• Online Pop-Up Shop open through August 15th! Get your orders in and they will be available for pick-up at opening day at Ecke YMCA or Elkapalooza on August 29th. To help the Elk feel united as a tribe, dads and daughters wear Elk-branded apparel whenever possible. Elk gear—including hats, T-shirts, SPF long-sleeve hoodies, and sweatshirts—is available for purchase through our semi-annual Elk Gear Shop. At Bear Nation campouts, you'll also notice many families wearing leather vests decorated with patches earned throughout their Adventure Clubs journey. While these vests are a fun tradition, they're not required for new members. For everything else, simply pack comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing to get you and your daughter through the weekend. Layering is always a good idea, as temperatures can vary significantly between warm afternoons and cool evenings.

New to camping? We've got you covered! The recommendations below will help make your camping experience more comfortable and enjoyable for both you and your daughter(s). Every campsite is a little different. Some offer amenities such as showers, restrooms, water, electricity, and hookups, while others are more primitive with limited facilities, such as portable toilets and no running water or power. Links are included below for convenience.

Please know there's absolutely no expectation that you'll buy all new camping gear. Used, borrowed, or budget-friendly equipment works just fine, and many experienced Elk families started that way. There are also usually opportunities for gear exchange each year to find quality used equipment from graduating families.

Most Elk families camp in tents, so this guide is primarily designed for tent camping and assumes that supplies may be limited once you arrive. Depending on the campground, sprinter vans, car camping, RVs, and trailers may also be permitted. However, tent camping is always welcome and is highly encouraged—it creates the classic camping experience and often becomes the source of the best memories. Although most campgrounds are within a reasonable drive of nearby stores, it's much easier to arrive prepared than to make an unexpected trip into town for forgotten supplies. Before each campout, the Elk Chief will share details about the upcoming campsite, including any unique conditions and recommendations for what to bring.

Elk dads set up their own campsites upon arrival, but don't be afraid to ask for help. Whether it's your first campout or your fiftieth, someone is always happy to lend a hand.

• Gear (Apparel) - See above section and visit our Online Pop-Up Shop!

• Tent – A 6-person tent is the most common size used by Elk families and provides plenty of room for you and your daughter(s). Choose a tent that matches your camping experience and comfort level. Many Elk dads recommend the Kodiak Canvas 10' x 10' Flex-Bow VX because it's extremely durable and performs well in cold weather. You can purchase directly from Kodiak or on Amazon. If that's outside your budget, any quality tent from Amazon or your local sporting goods store will work great.

• Tent Tarp – Always place a tarp underneath your tent to protect the floor from moisture and wear. Example from Amazon.

• Tent Heater – Many of our campouts get cold overnight. A Mr. Heater Buddy is one of the most popular additions to an Elk campsite. Amazon link HERE. Pairing your heater with the Power Fan helps circulate warm air throughout the tent for a much more comfortable night's sleep. If you don't buy the bundle with hose and filter, you need to purchase it separately HERE. A standard 20 lb propane tank will typically last the entire weekend. The small 1 lb camping propane tanks won't cut it. Home Depot and similar stores are usually less expensive than Amazon, and you can simply exchange or refill the tank before your next campout.

• Small Camping Table – A small folding table is perfect for safely holding your heater, lantern, or other campsite essentials. Example HERE.

• Camping Cot and Pad – We highly recommend cots for both dads and daughters instead of sleeping on the ground or an air mattress. The TETON Cot is a favorite among many Elk families. They come in different sizes. Recommend the XL or XXL for dads, and Universal size for daughters. Also buy the corresponding size TETON Pad. 

• Sleeping Bag – We recommend a 20°F sleeping bag for both dads and daughters. Even if overnight temperatures are warmer, you'll appreciate the extra warmth.

• Headlamp or Flashlight - Every dad should have one. It's much easier than using your phone when walking to the restroom, setting up camp after dark, or helping around the campsite. Don't forget extra batteries if needed.

• Camp Chairs - Bring one comfortable camp chair for yourself and one for each daughter. You'll use them throughout the weekend around the campfire, at your campsite, during meals, and at Bear Nation activities. If you have room in your vehicle, we recommend chairs with sturdy metal frames (example from Amazon), as they tend to be more durable and stable than lightweight alternatives. Keep in mind they'll likely end up with food, drinks, dirt, and a little campfire ash on them, so there's no need to buy anything fancy. Finally, be sure to label each chair with your family's name and Elk. It makes it much easier to find your chairs after campfire programs and other shared activities.

• Pillow – Don't forget one! A regular pillow from home is often more comfortable than an inflatable camping pillow.

• Toiletries - Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, medications, hand sanitizer, baby wipes, and a towel if showers are available.

• Portable Power Station – Bring a battery pack or portable power station to keep phones and other devices charged. Jackery makes several excellent options, including models that can be recharged with optional solar panels.

• Hammer and Heavy-Duty Stakes – Needed for driving tent stakes into hard ground, and better quality stakes help a lot than what comes with your tent (unless you order a Kodiak). Example HERE.

• Water – Bring a case of bottled water, even if potable water is available at the campground.

• First Aid Kit – A compact first aid kit is always good to have on hand.

• Bug Spray & Sunscreen – These are camping essentials year-round.

• Earplugs – Optional, but highly recommended if you're a light sleeper. Some dads enjoy staying around the campfire into the evening...and we have a few legendary snorers in the tribe!

• Snacks - The Elk can confidently say that going hungry is usually never an issue at any campout. That said, for your first campouts, bring some comfort food snacks for you and your daughter.

• YETI Mug - This could not be more highly recommended for Elk dads. You'll find most dads at the campout with their mugs to keep their drinks cold. You'll often carry it with you to Nation meals, so one with a handle is recommended. 

• Cooler for Drinks - There is not a community Elk cooler for beverages. Instead, each Dad brings his own cooler with his favorite beverages. Elk don't mind sharing amongst the group, but that comes with the expectation you brought something to share as well! Some campouts have opportunities to conveniently buy ice to refresh the cooler mid-campout, but it's not always available. If your food assignment requires keeping food cold, expect to bring a 2nd cooler or a larger rolling cooler.

• Lighter and Firestarters - It's great when we can ask any Dad to start the fire in the morning or night without having to dig through group trailer supplies. Bring one lighter from home and a few starter cubes/bricks with you. 

Shared Meals, Shared Work. One of the traditions that makes Elk and Bear Nation campouts so memorable is the food. Throughout the year, fathers from across Bear Nation work together to plan, prepare, and serve meals, creating opportunities for fellowship, teamwork, and a little friendly competition.

At each campout, one of Bear Nation's nine clubs hosts Friday night's Nation Dinner for the entire Nation. Late-night tacos, campfire snacks, and other favorite traditions have become highlights that families look forward to year after year.

Each season, the Elk host one of Bear Nation's campouts. When it's our turn, Elk dads and daughters come together to create a memorable experience for hundreds of families through themed decorations, activities, and, of course, great food.

One of the best parts of Elk campouts is that you don't have to do everything yourself. Our trailer is stocked with large cooking equipment, camp kitchens, lighting, tables, cornhole, and other shared gear, so there's no need for every family to bring a complete camp kitchen. Instead, Elk dads typically pitch in by helping prepare one meal during the weekend. It's a simple, team-oriented system that means less gear to pack, less work for everyone, and more time to spend with your daughter.

Beyond the Nation Dinner, the Elk prepare and enjoy our own breakfasts, lunches, dinners, appetizers, snacks, and the occasional late-night treat throughout the weekend. Saturday's famous Chiefs' Challenge appetizer competition is always a crowd favorite, and no campout is complete without s'mores around the campfire.

Food costs are shared among attending families and are separate from YMCA campout registration fees. Expenses are divided equally per family, regardless of the number of daughters attending. By preparing meals together rather than catering them, we keep campouts affordable while making cooking and cleanup another fun part of the Elk experience.

At Elk, we're committed to more than camping, adventures, and spending quality time with our daughters. We believe in raising young women who understand the importance of compassion, gratitude, and serving others.

Throughout the year, our dads and daughters participate in meaningful community service projects that support our local community, military families, and organizations making a difference. These experiences teach our girls that even small acts of kindness can have a lasting impact.

2025–2026 Service Highlights

🎗️ August – American Cancer Society Relay for Life

The Elk proudly donated more than $2,000 to the American Cancer Society, which became over $4,000 through a generous employer matching gift. Elk families also volunteered at the Survivors Breakfast, preparing and serving meals to honor cancer survivors, while our daughters participated in fundraising efforts and walked laps during the Relay for Life event.

🇺🇸 September – Care Packages for Deployed Service Members

Our Elk girls assembled care packages for U.S. military personnel stationed overseas. Filled with personal care items, favorite snacks, games, and handwritten letters of appreciation, these packages delivered a small piece of home while expressing our gratitude for their service and sacrifice.

🌊 October – Beach Cleanup

Living the Fifth Aim of Adventure Guides—to serve the community—our Elk families spent an evening helping keep our local beaches beautiful by collecting litter and protecting our coastal environment.

🎁 December – Casa de Amistad Christmas Giving

During the holiday season, Elk families donated gifts to children served by Casa de Amistad, helping ensure they experienced the joy and excitement of Christmas.

🥕 May – Feeding San Diego

Elk dads and daughters volunteered at Feeding San Diego, sorting fresh produce for distribution to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity throughout San Diego County.

Building Future Leaders

Service is woven into the Elk experience. By volunteering together, our daughters learn empathy, gratitude, teamwork, and the value of giving back. These shared experiences strengthen our community while creating memories and life lessons that extend far beyond our campouts.

We are proud of the difference our Elk families make—and we're always looking for new opportunities to serve our neighbors together.

The Elk trailer travels to every campout and carries much of the shared equipment used throughout the weekend, including:

• Large camp cooking equipment (including blackstone griddle, grill, burners, propane tanks, large french press coffee maker, utensils etc)

• Camping sink with insta-hot

• Large canopy

• Folding tables

• Cornhole boards

• Shared supplies used for meals and activities

Every campout is a little different, but having shared equipment means families don't need to purchase or transport everything themselves.

The Six Aims are a set of values that govern the Indian Princess program. The girls earn patches for reciting these to the nation Chief or nation Med Man during the weekend, this can be done during the bead trading event or at other various times through the weekend. Practice them with your daughters, a good time to do this is during the drive to the camp sites. The Six Aims are:

1. To be clean in body and pure in heart

2. To be friends always with my father/daughter

3. To love the sacred circle of my family

4. To listen while others speak

5. To love my neighbor as myself

6. To seek and preserve the beauty, of the Great Spirit’s work in forest, field and stream

One of the greatest benefits of Elk campouts is the opportunity to unplug and spend quality time together. We encourage all Elk dads to have a conversation with their daughters before each campout about limiting the use of phones, tablets, and other electronic devices. Screen time can be contagious—when one daughter is using a phone or iPad, it's natural for others to want to join in, which can quickly take away from the outdoor experience and the friendships being built around camp.

If younger daughters need some tablet time, we ask that it be limited and used discreetly inside your family's tent. Older daughters should also be mindful of their cell phone use and keep it to a minimum during campouts. Similarly, we discourage groups of daughters from gathering in tents, sprinter vans, or RVs to watch movies or spend extended time on devices. Campouts are designed to encourage outdoor adventures, shared activities, and meaningful father-daughter memories, and we want every family to experience as much of that as possible.