Tent Equipment List
tent
tent stakes
ground cloth/tarp
rope
mallet or heavy hammer
whisk broom
doormat

Tents
Consider a variety of factors:
Cost – Find something that fits your budget. There is a wide range of tents to choose from. Borrow from friends or family for your first outing to see how you like it. Try looking at a gently used tent on Freecycle or other thrift/used/re-use options.
Size – Assume a tent will comfortably accommodate about three people fewer than it claims. Your regular camping gear equals a whole person, and if you’re a Fighter . . .
Rain – Choose a tent that has a rain fly (an extra layer of fabric that goes over the tent). A fly provides a critical barrier to rain. Tents claim that they’re water resistant, but that’s not enough. The fly should be supported away from the main tent fabric, should cover at least 75% of the tent, and should provide adequate shelter over tent windows and doors in a manner that guides water away from the windows and door. If you wish, tying a water proof tarp above your tent can aid in keeping your tent dry.
Floor – Ground sheet, ground cloth or tarp. If your tent didn’t come with one, purchase one. Even if your tent has a “bathtub bottom” (a reinforced, waterproof, plastic floor that wraps up the sides like a basin), a ground cloth is a good idea. The ground cloth protects the floor of your tent from moisture seeping up through the ground and from sharp pointy things (roots, rocks and sticks). The ground cloth should match the dimensions of your tent and not peek out from under your tent at any point. A ground cloth that sticks out somewhere is a perfect water trap and channel, and you’ll soon find yourself sleeping on a giant waterbed—or in a puddle.

Setting Up
When you first acquire your tent, set it up PRIOR TO THE CAMPING EVENT. Check that all the parts have been included. Familiarize yourself with the set-up instructions. Setting up your new tent for the first time at an event in the fading light of evening, with hungry mosquitoes or in the rain, can be a horrible experience.
When arranging your gear inside a tent, make sure nothing is in direct contact with the tent walls or ceiling. Any point of contact is a point that weakens the moisture barrier, and leakage can occur. Avoid brushing the walls of your tent at all times. This practice is much, much more critical in a canvas tent—nylon and other synthetic fabrics are a lot more tolerant.

Set up a small rug or mat just inside and/or outside the door, and use this to wipe and remove your shoes upon entering. You’ll track in less dirt and moisture, and you’ll protect the floor of your tent against damage from shoes.
When packing up your tent, sweep the floor just before you collapse it. Get everything out, from every corner. You’ll really appreciate this extra step the next time you set up your tent.
Avoid taking your tent down when it’s damp or wet. Since condensation accumulates overnight you should consider waiting until the sun and wind have dried it thoroughly. If you must pack your tent damp, set it up again immediately upon returning home. Damp tents are highly susceptible to mold and mildew, which can shorten the life of your tent in addition to making them much less liveable. This goes triple for canvas tents!

Bedroom
sleeping bag or blankets (several warm ones)
sleeping pad, mattress or cot
air pump
pillow
lantern and/or flashlight
spare batteries

Comfort
Bed: Cot, air mattress, layered sleeping pads, whatever—a raised surface will increase your comfort and get you away from the floor of your tent, where it’s coldest. Cots have the added advantage of under-the-bed storage space.
If you’re going to use an air mattress, remember to bring pumps and batteries. Please bear in mind that camping neighbours don’t appreciate the sound of a loud battery-powered (or car engine powered) air pump anytime after sunset.

Bedding
The simplest way to go is a sleeping bag. Cotton and down may be comfortable (and down is certainly warm), but both of them are miserable to use when wet, and that’s always a high risk when camping. Synthetic materials have the advantages of being lightweight, of packing into small bundles, of retaining their warming abilities when damp or wet, and of drying quickly. If don’t like to sleep inside a tube, you can always unzip your sleeping bag and use it like a blanket. This is an area not to skimp on, purchase the best you can afford.
If you prefer to use blankets, use a lot of them. Layering is the key to staying warm, and you can always remove a layer if it gets too warm. Cotton or synthetics are all right for sheets and one or two blankets, but bring at least one good wool blanket—wool retains its warming abilities when wet or damp.
Don’t forget your pillow!

Sleeping
A tip for sleeping comfortably and warmly at night: Don’t sleep in any item of clothing that you wore that evening. Damp clothes equal cold clothes, and no matter how dry your clothing may feel it has absorbed moisture from your body and the night air. If you’re still cold after completely changing your outfit and piling on every blanket or sleeping bag you have, put on dry socks, add a hat. (Head and feet are the two areas of highest heat loss on the human body.) Consider a trip to the bathroom. The body spends a lot of energy and heat trying to keep the liquid in your bladder warm.

Lighting
You’ll need some way to see in your tent after dark.

Clothing List
Warm and warm weather garb
plenty of socks and under things (Should be changed daily)
warm hat and gloves
heavy, lined cloak (can also be used as an extra blanket for sleeping)
choice of footwear (cold and warm, wet and dry)
couple of changes of modern clothing

Garb (or Costume)
In general, plan your garb wardrobe to include mostly Field garb. You may certainly include some showy and more ‘Courtly’ garb if you wish, but keep in mind that you are not walking on clean, even, indoor flooring with a solid roof over you protecting you from the elements. Your garb will come into contact with the outdoor elements as well as kitchen spillage, mud and dirt, tree sap, possible charcoal the fire, sunscreen stains, and any number of camping and outdoor debris.
A majority of your time at camping events is spent on your feet—walking and standing on grass, gravel … you name it. Sandals or light period shoes on a tamed grassy meadow may be just fine on a dry, sunny afternoon, but the evening dark brings dew and chill, biting bugs, and the inability to see clearly under your feet. Good, comfortable, shoes will prevent a lot of fatigue, AND protect your feet from dangerous encounters with exposed tent stakes, loose ropes, splinters, pebbles, glass, bottle caps, sharp gravel, etc.
Given the terrain at Tempest Grove, a good pair of neutral coloured hiking boots are probably your best bet, something with a good tread. Be sure to bring a couple of different changes of footwear in case your shoes get wet.

Modern Clothing
It’s always good to have a couple of changes of modern clothing, not only for driving to and from the event but for those trips into town you might need to go on. A lot of people just wear their garb on town runs, but you might not be personally comfortable with that. Also, in the middle of a downpour, it’s nice to have a T-shirt and pair of shorts to slip into if you need to do some emergency tent repair!
Avoid wearing modern clothing on site as much as possible. Exceptions include setting up and tearing down camp, walking to the car for a town run. At all times, make every effort to present a period appearance, even if it means throwing a cloak or blanket over your modern clothing as you head for the car for a supply run.

Personal toiletries are your own business! You know what you need to survive for a few days or so. Towels, face cloth, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.
Consider packing antibacterial cleanser and maybe some extra toilet paper. Also a small portable mirror for your tent.
Find some compact way to tote around your toiletries – a small basket or leather pouch, cloth bags, or zippered cases. You may have to walk a way to the facilities, so make your carrying case a comfortable one and pack your necessaries in small, compact packages. As always, if you’re worried about how it looks, cover it with a cloth.
Reduce the space your toiletries take up by purchasing travel-sized toothpaste, compact travel-size toothbrush, etc.
If you really need to get clean, consider bringing along a small, plastic washbasin if you need to get more thoroughly clean without having a shower. A sponge bath in the privacy of your own tent, though it won’t get you clean all over, will certainly go a long way to clean away some of the day’s dirt and grime.
Gamer funk can get very strong by the end of the weekend if you don’t take care of your hygiene.

First, it is perfectly acceptable and possible to survive a camping weekend on Pop Tarts, sandwiches, condensed soup or granola bars, and juice boxes. It’s also perfectly possible to prepare elaborate “home-cooked” meals just like you would in your kitchen at home.
However, remember you are going to be expending more energy in the field than you do in town, and you are going to need more calories. As events run late into the evening, good nutrition is even more important. Good nutritious meals help keep you warm and awake.
For your first camping event or two, consider one of these options, (or both):

1. Keep your menu extremely simple.
2. Arrange beforehand to camp with experienced campground cooks or with your own group of campers, and arrange to participate in and contribute to planning communal meals. This also limits the number of accessory items that everyone has to bring. (One pepper mill, instead of three. Two cook stoves instead of four.)

Planning A Menu
Many people find that they enjoy bigger meals while camping. Fresh air and more physical activity can contribute to a heartier appetite.
Make a food plan for each day using a grid, with the days of the week on the top of the page, and the meals for the days blocked in on the side. How many breakfasts, how many lunches, how many dinners? What about snacks? Will there be a feast or other communal meal you can participate in? Cross that meal off your list.
After making your food plan, go back and write down every single ingredient and condiment you’ll need or want for each and every meal—butter, oil, cream, honey, salt & pepper, milk, spices, sugar, and so on. Remember to include beverages (juice, coffee, tea, soda, drink mix).
Go through your list one more time and write down every single item of kitchen equipment you’ll need to prepare each meal. Really think about each step you’ll take to create that meal. If necessary, go into your kitchen and pretend to make it. Again, don’t worry about writing the same things over and over again.
Now go back and combine all the mini-lists into one big one. Remember to bring enough of an item for multiple meals, if necessary.
You know your body’s food needs. Are you a big, hearty breakfast eater or you can’t look at food first thing in the morning until you’ve had your mug of coffee?
Breads, cheeses, and cold cuts make a great lunch. Bring extras for snacks, too. This meal also requires minimum fuss and almost no cleanup.
Dinner can be as simple as a can of soup, or you can bring the ingredients for a simple stew or skillet meal. Consider how much time you want to spend preparing your meal and cleaning up afterward.
You can prepare and freeze some meals at home and bring them in your cooler. Frozen items will help to keep your other food cold in the cooler, and you’ll have less prepping to do. Just re-heat and go. This is my modus operandi, it helps get meals cooked quicker.
Remember that you can’t just toss your dirty dishes into a sink and worry about them later! Those that cook, don’t wash. Take turns. In the Collective, the youngest members do the dishes, while the older ones cook the meals.
Keep your arrival and departure days extra simple. Avoid having to use a lot of equipment (cooking, eating, and cleaning) for breakfast on the day site closes. You’ll want to be able to pack up without a big fuss of dishwashing, etc.

Kitchen
Water
There is no potable water in the Grove, you need to bring your own.
Bring something along in which to carry and store water for kitchen clean up. Bring a plastic basin for dishwashing. Be sure to clearly mark which water jug holds drinking water and which jug holds washing water.
Rubber/plastic totes/tubbies are great for packing your kitchen equipment, or your garb and clothes. Tubbies, crates, coolers become low tables or shelving.
Another item to consider for your mobile kitchen is a dining fly. This is simply some form of roof over your head while you’re cooking—wonderful on a rainy day. Your dining fly can be a nice modern screen house tent or a plastic tarp elevated by poles or the awning of your tent. Whatever you use, make sure that all fabric and rope is far enough away from your heat source (fire or stove) to prevent melting or fire

Kitchen Equipment List
camp table (there are some picnic tables on-site)
camp stove
extra fuel
matches
cooler (with ice)
washbasin
dishrags and dishtowels
dish detergent
paper towels
garbage bags
extra plastic bags (Ziploc™)
aluminum foil
sponges and scrubbies
water jug
pots and pans
mixing bowl
cutting board
can opener
colander or strainer
cooking utensils (spatula, serving spoon, stirring spoon, cutting knife, ladle, whisk, tongs, meat fork)
potholders
eating utensils (cup, mug, plate, bowl, knife, fork, spoon)

First Aid Kit
It’s always a good idea to carry a basic first aid kit. This includes the same sort of basic items you would keep in your bathroom medicine cabinet—adhesive bandages, painkillers, antibacterial products, cotton swabs, that sort of thing. You can build your own kit, or purchase a basic kit for not too much money at most pharmacies and department stores.

Furnishings
Many people bring along rugs for the bottoms of their tents and chairs to sit on. It’s all right to bring and use modern deck chairs or director’s chairs. Remember that coolers and packing crates make excellent benches. And, of course, you can always just bring a few blankets to sit on. Rugs are your own business, and they’re very handy for protecting the floor of your tent and giving them more warmth and atmosphere.

We all want to enjoy our LARP experience and we all do so in different ways.
To ensure that we all have a wonderful time playing together, there are a few campground etiquette notes that should apply as much as possible, regardless of what you see other people doing around you. Set a good example, please, and if in doubt, ask yourself – “What if everyone did it?”

Encampments
This part is something I would like to see start in the Grove… it’s just me spitballing … so
Many people tend to camp together in social groups, and sometimes these groups will create an “encampment”. Encampments should mark their boundaries in some manner, whether by the arrangement of their tents or with rope and coloured flags.
Campground courtesy demands that you respect an encampment’s “walls”.
When you wish to visit an encampment it is polite to “knock”—stop just short of the entrance and say “Hail, the camp!” loudly enough to be heard. Don’t just wander in.
Wandering into someone’s camp when they’re not around or without their permission is a bit rude—it’s like walking into someone’s house when they don’t answer your knock at their door. Similarly, wandering into an encampment uninvited or unannounced, sitting yourself down in someone’s chair, and helping yourself to some snacks in a bowl left on the table is extremely intrusive. Be polite and respect other people’s space and property.
Don’t use a group’s encampment as a shortcut to your destination. It’s like walking through their living room. Go around the encampment.
Some groups may not care who wanders through their camp, but others are very strict about it. Rules in a stricter camp may become relaxed enough for you to wander in at will if you are or become familiar with everyone in an encampment, or if you’re in and out often enough that most of the group is familiar with you. Whatever the situation, just be polite. If you must know, ask the camp what they’d prefer, but the general rule of thumb is to follow the encampment etiquette of “knocking” before entering.

Cleaning Up & Waste Disposal 
We should take pride in leaving a site cleaner than we found it. This can only happen with your care and diligence.
When breaking down your camp, scour your campsite for any and all pieces of trash, however small. Then widen your circle and scour the area nearby for the same thing. If everyone took ten minutes to do this, the site would be spotless. If no one did it, the site would be awful.
Don’t simply toss your organic trash (foodstuffs) over your shoulder or into the woods and forget about it. The statement, “some animal will eat it” is a very bad rule of thumb. Providing a source of food not only artificially inflates the local animal population (which leads to starvation, disease, and death later), it attracts animals to public campgrounds, which can lead to destruction of personal property and the animal itself.
If possible, donate your recyclable bottles (bagged appropriately) to the Shaper team, every little bit of cash helps the Shapers give us a better immersive experience.

Breaking Camp
Check your campsite thoroughly for any and all trash, no matter how small. Then check the area a little around your encampment for good measure. Do this even if it’s raining!
See if anyone in your camp needs assistance in breaking camp.
The Cauldron especially needs everyone to take a few minutes to go over the area as we all use it and a large amount of debris accumulates there during the weekend.