DIY Mess Kit For Camping

 Hey there y'all!

Summer is approaching and that means Girl Scout CAMP! Whether you and your Girl Scout are going camping at a GSUSA facility or site, or you are packing up the family to go on your own. A Girl Scout  mess kit is a great way to keep your items from getting lost, in arms reach and easily portable as you travel from place to place.

Being a Girl Scout means making sure that you are resourceful and responsible wherever you go. Who wants to arrive to a trashy camp site? As much as we don't want to arrive at one, we must make sure we don't leave one behind. A mess kit helps keep trash limited since you aren't constantly throwing out plastic utensils.

You may be wondering, "What exactly is a mess kit?". 

A Mess kit is a mesh bag that consists of your necessities when heading to the "mess hall" or dining hall. It includes a few items that you will need for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some camping equipment can be costly, but this is one that is super affordable and perfect for camp.

What you will need to make your Girl Scout Mess Kit:

1 Medium Mesh Bag
1 Plate
1 Bowl
1 Cup
1 Set of Utensils (knife, fork, spoon x2)
1 Clothespin 

You can find all these items at your local Dollar Store, Big Box retailer or online. Target usually has these items marked at 50 cents in our town. 

What do you do with a mess kit?

When it is time to eat, grab your mess kit and head to the picnic table or food line. You will be served using either your bowl or plate depending on the meal and the time of day. Head to your seat and enjoy a great meal without having to worry about making a huge mess.

All done with dinner? Wash your items off and place them in the mesh bag. Most Girl Scout camp sites have a line already drawn up (clothes line). If your camp site doesn't try to put one up or find an area to let your mess kits hang. Using the clothes pin, attach your wet mesh bag with your plate/bowl and utensils inside onto the line to allow them to drip dry while you head off to enjoy your day or while getting a good nights rest.

I hope this was helpful when planning your next camping trip!

Have you ever made a mess kit? Show me yours below.

-GSM