Packing & organizing your kids for camp

So your kiddo is going to overnight camp. They’re excited, heck you’re excited (I had visions of date nights with my husband and sleeping in late) but you’ve got one hurdle ahead of you and its a BIG one…packing the dreaded trunk.

This is our third year sending a kid to camp. While it doesn’t seem like such a big deal now, I remember the first year vividly. I sent a text to a friend about what to pack and she sent me back pictures of a perfectly organized trunk that was decorated and amazing. My Type-A self freaked out. Freaked. Out. I was not prepared and spent the next week gathering the supplies that he needed to make his first camp experience a great one. I’ve learned through the years that they don’t need as much as you think and your trunk doesn’t have to be perfectly organized & decorated. You just need to come up with a system that works for your kiddo. Here are my tips and tricks…

Follow your camps packing list to a T. These people know what they’re talking about. Listen to them. Print out this list and check off each item. Twice.

Buy a trunk. We have used this trunk for the past three years and its held up beautifully. It fits under the bunk beds and has wheels so they can easily pull it in and out. It comes in many colors and the size is perfect for a week away. They sell trunk organizers online but I bought cork board and glued it to the lid. Add a zippered pouch for storage, a sticky hook for hats, pin up some pictures and you’re good to go. I am no Pinterest mom so if I can do it, anyone can.

Organization is key: Ive found that organizing the trunk has helped my kids to know exactly where their things are and also helped them to come back home.

• Pack all clothes in gallon sized zip lock bags. I added underwear, socks, a shirt and shorts to each bag. They could easily see the day of the week labeled at the top and everything was in one place. This also keeps clothing dry in case of spills.
• laundry hamper: A friend suggested a pop up laundry hamper for them to throw their dirty/worn clothes in. This way the dirty clothes stay separated from the clean ones in the trunk. Our counselors dumped the hamper into a trash bag at the end of the week. I appreciated that gesture and immediately emptied the entire bag into the washer on the hottest sanitary setting once they got home. Camp clothes STINK.
• Towel hook: You need this. I send my kids with 2 bath towels and 2 pool towels. The thought of them reusing wet towels that were thrown on the floor and reek of mildew makes me shudder. I put this hook on the side of their bed and they can hang their towels to air dry after each use. I also bought inexpensive brightly colored towels and added a LARGE monogramed their first year & they have always made it back home.
• Bunkbed Organizer: Keep their necessities nice and organized with this nifty thing. Add a clock so they can check the time, a flashlight, bible or books, stationary, and a reusable water bottle and they have everything they need at their fingertips.
• Storage for shoes: I added this storage bin in the middle of the trunk. It created a nice divider for clothes on each side and was the perfect place to keep their shoes. Be sure to pack some type of quick dry or water shoes, flip flops for the shower and tennis shoes.
• Toiletries. Don’t be surprised if the toothpaste comes back unopened. Place all of their toiletries in an easy to carry caddy like this or one that hangs like this. This makes trips to the shower a breeze.

Other things you may want to consider:

A Clip on fan. It gets hot. My kids are also used to sound machines so this helps drown out the giggles and late night antics a bit. You may want to go with a battery powered one like this, just make sure to pack more batteries. If you buy a plug in one, pack an extension cord and cross your fingers for a free outlet.

Label everything. If you want it to come home label it. I’ve used these for clothes but I’m also considering buying this stamp.

Bedding: You will most likely need to pack your own bedding. The first year I put a sleeping bag under a fitted sheet to add a little more cushion. That was a bit extra. This year I’ll pack these twin sized sheets (the jersey material keeps them cool), a comforter & pillow. I like to keep the bedding separate from the trunk and these jumbo ziplock bags make keeping it together easy!

Have your kids join in on the packing “fun.” This will help them get familiarized with their trunk and know where everything is located.

Don’t overthink theme nights. The first year I thought my kid needed a full costume each night. They don’t. Keep it simple, add a themed shirt that they can throw on with the shorts they wore that day. Some face paint or a silly hat are easy additions. Half the time my kid didn’t even wear the correct day’s theme or decided to switch something with friends in his cabin. Just keep it simple and fun.

Pre-address & stamp envelopes in order to up your chances of getting mail. The first year I got one letter, second year…zero. I will still pack them and secretly hope I see that envelope in my mailbox everyday. I found the cutest girls stationary here and boys here.

What to leave at home:

• Electronic devices- no need for phones, iPads, etc. Its a great time for them to detox from technology, something mine definitely need.
• Sentimental items that cannot be replaced
• New or nice clothing. Don’t shop for camp, send in older clothing that may even be on the verge of being too small. They are going to get dirty, they don’t care, and it may not come home at all.

If you want to add their name or some cute decals to the trunk there are so many fun options, here.

Shop all the items mentioned above by clicking on any picture below:

There you have it mamas! Cheers to getting that trunk packed and sending your kids away for a week of FUN. Now go plan a margarita date with your girlfriends to celebrate.