We are sending our 16 year old on a 3 week camping trip/excursion later this month. The trip is up in Wyoming and will include a variety of activities including climbing, hiking, rafting.
There's an extensive packing and equipment list which we've gone through and pretty much gotten at this point. As he's still on the slight side (115 pounds) and will be carrying a decent amount of weight (35-40 pounds to start each week that will go down each day), we tried to focus on getting things that were lightweight.
Anyway, as I have essentially no experience with camping, I'm open to any tips and tricks I can try and pass along for when he leaves. The camp group he will be with will be teaching them everything they need to know, no experience is necessary, but figured it wouldn't hurt to ask here.
One basic question I had with him traveling there was how to even send the backpack. It's a 70L pack. Do we pack it in a suitcase? Fill it with supplies and just check it in as is? Something else?
Will hang up and listen.
Buy a very good pair of Boots/Hikers. Don't get anything with Soles molded directly on the bottom of the foot. The shoe should be comfortable and I would buy them now if you can. Have him break them in walking around the house and when comfortable enough have him take a lap or two around the neighborhood and see how he feels. Worst thing for a hiker is bad shoes. Make sure the Boots are well protecting the feet. Bring extra socks and if he feels a sock is wet he NEEDS TO REPLACE IT ASAP. Worst thing is having Blisters while hiking for numerous days. Make sure he has plenty of bug spray.
If he's allowed to carry a Swiss Army knife or something similar show him how to use it. Those come in handy. Widdle sticks for marshmallows and other things at night or carve a nice walking stick. Also if you are giving him canned items these things have a can opener on them.
Make sure he has a good water bottle or some sort of hot cold mug. As someone said already drink when you can often.
Have him practice carrying the pack around so he gets use to the weight carried
Carry some reachable/easy snacks. Granola and trail mix type stuff and bars are good.
Binoculars are a good tool to have plus a compass
Are they allowed to bring their phones? I would make sure you give him a portable charger maybe two in case of emergency's. More then a few times I went camping before we had the phones we do now we wished we had them.
Walkie Talkies were always a good thing to have too
If he knows what trails and stuff he's on have him look the map over, mark certain big points so he'll know where he is. if Possible if theres Youtube video of these trails have him watch those so he knows what type of environment he's in
Don't put your hand in any hole. No idea what might be in there from a predator or what
Poncho and an extra one for rain.
Know where specific locations are such as restock is, ranger station etc.
Bathing suit or clothing that he doesn't mind getting wet on the raft. Bring change of clothes for that
Wear jeans or cargo pants. Cargo pants or cargo shorts are great for these things because they have multiple size pockets you can put stuff in. I keep my knife, swiss army multipurpose tool and other things in there. If theres stuff from the pack he can hook onto cargo pants or put in pockets have him put those there instead of on the backpack.
Make sure he has a first aid kit
Have 1-2 hats maybe a bandana or something to wipe sweat away.
Bring plenty of bug spray and do not wear body spray. Deodorant cool but the bugs are attracted to the body spray stuff.
If he can't bring cell phone have a camera so he can take plenty of pictures.
Finally have him walk a few miles each day. This isn't something you can cold turkey just do.