The Simple Life

Work/Life Tools

Family and Friends

• Pack a lot of old clothes. Kids can't be comfortable at camp if they're constantly worried about getting dirt on new clothes. If you do have to buy new items, favor less expensive clothes that are easily replaced if lost, stained or damaged at camp. Wash new clothes before packing to counter shrinkage and color run.
• Iron heat sensitive labels onto clothes or mark all clothing with a symbol of your child's choosing. Especially make sure that valuable items like cameras are marked in this way. If you use this symbol system, also add an adhesive name and address label to valuable items like sport equipment and cameras.
• Consider sending disposable cameras marked with a return name and address label.
• Break in new tennis shoes or hiking boots to avoid the pain of blisters. Be sure to pack an old pair for walks in the stream and on muddy days.
• For children who wear glasses, pack a spare pair along with a strap to help keep them on during strenuous activities.
• Pack self-addressed, stamped envelopes or postcards. This will encourage your child to write home at least once!
• As a special treat, write a letter for every day your child will be away and tuck them into his or her luggage. This will be a nice treat from home every day. It's also nice to mail a letter or care package to your child before she leaves for camp so she'll get mail early in her stay, when she is most likely to be homesick.
• Pack a favorite T-shirt, stuffed animal, photo or other memento that will make the transition to camp easier.
• Consider having your child make a "camp pillow case" before he or she leaves. Buy an inexpensive white pillow-case, then use a computer transfer program or other craft process to add family and friend photos to the pillow.
• Avoid packing disposable items for kids at camp. These present a garbage problem for the camps, who are trying to teach the importance of conservation.
• Don't let the kids take "boom" boxes, jewelry, large amounts of cash, skateboards or other trappings of modern day life to camp. Part of a camp experience is the value of learning different ways to live. Possessions create barriers to this process.
• Be sure you have signed all permission slips for participation in activities and all necessary medical release forms.
• If your child has a chronic ailment or recurring problem that requires medication, be sure to pack extra (zip lock bags are invaluable here) and make sure the camp medical staff is aware of the signs and symptoms of an outbreak.
• Make a list of everything you packed and tape it to the top of the suitcase or trunk. This will make packing for the return trip easier. Also, tape an extra key to her suitcase or trunk to the underside of a mirror or bottle of lotion to prevent locked luggage emergencies.
• Always send too many underwear and socks.
• Send an old pillowcase for a great laundry bag.
• Don't forget the necessities such as a flashlight and extra batteries, sunglasses, hat or bandanna, anti-itch lotion, bug repellent, sunscreen, towels and washcloths, rain poncho, camera and film and essential sports equipment.

Peggy Middendorf is a parent of two and editor of a regional parenting magazine. Contact Peggy at middendorf@mindspring.com.