Packing for Sleepaway Camp
I sent off my daughter's sleepaway camp trunks last week - here's how I packed them and why!
My daughter C(9) is going to sleepaway camp for 3 weeks this summer! She is so excited, and while I am going to miss her so much, I can’t wait for her to have this adventure.
The prep for sleepaway camp is a lot of work… There are medical forms, personal forms, zooms to meet the other campers, and of course, sourcing and packing everything she’ll need for 3 weeks away from home! It’s that last step of sourcing and packing that I just completed and wow - it was A LOT. The camp she’s attending requires the kids’ trunks be shipped ahead of arrival, so that’s why even though she goes in mid-June, I already had to pack and send off her trunks!
When I set out to organize and pack all the items, it was daunting and a MESS! But, I settled in and slogged through it and got it all done… Since I’m your Type A Mom friend, and my job is to help streamline the behind-the-scenes work of parenting, I thought I’d share how I packed it all to help you if you’re also packing for sleepaway camp! And if you’re not, but know someone who is, please forward this on to them since it may be helpful to them😊
Here’s what I did:
My Process
I printed out a copy of the official camp list, and a list I created of “extras” and fun accessories that kids like to have at camp but are not on that official list (click here to use that “extras” list to help you remember everything!). I used those lists as my guide and I crossed off items as I packed to make sure I didn’t forget anything!
I ordered items early, had C(9) try them all on, and then exchanged and ordered more as needed.
Every time an order would arrive and I knew we were packing it, I’d add it to the dining room pile. Then, once I felt like I had everything on the lists, I set aside time to pack.
I kept a separate list of what needs to go in the backpack that she’ll carry with her to camp so that I didn’t pack those items and ship them by mistake! She is riding a bus with other campers for 3 hours, and has to wear a specific opening day shirt and shorts so I set those aside in their own plastic bag to be saved for when she goes to camp. I knew she’d be wearing a pair of sneakers and have a water bottle, so I added those to my backpack list and could cross them off the official camp packing list (which states we need 2 pairs of sneakers and 2 water bottles - this meant I only sent 1 pair of sneakers and 1 water bottle in the trunk). I’m also packing her music player (doesn’t have a screen or Wi-Fi so it’s allowed at camp) and her Sticker Beans sticker book and stickers for some entertainment and trading fun with other girls on the bus!
I packed by category which meant:
I could completely finish packing one category and cross it off my list and never think about it again
I could clearly see what I was missing since I was so focused on one category (I wasn’t distracted by thinking about too many items at once), and that meant I could order/purchase what was missing and then be all set!
I packed in this order: clothing, then shoes, then bedding, toiletries, fun stuff, etc. - this was in order of importance so in case I was running short on time for getting new items, I could have enough time to get all the necessities set before finalizing the fun stuff.
I used 2 sizes of Hefty zip bags, a Sharpie that labeled each of those bags, a lot of packing cubes that I labeled with what was inside, and I put name labels/stamps on everything I sent (shirts, underwear, pillow, packing cubes, toothbrushes - everything!!) with Mabel’s Labels stick-on labels and/or their clothing stamp.
I showed my daughter what was packed! This way, when she opens her trunk, she’ll know what she has to choose from for different needs.
I packed 2 trunks - 1 was all the bedding, shoes, stuffy, sleeping bag and 1 was all the clothes, toiletries, letter writing stuff - I thought this might help her keep things organized but I think maybe it was more for me than for her since organizing the trunks this way meant I could see what was packed and what I might have forgotten to add🤷♀️
Clothes & Shoes
I packed all her clothes by type inside of packing cubes, and added labels on the outside (sticky note covered in clear packing tape) saying what was inside each cube. I put her “special occasion” clothes that she will only wear for certain events (i.e. 4th of July outfit) into a clear plastic bag so she can just keep them in there and take out on that one day. The organized cubes will make it easy for her to unpack and just keep everything together by type, or she can keep the items in the cubes as makeshift drawers since the camp only offers shelves. I packed her shoes into her end of bed shoe organizer and her shower slides into her shower caddy.
Toiletries
I double bagged all the toiletries (shampoo, body wash) in Hefty zip bags and I also kept the items sealed (brand new) to avoid spilling all over everything - my daughter can ask a counselor for help unsealing the new bottles if she needs it. I also put items together by type when packing into plastic bags - and added items she’ll need like nail clippers, bandaids, and toothbrush covers (in case it falls on the floor) that are not on the official lists. I added wipes with the fun face crayons I got for her to use for skits, and got some easy to apply sunscreen (the big stick is going to be easiest) and natural bug deterrent (a continuous spray that’s non aerosol but not a squirt one and also a stick). And I added itch relief patches!
Letter Writing & Art
I grouped the art and letter writing items together. On the inside of her clipboard I taped the addresses she’ll need, and I pre-addressed and stamped envelopes to family to make it easy. I used small storage boxes as a pencil box for her to carry her markers around as needed, and packed a couple empty boxes so she can organize other items when she’s at camp.
The Fun Items
For some fun items, I grouped each of these together: I packed a Caboodle with her hairbrush, hair ties, sunglasses, cute bracelets and necklaces for her to carry around and use. I packed games, coloring books, different stationery, and a drawstring simple backpack and casual crossbody/fanny pack for her to carry things around camp. Her music player, digital camera (both of these have no screens so are allowed) and her headphones will be in her backpack with her (they’re stored in a plastic bag right now).
Sweet Thoughts
I also sent along a few surprises to help her feel loved while away. I got her a new stuffy in her favorite color for her to snuggle and added a sweet note about how much I love her, I added a sweet dreams note into the top pocket of her sleeping bag for her to discover with a flashlight too, and I bought her some extra Jibbitz for her crocs and added a note for her to discover them.
Doing all this sourcing and packing was A LOT OF WORK! If you’re going through the sleepaway camp packing process right now, I see you. I truly hope that these ideas are helpful and that they lessen any feelings of overwhelm you may have as you pack🩷
❤️, Amanda, your Type A Mom friend
PS: Click here for the camp “extras” list to send with your kid!