Summer Camp packing: All the details

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Hi friends.  We are on the countdown to summer over here.  1 week to go.  We are also thinking all things summer camp!  This will be Avery’s first year to go to overnight camp and she is so excited!!  I am excited too, but I am going to miss her so much.  She is headed to Sky Ranch with some friends and I know she will just have the time of her life!  So with summer camp comes packing!  I am sharing all the details of our packing.  What to bring, what to use and what y’all recommended!  I also have a coupon code for some of the things I found and love. . .be sure to grab it below!

SUMMER CAMP PACKING: ALL THE DETAILS

One of the friends Avery is going with has been before so her mom has been super helpful with this process.  We also got a packing list from Sky Ranch, but it’s nice to hear from people who have been before.  I also reached out to yall for advice and as always you send the best suggestions.  I will share everything below!

  1. THE TRUNK!  I knew this would be our largest expense (besides camp itself of course), but I also wanted to make sure I got something very durable that would last us through the years.  I didn’t want to go cheap and have it destroyed.  I talked to a lot of moms and read a bunch of reviews and hands down THIS TRUNK was the most recommended!  It is a great size, super sturdy, water resistant, has all the things you need and will last though all the camp years!  There are others online that look similar for cheaper, but the reviews confirm the quality just isn’t there.  You can save $10 when you spend $75 with CODE: HOH-CAMP2019. The trunk comes in tons of color and for a little more you can even customize every single panel on the trunk to a different color if you like.  They also have patterned trunks, etc.  Truly something for everyone!
  2. WHEELS: We wanted the trunk to have wheels so it was easy to move around.  We added the Wheel Away System to our trunk and it is awesome!  The trunk arrives with a bracket attached to the trunk and the wheels come separately.  This is genius because you can pop the wheels on and off so easily, no tools required.  When your kid arrives to camp they can remove the wheels so the trunk sits completely flat, then just pop them back on when it is time to move the trunk again.  They have amazing reviews and I see why.  Definitely add these to your trunk!  Also, they are ON SALE!
  3. TRAY: Avery is just like her Mommy and we like to be super organized.  Special trays and organization things make us happy.  The Glide and Go Tray is perfect because it really helps utilize all the space in your trunk.  You can slide it around in the trunk and it helps keep your smaller things organized.  It is on sale for a great price and at checkout you can select to have it installed when they ship your trunk.  Your trunk comes with the rails in and everything.  Super convenient!

    You can stack items under the tray. Here is her trunk with the tray removed. You can see the rails and how much room is underneath.

  4. LIDMATE ORGANIZER: This organizer is so great.  It fits perfectly in the top of the trunk helping to utilize every bit of space.  Everything Summer Camp sets up your trunk with snaps at the top so it is super easy to snap in and remove.  It is on sale right now and has amazing reviews.  There are tons of compartments with zipper pockets, clear pockets for pictures, etc and a mirror.

So that pretty much wraps up what I got for the trunk.  I am so impressed with the quality of everything and know it will last Avery through all the years of camp!  I found so many camp essentials from Everything Summercamp.  They truly have so many tried and true items with tons of great/helpful reviews.  You can buy all the items listed above from there and save $10 when you spend $75 with CODE: HOH-CAMP2019.

Here are some of the other items I got there that have been so helpful:

  • CLOTHING STAMP:  OMG Yall need this.  I cannot tell you how much time it saved me!!  You can stamp all of your clothes in seconds and it doesn’t was off or bleed.  This was so helpful!!!  It is also on sale!!  Even if you are not doing camp. . . I will use this on the clothes I send to school.  I so wish I would have had this when my kids were in preschool.
  • STICK ON WATERPROOF NAME LABELS: I stuck these on all of Avery’s things that I couldn’t use the stamp on.  Water bottles, toiletries, her fan, etc.

I highly recommend buying all of these items from Everything Summer Camp

  1. TRUNK
  2. WHEELS
  3. TRAVEL TRAY
  4. LID MATE ORGANIZER
  5. CLOTHING STAMP
  6. WATERPROOF LABELS

**They sell many other things, but these I found the most helpful!  I placed 1 order and it all arrived very quickly** CODE: HOH-CAMP2019

Here are some other ITEMS I bought that I found very helpful

  1. TOILETRY BAG: This bag is so great.  It is from Amazon, it is waterproof, has great storage and a hook so the kids can hang it up in the shower when they take it with them.  It is also a great price.
  2. FAN: I grabbed this clip on fan so she can clip it on her bunk.  Comes in several cute color options and is rechargeable with a USB cable.
  3. BASKET FOR TRUNK: My pictures show this pink basket and I had that at first however the handles kept getting in the way when I shut the trunk so I got this one instead and it works much better!
  4. LAUNDRY BAG: This is the laundry bag I got.  It is cute and on sale.  If I had to do it again I think I would have purchased a mesh option so it will breathe better.
  5. HOOK: I have been told it is helpful to have a hook over their bunk that they can hang wet towels on.  I got this one for less than $4.
  6. DISPOSABLE CAMERA: I packed one of these in Avery’s trunk and then I packed another one in a mid week care package.
  7. SHEET SET: We had to send a flat & fitted sheet plus a pillow case.  We didn’t have any old twin sheets lying around so I bought this cute set.  The price was only $17.99.  Avery loves them
  8. PILLOW: Again, we have nice pillows at home so I ran to IKEA and bought her a $3.49 pillow.  She said it is super comfortable and I don’t care if it gets gross.

Here is the packing list I was sent from Avery’s Camp

CLOTHING/TOWELS/ETC

I have heard from countless people that the clothes come back filthy if they come back at all.  Most of the things we have at home I like and aren’t things I want damaged so I ended up buying mostly new stuff for camp. . .HOWEVER I did it on a major budget!  I bought almost all of her clothes from Walmart or the resale shop.  At Walmart tees/tanks were around $3.50-$4.50 each.  Shorts were around $4.50, Swimsuits (one piece) less than $10, PJs were also very reasonable, etc.  I got some other great thinks at our resale shop for $1-$4.  This way if they come home. . .great, but if they don’t I am not worried about it.  Same thing with tennis shoes.  I bought these at Walmart for $6.95, because I didn’t want Avery bringing her Adidas to camp.  I also got her bath and beach towel at Walmart for around $3-4 each.

PACKING ORGANIZATION

One I had all of the items I needed, I washed everything, labeled everything and then sorted them by day.  I do agree that camp is a great time for kids to be on their own, have some more independence and learn to get ready, etc, buy themselves, however, Avery is 7 so she is going to be experiencing all kinds of new independent things.  She has never been away from home this long and the times she has spent the night away it has been at grandparents homes.  While she is navigating all that I wanted to make getting ready and finding stuff in her trunk very simple. I packed her outfits by day complete with panties, socks, etc.  I labeled them all so all she has to do is grab her bag for the day.  Then after showers, she can go in and grab her costume for the evening which is also grouped together in a ziplock and labeled.

CARE PACKAGES

Our camp offers care package options, but I decided to make my own.  The camp ones are really expensive and I think Avery will like the ones I made more.  I tried to include inexpensive things she could use, throw away and share with friends.  I also included notes in each one. Here are the things I included in my care packages.

DAY 1: Notebook, stickers and pens from the Dollar Store and Target Dollar Spot

DAY 2: Sour Patch Kids, Glow Sticks and Lip Gloss Fidget Spinner They have a theme party tonight the glowsticks will be fun for

DAY 3: Disposable Camera and Ring Pops (can be shared).  I figured about mid week she would probably have used all the film in the disposable camera I packed (she is not used to actual film and I am assuming these pics will be like 7 of the same thing over and over. . .#digitaleraproblems)

DAY 4: More glowsticks & JoJo Siwa slime.  Glowsticks are cheap, fun for the themes each night,  can be shared and then they can be tossed in the trash.  The perfect care package item!!!  This night is pop star night and Avery is going as JOJO Siwa so I thought the slime would be fun

DAY 5: Another glow stick variety and a fun beaded bracelet animal that she loves.

***I also got cute note cards that I wrote notes on for each package and I put the left overs in her lidmate organizer so she can write notes home.  I pre addressed a few envelopes with stamps so she doesn’t have to mess with that part***

YOUR CAMP SUGGESTIONS

As always yall give the best advice.  I reached out about a month ago asking for camp tips, packing tips, advice, etc.  There were so many great responses and a lot of repeats so I have complied a list below.

  • send lice prevention spray and shampoo
  • include pre addressed envelopes with stamps so they will write home
  • baby wipes to freshen up
  • easy to use sunscreen and SPF chapstick
  • flashlights
  • head lamp for night time
  • care package each day.  I am 33 and still remember that special part of camp
  • organize each day (including underwear and socks) in a labeled zip lock bag
  • spray her rain jacket with waterproofing spray so it actually stays waterproof
  • hooks for towels and laundry bag
  • mesh laundry bag so things don’t mildew
  • personal fan for bunk
  • flip flops for the gross camp showers
  • send a letter early so they have something when they get there
  • spray your perfume on her pillow so it smells like you or home in case she gets homesick
  • don’t pack anything nice.  Most of it doesn’t come home
  • pack an extension cord
  • packing cubes
  • put fabric softener in trunks so they smell nice

SHOP CAMP STUFF

Ok, I hope you found this post helpful wit all things packing for summer camp.  I know this will be a memory Avery will cherish forever and most likely the beginning of a summer tradition.  If you have any additional tips please leave them in my comments.

I shared lots of camp packing videos and info in my Instagram stories CAMP HIGHLIGHT.

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