Camp Advice

Packing for Camp Checklist

This camp advice was written by Ann-Maree for Labels4Kids to try to help parents or carers whose children are new to camping and need some friendly advice on how to prepare and pack. This comes from a mum of 3 boys who has had to do all this before!

You can guarantee how ever many clothes you do pack, if you have a boy his clothes will come back clean apart from those clothes he went in and him. Those clothes will be stinking and covered in mud, toothbrushes and combs will be untouched since the day they left despite the efforts of the camp organisers to get them to use them! In any case, here we go. For ease I am using he or they, but you know this also applies to she too...

Preparing the family for camp

If this is the first camp away for your child then you will be very emotional about the whole thing. Believe me it will be a wonderful learning and growing experience for the whole family and so much fun. After this they'll be rearing to go for the next one.

Tell your child about the camp in plenty of time - a couple of weeks is enough though to avoid the "when am I going again" saga starting for the whole month before.
Tell the child what a great time they'll have on camp
Tell their siblings about where their brother or sister is going, for how long and how much you will miss them but they will be back on this date/day and won't it be great to catch up on everying they did on camp
Read them stories about camp like Dr Seuss Scouts Camp book if they are young
Explain how they'll get to have sleep overs with all their friends and run about outside and sleep under the stars etc.
Explain how they'll get to toast marshmallows and have a barbeque and tell stories, sing songs,go on walks, do arts and crafts and meet lots of new friends as well.
If you've been on camp as a child tell them bedtime stories about what you did at camp.
If you felt homesick tell them about what you did to get over that feeling.
Explain that they should just take part in everything and make the most of it and learn new things.
Tell them how to deal with anyone that is unkind and to turn away and talk to someone else that is friendlier and it is not their problem but the child that is being mean who has a problem.
Give your child an idea of the important dates - when he is going, how many days he will be away, when he is being collected and so on.
Explain about whether he can call home or not
Explain whether he is allowed to write home or not and how that works
Keep your dates and any promises
If you are allowed to send letters to camp (only applicable for summer camp situations) then write a pile of them and post one a couple of days before they go so there is one waiting when they get there. For short camps letters to camp and home are not allowed.
If your child is on summer camp remind them how important it is to keep in touch with home.
Remind them to use their camera and diary if they want to keep memories of what they did on camp and even take new friends numbers or emails to keep in touch when they go home.
Remind young kids especially of how to introduce themselves to new friends, what to ask them, to tell them about their hobbies and pets and get talking to them.

What to bring to camp

There is a checklist at the top of the page telling you what is helpful to pack for a one week stay away. For a summer camp you would be allowed more trinkets to play with like comics, toys, or writing stickers and papers etc as they will probably be able to write to you.
What to bring depends on the location and whether you are staying in tents (under canvas) or in a hut or even a dormitory. If you are in a hut or dormitory sometimes you need to bring a sheet so in those cases a gathered one to fit over the mattress tighter is always easier.
Whatever you take to camp make sure it is well labelled with name tags on everything.

Labelling personal belongings

Well you've come to the right person. Labels4kids offers a solution for every labelling requirement on camp. I always put my child's name and a telelphone number on his name labels for his belongings incase they are lost. Some parents prefer to put just a name, or a name and troup or group name on their name tags.
stikins stick on clothing labels are good name tags for sleeping bag and sleeping bag cover, or clothing
personalised bag tags are good for sleeping bag, toiletries bag, day pack or backpack
vinyl labels are good for roll mats, water bottle, toothbrush, soap container, other flat hard objects that are taken to camp even your disposable camera and flashlight or torch
vinyl shoe labels are good for all the shoes inside the heel
press and click name tags, or press and click fasteners together with a woven sew on labels as an alternative, are good for socks, outdoor coats or heavy clothing.

What is not allowed on camp

Most camps do not allow electronic equipment like ipods, mobile phones, psp, tape recorders, tvs, radios, video games, knives, fireworks, aerosol sprays of any sort, or extra food items other than the odd snack or drink in a plastic refillable container.

Application Forms

Remember to submit these in full including all your important medical information and emergency contact numbers, insurance forms if required by the camp, and payments. It would be disappointing for the child to be the only one to miss out or imagine if they took unwell and there were no contact details on their file! Every parent's worst nightmare.

For parents - while the child is on camp

If it's summer camps then remember to mail letters to your child and keep your promises of keeping in touch. Some summer camps allow you to send packs of goodies to camp whilst your child is away too.
Enjoy your break. Sure you will miss them but remember in no time at all they will be back and you will be cursing the lack of "me time" so take advantage of it and get out as much as you can. Take care of yourself for a change.
If it is summer camp and there is a visiting day then make sure that you do visit.