Girl Scout Camp Tips

[luckey-lasvegas]

DD13 will be going to sleep away girl scout camp for the first time. Her group will be sleeping in a platform tent with 6 - 8 beds. Any tips on what to do or pack would be helpful!

Thanks, Disers!!

 

[Gwendolyn]

Ok let me think....

Most important stuff to bring:
* 2 rolls of toilet paper in water tight bag (trust me there is never enough toiletpaper when going to camp)
* flashlight + extra batteries
* compass (when she is getting dropped off somewhere in the middle of the night. She really want to orientate where she is going, she has to keep the * compass hidden though )
water shoes, in case they are going to swim in natural swimmingarea's.
* bathingsuit (one piece!!! a two piece bathingsuit isnt suitable for scouts camp, trust me.)
* toothpaste + toothbrush
* cup, plate and utensils (all plastic, lightweight)
* a good sleepingbag which can be used when its freezing. Trust me it can be cold out there.
* a thermo matrress (one that you can roll up if you want) to put under the normal inflatable matress.
* favorite stuffed toy to sleep with (even if she is 13 already, she will miss home, so a favorite teddy bear or something like that will help, and trust me, more kids will bring theirs)
* comfy shoes to wear when its night and she needs to go to the lavatory, like crocs.
* Shoes to walk miles with. Preferably closed shoes.
* really thick socks to go into the shoes. To prevent the feet from moving in the shoes, to prevent blisters.

* small portable first-aid kit for hikers.
* anti mosquito stuff (deet)
* tick remover
* sun block
* after sun

* fresh undies (one for every day + 2 extra in case of some serious case of mudwrestling)
* enough clothes for the whole camp + 2 extra sets (make sure most of them are long trousers because you dont want her to hurt her leg while walking past some stingy plants).

If I remember more, ill let you know.

 

[carolinagirl121]

Don't forget a pillow, a good waterbottle, camera, letter writing things, notepad to take down addresses. Depending on the camp, they may have a theme night when a couple cheap costumey things would be nice. Also, plentyof hair ties/barrettes/etc. Nothing worse than having your hair in your face and a hat to cover up as well (keeps ticks out).

I would pack all her things in a large tupperware bin rather than a suitcase. Keeps things out that shouldn't be in! I worked at a GS camp for several summers, it's a great experience and I know she will have fun.

 

[nchulka]

I would say at 13 she should pack for herself. Maybe check over her things to make sure she didn't conveniently forget her toothbrush, but give her the responsibility to take care of herself

 

[allie1078]

rubbermaid tote instead of a suitcase, towels, washclothes, bug spray, suncreend, hat, hair tyes, extra shoes and socks. Is she camping with troop or going to an organized camp the girls can go to on there own. Organized camps should send a suggested packing list. NO snacks or food of anytype.

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

rubbermaid tote instead of a suitcase, towels, washclothes, bug spray, suncreend, hat, hair tyes, extra shoes and socks. Is she camping with troop or going to an organized camp the girls can go to on there own. Organized camps should send a suggested packing list. NO snacks or food of anytype.

She's not in a troop, just going to an organized camp. They did send a list but i like getting tips from people who have experience. My only concearn with the plastic tub is that she has to carry it herself to the platform tent and it's a bit of a hike.

 

[ban26ana]

I went to Girl Scout camp from age 6 until 15, and I loved it! She'll have a blast. Will she be carrying her stuff into the camp by herself? We always had our parents walk us into camp. We'd park in the field at the entrance to the camp, and then carry our stuff into the camp itself. Yeah, it was a pain. But the whole family helped carry stuff. We were always told to bring a trunk or plastic rubbermaid container instead of suitcases. Label everything with her name.

Check with the camp as to whether or not care packages are allowed. Most parents would send something from Sealed With a Kiss, or make their own. Again, my parents never did it.

• Flip flops for the shower
• Mosquito net! Don't forget poles and duct tape to set it up.
• I second the idea of costumey things. My mom would never let me take stuff like that, and I always felt left out on theme nights. I'd have to borrow from someone else.
• Small games like Uno or a deck of cards. Nothing like an ipod or Game Boy though.
• Make sure that any bug spray or sunblock is not aerosol. Aerosol will remove the waterproofing in a tent.
• Lightweight jacket and/or sweatshirt. It gets kind of chilly at night.
• Rain gear. I always preferred a poncho to a raincoat. She probably won't need a whole rain suit because it's an organized setting. No umbrellas.
• Extra shoes in case one pair gets wet
• Sanitary items if she has started that wonderful part of life. Even if she isn't expecting it that week...trust me. My cycle used to follow my camping trips. ROFL
• Remember a hand towel in addition to regular towels
• Clothesline to set up between trees. That way she can dry her towels and bathing suit.
• Daypack
• Alarm clock

 

[MomofSixinSC]

A reasonable amount of money to get candy or a t-shirt at the camp store.

A bag or small bucket to carry toiletries in.

 

[Taja]

She's not in a troop, just going to an organized camp. They did send a list but i like getting tips from people who have experience. My only concearn with the plastic tub is that she has to carry it herself to the platform tent and it's a bit of a hike.

I would suggest a duffel bag with both a shoulder strap and hand grips if she has to carry the bag herself. She can sling it over her shoulder and distribute the weight a bit with her hand. She also may have to carry her sleeping bag, so it should be in some type of stuff sack or duffel bag.

BTW, I'm the one who failed Girl Scout Camp! Didn't mind being away from home--I had traveled to Europe for two summers with my ballet school--but I quickly learned I was not cut out for the great outdoors!

*LOL*

 

[Mrsdennison]

razor and shaving cream.

Hat or visor.

I say these things because I remember going to camp and we had a fun night where you bring stuff with you to the main hall. If they called out your item, then you ran up to the front with it. I didnt have much extra to take. But I had shaving cream and two hats.

I got to run to the front on both of those because no one else brought them.

MD

 

[crisi]

stuff for that time of the month. If she hasn't started yet, pack in anyway "just in case" and make sure to have a talk if you haven't.

Clothes for changes in weather. It might rain all week. It might be 100 degrees, there might be frost on the ground. It all might happen the same week.

Pre-addressed, stamped envelopes for mailing letters home.

A notebook so she can get her new friends' contact information.

Disposable film camera.

NO FOOD. Platform tents are notorious for some girl bringing in food only for the girls to wake up in the middle of the night to a raccoon raid. Don't let her bring food, warn her not to bring food back.

She'll have a great time. My daughter went for the first time last year and is going again this year.

 

[katybugsmom]

I worked at a Girl Scout camp for years before I got married!!! I know she will have a great time!
My DD11 is going to a camp next week-not a Girl Scout camp though!:
I still pack her outfits in zip-loc bags(2 gallon size) so she can have everything right at her fingertips!! She also puts the dirty clothes back in the bags when she takes them off-provided they aren't wet. It's much easier to keep up with clothes and easy to re-pack for the trip home!
I would also suggest getting her a battery operated lantern-Walmart sales them in the camping section! This will give her a lot of light for writing letters, playing cards, etc.!
To help her carry things back and forth from the bathhouse you can get a plastic tub with a handle-the ones that have the different sections in them-it really helps to have it ready to go when she needs to take a shower and she won't forget anythings-stock it with shampoo, soap, towel, washcloth, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.
You can also find great stationary and camp journals on-line-just google camp stationary.
Have fun!!!!

 

[minniebeth]

We've learned over the years to add to the list:
*for a pool or lake/beach towel, to take an old one that you can throw away at the end of the camp session. They get really icky dirty and make a bag really heavy when they come home wet.
*same for shower towels, I always send a bath and hand towel that can be tossed when done, same for a few washcloths.
*or invest in real camp towels, they are micofiber, small, lightweight and dry quickly, take up less space. They come in different sizes, but they are pricey.
*a flat sheet to lay down on the beds, cots or mattresses or whatever they will be sleeping on under their sleeping bags, usually they are pretty ick.
*small trash bags for anything that comes home wet and muddy shoes
*newspaper for if tennis shoes/sneakers get wet during camp, wad some of the newspaper into them to dry them out quicker

a big tip my DD learned is to dry out wet clothes. If you ball them up wet, and leave them for any length of time,they will become moldy which stains, ruining the clothes.

Hope your DD has a great time!