Packing for Sleepaway Camp

[akafred]

DH decided DD can go. It's still a few weeks away, but DD is anxious so I think it will help if we pack most of what she needs early so she can see and participate.

I have a packing list from the camp, which I can handle. But what about "extra" things? Do you take something for the whole cabin to share? A game, or a craft kit to make friendship bracelets or something like that? Or what? Snacks or no snacks? Any handy tips of things to bring along?

The camp is rustic. Cabins are screened in, no A/C, no electricity, no bathrooms. What exactly are shower shoes (dumb question I'm sure)? What kind of blanket or sleeping bag? DD won't want to take her sleeping bag because it is Cars which is "boy" and "baby" and she is apparently going to express mature and girly for this. I don't especially want to buy a new sleeping bag especially since I think she'll be better off without it. It is in Tennessee in late July so it will be HOT, probably even overnight. Too hot for a sleeping bag anyway. Also she sleeps with a blankie every night. Do I make her leave it at home? It already has several large repaired rips and wear holes all along the edges (it's a comforter type). Help!

[rere]

I always pack some snacks in case he didn't like one of the meals or go hungry in between. Cereal bars, he likes jerky stick (gross I know), trail mix, snack mix, etc...

Are they sleeping on cots? if so, I would take the sleeping bag and she can sleep on top of it at least. He takes his own pillow. We borrowed one, because Transformers were too baby. The camp this year expressly asked for twin bed sheets, so we sent that and a blanket. You may want to find out what is the preferred.

I always send some swim shoes or flip flops that are to be only worn in the shower. No bare feet in the communal showers.

In the camps we have been, the days are pretty full, so there wasn't much need in sending extra activities' for them to do.

They usually have a store or something, so we send about $20-$30 for drinks, snacks, if they forgot something. They also may want to buy a camp shirt.

[polecat8]

If your DD can't bear to be apart from her blankie, you could put it between her pillow and pillow case. That way if she is homesick, she can reach in and still have her blankie. And it's hidden away so she be a mature girl.

[akafred]

Jun 28, 2018 9:11:53 GMT -5 polecat8 said:

If your DD can't bear to be apart from her blankie, you could put it between her pillow and pillow case. That way if she is homesick, she can reach in and still have her blankie. And it's hidden away so she be a mature girl.

That is brilliant! It's actually the appropriate size to fill a pillow case and BE her pillow. And if she wants she could take it out and use it (just pack another pillow).

rere, the instructions say to pack twin sheets (they sleep on bunks), so we bought some yesterday just for camp. But I wasn't sure about the blanket. It says "blanket or sleeping bag." Is there a culture of one or the other being "cooler"?

Also, do the shower shoes need to be new/unworn or are they ok to use ones she has worn? And do they wear them on the walk from the cabin to the bathhouse, or do they just wear them *in* the shower and wear other shoes *to* the shower? Sorry that's a dumb question probably but we didn't have shower shoes in the 80's.

[rere]

He wears them to the shower and in the shower. They are usually a cheap pair he has that can be thrown away after camp. It may sound gross, but I would rather him wear worn shoes in the shower, than to have bare feet in a damp shower. From his reports, this is what all the other kids do also.

When I was in camp, everyone had to have a sleeping bag- it was a thing with us. Now, the kids, even with sleepovers prefer "their blankets" . They both have one or two individual blankets. I would just send the blanket and sheets, especially since it will be hot.

[2chatter]

All our camps we send a sleeping bag for under the twin sheet as padding, and a blanket for on top. Some girls will full on decorate - some won’t, it’s very girl and camp dependent. Pics and sticky tack in a ziplock in your purse is an easy camp hack - then if other girls have decorated you can bust that out when you help her get settled. I threw some scrapbook embellishments (big flowers) in there too.

I’d check with them on food - prohibited for two of ours due to raccoons. I’d send money for a T-shirt (one envelope) and snacks (separate envelope). We usually send a total of $50 and sometimes a lot comes back and sometimes it doesn’t - some sessions they get a soda and ice cream and bracelet from the store every day or something like that (and when I say they I mean the entire cabin).

I’d work on sunblock application if she isn’t an expert as she will have to do it herself. Extra flashlight batteries in a ziplock. Pack her clothes in gallon ziplocks and include socks and underwear (1 day per bag) so she can grab a bag and get dressed/take it to the shower. Pack leggings or jeans if horseback riding/deep woods hiking. Pack a rashie and tell her to wear it if she has a sunburn - DD was glad to have one as she said the sun hurt her skin. Pack two extra sets of clothes just in case. Don’t worry if she comes home with lots of unworn clothes! Find out if rain boots are a thing there. In fall/spring camping here they are. Not summer. If swimming in the lake actual water shoes depending on the floor (mud vs sand). Can buy them at Walmart. (The mesh ones with the rubber bottom).

Figure out camp mail - do you drop it when you drop her or do you need to start sending 3-4 days every day until camp starts? Are amazon packages a thing at this camp? Label all mail with her name, cabin and day. Check to see if there is a theme day or talent show night - she would need to be prepared for those.

[akafred]

I believe they get a snack and drink at the camp store every evening for an added fee, which we paid because we are suckers of course. It says no food, but idk how firm a rule that is, you know? Some it may be, some not. Love the sticky tack idea. What do you send in a care package if not food? What about crafts or games or cards or something like that to do in the cabin during rest time? She's taking a book but she is not a big reader.

[186momx]

I really doubt they will have much downtime in the cabin to just chill. My experiences was by the time you went back to the cabin at night it was lights out in 20 and everyone was just ready to crash.

Flip flops for the shower and you wear them to and from. Send an extra towel so she can have a fresh one and get one of the $ store shower caddy carry things as probably everything will have to sit on the floor of the shower room (gross).

Since Char has meds I would include extra protein/snacks in with her meds and let the nurse know that she may need these depending on what food/snacks are going to be served. I would also warn them about which foods cause bad behaviors so they can help her avoid them. If everyone is eating red vines she is going to want to too. If they say no food then I wouldn't put food in her back in the cabin as it could be no food for XYZ safety reasons.

[akafred]

They do have a 90 minute rest period in the cabin daily after lunch for reading, letter writing, listening to music, etc. That is why I was thinking she may need a game or a craft or something to share.

[hocus2]

Unless there is a night camping in tents as part of the experience a regular blanket should be fine.

You could send mad-libs or a simple board game. I would also send magazines or books. Simple find a words or puzzles could be nice. There pre-done camp packs which might give some inspiration for things to send. I'm planning to get a book that might daughter and I can both read so I can talk about in my emails to her.

FWIW I worked at a rustic camp and the kids wore shower shoes/flip flops to and from the shower since it was up a dirt path and changing in the showers hall would have been a pain. A robe with pockets is helpful as well as a small shower caddy. Send extra hair ties as they vanish. Also label everything. Shampoo, brushes, etc,

Snacks is very camp dependent. Some really frown on them since they attract bugs and create allergy issues. At my camp those who had snacks in secret kept them in tight cases like a tool box.

[2chatter]

I send novelty playing cards, glow in the dark bracelets (enough for whole cabin), head bands, novelty band aids or temp tattoos, make up (like lipstick), fun socks - Dollar Tree for most of it. Which reminds me - I need to get cracking.

And this thread has me wondering if counselors also get mail and surprises - I will have to know next summer because pretty sure DD will be a jr counselor at 15.

I also usually send cards to their leaders if they are announced in advance or if I know them.

Also send stationary - the girls usually write to each other too. DD asked other counselors who wasn’t getting mail and sent them mail. Super cute.

[helenahhandbasket]

How old is she? And how long is she going for?

I never went to camp but a bunch of my friends did and depending on age, I might send her with some feminine products if she hasn't already gotten her period just in case. I remember my friends being concerned about this in middle school.

[akafred]

Jun 28, 2018 15:00:44 GMT -5 helenahhandbasket said:

How old is she? And how long is she going for?

I never went to camp but a bunch of my friends did and depending on age, I might send her with some feminine products if she hasn't already gotten her period just in case. I remember my friends being concerned about this in middle school.

OMG I was watching a camp packing video and this mom was talking and she just could not stop talking about her child's period (cycle as she called it). She was expecting her cycle so she sent black underwear. She was expecting her cycle AND didn't want to try tampons yet so she only sent one swimsuit. She was expecting her cycle so she sent extra shorts. And black sheets. Etc etc etc. I don't get that. Like, can you just say "just in case" or "if you have a girl you may want to ____"? That poor girl.

[helenahhandbasket]

Oh you are totally fine then akafred, that was the only thing I remember my friends being obsessed with making sure they had. We were older though- like middle school age when periods were the height of drama and discussions.

[mommyatty]

Jun 28, 2018 16:12:43 GMT -5 helenahhandbasket said:

Oh you are totally fine then akafred, that was the only thing I remember my friends being obsessed with making sure they had. We were older though- like middle school age when periods were the height of drama and discussions.

And they had read Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret. Am I the only one who remembers her getting her period the day before she left for camp? Lol.

[helenahhandbasket]

Jun 28, 2018 17:49:35 GMT -5 mommyatty said:

Jun 28, 2018 16:12:43 GMT -5 helenahhandbasket said:

Oh you are totally fine then akafred, that was the only thing I remember my friends being obsessed with making sure they had. We were older though- like middle school age when periods were the height of drama and discussions.

And they had read Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret. Am I the only one who remembers her getting her period the day before she left for camp? Lol.

Yes that book was the bible!!

I got mine in a movie theater. I was with my friend and her mom, we were seeing Home Alone. I was 10, it was awful.

[akafred]

Ok I ordered some bulk finger lights she can share with the cabin, and a bulk order of those cheap canvas backpack things with the string straps and some fabric markers, so everyone in the cabin can have one and they can draw or color on each other's backpack. And Uno because Uno!

[covergirl82]

For towels, I would recommend getting a quick-dry towel. We bought some for camping a few years ago because the regular towels would never dry within a day. Something like this:

www.amazon.com/RainLeaf-Antibacterial-Microfiber-Towel-inches/dp/B01A4ZXXR2/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1530282461&sr=1-3&keywords=quick+dry+towel&dpID=51KpHplcz1L&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Flip flops for the shower (only wear to and from).

Pack extra socks for at night if she doesn't want a sleeping bag. Maybe that will help bugs not bite her feet?