What to pack for summer camp? Get tips from experienced campers!

Articles
Author: Věra Maxová

Getting your child ready for summer camp? There’s a lot to think about—and maybe even a few things to buy—to make sure they have everything they need. To save you as much stress as possible, we’ve gathered plenty of tips and clever hacks from experienced campers. Plus, we’ve prepared a printable summer camp packing checklist to help you remember everything and make packing a breeze.

WHAT TO PACK THINGS IN?

You need to consider how far your child will have to carry their luggage and what kind of storage conditions they'll have. A large backpack is a good choice if there’s a longer walk from the bus to the camp and everything can be unpacked on arrival. A suitcase or rolling duffel, on the other hand, is much more suitable for a tent or cabin, where most items will need to stay packed. Especially for tent stays, it's best to bring an older suitcase, as it will likely get quite worn.

Choose the backpack size based on the activities your child will be doing. If there’s no overnight hike planned, a 15–18 liter backpack will be enough. It should fit a snack, a water bottle, a rain poncho, and, besides small items, also a jacket or sweatshirt that can be taken off. You can read more about how to choose the right backpack in our article. Be sure to label all luggage with your child’s name—and ideally a contact detail as well. Our contact labels are perfect for this.

Don’t pack clothes that your child will have to worry about damaging. But if they care about what they wear, don’t dismiss their preferences—find a compromise together. Otherwise, you might end up hearing for the rest of your life how little Annie had to suffer through camp wearing her brother’s old shorts.

Also think about where dirty clothes will go. We recommend a larger fabric laundry bag. Kids sometimes toss damp clothes in there too, so it’s better if the bag is breathable.

What should you consider when packing?

  • The current weather forecast
  • Where the children will be staying
  • Will they have access to electricity?
  • The theme and style of the camp
  • Does your child tend to lose things?

If your child is staying in a tent or cabin, keep in mind that wet clothes will dry more slowly, so it’s better to pack extra of everything. A clothesline with pegs is handy to have. If rainy weather is expected, a plastic sheet under the suitcase can also be very useful inside the tent. If the weather forecast isn’t great, it’s worth packing extra sweatshirts, a hat, and a warmer jacket. If your child is a little scatterbrain who tends to lose things, it’s a good idea to pack a spare water bottle, cap, sunglasses, or even an extra swimsuit.

Do we have everything?

You might already feel overwhelmed. The most important thing is not to forget anything—so little Tony doesn’t end up walking around barefoot! You can easily avoid that by printing our SUMMER CAMP PACKING CHECKLIST. It will help you pack without missing a thing, and you can also include it in your child’s bag so they can check if they’ve packed everything for the trip home. Pack together with your child, so they know what they’re bringing and what each item is for.

Don’t forget to label everything with your child’s name to avoid lost or mixed-up items. You can do this easily with our clothing and item stickers, iron-on labels, or a name stamp. For older adventurers, black-and-white name labels are a great fit.

Let’s take a closer look at the individual items on the checklist:

CLOTHING

  • We recommend packing fresh socks and underwear for each day.
  • Especially at tent camps, kids often wear their sleepwear outside (like when going to the toilet). Talk with your child about whether it might be better to sleep in a T-shirt with leggings or sweatpants instead of traditional pajamas. A sweatshirt will also come in handy.
  • Don’t skip the scarf—it’s multifunctional and can be useful in various unexpected situations, and it often comes in handy during camp games.
  • For a raincoat, we recommend a poncho. It fits over a backpack or thicker jacket and will cover the legs when sitting. A thin plastic poncho is definitely not enough.

SHOES

  • Shoes should always be broken in and not brand new.
  • Flip-flops or “Crocs” are useful as indoor shoes, for going to the water, or for quickly stepping out of the tent.

OTHER

  • We recommend a water bottle with a capacity of at least 1 liter.
  • A headlamp is a great flashlight option, as it keeps the child’s hands free. Don’t forget spare batteries.
  • In addition to a rain poncho, pack an umbrella as well. It’s often more practical for moving between tents and cabins than constantly putting on and taking off a poncho.

We asked experienced parents for their tried-and-true hacks! “We use an old pillowcase as a laundry bag.”

“A hanging organizer or at least a hanger is super useful inside the tent.”

“We always try to find out how high the beds are in the tent so we can choose a suitcase that fits underneath.”

“If the sleeping bag hasn’t been used in a while, we always check the zippers before departure.”

“I pack underwear and other small items into labeled organizers. That way, my son quickly finds what he needs and keeps his things tidy.”

“I give my kids electric shoe dryers. It’s an easy way to dry wet shoes overnight.”

Getting your child ready for a day camp? In addition to the required items based on the camp’s program, don’t forget to pack the following in their backpack:

  • A water bottle and any necessary food
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses and a cap
  • A rain poncho in case of uncertain weather

Whether your child is heading to a residential or day camp, all their belongings need to be properly labeled. You can do this easily with our products:

If you want to make choosing easier, go for one of our convenient value label sets We hope we've made getting your kids ready for camp a little easier—and now all that’s left is to look forward to the new adventures ahead. If you need help figuring out the best way to label your camper’s belongings, feel free to reach out to us.

Wishing you a fun and stress-free summer holiday! Your Mama Labels team.