Students taking the Wilderness Herbal First Responder course at Eden Hot Springs have the option of camping for $20/night or staying locally in a hotel.  I will post ** before items that are recommended for those students camping on the hot springs property.

Students will have down-time in the evenings and can go into the closest town, Safford to refill supplies, ice, etc. if needed.  We are mindful that several of you will be flying in and you should be able to get all the basic gear listed here into one duffel bag, luggage or pack. Food supplies can be grabbed at area grocery stores on the way to Eden.

BASIC GEAR

• Notepad for taking notes
• Recording devices are also allowed if you want
• Solar chargers for your phone
• Camping Knife or multi-tool
• Camelback or canteen with some way to carry (shoulder strap, etc) your water
• **Tent or Tarp(s) to camp in. A tent is probably a better idea, just to give some privacy and allow for a better night’s sleep. The ground is not rocky, but it’s not soft, so bring a comfortable ground pad. On the subject of camping at these classes, it’s much more important you get a good night’s sleep – because there is so much to learn and practice during the day – than it is to practice hardship.  For those who prefer hammocks, there are several good hammock locations.
• Mess Kit or something to eat your food with and on.
• Collapsible camp chair
• Canteen cup, or some other type of cup to hold hot coffee, cocoa, tea, etc., in
• **Sleeping bag/poncho liner/blanket/bivy sack – Something, depending on the time of year, to keep you warm at night. Even though it will be warm in the day-time, the desert temperatures cool off a bit at night.
• **Biodegradable Soap.
• **Toiletries as needed
• Sunscreen and hat
• Insect repellent if needed
• **solar lights for your camp area and for around your car
• Clothing: Seasonal appropriate clothing in layers – and dry-wicking fabrics are very helpful.  Also, long sleeves and long pants are a great idea to protect skin from the desert sun and for longer periods outdoors.
• Shoes & Socks: Whatever is comfortable and you feel safe in. Boots are fine of course. For walking quietly in the woods, flat-soled shoes (like wrestling shoes, vibram 5-finger, moccasins, etc) are great.  Wool socks are great to have on hand for cool evenings while sleeping or if the weather turns cold.
• The Hot Springs:  Swimsuit — although Eden Hot Springs is clothing optional.  Definitely remember to bring a towel, and many who frequent the hot springs bring along a light robe and flip flops.

COOKING GEAR

While we recommend that students collaborate together to cut down on the amount of gear and food and coolers they will need to bring in for a 10-day class, this is up to the students.

Here is a very basic list of cooking tools I frequently pack for myself when camping or doing these longer courses.

• Mess kit and cup.  I personally have edged away from using plastic because they are harder to get clean while camping and don’t hold up well to camp fire heat.
• a cooking pot
• a cooler or cold storage option (if the kitchen building fridge is full, having a personal cooler will ensure your food stays cold)
• water bottles to freeze and use in your cooler or freezer packs
• I often travel with a medium sized dishtub that holds my dish sponge, biodegradable soap, all my cooking knives and spatulas that I use, a mixing spoon, spices, pot holders and small traveling cutting board all in one small easy-to-pack tub.  I can use this for both washing my dishes and storing my cooking gear.
• a mixing bowl.  If i am going to cook multiple things, I will pack 2 medium sized bowls so that i do not have to worry about mixing raw chicken (for example) in the same bowl that I am putting vegetables.
• dish towels.  always.  i also always pack nitrile gloves for everything from wildcrafting to dishwashing by fire, working with raw meats or working in the apothecary.
• food staples — dry and cold.  Plan to keep your food stored securely at night to deter any possible pests from visiting your camp site (or your neighbors!)  I recommend keeping food items that are opened in a tote, secured in your car, or if there is room — in the kitchen building.  *just remember this is a larger class, so planning ahead will be wise.

Your own gear can be as much or little as you choose to bring, of course!