Here is the list of items that you need to bring with you to your Conservation Crew assignment; the mandatory items are all required for your safety and comfort. If you don't already own a backpack, sleeping pad and sleeping bag, we recommend that you borrow them from SCA. You can email us to make the necessary arrangements. Please include your name and the name of the crew you will be joining.

We provide tents, stoves, cooking gear, an SCA logo T-shirt, and more for all of our trips.

Camp Gear and Personal Items - Mandatory

• Backpack - External or Internal frame. External frames should have an "H" shape frame. External frame backpacks should have a 3000 to 5000 cubic inch capacity. Internal frame backpacks should have a 4500 to 6500 cubic inch capacity. Whatever kind you have, it needs to have a padded waist belt and padded shoulder straps. Remember- you're going to need some leftover room for group gear!
• Sleeping Bag - Synthetic or down-filled bags required. Must be rated to 35 degrees or below. Try to get the smallest and lightest one you can.
• Sleeping Pad - Closed-cell foam (i.e. Ridge-rest) or self- inflating (i.e. Therma-rest) pads are great. Air mattresses are heavy, bulky, and not durable. Open-cell foam (i.e. foam egg crates) soak up water and are too bulky.
• Mess Gear- Something to eat out of and with- plastic bowl or tupperware container works fine. Fork and spoon.
• Mug - You'll some kind of unbreakable mug. Inexpensive insulated plastic ones are fine.
• Day Pack- A comfortable pack, with room enough for food and extra clothes. School backpack would work fine. Working zippers a plus.
• Water Bottles - Enough to hold 2 quarts or more. Wide-mouth Nalgene water bottles are nice, and so are Camel-Bak- type systems. However, re-used bottled water bottles or canteens will work. No glass, please. Screw-tops are much superior to the squirt-tops, since the squirt-tops leak all over your stuff.
• Sunglasses - Any pair that deflects UV will do. Gas station sunglasses are fine.
• Toilet Kit - As small and compact as you can make it. Biodegradable soap (such as Dr. Bronner's) is required.
• Flashlight or Headlamp - Headlamps are better, since they free up the hands, but they are more expensive.

Clothing - Mandatory

• T- Shirts - Bring an extra or two, including your SCA logo T-Shirt!
• Work Pants - Thick material, no holes or rips. Carharts are the best, jeans will work.
• Boots - All-leather (meaning no canvas) boots are required for any SCA work project. Hiking or work boots work well, steel toes are great. We strongly recommend you break in new boots before wearing them in the field. We have boots to lend, but having your own boots generally allows for a better fit. Thrift stores are worth a look for these.
• Rain Gear - Top and Bottom. Check with your crew leader for the best type of rain gear for your location. Gear that is suitable for Alaska may not be the best for Florida.
• Long Underwear - Top and Bottom. Invest in real long underwear- look for capalene, polypropylene, bergalene, or even wool. Avoid the white, ribbed cotton type- it is totally useless when wet, and takes a long time to dry.
• Wool or Fleece Sweater - NOT COTTON!!! Cheap wool sweaters are available at any thrift store, and work just as well as an expensive wool sweater- check the tag to see what it's made of.
• Wool or Fleece Socks - Again, cheap wool socks are available at any thrift store. They may be a little itchy, but better than frozen feet. We discourage cotton, again, because of the uselessness when wet.
• Wool or Fleece Hat - Keeping your head warm is essential to keeping the rest of you warm! Any thrift store has these. No cotton!
• Wool or Fleece Gloves - Another item easily picked up at the thrift store. Highly recommended.
• Shorts - Not for the worksite, but nice in the afternoons or on the recreation trip.
• Swim Suit - Very nice to have if it's the right season and you have the opportunity to go swimming.

Optional

• Tennis Shoes or Sandals - Great to slip on after a day of hiking or working, especially if your boots are wet. Remember, you have to have some sort of footwear on if you want to go swimming!
• Bandanas - Useful for all sorts of reasons, bring a few!
• Sleeping Clothes - Something dry and clean to wear at night.
• Sunscreen - SPF 15 or higher.
• Swiss Army Knife or Leatherman - You'd be amazed how often these come in handy. No sheath knives, please.
• Journal or Book - Write or read the Great American Novel!
• Towel - Try to get a camp towel, failing that, a small towel.
• Sewing Kit or "Speedy Stitch" - Nice for impromptu repairs of equipment.
• Camera - Capture those priceless SCA moments!
• Camp Chair - Compact model, such as "Therma-lounger" or "Crazy Creek." Very unnecessary but nice.
• Money - We'll feed you, but you may want to bring money to buy personal items on those rare occasions when you will be near a store.