Frontcountry crews camp near the crew vehicle, usually in established campgrounds. They can bring a few more creature comforts like a full-sized pillow, camp chair, or some board games to play with the crew.
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Check out the video to see what Eleanor over at Appalachian Conservation Corps, SECC's sibling program, has in her frontcountry pack.

WE HAVE LOANER GEAR!!!

Items marked with a red asterisk below are things we have available to loan out, first come first serve. Please ask if there is anything else that you need, as we may be able to get more loaner items as needed!

Required Gear

  • Boots: a good pair of solid work boots or hiking boots. They should have a solid toe (does not have to be steel toe), a high traction sole, and cover your ankles. Well-fitting and broken-in boots are best, wear them as much as possible before the first day! Please note there are different boot requirements for chainsaw crews (see detailed description below).
  • Rain Gear: Both a waterproof jacket and waterproof pants that fit over your normal work cloths.
  • Jacket or Fleece: something that you can wear over your clothes at work during chilly mornings.
  • Long Underwear: Both tops and bottoms. Wool or synthetic materials are recommended. Cotton will not keep you warm if it gets wet.
  • Pants: One or two pairs of sturdy work pants. Carhartts, Dovetails, uniform pants, or sturdy denim work well.
  • Socks: Multiple pairs of wool, wool blend, or synthetic socks that are comfortable with your hiking boots. Cotton socks are not recommended.
  • *Daypack: Must be large enough to hold all of your gear, food, water, and clothing layers for the day.
  • Alarm: watch or small clock to wake yourself up in the morning. Remember not all project sites will have cell service or the ability to charge your phone.
  • *Water Containers: you must have enough containers to hold 6 liters, or just over 1 ½ gallons of water. Glass is not recommended.
  • *Tupperware or lunch container: Should be large enough to hold 2 sandwiches. Glass is not recommended.
  • *Headlamp or small flashlight: Don't forget spare batteries.
  • *Sleeping Bag: 0 degree F sleeping bag recommended. Depends on season and region. Talk to SECC office staff for specifics about your crew location.
  • *Tent: 1-3 person tent with a 3 season rating is recommended. Rental tents may be available. 
  • *Sleeping Pad: Therm-a-Rest or other insulating mat.
  • Chapstick/*Sunscreen/*bug spray
  • Toiletries: Keep it simple! Small supply of biodegradable soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, feminine hygiene products (bring extra just in case), comb, wet wipes or bandanna. Do not bring overly scented items, perfumes, make-up, or electrical appliances. Remember, you are responsible for your own disposal of toiletries (pack it in, pack it out!).
  • Medications: Crew members are responsible for administering their own medications and managing their health. Bring extra medication if possible, and let others on your crew know where it's located in case of an emergency.

Spring/Fall Crews Additional Required Gear

  • One or two pairs of wool, synthetic, or silk long underwear tops and bottoms
  • More than one fleece, wool, or synthetic jacket/sweater
  • Warm hat
  • ​Warm gloves or mittens

Worried about ticks?

Check out the Wellness in the Field tab for info on tick-proofing your gear!

Recommended Gear

  • Camp clothes: comfortable clothing to change into at the end of the work day. No offensive graphics please.
  • Warm Hat and Gloves
  • Camp Shoes: Highly recommended! A pair sandals or comfy shoes to change into at the end of the workday. Let those feet breath!
  • Sandals: NO FLIP FLOPS. Good to have if camped near water. Shoes are required in water, and sandals with a back strap are a good option.
  • Shorts and/or bathing suit. Modest.
  • Long Sleeve Work Shirt: to protect you from the sun.
  • Hat with a brim: baseball hat, visor, or other brimmed hat for shade.
  • Sunglasses
  • Bandanna or Washcloth
  • Small Pocket Knife or multi tool. No blades over 3 inches.
  • Ziploc Bags: for food storage and for keeping personal items dry and organized.
  • Sewing kit or patch kit
  • Camp chair: something packable, such as a crazy creek or similar camp chairs.
  • Personal First Aid Kit: Small kit of personal supplies to supplement the crew first aid kit provided by SECC.
  • Sleeping Bag Liner: A liner for your sleeping bag can boost the warmth rating by a few degrees. Some people also like to have a sleeping bag liner as they are easier to wash than the sleeping bag itself, and can help keep your bag clean.
Daypack
All crews are required to have a daypack. This is a backpack that will hold all of your water (at least 1½ gallons), food, and rain gear for the day. Finding a pack that is comfortable is important. There are many great brands of daypacks, a few good ones include: Kelty, Ospray, Gregory, REI, Deuter, etc. A pack with a waist strap is recommended, as it helps reduce strain on your shoulders.
Workpants
Work pants should be durable canvas or denim that will hold up hiking, bending, squatting, and more. Consider brands such as Dickies, Arborwear, Dovetail, Ben Davis, or Carhartts. Women's pants can be especially challenging to find, but you can look into Red Ant Pants, Gamine Workwear, Dovetail Workwear, as well as women specific Carharts and Dickies.
Work Boots 
Work boots/hiking boots do not need to be all-leather, but do need to have a sturdy toe and cover your ankle. A steel toe is not required. When shopping for boots, trying them on in person is highly recommended! Consider that you may be asked to hike many miles in these shoes, so comfort is key. Consider brands such as Vasque, Asolo or Scarpa, but any brand that fits the requirements and is comfortable will be fine. If you are purchasing new boots, try to break them in as much as possible before your first day. Also consider bringing moleskin or athletic tape to help mitigate blisters.
Tent
When purchasing a tent, it's most important to consider what will keep you and your gear comfortable and dry. A tent with a full rain-fly and a ground cloth/tarp are highly recommended. Size wise, you should consider anything from a 1-3 person tent. There are many great brands of tents on the market these days. Kelty, REI, Sierra Designs, MSR, Mountain Hardware, and The North Face are just a few to consider. Avoid Colman brand or other tents purchased at Walmart, since they typically do not hold-up will or stay waterproof.
Socks
Believe it or not, socks can do wonders when it comes to improving your comfort on the trail. Wool, wool blend, or synthetic socks with a cushion that come past your ankle are highly recommended. You will want at least 2-3 pairs to rotate through. Some people like to bring a pair of "sacred socks" which are only worn at the end of the day in your sleeping bag, and help to both keep your sleeping bag clean and your feet warm at night.
Water Containers
You should have enough water containers to hold at least 1½ gallons of water. Some people choose to re-use Arizona Tea jugs, Gatorade bottles, or other sturdy containers with a screw on lid. This is a fine option, just be aware that these containers can break, and if you are frontcountry, it may be worth bringing a spare. Nalgene containers are very durable, and highly recommended! If you chose to bring a camelback, or other sort of hydration bladder, be aware of their tendency to puncture, and bring a patch kit and an extra Nalgene or container for back-up.

Fun Items

  • Books or other reading material
  • Cards or small games
  • Camera
  • Journal, pens and pencils, postage stamps
  • Musical instruments

Not Recommended Gear

  • Non-biodegradable products (they must be packed out, which means you have to take the trash with you). If you bring non-biodegradable wipes, we recommend you bring a Ziploc bag covered in duct tape and with a little baking soda inside to store the discarded packaging.

Prohibited Gear

  • Drugs & alcohol
  • Firearms, fireworks, or explosives
  • Knives with blades over 3” long
  • Clothing with inappropriate or offensive graphics

Other Gear We Love:

  • ​Insulated coffee cup that doesn't leak
  • Camp chair (Crazy Creek-style chairs are great!)
  • Inflatable solar-powered lantern
  • Spare carabiners - always handy to have
  • Thin wool blanket (so versatile - it's a pillow, a layer, a seat, & more!)
  • Extra change of comfy clothes (keep 'em dry!)
  • A couple good books
  • Biodegradable wet wipes (it's basically a shower!)
  • ​Hammock for relaxing around camp
  • Comfort food/personal snacks (be sure to store them with the crew food for safety!)
  • Earplugs (for a quiet night's sleep)
Rain Gear
Raingear should be durable enough to work in, and compact enough to fit in your daypack. Ponchos or disposable rain jackets are NOT recommended, due to their tendency to rip and get in the way. Rain pants should be large enough to fit over your work pants. White Sierra has a line of reasonably priced rain pants and rain jackets, brands such as REI, The North Face, Marmot and Mountain Hardware also work.
Sleeping Bag
Either down or synthetic down sleeping bags will work. Down bags have the advantage of being more lightweight and compact, but they will not keep you warm if they get wet. Down sleeping bags are more expensive and delicate than synthetic bags. Synthetic bags are bulky, but are significantly cheaper, and will still keep you warm, even when wet. Bags rated at 0 degrees F is recommended. You should also have a compression sack to store your sleeping bag in. Some people also like to bring a sleeping bag liner, which can increase your sleeping bag rating by a few degrees, and is easier to wash than your entire sleeping bag.
Sleeping Pad
You should have an insulating foam or inflatable sleeping pad such as a Therm-a-Rest or Ridge Rest. Therm-a-Rest, or other inflatable pads have the advantage of being lightweight and compact, but the disadvantage is that it's easy to puncture. Be sure to bring a patch kit with you if you use an inflatable pad. Do NOT bring an air mattress! They are easily damaged, and do not keep you warm.

Some folks double-up on the sleeping pads, and will bring both a foam and an inflatable mattress to stack on top of one another. This can be especially cozy during colder months, since it will add an additional layer of insulation.