7 Tips for Packing for Summer Camp
Is your child going to overnight camp this summer? Here are some packing tips that will help you prepare your kiddo for a wonderful time in the great outdoors.
1. Don’t wait until the last minute!
Be proactive. Start thinking about what your child needs well in advance of her departure date. Give yourself time to check clothing sizes and make any purchases. There’s no need to buy everything new. Just look through your child’s summer wardrobe and buy give yourself time to go shopping if necessary. If you wait until the last minute, you’re sure to forget something important like your child’s favorite toy, pillow or blanket.
2. Choose the right gear
Trunk or duffle? Most camps recommend duffle bags, but most campers prefer traditional hard trunks or footlockers. Before you make a choice, find out whether your child’s cabin has any storage space for clothing. Also, consider how long your child will be gone and whether the camp provides laundry facilities.
For camps that last a week or less, a duffle bag should be fine. Most families have duffle bags on hand. They are inexpensive. Once unpacked, the duffle bag can be tucked away under your camper’s bed or in a drawer. Just be sure choose a bag that is big enough to have some extra space after everything is inside.
If your child will be gone for several weeks, consider purchasing a camp trunk or footlocker. They are tough, compact, and easy to organize. They keep clothes and gear neater than suitcases, backpacks, and duffel bagsThey can also double as card tables, chairs and even step-ladders. They are sturdy enough for shipping. Best of all, your child can use the trunk later for her college dorm room.
3. Follow the list provided
Shorts, T-shirts, underware, socks. Every camping clothing list is pretty much the same. Still, print out the packing list and let your child pull out the clothes/swimsuit/theme night outfits that she wants to wear while you cross off the items on the list. Make sure she knows exactly where to find the toothbrush, toiletries and sunscreen. Be sure to send an extra swimsuit, socks and toiletries.
Most camp activities are based around swimming or water, so be sure to pack an extra bathing suit. Camps are brutal on clothing and other gear, so don’t bother with sending expensive clothing. Just send items that are good enough to survive getting wet, muddy, stretched, torn, borrowed, dirty, abused, and permanently stained.
4. Label everything
Odds are, something belonging to your child will get lost at camp. As you pack, give yourself time to mark everything important (towel, swimsuit, shoes, clothing) with your child’s name or initials. Use a sharpie or a black marker. If your child takes medications, be sure to send them in the original bottles.
5. Organize with Ziplock bags or packing cubes
Pack each outfit (including socks and underware) in gallon-size Ziplog bags and label them by day. The Ziplock bags will keep the outfits dry and eliminate the chore of figuring out what to wear each day. The bags stack up neatly inside a trunk. This may feel like overkill, but trust us – the counselor will thank you later – especially if your child is a first-timer.
Packing cubes are another handy way to keep belongings neat and organized. They are zippered with a mesh top so you can easily see the contents. The great thing about packing cubes is their versatility. My husband uses them to keep the contents of his carry-on bag neat and organized when he travels. I use them to keep the family toiletries organized during our family vacation.
6. Ask about Laundry Services
Does the camp have a laundry service? If so, how often are dirty clothes taken out? Here’s a simple formula to help you figure out how many outfits to pack for camps with laundry services for campers:
# of days your child is staying x 1.5 days
If laundry is done once every seven days, pack enough clothing to last 7 x 1.5 days, or 10.5 days. If the laundry is done every ten days, pack enough clothes to last 10 x 1.5 days, or 15 days. This formula gives your child some extra clothes in case she needs them for whatever reason.
If no laundry services are available, send a spare duffle bag to hold dirty duds until your kid gets home.
7. Leave the valuables at home!
Most camps have a “no-tech” policy, so leave the electronics and valuables at home. One of the purposes of summer camp is help your child unplug, have fun, and try something different. Sure, your child may have some withdrawal symptoms, but don’t worry. He will soon be too busy with making new friends and exploring the outdoors to miss time online.
If you have a great tip for packing for summer camp, please share it in the comments below.
Related Content:
- Choosing the Right Summer Camp for your Kids
- Top 10 Things You Never Knew about Summer Camp
- First Time at Camp? Talking with Your Child
- Preparing Your Child for Camp
Photo Credits: Istockphoto.com and Graphicleftovers.com
