Away for a week, what to bring?
Posted by abackyardsmoker@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 34 comments
So every year I volunteer at an overnight camp. This year 3 of my kids will be up there with me so space will be even more limited than in years past, plus I help out with facilities so I bring a bunch of tools up with me. I only load up a minivan with everything, a roof rack is an option. The location is pretty secluded in PA, hardly any cell service, a few trees go down to the storm and you are cut off.
What are 5 things you would bring with you in that scenario? The camp has over 200 people so there's very little I could bring up to support the entire camp.
Also makes for an ethical question of what would you bring up and then possibly not share in a worst case scenario. It's kids with no parents and as adult at the camp, their well being is part of my responsibility.
Quasi discussion but interested in some ideas as well.
Novel-Turnip9965@reddit
A few extra water filters . With the amount of people I'd say make hardback and take bouillon for emergency food if there is a lake or river extra fishing kits 16 gauge wire for snares a few extra knives and sharpener a extensive medical kit and I'd say a self defense option and possibly something to get game and survival books how to for basic item edibl plants ect
paulywauly99@reddit
Take a morale booster. Six large water melons or two dozen bags of assorted toffees.
TacTurtle@reddit
Forgot the fire crackers for said water melons.
TacTurtle@reddit
LED work lights in case you need to fix stuff. Same with basic tool load out (screw driver, drill, hacksaw, woodsaw, hammer, screws, nails, rope).
Plenty of drinking water.
How are they cooking?
Hoserposerbro@reddit
As far as the ethical question, should SHTF, to me, you’re responsible for every child there until you can get them back to their parents or a governing body/emergency relief organization. We can’t abandon our positions like cowards just to save our own. Community survival until a game plan can be set up and the situation is safe for you to leave them.
abackyardsmoker@reddit (OP)
100% agree. No matter what the circumstances I couldn't see myself bailing on that responsibility. How you prepare with that many people is the issue. I would almost not want items to care for just myself so as to avoid any conflicts. I either bring enough for everyone or nothing if they makes sense.
PineapplePiazzas@reddit
The adults organising this stuff should have a discussion group and set hard limits on amount of participants if preparation becomes a problem due to size of group.
Its a misunderstood type of "kind" if there is any doubt on capacity while every participant is accepted without a limit.
RandomFurryTrash@reddit
1.) Firearm for wildlife. You aren't killing a bear with a handgun, but it will scare it off, wolves, definitely.
2.) A portable charger for your phone/tools. I use an Anker 737, it is a beast and can charge multiple phones and my tablet all at once.
3.) Some essential first aid for the children just in case. For example, if the ice packs, you snap and shake to make cold. Even if the camp has them, sometimes you'll be closer than the camp area.
4.) Any emergency radio/satellite phone for a way to contact emergency services in case of an emergency. Even if there is a nasty storm, the police will get to you for an injured child (hopefully)
5.) Extra medication if your children are on any. I'd pack at least two weeks in case you are stuck out there.
AdditionalAd9794@reddit
Alcohol, imagine being around 200 screaming children while sober
abackyardsmoker@reddit (OP)
Lol, they used to allow that until someone screwed that up. It's a dry week but there are days I could use it.
dittybopper_05H@reddit
What you do in your tent after lights out is nobody's business.
OtherwiseAlbatross14@reddit
Since you didn't provide any information on what's always provided, I'll assume all the basics are covered and you're thinking of what if situations.
Most newish cell phones can use satellite SOS in emergencies now but a starlink mini is a good backup as well.
I'd probably throw in a battery pack that can charge phones and run the Starlink to maintain communication if needed.
A chainsaw isn't a bad idea if they don't already have one for some reason.
PA has a lot of black bears so educate yourself on those and maybe bring some bear proofing stuff out whatever is recommended.
I'd guess they'd have first aid covered but if not, that.
Impressive_Seat5182@reddit
I’d help the camp prepare for a disaster with 200 people! Food,water,sanitation, generator, space blankets.
abackyardsmoker@reddit (OP)
So I've thought about trying to get my generator up there, it's a portable whole house. I could probably run the freezer and refrigerator on it alternating them.
All that other stuff and trying to figure it out would definitely take some thought and unfortunately money that I don't think they necessarily have. This year I did convince them to beef up their medical supplies. We were grossly under prepared for any kind of trauma injuries although I had enough to probably address that if needed.
Impressive_Seat5182@reddit
I’d say have the conversation….better to be thinking/preparing than be in a bad situation with all those kids. Maybe someone in the group has access to supplies/money or resources you haven’t tapped yet!
Many years ago my son went to a Bible camp in a remote area of Alaska. Scares the heck out of me now that I had no idea what their preparedness level was!
abackyardsmoker@reddit (OP)
Ha, it's kind of ironic I would say this is also a Bible camp. I don't think these are items I can help solve in a year but as I've been doing, try chipping away year after year.
Impressive_Seat5182@reddit
I’d also make sure I’d carry enough in the van to provide basics for your family where ever you are, you know just in case….
abackyardsmoker@reddit (OP)
Yeah I try to do that best I can. Usually have a good first aid kid. I try to always keep some water as well. There's usually food in there as well.
Kevin_of_the_abyss@reddit
That’s tough,with your own kids to worry about .Id definitely bring that generator/a solar panel.I dunno,it makes me feel uneasy the people responsible for running the camp dont have what they need.a lack of CPR trained staff or volunteers would worry me.I know it can manifest as unrealistic anxiety but I do think the peace of mind is so cheap in comparison to the cost of not being prepared.A few stop the bleed kits,few cheap tourniquets and the training to use them would go a long way.Some CPR bags so you don’t need to give mouth to mouth .Stuff like that at least for yourself if you can’t convince whoever’s running this to get them.
abackyardsmoker@reddit (OP)
They have nurses but this whole thing is volunteer run so the thought people put in is probably different than a paid camp. I always carry bleed stop and a tourniquet but told them last year we need to step up our game on the first aid front. I'm first aid and CPR trained as are a couple others in addition to the nurses we have up there but I told them since I drive around in the golf cart I will carry a trauma kit with me. God forbid I ever need it.
Kevin_of_the_abyss@reddit
Good on you for doing what you can thus far though,that camp is lucky to have you volunteering
ARGirlLOL@reddit
At home it runs your whole house but at camp it only runs one appliance at a time?
abackyardsmoker@reddit (OP)
These are industrial sized. They are holding food for 200+. Maybe I could run both at the same time, I have no idea. Kind of assuming I couldn't but I might be wrong.
Kevin_of_the_abyss@reddit
Definitely one direction to go is voice the concern that very much can go wrong and that the camp needs some bare minimum supplies in case of ,like you said a stone.Some water,some cheap food,some OTC meds from like ,Costco.Stuff like that .Some Mylar blankets …
IlliniWarrior6@reddit
guy - ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE in the light of a normal day - but - in a worse case SHTF your responsibility is to your OWN kids and yourself ...
be prepared to hike it out as a family unit to an area where you can gain an edge on safety and survival >>> keep that essential hike gear separated from any use during your normal camp routine .....
the scenario changes but the basics remain - OPSEC always - your family unit is always priority first - and most importantly >>> you aren't God and there's no way in hell to save & help everyone involved - cruel but true ......
Brieundscotch@reddit
Take some treat for ticks and mosquitoes if they supposed to be there.
SecretInvader@reddit
Money, alcohol for myself, a book for entertainment, lamp or something useful for light, and an emergency kit cause you never know what happens
abackyardsmoker@reddit (OP)
So besides the alcohol pretty much I'm covered in all of that stuff. Maybe I need to just add the alcohol for emergency lol
SecretInvader@reddit
200 people and most are children? the alcohol is a must. might as well drink it discreetly lol
abackyardsmoker@reddit (OP)
🤣🤣🤣
Secret-Tackle8040@reddit
You should have most of what you need to survive there as far a food, shelter, water filtration, first aid etc. Are there good coms? Meshtastic could be fun to play with. Is there a chainsaw? A tourniquet in case that goes bad? Shovels?
abackyardsmoker@reddit (OP)
Water purification tablets are definitely an easy one to bring up. Food we have some canned/shelf staple stuff but everything else is refrigerated or frozen and we get the delivery during the course of the week. And yep there's a chainsaw and I've got a trauma kit that I always carry.
Ryan_e3p@reddit
It depends on what you plan on doing! For me, I'd bring my "tacticool field case", with a couple VHF/UHF raios, a lightweight laptop, SDR, a quick deployable antenna, small power bank, 100W solar panel, and a few Meshtastic units. The SDR would be easy to string up with the help of a good tree branch, and it might be fun to show kids how even so far out in the woods and away from everything, you can receive radio transmissions from all over the world!
The Meshtastic devices, not so much for a "learning" experience, but like the antenna, mount a node high up, and you can get on a mesh network to get any news updates, request assistance, etc. Requires no cell phone or internet service, and the mesh was used during the recent power outage in Spain. It's a great backup comms device that, while it does rely on other people having nodes up also within line of sight, could end up being very helpful if you happen to be in that LOS. Again, relies on other mesh users out there, so an emergency GPS phone would definitely be much higher up on the list if there's an emergency.
SunLillyFairy@reddit
Cash, extra fuel (if you can carry safely), self defense, maps or knowledge of alternative routes, go bags if for any reason you all had to hoof it somewhere.