While many summer camps provide parents with a suggested packing list, parents still may worry about whether their child is going to camp with everything they need. What if they forget something important? Is there anything they shouldn’t bring? And how should they store everything at camp?
We spoke with Elizabeth “Liz” Staib King, executive director of YMCA Camp Tockwogh in Worton, Maryland, about what parents should keep in mind while packing for camp.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What are some of the most important things to pack for camp?
It depends on how long the camp is, and how much clothing [campers] will need to be comfortable and successful, as well as what kind of camp it is. Traditionally, camps involve a lot of walking, so appropriate footwear for the environment is really important. It can also be beneficial for campers to have some personal effects from home. Both of my daughters like to take a little family photo they keep by their bed, or a decorative pillow or plushie. Follow [your camp’s] packing list and make sure your child has what they need, as well as a few things that they don’t necessarily need but that will make them comfortable.
In your experience, what important things do people often forget when packing for camp?
The interesting thing is that I’ve been doing this long before [the COVID-19 pandemic]. Before COVID, people wouldn’t often forget things. You might get someone forgetting a toothbrush or something. But after COVID, I’ve seen people forget their pillows and bedding. I always love when people actually print out the packing list and check things off, so they can make sure they have everything they need, but people forget all kinds of things. But there’s definitely been a rise in people forgetting linens like bedding and towels.
Finding places to store belongings at camp can be difficult. Do you have any suggestions for storage solutions?
When you walk into a cabin, you’ll see so many shelves, but when you start actually doing the math, you realize that there isn’t actually a lot of space per camper. A lot of our campers pack their supplies in plastic storage drawers, so they’ll come to camp with those drawers already full and just put them down without having to unpack them. They’re also great because they can serve as a nightstand or a step to get up to the top bunk.
Shopping for camp can be expensive. Do you have any tips for parents on a budget?
[Camp Tockwogh] is a nonprofit, so we raise money to bring kids to camp. I’m always thinking about how even if you can send your kid to camp, there’s still a lot of additional expenses. I’ve seen people reach out to family members or people on Facebook who have fans or sleeping bags they don’t need or are willing to lend out. For things like coloring books, I’d recommend looking for those at more affordable stores like Dollar General.
Is there anything people bring to camp that you think is inappropriate and should be left at home?
Air conditioners. Our cabins have a certain amount of electricity, so it’s not that we don’t want anyone to have an air conditioner, but the cabins can’t really function with them. We’ve had people show up with minifridges and have had to turn them down for the same reason.
[At Camp Tockwogh], we also ask parents to avoid packing aerosols. That can be hard to do, but in spraying your arms you might end up filling the whole cabin with insect repellant.
Nearly every summer, someone reaches out about an expensive clothing item that got sent to camp and was lost or ruined. I have two teenage daughters and understand that they want to dress up and look nice for social events, but you should keep expensive items at home — and if you bring them, make sure you label them so there’s a higher probability that you get them back.
