Packing List
Prepare for an SWC weekend.
Recommended essentials for a January weekend at Woodruff. Personal items are yours to bring; patrol gear is shared. Check the Participant Packet for anything judged or required.
| CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR | ||
|---|---|---|
| Base layers, wool or synthetic | 2 sets | One to wear, one dry set in reserve. |
| Insulating mid-layers | 2–3 | Several loose, light layers beat one heavy coat. |
| Waterproof outer shell and rain pants | 1 | Wind- and water-proof. Change clothes if you get damp inside it. |
| Waterproofed leather or rubberized boots | 1 pair | Athletic shoes and nylon hiking boots do not insulate enough. |
| Wool socks | 4+ pairs | Change several times a day; dry feet stay warm. |
| Stocking cap that covers the ears | 1 | Most heat is lost through exposed skin. |
| Mittens, plus a spare pair | 2 pairs | Warmer than fingered gloves — fingers warm each other. |
| Scarf or balaclava | 1 | Protects the neck and face from wind. |
| Dry clothes to sleep in | 1 set | Never sleep in what you wore all day. |
| Sunglasses | 1 | Glare off snow can cause snow blindness, even on cloudy days. |
| SLEEPING | ||
| Mummy sleeping bag rated for the cold | 1 | Synthetic fill keeps insulating when damp; down does not. |
| Insulated closed-cell foam sleeping pad | 1 | Use instead of an air mattress. Cots leave cold air under you. |
| Ground cloth | 1 | Blocks ground moisture under the tent. |
| Extra blanket or wool bag liner | 1 | Adds warmth and seals the opening of a rectangular bag. |
| Hand warmers | 4+ | One in a sock at the foot of the bag. They work as foot warmers too. |
| Tent | 1 per 1–2 people | No heaters, candles, or open flames inside — carbon monoxide risk. |
| PATROL/CAMPSITE | ||
| Dining fly or shelter | 1 | Cover for cooking and eating in rain or wind. |
| Patrol cook kit, stove, and fuel | 1 set | Bring more fuel than you think you need. |
| Food for the weekend | All meals | Includes your patrol’s meal for the Saturday campwide dinner. |
| Water containers | 2+ gal | Plan on two extra quarts per person per day — cold air dehydrates. |
| Matches in a metal match safe | 1 | Plastic cases freeze and break. |
| Fire control equipment and first aid kit | 1 each | Labeled and kept in a known place in camp. |
| American flag, patrol flag, and duty roster | 1 each | All three are part of the campsite evaluation. |
| Flashlight or headlamp and spare batteries | 1 per person | Cold drains batteries — keep spares warm. |
| SWC-SPECIFIC | ||
| Patrol totems | 25–35 | Two to staff at check-in; the rest are traded all weekend. |
| Patrol flag | 1 | A judged event — craftsmanship, originality, and theme. |
| Table decorations for Saturday dinner | 1 set | Judged. Build to your patrol theme. |
| Presentation board | 1 | Brought to the Friday night café with your unit number on it. |
| Patrol costumes and theme gear | 1 per person | Worn at assembly — spirit votes count toward Honor Patrol. |
| Your own cup | 1 per person | For the Friday night cracker barrel. |
| Cushion or pad to sit on | 1 per person | Campfire seating is cold concrete. |
| Health forms A and B, with insurance copy | 1 per person | The patrol leader carries all of them the entire weekend. |