first time at overnight camp...

[tcufrog]

Saturday we visited an overnight camp with our older son who is 8 and he fell in love with it. We plan to send him this summer for a week to try it out but may send him for two weeks next summer if he has a blast. Growing up I loved going to camp and attended lots of camps but it seems like camp has changed a lot since I went to camp for the summer.

For example, when I went I took a duffle bag and sleeping bag but this camp recommends a trunk. I went and looked online at trunks but was surprised by the cost and the options. For example, I could get a bottom of the line trunk made of fiberboard but some people claim they aren't very sturdy. Since this is his first time at camp is it worth springing for a wood trunk. They are heavier which is a con. There's also all of these accessories such as trays, wheels, nameplates, etc. What's worth paying for? The camp takes care of delivering the luggage so is it worth it to still get wheels?

The camp is going to be giving us a packing list but is there anything you recommend that might not be on the list?

Finally, the camp doesn't allow food in care packages. My mom always put enough home baked goods in mine for me to share with my bunk mates. What would a boy like in a care package that's not food?

 

[anniemae]

I would probably hold off on the trunk all together if it is not a requirement. You said they recommend a trunk, so I would wait until I was sure he liked camp, then buy a nicer one for next year if he likes camp. He is only going for a week, so I would probably not get one just yet if I didn't have to.

I can understand the "no food' policy given all the food allergies. I would probably send stuff like comic books, pokemon cards, stationary and pens for writing a letter (unless they let them e-mail), a book, playing cards, small puzzle, mad libs.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

My DD 13 goes to the same two week camp I went to. I wanted her to use my trunk, but when we got it out of the attic, it smelled. I got her a new one online, but I am not sure if it is wood. When we deliver her to camp, we take the trunk to her cabin. Hers is not really very abused. We did not get wheels because I knew the camp had "dollys" to borrow. I also did not get a name plate because we take it to her cabin and put it in the spot it will stay.

I would get the tray. It makes it easier to keep the trunk neat. (Do boys care about that?) She keeps non-clothing items in the tray.

I don't know if I can help you with care packages since I have a girl. I send magazines, a book, fun paper for letters home, stickers, fun writing things, new t-shirt, the Sunday comics. I think I sent bubbles when she was a first year camper. I've also done Lego mini-figs. I only send one package a summer since it is only two weeks. I write her every day though. I actually love doing that and think I should write more letters throughout the year, but that has yet to happen.

 

[stsomewhere]

My daughter goes to camp for 2 weeks every summer. I just send her with a suitcase and duffle bag.

 

[jdb in AZ]

OP, will your son be flying? If so, I wouldn't get a trunk because you'd be over the 50-lb weight limit before you get all his clothes packed.

I suspect the problem with food in the cabins is that it attracts skunks and other "undesirables." Been there, done that.

 

[minkydog]

I don't know that I'd invest in a trunk this summer. Maybe see out things go and save that purchase for next summer. I think he could probably get by with a decent size suitcase, really. Most boys aren't all that neat anyway and a suitcase would be easy enough to unzip and see everything at once.

As far as the care package, perhaps you can include some Ranger Rick or a Zoobooks magazines. Colored pencils (and pencil sharpener), crayons, drawing pad, coloring book, stickers. My kids LOVED chenille stems (long pipe cleaners.) They would make piles of little people, animals, chains, and cars out of the fuzzy stems. I don't think I'd put a "high value" item in the package, like Legos, Pokémon cards, baseball cards, Hot Wheels cars. Those things are just begging to be stolen.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

My boys both go to Boy Scout camp for a week in the summer. They use something similar to this as a foot locker:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Contico-Storage-Locker/2476189

Keeps everything dry, has room for a lock, carry handles, and wheels. Works great and most all the scouts use something very similar. And at least not too expensive!

As for care packages... First, get the mailing information before he even leaves. It's great to send a card/note before he even leaves so he'll get it in the first day or two of camp. Do they have a general store where he could purchase snacks or whatever? Include a dollar or two. I've done the Lego Minifigures, baseball cards, playing cards. Another idea-- My guys are very much into a lot of the reality competition shows (Worst Cooks, Hell's Kitchen, King of the Nerds, etc.). Because electronics are not allowed, they usually end up missing an episode of one or two of these shows while at camp. I go online and find the summary on the website, print it out and send it to them. I've heard they've even read them with a bunch of friends who also watch the shows! But I have to say it's usually a bunch of candy, gum, etc.!

 

[tcufrog]

Thanks for the advice. I like the idea of waiting to buy a trunk until I know he'll like camp. I'm not opposed to buying a trunk because I could see how it would be handy to just store camp gear in the trunk and then just pull it out with a lot of the stuff like the towel, dirty clothes bag, shower caddy, etc. already in there and labeled. I remember my mom always running around trying to find the stuff in the house for my sister and I right before we left for camp. I have a feeling my son will be quite messy. The counselors who gave the cabin tour recommended packing an outfit for each day in a ziploc. I plan to do that.

mom2AidanAndEli...
I like the price and sturdiness of the one you posted. It looks more rugged and way cheaper than a traditional trunk.

Thanks for the care package suggestions. There is a really cool camp store there full of neat stuff. They even have a Future Camper shirt he can get for little brother. We're supposed to put money in their account in advance though I guess to prevent theft.

 

[Jedana]

For DS's scout camps, I pack a days outfit in a ziplock (socks, underwear, tshirt and shorts). For sleepwear, I pack a clean tshirt, basketball type shorts---2 sleeps per set, plus I throw in a bag of socks and underwear for extra changes. Swimwear (3 pair of swim trunks) in a separate bag. Then all those bags go into a compression sack. Dirty clothes get put back into the ziplocks, and those are tossed in his bright orange dirty clothes bag that is lined on the inside with a trash bag. I'm trying my best to minimize the stink for the guys driving......

DS can take a weeks worth of clothes that way in one medium sized sack. He has his backpacking sleeping bag and liner in compression sacks as well, and can carry all his gear (including self inflating sleeping pad and pillow, and mess kit) in an external frame backpack. He also has quick dry towels/washrags.

For summer camp, they prefer he have a trunk, so he can lock his stuff up. We are looking at trunks as well, and are getting him a word lock, since he does better with those than numbers.

Don't forget to send a flashlight and extra batteries!

Our first year to send care packages. We're sending comic books, a new card game and some notes from home. No food here either. He can buy junk at their commissary, as long as it's not eaten or left in the tents/cabins.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Mom of scouts, and have been to boy scout summer camp myself when we were short of leaders. The plastic locker from Walmart is what we recommend for all our scouts. It fits under the cots perfectly, which is a big thing. From actually being in those tents, I can tell you that boys do. not. care. about being organized or having things be easy to find. It is all going to get tossed around unless you bag it for them (I don't). As long as they can find clothes that don't stink too much, they are fine.

Do send a headlamp and extra batteries, a brimmed hat, a telescoping fishing pole, sunglasses, and sunburn gel. Two pairs of shoes if you can (no flip flops - stick with something that has a covered toe like a Teva Dozer or any Keen H2). Send shower shoes, Gold Bond powder, and athlete's foot spray and explain to him exactly why he needs to have and use them. I can't tell you how many boys get blisters and chafing at their first summer camp b/c they didn't take care of their feet and groin. My own kid, who knows better, ended up with blisters AND chafing his third time at summer camp b/c he thought he was too cool to deal with prevention. He had a miserable last few days that year.

 

[pls5286]

My son's first year at camp, he insisted all he needed was a duffel bag and all his stuff would fit in it. He wore nothing but boxer shorts that week either and was too embarrassed to tell anyone what happened, until he got home to mom and it was horrible. He now wears boxer briefs at camp because it keeps skin from rubbing and helps with chafing. He only wears hiking socks and will put degree deodorant in all the sweaty parts and stays happy and healthy. He uses a foot locker that is locked after he had things come up missing at camp. Each outfit was put in 1 gallon Ziploc bags. Helps keep things dry in rain storms--after all he was at Camp Rainey Mountain. Good shoes are critical for camp, and not freshly bought good shoes. Good shoes that are broken in. I tend to buy his shoes in late April for hiking at camp. Shower shoes or flip flops are a must for communal showers. If swimming in a lake or pond, shoes are good. Nothing open toed to be worn outside the bathroom though. Crocs are outlawed at our camp outside of the shower house.

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

I second (or third) the walmart trunk. They are great and cheap. Don't send anything expensive to camp with him, it will come home trashed.

My 12 year old has been going to camp since he was 8. Honestly, don't worry about packing more than what's on the packing list. If your son is anything like the kids mine goes to camp with, he will come home in the same clothes he left in and the toiletries won't be touched.

The same goes for care packages. You might consider sending a deck of cards with him or some ad-lib type books if the weather looks rainy but other than that they won't have much downtime. They keep the younger kids super busy to ward off homesickness. Our YMCA camp has a service where you can send e-mails that they print and deliver every day at mail call. I sent him a couple every day, one from me, one from dad or his brother or the cat.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

My 12 year old has been going to camp since he was 8. Honestly, don't worry about packing more than what's on the packing list. If your son is anything like the kids mine goes to camp with, he will come home in the same clothes he left in and the toiletries won't be touched.

This part made me laugh!!! The first year my oldest went to scout camp, I was careful to pack everything on the list and then some. Extra clothes, extra toiletries, etc. He came home with half his trunk not even touched! Looked exactly the same as how we had packed it. Then I learned they have "shower day". Yes, day---not days! He's there's for a week!!! The leaders do make the boys go into the shower at least once during that time! As for the clothes, I told him to at least go into the trunk, unfold everything, mess it up a bit, so that I can at least imagine he's changed his clothes during the week!

But, to me, that's the way it should be. That's where memories are made. Just the boys in the woods having fun. No electronics, no moms watching over them, bad food, dirty clothes--it's just all part of the experience! They started going to camp when they were each 11. This summer they'll be 13 and 15 and can't wait to go back.

 

[Bren's Mom]

My son, who was 8 last summer, went with his BFF to a Y sleep away camp about an hour away for the first time last summer. We (my friend, the other boy's mom) and I were so nervous! LOL She and I both grew up going to sleep away camps, so when the boys decided they'd like to go together, we jumped at it! My son spends lots of nights away from home with family, at sleepovers, etc...but I was not at all sure how he'd do. But when we arrived to pick them up...they dragged us to the table to sign them up for 2 weeks this year! LOL So I hope your son has as much of a wonderful experience!

Our camp asks for no trunks, so I'm no help there. But we did find the Dollar Tree has mesh laundry bags (for a dollar) that were PERFECT for his laundry. I will send two this year, just in case. If one fills he can slide it under the bunk and not worry about it until he packs to leave.

Dollar Tree is also a great place for inexpensive care package stuff. Little games, glow necklaces and bracelets (yes, even the boys love these and you can send enough for the whole bunk cheaply), playing cards, metal puzzles, puzzle books, trading cards (Pokémon, basketball or other sports cards)...I'm sure there are other things I've forgotten. Mad Libs was suggested upthread and I agree that's a great idea. This year I plan to get a fun beach towel and ship that a few days in advance so he gets it on his first mail day.

My son came home with a few pieces of clothing that weren't his, and missing a few that were. We didn't send anything that we would be sad if it didn't come home, so no big deal.

 

[beavismom]

Here is another trunk option, similar in price to the Walmart one, but we liked it better.

http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/plano-medium-storage-tub/pid-625513?N=903754865

Our best camp purchase for our son was waterproof Uno cards.

 

[ksjayhawks]

Ds used the walmart tub for scout camp. We modified it and put tray in it. If you are interested later on, I will take some pics of the tray and inside for you.
We like the walmart one because you just pull the lid up and it locks easily.
We have used them as a family for camping. You can get a lot of stuff in it.
Also, he will not need nearly as much clothes as you think. Doesn't need a different outfit for every day. Can wear shorts more than once, plenty of clean socks, clean underwear, tshirts.