Camp Packing List? Exactly what you’ll need…
With one day to go before camp opens, preparation is starting to kick up a notch. Kids are buzzing with excitement as they try to pack up their bags a week early, and throw in a million things they don’t exactly need. But don’t worry, here is a detailed packing list for parents and campers to check off before loading up the car in order to maximize your camp experience.
Starting strong is your bedding and toiletries. The best recommendation is a sleeping bag, but a fitted twin sheet with your favorite blanket also works. Just try not to forget that pillow! Or your favorite stuffie, they want to come to camp, too! Make sure the packing away includes everything you’ll need to stay clean and comfy at camp, like shampoo and body wash, plus some lotion and deodorant. Most importantly, don’t forget your toothbrush! I would also recommend two different towels, one for showering and one for drying after a nice time in the pool.
Another camp staple is some sunscreen and bug spray. We try to make sure the campers spray themselves with sunscreen at least twice a day to avoid Arizona sunburn. Bug spray also helps keep away all those pests that are sure to follow your adventures outside. They can either leave you alone completely or fall in love and never leave your side, so anything helps.
It can also help to bring a range of clothes, from pants if your camper is horseback riding, to shorts and a nice tee in one of the four toucan-a-thon colors(red, yellow, green, blue). You never know which team you’ll be on for the Toucan-a-thon, and showing team pride is a must at camp. And of course, your favorite hoodie is a must. It’s hot during the day, but it can get a little chilly once the sun goes down during evening activities. To help block out the sun during the day, I would bring a hat and some sunglasses. And make sure to choose a theme for your dance, so if you want to, you can dress up for it!
To make sure we are all prepared, make sure you have a backpack with your water bottle inside and some Chapstick. You can also throw in a deck of cards or perhaps a book you don’t want to leave behind this summer. There will be built-in downtime for campers to sit down and breathe, pull out a little puzzle they want to finish, or add the journal entry of the day. Maybe you brought a Polaroid camera and finally had a chance to snap a photo with your cabin mates.
The most important thing to remember is not to bring tech! It’s time for a week of unplugging and being in the moment. Building new friendships and strengthening our community is what camp is all about, and the best part is that you’ll be doing so many fun activities that you won’t even remember you haven’t seen a screen!
Don’t worry, parents! If something doesn’t find its way into your campers’ packed bags, we have the odds and ends they might need at our camp store. We are all super excited to see the campers in less than a week, and hope you are just as excited to see our new campgrounds up in Rimrock, Arizona! And if you haven’t enrolled yet, there is still a bit of time to squeeze in a later session this June.