Sleep over camp ?

[JenniJ]

My DD has been going to weekly summer camps every year since sh was 9, she is now 16 and cannot attend this year due to being too old. she is VERY disappointed.

I have not read all the posts, but I know with her camp they were VERY strict on what the camper can and cannot bring.

A BIG cannot bring was food. No matter how it was packed. DD was witness to a campmate who had food packed in the "locked" rubbermade tubs. The raccoons "knew" how to open them and food was EVERYWHERE! The area of the racoon invasion was, as my DD said, "tore up"! Everything in the tub was thrown all over the place. Bedding all over the place. Some items of clothing and such were ruuined, torn, peed on, etc.

Depending on where they camping and how, a good mosquito netting is always a must on DD's list along with bug replenant and sun screen.

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

I wanted to reiterate to be aware of what is not allowed at camp! I work for my local council. Many parents do not realize that aerosol can's of any kind are banned...hair spray, bug spray, and suntan lotion are not exempted. We also do not allow electronics of any kind. I can't tell you how many people have tried to sneak cell phones in with girls only to have them confiscated or worse, dropped in the pool.

 

[JenniJ]

Some more suggestions... very old shoes. My DD's shoes never came back in any condition to re-use, even for mowing yardwork.

We never did the tub packing. At DD's camp they sometimes had to walk a LoooooNG way to their specific camp site. Yes, one bag/yub was allowed to be transported via tram, but any other bags/tubs the camper took themselves. So we kept it in one washable duffle bag with another smaller "day" type bag for smaller items. I say washable because you will not beleive the smell of the clothes and bag when they get home. lol

Depending on your DD's hair length, pony tail bands.

If taking the bus to the camp, money for food stops along the way or a brown bag lunch. But again, most camps don't allow food in the campers quarters, so provide money for food stops on the way back.

Spending money for at camp, if allowed.

My DD always took 2 towels. One for drying off when swimming and the other for drying off after showers. Swimming was in a lake so she didn't like the lake water smell on her shower towel.

Ziplock bag with toweltries (sp?) Easier to pack than a basket/caddie.

 

[englishteacha]

Every camp has different rules, so make sure you read ALL the material you get sent!
I'm a camp leader at a church camp (we call them deans) and every year I'm shocked at what kids don't bring (and what they bring that they shouldn't!). It's all in the parent guide we send them. To register for camp, there is a little box to check off that says, "I have read the parent and camper guide," and yet dozens of families never read it.

The most forgotten items at my camp? Sneakers (needed for activities), warm clothes for cold weather, and rain gear. We all know raincoats are geeky, but when you have a week of rain, you get really sick of being wet!

Things I've found helpful: Febreeze, packing extra towels (even the small ones are wonderful when you're wet and your towel is still damp from earlier), and baby wipes. Baby wipes have been great for before-bed clean ups. I hate putting my dirty feet in my bed, or trying to sleep when I can smell bug spray on my arms. Blech!

We have bunk notes and they are printed and delivered daily.


Edited: I agree with EVERYTHING Mrs.Pete said!!!

 

[steph124ny]

My older kids are attending camp for their 4th year this summer. They go for 2 weeks and stay in cabins with bunks. They are not allowed food of any kind. In addition to all the other things people have mentioned, remember to send a small notebook or address book so they can collect addys and e-mails from all their new friends.

Send OLD clothes and shoes because everything gets nasty. Send some money for camp store (or put some in their account if the camp doesn't do cash).

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Every camp has different rules, so make sure you read ALL the material you get sent!
I'm a camp leader at a church camp (we call them deans) and every year I'm shocked at what kids don't bring (and what they bring that they shouldn't!). It's all in the parent guide we send them. To register for camp, there is a little box to check off that says, "I have read the parent and camper guide," and yet dozens of families never read it.

I read mine AND brought DD in for her physical today, even though I forgot to bring the health form. In the mail tomorrow, lol.

My reminder to all camp parents- get those health forms to the pediatricians now so they can get filled out! When I did day camp, we'd always have the rush of parents who forgot to send them in, and we couldn't take the kids without them.

I also second/third not sending kids with anything valuable or that you care if it does not return. Yes, they should have a rain coat, but if you go out and buy them a $$ Goretex one, don't be surprised if it doesn't make it back. Kids at camp have a remarkable way of just not remembering that they left whatever in the dining hall, at the archery range, in the canoe at the waterfront, etc...

 

[Sandi]

I just attended a class last weekend on taking girl scouts camping and one piece of advice they have is the ziploc bags. Use them for everything. Pack one day's outfit in a ziploc bag. Pack things that leak in a ziploc bag. Send ziploc bags or plastic grocery bags to put wet items into and dirty clothes. And if you use the ziploc bags to pack everything, it should all fit into a tub. We are using 35lb cat litter containers.

DD15 will be heading to her 5th year of sleep away camp this summer. This time for 3 weeks on a biking trip -- yea Miniwanca!

Anyway, the Ziploc bags are the best invention ever for camps. You can cram a lot of stuff in a bag and squish out all the air to save lots of room. The added benefit is that the clothing stays dry -- even in the most humid areas. DD packs in Ziplocs no matter what now. She is addicted. Her roommates at All Star Music for Magical Music Days last month were jealous and are now Ziploc converts.

Also, DH and I always write nice, upbeat letters and leave them either with the camp director's office for delivery each day or, if that won't work, in DD's bags to find. Typically, we put a delivery date on the outside so she would receive one or two a day for the length of camp. Once she was at camp for more than a week, we'd actually mail letters from home. DH writes really well and comes up with crazy stories about our cats. DD always looks forward to her dad's letters. Don't be all "we miss you, blah, blah" that might just make her sad. Rather, guess on what she might be doing -- swimming, hiking, rock climbing, whatever -- and describe how badly you might do the same activity.

Finally, put a name label on EVERYTHING -- socks, shoes, underwear, etc.

 

[Jynohn]

My daughter is heading off for 7 weeks of sleepover camp this summer, and is already counting down the days! I agree with those who said be careful about packing food. Most camps have strict rules about food in the cabins because of bugs, mice, etc. DD's goes to a uniform camp, so thankfully I don't need to worry much about what clothes to pack, but I also wanted to mention that for those that will be horseback riding, make sure to bring hard soled shoes with some sort of heel. Along with most of the other things that everyone else mentioned, we are also asked to pack white bathing caps (makes it easier to spot them in the water), and a "dressier" outfit for the musical and end of season banquet.

I hope I'm not the only mom who wishes she was going to camp this summer too!

 

[Irin997]

I hope I'm not the only mom who wishes she was going to camp this summer too!

I have never been to summer camp and I always wanted to go. Needless to say, I'm living vicariously through DD9. I hope she has a blast, but she isn't going until August.

You guys have given some fantastic tips that I never would have thought about. Thanks so much!

 

[crisi]

Another thing - at our camp (and I'd imagine at most camps) medication needs to be kept by the staff. Even something like anti itch lotion for mosquito bites.

 

[Dogwithahat]

Have been doing the Girl Scout Resident Camp thing a long while with my 2 DDs. What I havent seen suggested so far that really worked for us is a cheap pop up laundry hamper. I got them 2 for 5 dollars at Walgreens. They are a thin breathable cloth so it does wonders for drying out damp clothes. It has a strap that can hang over bedposts too. They went to two week sailing camps so I usually sent them with two or a large mesh laundry bag.

I second the suggestion of putting everything in ziploc bags, esp underwear/socks.

The email system didnt work well for my girls so we started leaving a letter for each day, with date to be delivered in corner where stamp should be, at check-in. That way she gets a note everyday. We also printed off pics of our pets and put funny sayings on them. Hope your daughter has a great time

 

[DSNY4ever]

Our Girl Scout camps don't allow the girls to call home. So the best thing is to send cards starting a few days in advance so she has mail every day. They can get email as well - which we also used - but its one way - we could get email to them, we had to wait for letters.

This is good advice. I went to many sleep away camps including Girl Scout ones as a kid. Mail time is one of the best times of day. My mom did that and I got a card everyday. A friend of mine always went with me and her mom never sent anything. I always felt bad- my mom sent her cards too!

Cell phones and emails didn't exist in my day, but I remember all the lovely cards

She will have the best time- it was honestly some of the best memories from my childhood.

 

[3boymthr]

This is direct from the 14 year old mentioned above. No matter what camp you are going to there will be showers of some sort so bring soap. At all the camps that I have been to (although I'm not sure that this is true for all camps) there has been a washer dryer in the nurse's office for emergencies. (this does no mean that you can send the child/teen in question w/ minimal changes of clothes) Also, do not allow phones, Ipods, etc. to go w/ child/teen, they will be taken or lost. Lastly, do not send open toed shoes because if you are not looking it is very easy to stub/break a toe.

 

[Sadie22]

Tent or cabin? My boys camp for a week in a tent. We've seen both air mattresses and cots. The bin is the best idea ever. They had a downpour one year and the kids with the bins had the dry clothes. I send my boys with their own personal first aid kit, stocked with hydrocortizone for bug bites.

Also, read their medical form and clarify everything with your leader. I know the first year we didn't fully understand it and the middle child ended up with a nasty case of poison ivy and he couldn't get anything for it. Which brings up long socks. I know it's not fashionable, but socks that go over the ankles should help against poison ivy (it does for us at least).

Extra towels.

Mark everything with a sharpie. Oldest had a kid who insisted that my son's comb was his. We didn't have it marked, he didn't feel like arguing and let him have it (eww!). We did end up with an extra towel coming home that year though.

Middle son always has a deck of cards with him. I think he bought it at the general store and it was one of the best ways to pass time. I think they also bring footballs, baseballs and mitts--I have boys, this is what they do.

OT but I was reminded of the Scoutmaster who told me there was no unusual place to get poison ivy after one son hunkered down in the wrong place.

I'm sure Girl Scout Camp is not so primitive. I worked at 4-H Camp and a church camp. Whatever the rules are regarding what to bring, follow them and question anything that is not absolutely crystal clear. Ditto re the medical forms, any instructions on how to send medicines even OTC, etc. If the instructions say not to send candy, etc., the instruction is there for a reason. Your child will not go hungry.

 

[ldo]

1st year I did the 20 degree bag. We live in VA and she said they were required to sleep in their bags b/c of mosquitos and it was too hot, so we get the lightweight one for the next year.
Also, we took the bus to camp--the bus let you place pre-done letters/gifts in a bag and you could write the day to be delivered, day 2, 3, etc.---of course, the 1st time, I had no idea...next time, I was prepared.
For our area, long denim short work best for hot days, but protect legs.
Disposable camera and some sort of autograph/phone book are nice, too.

 

[lattemomof3]

Haven't read through all of the threads yet, but wanted to add that Justice has some cute camp things - a container to carry toiletries to the bathhouse, and some things the girls can autograph, like a pillowcase, book, and I got dd10 the cutest pajamas that say "camp friends are the best friends" and they come w/ a pen so the other girls/counselors can sign the pj's. My dd loves camp. It is a church camp that lasts for 3 or 4 nights.

 

[Jynohn]

I got dd10 the cutest pajamas that say "camp friends are the best friends" and they come w/ a pen so the other girls/counselors can sign the pj's.

These sound adorable. Thanks for the tip, I'll have to look for them!

 

[MichelleinMaine]

This is direct from the 14 year old mentioned above. No matter what camp you are going to there will be showers of some sort so bring soap.

I am THOROUGHLY impressed you have a 14 year old who thinks it important to bring soap! DS14 is doing his 5th trip to scout camp this summer. It's gotten to be a joke how little he washes. I figure it's his week, I just don't even worry about it anymore. There are signs on the road into camp representing each section of the scout law- on our way out each year, I take a picture of him in front of "clean". Oh the irony!

 

[MrsPete]

I second the suggestion of putting everything in ziploc bags, esp underwear/socks.

Clarification of something I said earlier: I don't suggest a bag for underwear and a bag for socks . . . I suggest a bag for each day's clothing. One ziplock should contain shorts, tee-shirt, underwear, bra, and socks. That way the new camper has everything in one spot. It's guaranteed to be dry and bug-free when she opens it up.

 

[Irin997]

What kind of clothes do you suggest sending? I was thinking of just doing regular t-shirts (we have so many of them) and athletic shorts. I don't want to send anything nice!!