Getting Organized For Summer Camp: Part 1

The school year is winding down, which means that it’s time for camp!

Preparing for sleepaway camp can be pretty overwhelming – especially for first time campers (and their parents)!  

This is the fifth year that my son is going to sleepaway camp. Over the years, we’ve figured out what works and each year it’s gotten easier to get him packed & ready.

Here are some tips to take the stress of your camp prep:

Tackle the adminstrative items early. Leave plenty of time to fill out all required paperwork ahead of the deadlines. Camps usually require a physical within the past 12 months. Take a printed copy of health forms to your camper’s annual well-child visit. Make sure that you’ve got physician signatures for any prescriptions that are going to camp and enough medication to last through the session.

Follow the camp packing list. The staff knows what your child will need – better to pack it and not have them use it than have your child missing something important. Someone has put a lot of thought into the list - so you don’t have to! Double check you’ve got everything by checking it off of the list as it’s packed.

Set it all out. Create a camp staging area and spread out everything that is going to camp. Create piles of like items (shirts, shorts, etc.). This will allow you to see what you’ve got and identify what’s missing before it’s too late.

Make sure everything fits. This seems obvious, but have your child try on infrequently used items before packing them for camp. Ensure that backpacks are sized correctly, your child fits in his/her sleeping bag, and that all of their clothes fit. Many camps do not allow phone calls, so the only way to know that there is a problem is through a letter home. Add in time to ship the replacement to camp, and your camper may go through most of the camp session without something they need.

Label EVERYTHING. It’s so easy for kids to leave their belongings around camp as they transition activities. Labeling clothing increases the odds that your child’s clothes make it back to him/her after laundry. It also helps eliminate any confusion about what toiletries, sunscreen, and gear belong to each camper. Some camps will even mail forgotten items back to their owners after camp! Oliver’s Labels have self-adhesive washable labels for clothing as well as waterproof labels for everything else. I label every single item that goes to camp - even his toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, and sunscreen.

Pack a hanging toiletry kit. Chances are, you child will have to carry toiletry items back and forth between the bathrooms and his/her bunk. A hanging toiletry kit will keep everything together and off of the bath house floor. This one from LLBean fits everything my son needs for a month at camp, but doesn’t take up too much space in his bag.

Don’t take the “good” stuff. Chances are, your camper will be spending a lot of time outdoors. Send old towels, inexpensive (or old) bed linens, and older/non-favorite clothing. Everything will get VERY dirty, some things will get destroyed or lost. As a rule, if you or your child would be upset if something got lost or ruined, it’s best to leave it at home.

Create a letter writing kit. Increase the chances you’ll receive a letter from your camper by ensuring they’ve got everything they’ll need to write home. Assemble a letter writing kit with paper, envelopes, stamps, and addresses. Consider creating pre-addressed mailing labels and/or return labels to make letter writing even easier.

Send a letter before you child leaves for camp. This ensures your child will receive mail during their first few days. Many camps are 1 or 2 weeks long, so make sure you get letters in the mail with plenty of time for them to get to camp. Don’t forget to send your child’s camp address to family / friends so they can write to you camper, as well.

Make sure your child sees EVERYTHING that is going to camp. This accomplishes two things: 1) your child knows that they will have everything they need at camp, and 2) they will be able to recognize their belongings. You may be purchasing new clothes, shoes, or gear for camp. New gear isn’t familiar and is may to get left behind.

Don’t forget the fun! While it’s important to pack everything on the list, it’s also a good idea to throw in a few extra items just for fun. Our favorites include carabiners (for attaching essentials to a backpack on hikes), paracord, painter’s tape (for hanging photos/letters in the cabin), playing cards, a frisbee, and a camping hammock.

Stay tuned for tips on packing the camp trunk!