A kids summer camp can be a great experience for children and their parents. After you have made the choice of which camp to send your child to, it’s time to plan for the actual camp program. How will you know what your child really needs? Most summer camp programs will send a welcome packet including a list of what to pack, whether it’s a summer day camp or an overnight program. In case they don’t or if you want to be fully prepared, here are some tips for creating a camp checklist.
For day camps, you would want to include swimming gear, like a towel, swimsuit, swim shoes and sunscreen. Add in hat, filled water bottles, sandals, an extra set of clothing, hat and maybe a lightweight rain slicker and sweatshirt and your child should be prepared for whatever heads her way.
If your child is on any regular medication or has an allergy, make sure the summer camp nurse knows about it and you have registered those medications. Include detailed instructions on how the medication should be administered and when they need to call you.
Some summer day camps provide lunch and snacks, others do not. If they don’t they you will need to pack a lunch every day in an insulated lunch snack – include an ice pack to keep the food cool. Avoid sending peanut butter, nuts and chocolate as snacks since these are common allergy triggers for kids – and the chocolate will melt.
And don’t forget to have snacks handy in the car when you pick them up after a long day of camping. Your children have been busy, busy, busy and waiting until dinner time will likely be too long.
For sleep away camp programs, the same basic list of items is needed except more. First off you will need to know how long the camp lasts, and whether or not your kids will have the chance to do laundry. If not, pack twice as many pairs of underwear and socks as days in the camp. For other clothes, a good rule of thumb is one t-shirt and shorts for each day of camp, a few sweatshirts or fleeces for cool nights, two pairs of pants, two sets of pajamas, flip slops, sneakers and several bathing suits.
And don’t forget the toiletries – toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, comb and a hairbrush. Include two sets of washcloths and towels. Include toiletries such as shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste, biodegradable soap, hairbrush and comb, two wash cloths and at least two towels. Include a plastic bag or carrying case to get these things to and from the shower. Other items might include bed lines, pillow, sleeping bag and a blanket, as well as a flashlight with extra batteries.
Most camps won’t allow cellphones, video games, or music players, so check and see what your camp program’s rules are. You might want to throw in some books or puzzles for quiet times and rainy days. And don’t forget to label everything with your child’s names or initials. A waterproof marker or fabric labels work well too.
With a little bit of planning, your kids summer camp experience can be a great one. When they’re well prepared – thanks to you, your kids can focus on having tons of fun – the whole point of camp.
