better and for that reason are desirable.
Do not forget that every check-list given may be reduced; don't think you must include all the items. For these lists give outfits for permanent as well as temporary camps. If you can manage with one towel by washing it every day, or evening, allowing it to dry during the night, one towel will be sufficient; leave the others at home. Drop from the various lists every article you can possibly dispense with and still be comfortable in camp.
If you wear the camp suit travelling from home to camp, its weight and bulk will be omitted from your camp pack, and be so much to your gain, and you will maintain a good appearance notwithstanding, for if well made and of proper fit the dress will be a suitable travelling costume.