Don’t leave it all to the last minute
But by now it’s too late, and we don’t think you will be calling those camp packers everyone is talking about who will charge you big bucks to made this headache go away. But here are some tips that should make the dreary job just a little easier. This text has been edited for brevity. For more tips, visit www.summercamphandbook.com
Start with the camp’s list
Start your packing preparation with the camp’s own list. If you have not received a clothing and equipment list from the camp you and your child chose, call now and ask for one. This list is important because it’s been developed and refined over several seasons. It’s custom tailored to fit the regional weather and the unique program of activities at your particular camp. At a minimum, you’ll want to make sure that your child packs what the camp requires. In addition to the standard items, your child may wish to supplement the camp’s list. Read through the camp’s entire list once, so that you know what items campers require. There may also be a list of “optional” items that you and your child should evaluate. Once you have an idea about what to pack, set aside the camp’s list and follow the five basic principles of packing for overnight camp.
1. Label everything. If you haven’t labeled it, there’s no hope of getting it back. That’s why the first principle of packing is: label everything!
If a towel is labeled, it may find its way back to its owner before meeting a fate involving a dose of mold and mildew. Labeling might also reduce the chances that an item will be stolen, although theft at camp is generally a minor problem. Still, you should label everything, not just clothes. Label your child’s soap case, cassette tapes, sports equipment, hats, and shoes. Label everything! You have several options for labeling. None of the methods is perfect, but some are easier to use than others. Most families combine methods to suit their needs.
* Indelible Ink Stamps. This is the best all-around method of labeling. Indelible ink stamps are metal or rubber stamps with your child’s name, usually in capital letters, such as “J.T.HUTT” or “G.M.TARKIN.” When you order an indelible ink stamp, ask for both first and last names, or at least first initial and last name. Otherwise, two children with the same last name might get their stuff mixed up. Indelible ink stamps work especially well on clothes. Stamp shirts inside the collar, pants and underwear inside the waistband, and socks on the top of the toes. Stamp other items in a logical but inconspicuous place. Don’t stamp an item in an obscure spot or no one will be able to find the name.
* Laundry Marking Pens. Laundry marking pens are made especially for labeling clothes, but you can also use them to label plastic, metal, leather, graphite, and wooden items, such as soap boxes, canteens, baseball gloves, tennis racquets, and lacrosse sticks. Laundry marking pens have the advantage of being quick and easy to use, but they can fade and distort with repeated washing or use. Therefore, it’s a good idea to actually pack one to use for re-labeling at camp. The Sanford “Rub-a-Dub”® is a good laundry marking pen and is available at most office supply stores. Whatever the brand, be sure to use a “laundry-proof” marking pen, not a simple “waterproof” pen. There is a difference.
* Iron-On / Sew-On Labels. These labels are strips of fabric with your child’s name printed on them. Iron-on labels are faster to apply than sew-on labels, but they tend to peel off if not applied correctly, or if ironed on an item that is frequently stretched or abraded. Therefore, we recommend iron-on labels for shirts, shorts, and pants, but not for socks. Use a laundry marker or stamp for socks. Sew-on labels are usually permanent, but take a long time to apply. The average camper needs more than 60 different items of clothing, which would take hours to label with sew-ons. Therefore, if you use sew-on labels, we recommend you reserve them for expensive items, such as jackets, or for clothing made out of artificial fabrics, such as Gore-Tex®, that don’t take iron-ons well or that may be damaged by the heat of an iron.
Sock Labeling Tips For some reason, many families forget to label socks, or do so poorly. Also, white cotton socks tend to get stretched and fuzzy, turning D’s into O’s and M’s into blobs. Use a laundry marking pen and invent a simple but distinctive code or design for the socks, such as two circles (oo), or a double dagger (‡) or a big S and little t (“St”) if your last name is something like Smith. Such distinctive marks can be identified and matched up quickly. Put the label near the toe so the symbol doesn’t show when your child wears his shoes.
2. Wash and wear before camp.
Almost all families will need to buy a few new items of clothing to complete their camp packing list. Whether socks, shoes, or a T-shirt, we recommend that kids wash and wear all new items of clothing before packing them. Washing and drying clothes causes them to shrink. Even if the shrinkage is minimal, kids should still make sure that all their clothes fit before packing them. It’s upsetting to realize, after you get to camp, that all your socks are too small or that your new T-shirt comes up to your belly button.
For items that are not normally washed, such as shoes, boots, and rain coats, we recommend that kids wear them around before opening day to break them in and spot any defects. Getting blisters from a stiff pair of new shoes, or realizing during the first thunderstorm that your new rain coat doesn’t have a hood, can ruin a otherwise fun day at camp.
Camp can be brutal on clothing and other gear. Therefore, we recommend that kids don’t bring expensive clothing and gear to overnight camp unless they are mentally prepared for the possibility of never again seeing it. This is not meant to worry you. Most kids don’t lose much, and theft is rare, but it does happen. If a shirt gets put in the wrong laundry bag and winds up in a different part of camp, it may never find its way home, even if it’s labeled. So Shabbos clothing should be pretty, washable and should be permanent press where possible. Shabbos shoes for girls should be flats, so as to be more comfortable, and make sure that one pair of shoes is wearable on Tisha b’Av.
The clothing your child brings has to be good enough to survive hiking up a mountain, sliding into second base, falling in a football game, and stretching during capture-the flag. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t go overboard on quality. Whatever your child brings will probably get dirty, maybe permanently.
All kids want to fit in with their fellow campers, and fashionable clothing can be a big part or a small part of fitting in, depending on the camp. But this is camp, not a fashion show. Your child can be fashionable without having to be a supermodel. Steer clear of camps where brand names seem essential. That kind of superficiality is the opposite of what overnight camp is supposed to be about. In response to this issue, some camps require simple uniforms, such as blue shorts and T-shirts. For other camps, you should pack fashionable, functional clothing, but not if that requires you to bring a $250 cashmere sweater. Remember, this is overnight camp. Prepare for a few losses.
4. Consider laundry frequency.
You can determine how many of each clothing item to pack based on the frequency of the laundry service. If the camp’s information packet doesn’t say, call and ask. For camps that last a week or less, there probably isn’t any laundry service, so your child should pack enough clothes to last 1½ times the number of days she’ll be at camp. For example, if it’s a six-day camp, pack nine days’ worth of clothes, just to be on the safe side. Kids who think they will change outfits more than once a day, because of certain activities or because they sweat a lot, should pack even more extra clothes.
5. Pack in the recommended container.
Campers need to pack all their clothes and gear in some type of container. This could be a footlocker or trunk, a suitcase, a duffel bag, or a large backpack. The camp information packet should specify the preferred container. If not, call the camp and ask. You should follow the camp directors’ recommendation because they know the space limitations of the living quarters and whether closets, drawers, or lockers are available on site.
Trunks or “footlockers” are favorite containers at camp because they are tough, compact, and easy to organize. Like everything else, trunks range in quality. The worst ones are no better than a flimsy cardboard box. Newer versions are made of plastic, but some are less sturdy than particle board, plywood, or metal. If a trunk sags when your child stands on it, then it probably won’t last very long at overnight camp, where it will be bumped, stepped on, stacked, and dropped.
If your camp offers a choice of what to pack clothes and gear in, consider what your child will do with that container. If he’s taking an airplane to camp, it’s easier to bring a suitcase (especially one with wheels!) than it is to haul around a trunk. If he’ll be doing a lot of hiking, a large backpack is best. Be sure to select a frame pack that fits his body and feels comfortable fully loaded. (Almost any backpack feels comfy in the store when it’s empty.) If your child will be doing only day-long hikes, it’s best to pack everything in a trunk, but bring a separate day pack. If the living quarters are like a dorm room, with closets and drawers, then a duffel bag may be the best container. Once unpacked, duffel bags can be folded and stuffed under his bed or in a drawer. If the living quarters don’t have drawers, trunks keep clothes and gear neater than suitcases, backpacks, and duffel bags.
