Gear can be added to as youth progress through sections, so there’s no need to buy everything at once. Youth should pack and look after their own gear, with parents or guardians checking afterwards if needed. Many items double up nicely for school camps too. Here’s what your young person will need for scouting.
For longer camps and regattas, pack all personal gear in a 60L solid plastic storage box the low-profile design fits neatly under your stretcher. Each morning we shift gear and stretchers to the tent perimeter to air out the canvas, so having everything in one uniform box makes this much easier.
Bulky items like a foam roll or sleeping bag may not fit in the box — just bring those in separately or attached to your bag.
For sleepovers and camps, youth sleep on stretchers a lot of the time. These need to be off the ground like the type pictured, with youth being able to assemble these up themselves or with a buddy. The ground clearance also enables a gear storage box to slide cleanly underneath and keeps the tent interior tidy.
Camp stretchers
can be purchased from places like The Warehouse or Briscoes
or buy second hand from Trade Me or Facebook marketplace
A self-inflating air mattress or foam roll is highly recommended to sit on top of the stretcher for warmth. This identical mat layer can then be dual-purposed for tramping or mobile camps when youth transition into utilizing the smaller lightweight hike tents.
Standard Bed Roll
Self-inflating air mattress for more comfort
Youth use a Ditty Bag to store their cutlery, plate, bowl, and mug — every piece must be permanently named or initialled. Any drawstring bag will do, or better yet, make one from an old tea towel (look it up on Google or Chatgpt). It also makes a great at-home sewing project, and your scout leaders may even run a ditty bag making night as part of the programme. Pack a clean tea towel too, as youth wash and dry their own dishes on camp (and help with the leaders’ dishes occasionally). Enamel or heavy-duty metal items are preferred over cheap plastic, which can snap under camp conditions
For all water activities, it is imperative to wear proper, secure water boots. Loose options like Crocs or jandals easily slide off or float away, provide poor traction grip on wet boat decks, and offer virtually zero protection from sharp rocks, debris, or oyster shells.
Sailing is hard on clothes — old or secondhand gear is perfectly fine. This is not a fashion contest.
Head & Eyes
- Sun hat and/or warm beanie
- Sunblock — apply regardless of weather
- If you wear glasses, secure them with a strap or tie
Upper Body
- Windbreaker, coat, or jacket
- Wool jersey or polar fleece (if no wetsuit)
Wetsuit & Thermals
- A budget wetsuit (e.g. from The Warehouse) is very useful
- Polypropylene thermals under a wetsuit add significant warmth and comfort — avoid cotton
- Sailing gloves are a nice bonus but not essential for scout sailing
Lower Body & Feet
- Shorts (if wearing a wetsuit)
- Wetsuit neoprene booties for cold weather sailing, otherwise water shoes
Safety
- Life jacket — provided by Orewa Sea Scouts
After Sailing
- A complete change of dry clothes for the trip home
- A towel — Scouts get wet in boats
- A plastic bag for wet gear
Life jackets are provided. Everything else should be gear you don’t mind getting soaked.
Water shoes/ Aqua socks/ Neoprene boots are compulsory for water activities.