Sample Camping Weekend Menu

Friday Dinner:

• Pizza Wraps on the Campfire

Preassembled or assembled on site, this meal doesn’t require plates, utensils, or any cooking equipment. Add your favourite pizza topping to a soft tortilla shell - roll and wrap in tin foil, throw in or over the fire on a grill until warmed through and melted)

• S’mores

Another easy camping favourite - all you need is roasting sticks, marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate.

Saturday Breakfast:

• Oatmeal or Cereal

With a simple meal like this on day one, you can spend more time enjoying the park than cooking a meal on day one!

Saturday Lunch:

• Sandwiches, Veggies and Dip

A light breakfast means campers will be hungry for lunch! Sandwiches require very little prep, can be dish less and portable!

Saturday Dinner:

• Cast Iron Sausage and Veggies with Baked Potatoes

Baked potatoes require a lot of hot coals to cook and can take a long time if they are large or if there’s not enough heat. To cook enough potatoes for dinner and breakfast, get a fire going at least 2 hours before you want to eat - which leaves an hour to burn some logs into hot coals and an hour to cook the potatoes.

Sausage and veg can be done in a cast iron on the fire or a stove.

Sunday Breakfast:

• Breakfast Hash

This meal can be straight up leftovers from dinner the night before, chopped up and reheated in a cast iron pan. You can add eggs, additional veg or protein and/or cheese. Go all out with a sausage gravy or hollandaise.

Sunday Lunch:

• (Self Serve or Portable) Sandwiches, Veggies and Dip

If you go really big with breakfast, this meal may be optional. Opt for something that’s non-perishable like canned tuna or PB&J

Sunday Dinner:

• Ground Turkey and Bean Burritos

Here’s an easy make ahead meal - prep and cook the ground Turkey and bean mixture before packing and freezing enough for the group.

Burritos are also easy to adjust to many dietary options including vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, etc.

Dessert:

• Campfire Dessert Sandwiches

A cast iron sandwich maker or pie iron gives you lots of room to play with making different goodies on the campfire. Some dessert favourites are sandwich bread with jam or banana bread with some chocolate hazelnut spread

Monday Breakfast:

• Breakfast Burritos

Similar to Breakfast Hash, this can be leftovers from the previous night’s dinner or you can add eggs, nix the wraps - whatever tickles your fancy! As a one skillet meal and plates optional with wraps, clean up from this meal is minimal making packing up a breeze!)

Monday Lunch:

• On the Road and/or Snack Packs

Depending on your departure time, you may opt for lunch at the park or it may be easier to eat something on the road. You can pre-make sandwiches at breakfast, pick something up, or have snacks on hand until you get back home.

Snacks:

• Granola Bars

• Apples, Oranges, Bananas

• Trail Mix

• Popcorn

The Bins Lists!

We’re getting into the details of what goes into the different bins we bring camping, including the first aid kit! Check out the lists below for ideas of what to include in your equipment, kitchen and pantry bins.

The Equipment Bin

• Aluminium foil

• Axe / Hatchet

• BBQ Lighter & wood matches

• Bug jacket / bug hat

• Bungee cords

• Camp shovel

• Carabiners

• Citronella Candles

• Clothes Pins

• Duct Tape

• Emergency Ponchos

• Extra batteries

• Fire Starter

• Garbage & recycling bags

• Glow Sticks

• Latex Gloves

• Mosquito coil (pic) & holder

• Multitool / pocketknife

• Notepad / paper & pencil / pen / marker

• Paper towel & roll of toilet paper

• Playing Cards

• Reusable Twist Ties

• Rope

• Sandwich / reusable bags (various sizes)

• Sponge / dish cloth

• String

• Tablecloth clips

• Vinyl / plastic tablecloth

Kitchen Bin

Note: Bring what you need! If you're going on a solo trip, bring a set of dishes for yourself; if you’re a family of 6, make sure you have enough!)

• Apron

• BBQ utensils (tongs / flipper etc.)

• Bowls (reusable / non-breakable)

• Can opener

• Cheese grater

• Coffee pot / French press / kettle

• Colander

• Cooking utensils (tongs / spatula / wooden spoon / ladle / slotted spoon / spoonula etc.)

• Corkscrew / bottle opener

• Cups (reusable / non-breakable)

• Cutlery

• Cutting board(s)

• Dish cloths / sponges

• Dish soap (biodegradable) & bleach

• Dish washing bins (collapsible)

• Drying mat / rack

• Griddle

• Large bowl for mixing

• Mugs (insulated / travel)

• Oven mitts

• Pans (non-stick / cast iron)

• Plates (reusable / non-breakable)

• Potholder / hot mat

• Pots (from saucepan to large enough for boiling dish water)

• Scissors

• Serving bowl / platter

• Sharp knives (paring knife / chef's knife)

• Tupperware containers

• Wine or drink cups (reusable / non-breakable)

First Aid Kit

• Adhesive bandages

• Gauze roll

• Sterile gauze

• Triangle bandages

• Medical tape

• Safety pins

• Scissors

• Tweezers

• Tick remover

• Alcohol wipes / disinfecting agent

• Gloves

• CPR mask / one-way valve

• Splint

• Hand sanitizer

• Medical facemask

• Emergency blanket

• Extra over-the-counter meds (antihistamines / pain killers / anti-inflammatory / Aspirin / heart burn / eye drops etc.)

The Pantry Bin

• Oil (vegetable / grape seed / olive)

• Vinegar (balsamic / white wine / rice wine)

• Salt & pepper

• Spices (in travel / camping spice container)

• Coffee

• Tea

• Hot chocolate / apple cider

• Peanut / almond / nut butter

• Pancake mix

• Rice

• Pasta

• Pasta sauce

• Tuna

• Canned soup

• Unopened condiments (mustard / hot sauce / soya sauce)

• Protein powder / electrolyte tablets

Let’s Get Packing!

We’ve put together some packing lists to help get you ready for your car camping trip! Remember, these aren’t all required items - at the end of the day as long as you have somewhere to sleep, something to eat, something to drink and something warm to wear you’ll be fine! These items are some suggestions based on what we’ve come to learn helps make us feel as prepared and relaxed as possible when we’re in away at a campground!

Somewhere to Sleep

• Tent (+ ground sheet) / tent trailer / van / RV etc.

• Sleeping bag / bed linens

• Sleeping pad / air mattress (+ air pump, if needed)

• Pillow (travel / inflatable / favourite from home)

• Extra blanket

• Door mat

• Tent light

• Tent fan

Someway to Cook & Clean

• Stove (single burner / camp stove etc.)

• Fuel (propane / charcoal / iso propane etc.)

• Water jug

• Dish washing bins

• Biodegradable soap & bleach

• Sponge / dish cloth

• Drying towels

• The Kitchen Bin (Check out our “Bins Lists”)

• Cast iron pan / Dutch oven

• Roasting sticks / pie iron / popcorn maker etc.

• BBQ (portable) - propane or charcoal

• Hand soap / hand moisturizer

Something to Eat

Note: food and drinks to bring are up to you based on your preferences and meal / menu plans - be sure to check out upcoming meal plan templates and some of our favourite menu ideas!)

• Cooler(s) with ice

• Panty bin (oil, vinegar, salt & pepper, spices, coffee, extra canned / non-perishable items)

• Food (in bin / bag / box etc.)

• Drinks (in cooler or extras to be added later)

• Reusable water bottles

• Snack for the drive to the campground

• One (or more) “welcome” beverage in the cooler as a cold drink after campsite setup

Campsite Equipment

• The Equipment Bin (see list below)

• Tarp(s)

• Rope (various lengths and widths)

• Axe / hatchet / saw / wood splitter etc. (not a power chainsaw!)

• Fire tools (fire tongs / pocket bellows / gloves)

• Matches / lighter

• First aid & safety gear

• Extension cord

• Wagon

First Aid & Safety Gear

• First Aid Kit (Check out our “Bins Lists”)

• Medication

• Whistle(s)

• Matches / lighter

• COVID safety items (masks / gloves / hand sanitizer / disinfecting wipes)

• Sunscreen / aloe vera

• Raincoat / poncho + umbrella

• Hat / gloves / scarf

• Bug spray / after-bite / tick remover etc.

• Activity related gear (helmet / lifejacket / bail kit / tow line / extra paddle / lock(s))

• Bear horn / bear bars etc. 

Electronics

• Cell phone

• Smart watch

• Charging cables (+ cable organizer)

• Bluetooth speaker

• Battery pack / solar panel etc.

• Camera & accessories

• Laptop / tablet / portable gaming device etc.

• Extra batteries

• A/C converter for car

• Walkie talkies

The Fun Stuff!

• Games (cards / board games - be mindful of small & paper pieces that might get lost or damaged)

• Hiking poles & daypack

• Canoe / kayak / paddle-board etc.

• Paddles / PFD / Lifejacket & other safety equipment

• Bicycle(s) & helmet(s)

• Fishing gear

• Beach toys (sand toys / beach ball / goggles / pool noodles / inflatable floaties / floating mats etc.)

• Beach umbrella / shade

• Yoga Mat

• Frisbee

• Binoculars / birdwatching gear

• Lawn games (corn hole / lawn bowling / horseshoes / ladder ball / Bocce ball / Spike-Ball etc.)

• Sports equipment (baseball & gloves / soccer ball / football / golf clubs / volleyball / badminton etc.)

• Quiet time items (book(s) / audiobook(s) / journal / sketchpad / knitting / crossword / Sudoku etc.)

Personal Gear

• Day or warm weather clothing (shorts / pants / shirts)

• Evening or cool weather clothing (long pants / long sleeve / flannel / fleece sweater / sweatshirt / socks)

• Bedtime clothing (pyjamas / base layer / wool socks)

• Underwear & socks (bring extras!)

• Hats (sun hat / baseball cap / warm hat) & sunglasses

• Gloves / mittens

• Scarf / buff / neck warmer

• Raincoat / rain pants / poncho

• Windbreaker / down jacket / vest

• Footwear (running shoes / rain boots / sandals / water shoes / hiking boots / shower flip flops)

• Bathing suit

• Beach towel

• Face towel / cloth

• Personal medication

• Wallet (including ID, health card, emergency contacts, etc.)

• Toiletries (toothbrush / toothpaste / floss / shampoo / conditioner / soap / face-wash / wipes / moisturizer / hairbrush / comb / hair accessories etc.)

• Glasses / contact lenses & solution (+ extras)