NYSC CAMP: Dos and Don’ts, Brings and Don’t-Brings // #CampChronicles

Hello fam! I hope your week has been great. I’m doing this post on request because Batch B Stream 2 guys are going to camp soon and they’ve been asking me to do a post so they can know how to prepare for camp.

I feel really excited writing this… Like a mother advising her children before going to school. “Remember the son of whom you are” Lmaooo😂😂😂😂.
Okay so I’ll just get right into it and I’ll try and say why I advise some things and why I don’t. I did my camp in Lagos and some things differ from state to state so I tried to get input from my friends that served in other states. I hope this helps.

Starting with what to bring.

Documents

Call up letter
Green card
Certificate or Notification of result
Final year I.D card or letter from your school
Passport photographs (like 16-20 would do)
Medical report
Photocopies (like 10 of each document)
Registration documents (for foreign students) Take along the documents you uploaded while registering.
Certificate/licenses (for medical students)
Clear bag to put all the documents

Important stuff

White tees
White shorts
White socks
White tennis shoes

Note that while all these would be given to you in camp, it is important to Bring your own kit(white tees, white shorts, white tennis shoes, white socks). The one NYSC would give you might have a lot of commas and would hardly ever be your size so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Rubber White Tennis shoes. Be sure to also have a rubber pair of tennis shoes. They are easier to clean and would dry faster than regular ones. I wore rubber mostly.

Sweater/Cardigan (preferably white)

If you are posted to somewhere like Bauchi, Kaduna, Jos, etc then this is a necessity. Even if you’re posted to other places just have one handy for cold days. In Lagos camp it was really hot for the most part but it started getting cold towards the end. I didn’t have a sweater. Thankfully I had my khaki jacket.

Potty/Nylon.

This is too important. The toilets can never be clean and even if it looks clean, it probably still isn’t. Avoid toilet infections by coming with your own potty for toilet use. As for nylons, it was not necessary in Lagos camp since there was no bush anywhere to even do shotput but people who stayed in other camps said to add this to the list as it is very important for shotput days.

Waist pouch.

This is literally your life for the days you’ll spend in camp. It’s a kangaroo life ooo. You must have a waist pouch to put all your valuables. This means your phone, money, key, etc. You will need to have it on at all times.

Toiletries and personal items

Remember to add disinfectant and mosquito repellents. Ladies also remember to bring black or white camisoles and tights in case of transparent tees. Yes, you can take make up along if you want to. You might need it.

Pillow
Bed sheets and pillowcase
Blanket or wrapper
Mosquito net
Towel
Plates with cover, cup with cover and cutlery
Flashlight
2 to 3 mufti wears
Cash
Stationeries – To avoid unnecessary begging. Have your own stapler, clear bag, permanent marker, pen etc.
Basic drugs for headache, menstrual pain, purging, constipation etc.
Padlocks and key holder.
Slippers
Cash. You need money for a lot of things. Recharge card, pictures, food, charging your phone, laundry, amendment of khaki and so on. In Lagos camp, we had ATMs but most camps did not so be sure to take enough cash to last you the whole period. Budget at least 1000 NGN per day. You’ll be served food but it’s usually only good on some days. So you might need to eat at mammy market.
Courage.
Strength.
Endurance.

These last three are the most important things you can take to camp. Trust me on that.

Other not-as-important stuff

Handkerchief and face towel. Yes you will sweat a lot.
Phone. Some people leave their phones behind to avoid theft and stories that touch. But you can take it if you think you can be careful because you’ll need it for pictures and memories and also to pass time when you are bored.
Earpiece/headphones. This always comes in handy. When someone you don’t want to talk to is coming, when your roommates won’t let you sleep, when you’re bored etc.
Basic provisions like cereal, tea, sugar, milk, garri, etc.
Novel or games like cards, chess or ludo.

Anyways have it at the back of your mind, if you forget anything you can always get it at mammy market. At a slightly increased price though.

Up next : DOS

These things you must do to survive in NYSC camp.

Go early enough to get a good space.

This applied in Lagos camp. We were too many so there was no space. I saw people that came late looking for mattress, bunk, etc. If you go late, you might not like what you get. However, some people in other camps said there was no real consequence for going like the second or even third day. In Lagos camp, if you want to be in the same room with your friend, be sure to go together. I can’t say the same for other camps though.

Bring your own kit(white tees, white shorts, white tennis shoes, white socks).

The one NYSC would give you might have a lot of commas. It would hardly ever be your size. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Be active

I don’t mean that you should be hyper ooo. Just saying that the real fun of camp is participating in activities. There are many interesting activities and that is when you’ll meet people. Pick something you like and be a part of it. There’s volleyball, drama, marching, dance, debate, business plan competition etc. The man o’ war activities were also really fun. I detailed my experience here. Also, all the competitions should not scare you. Even if you don’t win, you get prizes for participating, mostly cash prizes. You can even do simple things like playing monopoly. You don’t need to join everything. Just do as many as you can handle. I actually wish I knew this before I went to camp.

Be nice

Please be nice to people you meet in camp, you’ll need help in different places in that camp and you’ll meet the same person you were mean to yesterday and you won’t be able to ask for help. If you can, go to the extra mile for random people. It helped me a lot in camp.

Sleep early to wake early.

You would finish activities late. Don’t waste time gisting when you get to your room. Do what you need to and go to bed so you won’t be tired when you start another day.

Join Red Cross or OBS if you want to avoid parades.

So many people told me this before I went to camp but I still didn’t join because I joined the NYSC brigade band and I was actually enjoying myself there. The advantage of these two groups is that you’ll be free to not be on parade ground when everyone is there. Once you show them your tag, they’ll let you go.

Obey instructions of the soldiers

Well for the most part😂😂😂. Try as much as possible to sha. To avoid embarrassment.

Be careful

Be very careful with your stuff. Always lock up your box. You can carry your waist pouch to the bathroom with you if you have to. Sleep with it at night. I’m saying my own ooo. Please avoid stories that touch.

Be sharp/smart.

If not, you will either sleep on a lot of things or they will sell you in your presence.

Know your limits

You will meet lots of people who will try to influence you. Know your limits. If you don’t drink normally, don’t go to camp to try it. You will pass out and those people will leave you there in mammy market. Please be wise. Don’t do what you won’t normally do. Half a word is a enough for the wise.

Moving on to the DON’TS. I would be merging the don’t-brings with the don’t-dos.

Don’t bring your laptop.

Don’t bring your iPad. Don’t bring anything valuable that cannot fit into your waist pouch.

Don’t listen to those guys at the gate that want you to take another passport.

When you tell them you have, they’ll ask what color? If you say red, they’ll say you need white. If you say white, they’ll say it’s red you need. Don’t fall for it. I used white, some people used red. Once you have any of the two, you’re good to go.

When you collect your kit, do not wear it immediately. I repeat do not wear it.

Soldiers would ask you to go and put on your kit once you are given and move to the parade ground. There will be a lot of shouting and people will get scared and go and wear it. Just remain confident, stay in your room or mammy market and wear your mufti when asked, tell them you’ve not been given kit. This way, you can avoid marching till the swearing in day. I warned you ooo. You will still wear it for the rest of camp so don’t be too eager.

Don’t waste your money

There’ll be lots of things to spend on. Don’t waste your money. Especially if you’re in a camp without any ATM. Be wise!

Don’t turn your cap to the back. Ever.

Except during man o’ war.

Don’t be careless

You don’t know who is who. In camp, it is every man for himself.

Don’t be easily influenced.

Stand your ground if you don’t want to do something and someone is trying to make you do it.

Annnndddd I think that’s it. I’m not sure I was able to add every single thing so if you have gone to camp before please help me add whatever I omitted in the comments section.

If you have any questions too please ask know the comments section.

Oh wait I almost forgot one DON’T