I'll add a few bits:
1. For a first time trip, a State Park isn't a bad option. Often, there's quite a bit of foot traffic, but occasionally coming across other people can be kind of comforting if you're a newbie. If you want to do something simple just to get your feet wet, a good local (about 1 hour) option would be John Bryan State Park near Yellow Springs, OH. A short drive to Clifton, OH will bring you to some really beautiful walking trails in a fairly dramatic gorge. An added advantage of a state park is that you can stop by the Ranger Station to get the scoop on what is worth seeing.
2.
- A tent. For 2 people, you probably want a 3-4 person tent. The sizing of tents is based on small people who like being close. Always go one "person" higher if you want comfortable camping with room for your gear in the tent. If you can't rent one from school, a quick search of Columbus Craigslist shows adequate tents for less than $50. One note: Try setting up the tent BEFORE you go on the trip. You don't want to be by yourself racing sundown trying to figure out how everything fits together for the first time.
- A sleeping pad and sleeping bag for each. This time of year, sleeping bag warmth doesn't much matter- you won't freeze. So, feel free to pick a light/compact one. Foam pads or inflatable pads would be fine. A sweatshirt suffices as a pillow.
- A small flashlight or headlamp with new batteries. The way Cree technology has advanced in the last 10 years, I see no reason to get anything other than an LED flashlight. A couple bucks for a cheap one would do.
- Food/water. If you want hot food and simplicity for your first time out, you can usually find some military MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) on Craigslist. Otherwise, picnicky stuff is fine. Cooking something over a fire together is fun. If you do the State Park option, you'll probably have a fire grate at the campsite, so you can "grill out" as long as you're able to make a fire. Sealed granola bar type stuff is grand. Even though bears aren't a worry in your part of Ohio, I'd keep food outside your tent as a rule. A cup of coffee or hot cocoa around a fire has a certain romance about it.
- A roll of toilet paper and a trowel... unless you go to a State Park, in which case there would be rudimentary bathrooms.
- Backpacks if you're planning on hiking. For a first time, you may want to just camp in a designated campground that you can drive to, and thus you wouldn't need big packs to haul all your gear.
- Clothes. Regardless of how many days I'm going to be out, I take the clothes I'm wearing + 1 extra complete set, and a rainjacket or rainsuit.
- A cell phone. Turn it off. Resolve not to turn it on except for a quasi-emergency. You'll get cell service just about anywhere, and it's a nice comfort to know it's there.
- Something to start a fire. Matches + dry paper or a firestarter (for extra Mustachian points, I make my own with old paper egg cartons, dryer lint, and wax. Google "How to make firestarter" if you want). Then you'll just need to collect downed branches to make a fire.
- A camera
3. I know this might not be welcomed advice if you're going to be with your boyfriend, but avoiding bugs means avoiding scented stuff- shampoos, deodorant, perfume, etc. will all increase the number of bites you get. If you can wear long sleeves and pants, you may be ok without bugspray. If you really need to not get a single bite, all the studies show that bug spray with DEET is most effective (there's no gain in getting more than 30% DEET, according to the studies, so no need to get the pure stuff). It does smell like chemicals. Another option is to wash your camping clothes in Permethrin. In the camping section at any Meijer/Walmart, etc. they probably sell bottles of the stuff with instructions. I don't think there's any noticeable odor with Permethrin, and there's no real concern with toxicity as there is with DEET (there's been some question of chronic DEET use causing neurological problems).
4. Two final thoughts:
- Is there another couple you could go with? Especially someone with camping experience? It may kill the romance a bit, but everything is less intimidating with a bigger group. And, you can, of course, pitch separate tents.
-Just remember that you're in the midwest in summer. Even if your tent blew away and it rained all night... the worst that will happen is you'll be a bit uncomfortable (and make some awesome memories that will generate laughter for decades). There are no bears or wolves to get you. You're not going to die from exposure or anything. So, go do it.