Camping Gear for the First time families

Camping your first time can be scary to prepare for, but with a few tips, trial and error on what works for you and your family, it can be pretty easy.

I am going to make some recommendations here for the Scouting family that believes they will be and active participant and eventually transition from Cub Scouts to boy Scouts.  Also, my goals will be to minimize cost and minimize redundant gear across multiple use cases.

Family/Car Campout gear:

• Tent: 6+ person tent = $150 - $500 or 4 person tent = $50 - $150
• Lighting: Headlamps and Lightweight lantern = $10 - $50
• Sleeping bag: 2 lbs + 20 degree + synthetic or water resistant down filling = $100 - $400
• Sleeping bag liner: 8 oz. = $25 - $60
• Chair: 2 lbs Backpacking chair = $30 - $15
• Table: Any folding table that fits in your car = $30 - $150
• Mess kit: light weight cup + Sea-To-Summit Summit bowl XL + GSI Outdoors Spoon + any Fork = $40
• Knife: Multitool = $40 - $100
• Bottles: 1 Liter + BPA Free plastic = $8 - $20

Backpacking Gear:

• Tent: 2 lbs + 3 season = $100 - $300 
• Lighting: Headlamps and Lightweight lantern = $10 - $150
• Sleeping bag: 2 lbs +20 degree + synthetic or water resistant down filling = $100 - $400
• Sleeping pad: 1 lbs + Insulated = $50 - $200
• Stove: Jetboil(only 1 needed per 4 people) = $79 - $180
• Mess kit: light weight cup + Sea-To-Summit Summit bowl XL + GSI Outdoors Spoon + any Fork = $40
• Knife: 2-3 inch jack knife + light weight = $15 - $50
• Bottles: 1 Liter + BPA Free plastic = $8 - $20
• Backpack: 75Liter(Scouts)/85Liter(Adults) = $150 - $450

Tent and tent related gear

Unfortunately, there probably isn't one size fits all.  I have a tent for the Family(of four), 2lbs backpacking tent and a 2 man tent for myself when car camping with Boy Scouts.  I will identify Tent by situation.  If you are on a budget splurge on the lightweight backpacking tent(around $200) and go budget on the other tents. 

• Cub Scout Family Camping  (2 adults + 2 kids) - Get a tent that you can stand up in and have room for gear.  So get 1 or 2 sizes bigger than number of people.  So if you have 4 people get a 5 or 6 man tent.  Expect to  pay $150+ at Big 5 and Walmart and more anywhere else.  I use this tent the least.  With a bigger tent come other things that you will need:
• door mat to leave your shoes on and wipe off dust
• brush and dust pan
• Cots or Queen size mattress
• Tent footprint.
• Bear to Arrow of Light and Boy Scout camping(1 adult + 1 kid): Our Boy Scout troop provides tents for the Scouts but not the adults.  Boy Scouts and Adults should not share a tent.  So Boy Scout adults need their own tent.  Our Cub Scout Pack does not provide tents.  Cub Scouts sleep with their parents.  This tent should fit both roles and be small enough to carry several hundred yards.  A 4 person tent is ideal for this type of camping.  It will just barely fit a queen size mattress.  You should be paying $50+ for this tent.
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