General information for Parents and Campers

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Gearing up for Pathfinder does not need to be expensive. A minimum of quality gear is required, and the best daily clothes are those that can get sweaty and muddy!

Label all your clothing and belongings. Pack a list to help the repacking.
Use iron-on cloth labels and good-quality laundry marking pens.
Plan ahead and pack early. Test new purchases. Avoid a last-minute rush.
Find that camp trunk! Wash new clothing, wear in new footwear, test outerwear.
Test sunscreens and bug lotions ahead of time.
Pack only biodegradable soaps and shampoos!
Packing for Camp is an exciting first step, enjoy it!
Understand what’s recommended /what’s required on the Camp List.
Little is required at Pathfinder, but a few items are a must.
The recommended items make a Pathfinder session safe and comfortable.
Understand what’s not recommended / not permitted.
When we say ‘Not recommended’ it’s usually for safety, health, comfort reasons. When we say ‘Not permitted’ it’s for safety reasons.
If you are locking trunks and duffels, provide our Staff the spare keys with labels.Spare keys will be placed in the camp safe in the event originals are lost.
Camper Medicines, tickets and valuables belong with the Staff.
These items must be given immediately to Staff members on arrival. Pack accordingly.
Pathfinder can supply some needed items at a good price.
A Sleeping Bag, Life Vest, Dry Bag, or Paddle can be ordered after May 1. Items are first-quality, sold at our cost. Call Camp at 705-633-5553.

Gearing Up

At Pathfinder there is very little required clothing and equipment. The following notes are informal wisdom from Camp experience, they can help inform a parent’s range of choices. Our head guides, The Headmen, were Campers themselves; here’s their advice.

Remember to pack your final list and to label all items, so your son’s counselors can help him keep track of everything. Label absolutely everything! Use iron-on cloth labels for most clothes, but for socks and personal items try a permanent laundry marker.

Campers should pack everything in a Trunk and Large Duffel and optional day pack.
Together, camp trunk and duffel bag can easily contain everything a boy needs for a session at Pathfinder. Each camper has shelves and hanging pegs around his bunk for his personal items. A large duffel or hockey bag is essential, because it stows under a camp cot, while the trunks are grouped in the middle of the tent floor facing each camper’s bunk area.

The Trunk size most campers use is approx. 13” x 18” x 32”. A couple large duffel bags or hockey bags can substitute for a trunk. Solid well-made trunks are nice because they are used as seats, step-ups, card tables etc. in the tents. A trunk with a tray inside helps sort toiletries and small items. The best trunks are often heirlooms from other family members. If you must get a new trunk, there are lots of options. At Target or a similar discount store, camp trunks will range from large Tupperware plastic models to press board trunks with vinyl covering. They will be cheap but will not last forever. A better quality trunk would come from a supplier such as Bunkline at www.bunkline.com, Camp Supplies at www.campsupplies.com or C&N Footlockers at www.campfootlocker.com . They will cost between $100-$200 US. The C&N people actually give you a discount and send Pathfinder a donation when trunks are ordered by Pathfinder families.

Clothing to Pack For Canoe Trips
On trips, every boy should have a dry bag for his spare trip clothes and sleeping bag. A size30-Litre bag is right for use with Pathfinder canoe packs. Look for the “SeaLine Baja 30 bag.” It can be obtained for $20cn once at Camp.

The sleeping bag itself can be generally speaking a 20-degree F rating that is highly compressible. Synthetic fill retains its loft if wet, dries quickly, and is perhaps the ideal bag for Algonquin Park. Down is less than ideal. Down can be kept dry with care, and is a lifetime bag. But, if it gets wet it won’t hold its loft and becomes useless, so a dry bag’s a must. Today’s synthetic bags are top-notch. An important Tip: prevent any unwanted bugs or mildew coming to Camp, please be sure sleeping bags are properly cleaned before sending them.

A Camper’s rain gear should be waterproof and large enough to be non-restrictive for paddling and portaging, for layering, and to vent body heat. Choose a jacket and pants. Ponchos are not effective. Do not send ponchos or value-priced rainjackets that will rip on the trail. In general, the jacket will be used a lot and the pants not very much. Invest in the jacket and choose a moderate priced pant.

A word about Gore-Tex. Gore-Tex rain gear is expensive, but it can be found at discount outdoor suppliers like Dick's or Mountain Co-op at a reasonable price for kids. For example, this spring at Dick's stores a youth Marmot rain jacket is $99.00. L.L. Bean mail order has similar quality gear priced right. This is no ad for a particular store, but you get the idea. There is no need to buy the ultimate 3-layer bombproof Gore-Tex shell worn by mountaineers. Remember, there are also decent basic rain jackets that are rubberized, non-breathable but effective in a downpour. No matter what the claims, Gore-Tex won’t prevent perspiration dampness in all situations. It’s your call. Just expect your son’s rain gear to get well used and potentially pine-stained and muddy. After all, they’ll be canoe tripping in the great north woods!

Buy trip boots well ahead of time and wear them in! Wear your new purchase around the house for a week. There should be ample room in the toe box up front. Imagine walking down hill with a trip pack on your back. You need the toe-room. Try new boots on with the brand of socks you’ll actually be wearing. SmartWool is smart ! Plan on wearing one pair of quality socks with your boots. Wearing two pr. socks causes blisters.

Gore-Tex-lined trip boots are popular, but can trap stale wetness when immersed – a common occurrence in Algonquin. They can lead to foot troubles unless dried and fresh socks are worn daily. Work boots like Timberlands and other hikers without a Gore-Tex lining are a good value as well being easier to dry.

Remember River Sandals or ‘Tevas’ are not permitted on trips or for active sports at camp, because local conditions (rocks and roots) cause too many foot injuries. These can hamper a trip or ruin a summer. A beat-up pair of sneakers are best to change into on the campsite, or to walk on the Island’s trails. Tevas aren’t prohibited but the Staff will tell campers to change out of them if they are going to do more than walk to Swim Dock.

Other favorite trip clothes are usually a couple of t-shirts, an old long-sleeved flannel shirt for cool evenings, loose fitting tough shorts, and a pair of similar long pants to change into. Denim jeans are not recommended, because they’re heavy when wet, lose body heat, and never seem to dry. Trip socks are medium-weight wool or synthetic blends. Bring at least a half-dozen pair to camp. A medium weight fleece or wool blend sweater make ideal layering pieces. An extra fleece vest is also okay. Cotton sweats stay wet and lose body heat, so we don’t use them on trips. A cap with visor is a must. Hats shading ears and neck offer maximum sun protection. Pack quality sunscreen. Try it first. We recommend non-DEET bug repellent, but if you wish you may provide repellents with 10% or less DEET as the active ingredient.

Life Jackets will be worn a lot. Get a good quality vest with minimal straps and buckles. There are generally two styles: vest style with front zipper, or pull-over-head with side zipper. Companies like Lotus and Perception make expensive but excellent paddler’s vests, while makers like Mustang, Salus and Oasis make first-quality front-zip vests. If your camper is a Mic-Mac, make sure his vest is the right style for small kids.

Water bottles, Sunglasses, Sunscreen and a Hat!
Research shows excessive sun exposure is not healthy for kids in the long run. Sun glare on canoe trips, especially off the water, can give serious sun burns. Send sunscreen that you have already tested on your camper, minimum SPF 15. Pump spray or lotion ok, aerosol cans prohibited. The Staff will have sunscreen and use it frequently, and will apply it on younger campers for them.

Also, inexpensive but effective sunglasses that block UV rays are worth it to protect young eyes. Add a neck cord. Either ball caps or hats with brims are okay. You can pack a bandana and drape it on your ears and neck on bright, hot days. A simple hat that has a full brim offers best protection.

For essential daily water intake (hydration) Pathfinder has a great 32-ounce lexan Nalgene drinking water bottle. It sells for @ $15.00. Most of the campers get one. They are hip with Camp’s logo, and they are a sure way to get your camper hydrating all day the way he should. An important skill we teach. You can buy a similar bottle for as little as $10 at the outdoor store. *Please note: the recent concern about polycarbonate bottles is over whether an ingredient may leach out of the plastic over time when exposed to hot liquids. Pathfinder believes Nalgene products are very safe and effective. Please ask us if you have any concerns so we can relieve them.

Toiletries: Join us in protecting the Pathfinder environment!
Camp is for getting dirty but it’s not a place to stay dirty for long. Campers routinely take soap baths. These are supervised by Headmen and Swim Staff.

Camp Pathfinder permits only biodegradable soaps and shampoos. These can include Ivory bar soap, Herbal Essence shampoo, Camp Suds liquid soap, Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap, or Burt's Bees soaps, body washes and shampoos. Camp provides additional without charge if a camper runs out.

Canoe paddles - Camp provides paddles for the season no charge, but if your son would like his own, order a custom Pathfinder paddle in his size. Measure him floor-to-chin and call us with your order. Prices are charged to candy store account and run from $18 to $25 cn. AA campers seeking expensive whitewater paddles need parent permission.

Pathfinder Early Birds automatically receive a free new paddle when they arrive at Camp.

The List

Please label all belongings. Provide spare labeled keys for trunk and duffel locks.

Traditional Camp Pathfinder luggage:

1 camp trunk or “footlocker” (approx. 13” x 18” x 32”)
1 large duffel bag
1 day pack or backpack optional

The List
items available for purchase from Pathfinder are marked **

**1 sleeping bag (20 degree-F rating, preferably compressible synthetic fill)
**1 waterproof dry bag (size 30 litre, i.e. a Seal Baja Bag 30)
**1 life preserver (paddling vest type, avoid numerous buckles/straps)
1 set of sheets and blankets for a twin-size camp cot
1 pillow and 2 cases
2 fleece jackets and/or wool blend sweaters (medium weight warmth with wicking)
1 quality rain jacket and pair of rain pants. Waterproof-breathable is recommended.
1 pair trip boots (pack extra insoles)
2 pair sneakers
3 pair shorts
3 pair long pants
3 long-sleeved shirts
8 pair under shorts
8 t-shirts
3 long-sleeved shirts
1-2 bathing suits
1-2 pairs sleepwear
6 pair trip socks (wool, ‘smartwool’, or synthetic blends)
4 pair general purpose socks (cotton or blends)
2 large bath towels (lighter weights dry quicker)
1-2 labeled drawstring laundry bags (optional mesh ‘sock bag’ for laundering socks)
1 hat (ball caps ok, hats with neck and ear coverage desirable)
1 pr sunglasses [basic uv protection for young eyes, nothing fancy; add a neck cord]
1 flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries (buy best-quality batteries, it’s worth it)
1 sunscreen (spf 15 or higher is recommended, spf 30 is ideal)
1 insect repellent (avoid high % DEET; try citronella oil formulas)
1 toilet kit – (send only biodegradable soaps and shampoos)

Technology: Pathfinder provides a rare opportunity to live simply in a natural setting. When restricting or prohibiting any items at Pathfinder, we are concerned with the health, safety, comfort and feelings of everyone in the community. Technology items in particular,are not permitted, in order to open our senses to the world of Algonquin. Includes computers, iPods, game machines, cel phones, etc.

A Note on Knives: small camp knives are permitted for supervised use only. The Staff will monitor and teach responsible use of pocket knives, and will immediately confiscate any knife used in an improper or unsafe manner.

Required Items

Sleeping Bag
Dry Bag
Rain jacket/pants
Life Jacket
Pillow
Laundry Bag
Flashlight