What to Pack for Summer Camp

What to Pack for Summer Camp

July is approaching and many children will be embarking on the tremendous adventure of a summer camp. Several days beforehand, the preparation for that adventure begins at home: checking what is needed, making sure everything is ready, and so on. Once that is done, it is time to pack. The bag needs to last fifteen days of adventure — and our first piece of advice is that it should contain everything necessary, but nothing more. Drawing on our experience with summer camps in Spain, we will share some basic recommendations for what should not be missing from your child’s camp bag.

1.- The first dilemma is a very basic one: suitcase or rucksack.

From our experience, the answer is easy and the reasoning is simple. Camp facilities are not designed for wheeled suitcases to be rolled around. A rucksack — or even a large holdall — will always be more practical at a summer camp. In terms of capacity, there is no doubt that a 30-litre rucksack should be able to hold everything a child will need at camp. As for practicality, as we have already said, suitcases cannot be moved easily around the site and, while this only really affects arrival and departure days, it is true that children find it frustrating not being able to manage their own luggage because they cannot move it.

And as for usefulness, a rucksack will always come out on top — not only for storing all your kit at the start of camp, but also for use on hikes or even day trips.

2.- Parents should not pack their children’s bags for them and simply hand them over ready-made.

This happens in a very high proportion of cases, and not only with very young children as one might initially think. This mistake leads children to assume something is missing whenever they cannot find something straight away, rather than stopping to look for it properly — and, as is so common today, it encourages them to shift responsibility onto someone else. Of course parents should help with the packing, but always alongside their child, making sure they are aware of what is in the bag — and, moreover, where each item is stored.

3.- Warm clothing is essential.

This may seem obvious, of course. But we know all too well that at almost every summer camp some of the children arrive without long trousers, a jumper, a fleece or proper coat, or clothing suitable for rain. Including these items is more than necessary, especially when we are talking about mountain camps or camps in Santander — as is our case — where cold temperatures are virtually guaranteed every evening. Every camp should be prepared for the possibility of low temperatures — lower, at least, than the kind that call for a T-shirt and shorts. A couple of good sweatshirts or jumpers, a couple of pairs of tracksuit bottoms or long trousers, and a coat or fleece are virtually indispensable at any camp. A cagoule can equally save you from getting soaked if the rain catches you off guard — on a day trip, for example.

4.- The sleeping bag should be of decent quality.

At some camps where we sleep in tents, the sleeping bag is our only warmth each night. And even at hostel-style camps where we have proper beds, a good sleeping bag will be needed for the overnight camping excursion which, at some camps such as those in the Sierra de Gredos or the Sierra de Madrid, is done as a bivouac — sleeping in the open air. For this reason, although there is no need to go overboard and buy a professional mountaineer’s sleeping bag, it is advisable to get one rated for around 5 degrees, so as to ensure that sleeping in a tent or under the stars does not turn into a problem because of the cold.

5.- Long-sleeved clothing

Just as we should always pack a couple of long-sleeved items for both the upper and lower body, we should also double up on other things in the bag, such as towels — we will use one for showering and another for water activities such as natural pools or the beach; comfortable footwear — in case one pair of trainers gets wet, breaks, or rubs and we need to change; and swimming costumes — since it is quite possible to go swimming two days in a row in the sea, river, or pool, and we should not count on our things being completely dry.

7.- Always-useful accessories.

These are items we may not need every day, but that we will regret not having if we do not bring them. They all serve an important purpose and we should always check before camp that we have them. A sun hat and sun cream are essential not only on the sunniest days, but whenever we are doing outdoor activities for an extended period — and especially at the pool or beach. Flip-flops will come in handy both for water activities and for the shower, where they become an important item of hygiene.

For excursions and also for certain activities throughout the camp, we will be glad to have a water bottle, a torch, and eating utensils such as a metal fork, knife, plate, and mug. Finally, a small day pack will help us get ready for excursions, day trips, or simply for our own convenience in daily camp life.

In Summary

Clothing should not be a major cause of stress. We should not pack too little, but we should not overdo it either. We should bring summer clothes and short-sleeved items, but also something a little warmer in addition to the warm clothing already mentioned. What matters most with clothing — as with footwear — is that it is genuinely comfortable. Do not bring your best or newest clothes, but rather clothes in which you feel comfortable and can do exercise and sport.