By our Smarty friends at Camp Highlander
Summer is here! According to the American Camp Association, there are more than 7,000 overnight camps throughout the United States. That’s a lot of S’mores! At Camp Highlander, we offer one, two and three week sessions to give families a variety of options to suit individual needs. If you’re sending a camper to overnight camp this summer, make sure you’ve packed these essential items to help have the most outstanding summer, ever!
Consider a Trunk
While suitcases and duffel bags will suffice, many campers opt for a traditional trunk as their luggage. Trunks are sturdy and can hold a lot of items. Plus, campers love to decorate trunks with stickers and pictures as mementos of each passing summer.
Get Packing
Overnight camp packing requires a lot of pre-planning. Pack enough of these items based on the duration of your camper’s stay at camp.
Clothing:
-T-shirts
-Shorts
-Sweatshirts
-Pants or jeans
-Underwear
-Socks
-Pajamas
-Bathing Suits
-Bath Towels
-Washcloths
-Beach towels
-Sneakers
-Boots (Hiking and/or Cowboy)
-Sport Sandals with a back strap (Teva, Chaco, etc.)
Toiletries:
-Shampoo and conditioner
-Deodorant
-Body wash or bar soap with carry case
-Toothpaste and toothbrush (with case)
-Hairbrush
-Disposable razor and shaving cream (if applicable)
-Feminine hygiene products (if applicable)
Other Items:
-Blanket
-Pillow and pillow cases
-Twin sheets
-Rain poncho/jacket
-Flashlight with batteries
-Sleeping bag
-Backpack (soft)
-Water bottle
-Sunscreen
-Bug spray
-Stationary, stamps, pre-addressed envelopes to family
-Disposable camera
In With the Old
Save the new clothes purchases for back-to-school shopping in August! Camp is made for getting dirty, so pack old clothing. Clothes can also get lost or ruined.
Label Everything
Let’s face it; kids will be kids. The fast-paced lifestyle of summer camp can often lead to lost or misplaced items. Use a permanent marker or nametags to identify all of your camper’s belongings.
Roll With It
Are you worried about how to fit everything on your packing list? Roll it! Rolling items increases space in a trunk or suitcase and can fend off wrinkles or creases in clothing.
Send Proper Footwear
Due to safety concerns, many camps do not allow shoes without back straps, such as flip-flops or slides. To avoid any issues, choose a sturdy, all-terrain sandal with a back strap to keep your camper safe. Additionally, boots or shoes with a small heel are typically required for horseback riding.
Shut Down Electronics
Many camps have a “No Electronics” policy. At Camp Highlander, we lock electronics up upon camper’s arrival and keep them secured until the end of the session. Electronics include tablets, mobile devices, laptops and handheld video games. Camp is definitely a place to unplug and tune in!
Win Some Camp Highlander Swag Here:
One lucky Smarty will win a Camp Highlander Crazy Creek and Camp Highlander Camelbak, a $65 value! Entering is easy peezy – simply follow these steps:
1. Share this post on your Facebook wall (like us too:-) and make sure to tag Camp Highlander & CSP. If not on facebook, skip to #2.
2. You must be a CSP e-newsletter subscriber.
3. In the comments below, tell us what you’re most excited about for summer!
That’s it!! Winners will be announced next Thursday, June 18th in our newsletter. Happy summer, Smarties!
You can find Camp Highlander at:
Nestled in the Western North Carolina mountains, with 240 pristine acres on the banks of the South Mills River, Camp Highlander is truly “A Place Like No Other.”
Karl and Shelley Alexander invite you to discover why Camp Highlander is A Place Like No Other! To check for openings at their 1-week, 2-week or 3-week sessions, or for more information, visit www.camphighlander.com , contact 828-891-7721 or email@camphighlander.com.
6 comments
Best camp packing trick we have used for years is to get the large and extra large zip storage bags at the dollar store (have also found them at Harris Teeter) that have a carrying handle for storing things. Make one bag for shirts, another for shorts, another for underwear and socks, and so on. Label the bags with what they are and the kids name. I pack enough for the days my son will be there. The clothes stay neatly folded in the bags and he knows that if it is in the bag it is clean, out of the bag it is most likely dirty. I pack the bags standing on end in his truck so it almost looks like a filing system, all he has to do is brag one shirt out of the shirt bag, one out of the shorts bag and he is on his way that morning at camp. He says it works great and he is one of the most unorganized people ever. We also use this system when we travel as a family, keeps all the boys clothes together and not scattered all over where we are staying.
I love the weather and going camping! Thanks
I am most excited about road trips. Some road trips are planned, and others are spur of the moment. Summer gives us the freedom to just pick up and go!
Watching thunderstorms from the garage as a family eating dinner with some jack Johnson playing from the sonos.
I shared on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raomeenas/posts/851901594864452?pnref=story
And subscribed 🙂
I’m most excited about the road trip my family will be taking this summer before my daughter goes off to college. We ar thinking about heading down to Texas to visit family and then moving up again through Tennessee and Kentucky before we finally drop her off. It will be bittersweet to see my baby in college, but I’m going to cherish the memories from this road trip!
Most excited about sending my girls to new summer caps, being able to spend time with them, and or vacation err have planned too the beach