Take a sleeping bag . It is important that you have extras and carry them with you as they will be expensive to have made at passport photo booths. Take a youth hostel card . American Youth Hostels, Dept. 804, P. O. Box 37613, Washington, D.C. 20013-7613. The card is also available in Europe.
Any hostel can give necessary directions on obtaining one.
Take an International Driver's License and state or provincial driver's license, if you are planning any international driving. Contact American or Canadian Automobile Association offices for details. Take an International Student I.D. card . Some local colleges or universities do make this card available. Most of these passes can only be purchased in North America.