PACKING LIST TIPS FOR PARENTS AND KIDS, PART 1
This annotated list for parents and kids is divided into seven parts: Headgear, Clothing, Footwear, Bedding, Toiletries, Other Gear, and Things Not to Bring. Items are alphabetized within each category.
Headgear
This annotated list for parents and kids is divided into seven parts: Headgear, Clothing, Footwear, Bedding, Toiletries, Other Gear, and Things Not to Bring. Items are alphabetized within each category.
Headgear
- Bandanna / Headband / Scrunchie. These are good items to keep hair and sweat out of your face during games, matches, climbs, cooking, and arts and crafts.
- Hats. Good for keeping the sun out of your eyes during activities, protecting your skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, and keeping ticks off of you during hikes. Baseball caps are the most popular. Beach hats are also fun. A wide-brimmed hat that shades the shoulders and upper back is best for kids who sunburn easily.
- Prescription Lenses. If you wear glasses or contacts, it’s a good idea to bring an extra pair in case one gets lost or damaged. Leave the spare pair with the health center staff.
Sunglasses. Also good for sunny activities and UV protection. The best sunglasses block 95-100% of UV rays. Cheap pairs often provide little or no UV protection and can actually harm your eyes. Buy a strap, such as Croakies® or Cat Straps®, to keep them on, plus a solid case to protect them when you’re not wearing them.
- Swimming Goggles. Goggles are good to use during swim lessons, especially when you’re trying new skills that involve putting your face in the water or actually swimming underwater. Goggles also reduce eye irritation from chlorinated pools, and are a must for kids who want to be on the camp swim team.
Clothing
- Bathrobe. Some camps suggest a bathrobe; others don’t. Typically, bathrobes are used to stay warm on the walk between the living quarters and the bathroom or shower center. Even if the camp doesn’t suggest a bathrobe, you may feel more comfortable wearing one after a shower than wrapping yourself with a towel for the walk back to your cabin. Cotton terry cloth is best. Flannel is not bad, but not as absorbent. Silk is too formal and delicate for camp.
- Dress Clothes. Bring dress shirts and pants or skirts for religious services, dances, golf, and other dressy activities. Remember matching shoes and a belt.
- Jacket / Windbreaker. Great for activities on cool or windy days, such as sailing or hiking. Something you can stuff in a compartment or day pack is perfect. Water-proof but breathable fabric, such as Gore-Tex®, is excellent. Although costly, many Gore-Tex® jackets double as raincoats, so one may be worth the investment. Jackets and vests made of Polartec® fleece are also great. This special fabric wicks away moisture, is non-allergenic and washable, insulates even when wet, and can easily be layered under a waterproof shell.
- Jeans. Jeans were invented for a reason. Levi Strauss had some miner friends who needed rugged pants. It’s no surprise that such a good invention has withstood the test of time. There’s no substitute for a good pair of jeans. For camp, avoid bringing “acid-washed” or “distressed” jeans. Worn denim might look nice, but the weakened fabric is prone to ripping. Get a rugged pair of jeans you can use for horseback riding, hiking in the woods, capture-the-flag, and just walking around.
- Raincoat. This is an item where quality really matters. Buy a coat that is truly waterproof, not just water-repellant. Cheap plastic ponchos are compact and may be useful in some cases, but they tear in heavy wind and snag on tree branches. Some cheap ponchos are basically just plastic bags with a hood. If you like the poncho style, buy something durable. Whatever you buy, make sure it has a waterproof hood. There’s nothing as chilling as drizzle down the back of your neck.
- Shorts. Unless it’s a winter camp, most kids wear shorts every day at overnight camp, so pack at least five pair. Although athletic shorts, such as nylon soccer shorts, are generally fine, shorts with pockets are best for hikes and field trips.
- Sweatshirt / Sweater. Bring at least one; two if the camp is in a cool climate. Cotton and most artificial fabrics lose their insulating power when wet, so wool or Polartec® fleece is superior. Reverse-weave cotton sweatshirts are best for dry weather.
- Swim Suits. Choose a suit made of a fabric that dries quickly, such as nylon or lycra. Heavy cotton suits or shorts may take several days to dry. Putting on a cold, damp suit is pretty uncomfortable, and can cause chafing and rashes. Boys should choose a suit with a liner and a drawstring waist to make sure the suit stays put. By the same token, most girls prefer one-piece suits at camp because they stay on better than bikinis. Kids interested in the camp swim team should pack a racing suit.
- UV Protective Swimshirts. These lightweight garments are essential for children whose skin is sensitive to sunblock ingredients. They are comfortable, quick-drying, breathable shirts that block 97.5% of the sun's harmful rays. Pack two so that one is always dry and ready to use.
- T-shirts / Tank Tops. These are staple items at overnight camp. People live in their favorite T-shirts. Include one or two long-sleeve T-shirts for cool evenings or to wear under an itchy wool sweater. Don’t pack shirts that might offend people, such as those with sexual humor, alcohol or tobacco advertisements, marijuana leaves, or profanity.
- Underwear. Although it may seem that seven pairs for seven days would be plenty, many campers end up swimming in shorts and underwear, thus relegating several pair to the clothes line. Also, there may be a day or two lag in laundry service. We recommend you use the formula in the previous section to calculate the number of pairs of underwear you should bring. Pack at least 1.5 times the number of days between laundry services.
- Warm-Up Pants / Sweat Pants. For evenings, cool days, and activities where you might slide on the ground, you’ll want to bring warm-up pants or sweat pants. Nylon warm-up pants or wind pants are popular, but the flimsy ones tear easily. Pack a belt if the pants don’t have a drawstring or elastic waist.
- Bras. If the camp has an aquatics program, you’ll probably spend half the day in your bathing suit. Still, if you normally wear a bra, you should pack the same number of bras as you do underwear. At camp, many young women prefer cotton sports bras because they’re easier to play in. It’s your choice. However, if you bring regular bras, you should also bring a small net bag to put them in for laundry service. Don’t forget to label the bag.
For young men:
- Athletic Supporters. Young men may wish to bring athletic supporters (“jock straps”) for sports that involve running or jumping, such as basketball, soccer, tennis, or track. Horseback riding is also more comfortable when wearing an athletic supporter. Some young men prefer boxer-length briefs or compression shorts to athletic supporters. Those who play football, lacrosse, the catcher position in baseball, or the goalie position in hockey may wish to bring an athletic supporter with a protective cup.
Footwear:
- Boots. You’ll need boots for hikes, horseback riding, and muddy, rainy days. Like sneakers, make sure you have the right kind of boot for the activities that you plan to do at camp. If the boots are old, check the heels and soles. Repair them if necessary. If the boots are not waterproof, buy some waterproofing liquid, spray, or paste at your local supermarket, department store, pharmacy, or shoe store. As with sneakers, check the laces to be sure they will last.
- Cleats. Cleats are optional for some children, but necessary for those interested in playing soccer, baseball, football, field hockey, ultimate Frisbee, rugby, and other field sports. We recommend you waterproof your cleats, as you did with your boots. Even if your camp is in a dry climate, there might be enough dew on the fields to soak your cleats. If you have screw-in cleats, be sure there is no metal showing, and pack your cleat wrench. Soccer players should also pack shin guards and soccer socks.
- Dress Shoes and Socks / Nylons. If you’re packing dress clothes, you’ll need shoes and socks or sandals that match the outfit. Girls may wish to pack nylons or leggings.
- Sandals / Flip-flops. These are both useful and popular. However, sandals are not meant for hiking or sports, despite the advertisements. Hiking or playing sports in a pair of rubber or cork sandals can lead to crushed toes, broken toenails, and twisted ankles. Use sandals for walking around camp, which you’ll do a lot. For sports, wear the appropriate sneakers, cleats, or boots.
- Sneakers. It’s a good idea to have two pairs of sneakers: one newer pair for sports and one older pair for everyday wear. Make sure the laces on both pairs are new, so they will survive the summer. If you plan to play tennis, you must bring sneakers with white rubber soles that will not mar court surfaces. If you plan to play basketball, you should bring high-tops that provide proper ankle support.
- Socks. There are many theories to explain where all the missing socks go. Perhaps they migrate south or hide in the dryer. Maybe they enter the fourth dimension. Whatever the reason, the number of socks you bring to camp will always be greater than or equal to the number of socks you bring home. Therefore, pack a lot of socks, and make sure that they are appropriate for the shoes you’ll be wearing. Pack thick wool socks for your hiking boots, and all-white, crew-length, cotton-blend socks for sports.
Bedding:
From the camp information packet, you should learn what kind of bedding to bring. This can range from nothing at all (if the camp is supplying all the sheets, blankets, and pillows) to everything (if the camp supplies only a cot, bed, platform, or bare earth).
- Bedroll. If the sleeping accommodations at camp do not include a mattress, bring a bedroll as a substitute. These light, inexpensive foam pads are available at department stores and camping outfitters. Kids’ backs love the extra cushioning.
- Blanket. This can be a good substitute for a sleeping bag on warmer nights and a nice addition to a bag on cooler nights. Our favorite camp blankets are made of wool, Polartec® fleece, or a similar fabric. They retain their insulating qualities even when damp.
- Mattress Pad. Many camps use plastic mattress covers that can feel and sound a bit crunchy under a sheet or sleeping bag. Although optional, a mattress pad will make your camp bunk more comfortable and homey.
- Pillow & Pillow Cases. Easy to forget, but so important to remember. Your living quarters at camp will feel more like home if you’re resting your head on your own pillow. Even if the camp supplies pillows, you still may want to bring your own. Remember to pack at least two pillow cases so you can use one while the other is in the laundry.
- Sheets. Sheets are a must, so bring one if the camp doesn’t provide them. On sweltering summer nights, there’s nothing quite as comfy and refreshing as a flat cotton sheet. Sleeping bags can turn into saunas. If the camp supplies mattresses, pack a fitted sheet in addition to a flat sheet. Even if your camp says that all you need is a sleeping bag, a soft fitted sheet can make a plastic mattress cover much more comfortable. Many camp mattresses are an obscure “long twin” size or a narrow “cot” size. If you cannot find the correct size fitted sheet, or if you don’t want to spend extra money, a regular twin-size flat sheet will work fine with some creative tucking and a few safety pins.
- Sleeping Bag. There are two factors to consider for sleeping bags: size and warmth. As for size, you want a bag that fits you comfortably. As for warmth, you must consider the conditions under which you’ll be camping. Most quality bags have a warmth rating, such as 20°F or -10°F, that indicates its insulation power. For typical summer overnight camps, you won’t need a bag rated to arctic temperatures. In fact, that could be really uncomfortable in hot, humid weather. If you plan on backpacking or camping outdoors, get a bag recommendation from the camp.
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