Camping gives you a chance to reconnect with nature or friends, form lasting memories, reduce stress and, if you have children, expose them to a wondrous new experience. Some people take a minimalist approach to camping, heading off into the wilderness with little more than a tarp to bundle up in. Most of us, however, appreciate having a few pieces of equipment around beyond a tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag and cook stove.
Headlamp
You may want a camp lantern, too, for lighting a large area if you're traveling with a big group. But no matter how many people you're with and how many lanterns you have available, you'll also want a headlamp. Headlamps let you illuminate whatever you're working on--whether you're reading a book, tiptoeing to the toilet or patching a sleeping pad--without disturbing anyone else.
Fire Starters
Most campers carry lighters or waterproof matches to get a fire started, whether for survival or for a pleasant evening of sitting by the fire and stargazing. Even though the matches are labeled as waterproof, you should still carry them in a waterproof container. The drier they are, the better they'll work. You might also carry fire starters--small nuggets of wax and sawdust, for example--to help get the fire burning faster.
Batteries
Your headlamp runs on batteries. Other gear you might have along--your camera, GPS and portable radio, for example--probably depends on batteries, too, so make sure you've got the right size and number of batteries on hand for anything electronic that might poop out unexpectedly.
Repair Kit
Create a small repair kit for any outdoor gear you use frequently--extra O-rings for your camp stove, seam sealant and patches for your tent, patches for your sleeping pad. Don't forget a multi-tool for cutting, sawing and for opening those frustrating cans or bottles. Keep this kit with your camping gear at all times.
First-Aid Kit
As with the repair kit, assemble whatever first-aid items are relevant to your pursuits and locale, then keep them with the rest of your camping gear at all times. This way they're guaranteed to be handy when you need them. If you're not sure what to put in your first-aid kit, start with antibiotic ointment, a triangular bandage, absorbent gauze, medical tape, tweezers and a SAM splint. Make sure you know how to use these basic supplies, then add more to your medical kit as you deem necessary.
Backpack
You're going to need somewhere to stow all the stuff you're bringing along. A good backpack should be large enough to carry all the gear you're bringing but not so large it's impossibly cumbersome. Choose a park with a padded hip belt so that your gear's weight doesn't strain your shoulders, and try several on before purchasing to find one with a frame that fits your torso comfortably.
Toilet Paper
The indisputably most essential piece of gear. You may think you can live without toilet paper, but if you turn out to be wrong it won't be pretty. Bring some along just in case. Bring a small digging tool as well.
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