Sleepaway camp packing for the first timer

[Anonymous]

All experienced sleepaway campers' parents, please share your experiences. For first timer, please list things that I should pack for a week. My child has anxiety, and he is anxious and looking forward to the camp. He is going to camp letts as a 3rd grader.

Fun to pack list:
-flashlight
-some snacks
-a stuffy animal
-a notebook and a pencil/pen
-should I pack a picture of family?
-a figdet toy
-anything else?


Below is a must on top of regular clothing
-sunscreen
-bug repellent
-cap
-rain jacket
-extra clothing
-hygiene products like bodywash, shampoo, mouthwash etc. (travel size?)

[Anonymous]

Good list - a week is very short so you probably don't need much. My kids go for a month, so they take extra books, personalized stationery, and other fun stuff for dress up - sometimes the cabins put on skits for the other cabins and having a prop or instrument is helpful.

We are not allowed snacks, because my kids camp in CO, and bears.... check if he is allowed that.

Aside from that, those pack hammocks that pack down to a softball size were really popular one year- not sure if they still are. Also a disposable camera (I assume no phones or electronics). We got tons of pictures of the ground or a horse's leg and only one or two real pictures, but it was worth it.

[Anonymous]

Definitely no food, snacks, gum. I’m nearly positive it isn’t allowed. Camp will provide all food and snacks and they don’t want it in the cabins for obv reasons. No pictures either. It’s a week. The pictures may make him more homesick and a week isn’t long enough for photos to be beneficial vs making him sad.

Stick to the packing list. Pack extra underwear and maybe socks, but not full outfits. They will be in the water daily and can rewear stuff. No need to put each outfit in a ziplock. Your kid can grab a shirt and shorts. If he already wore it, who cares? It’s fine. Think about all the unnecessary plastic waste all these bags are making if all campers are doing this.

[Anonymous]

My kids needed fans.

[Anonymous]

Definitely battery operated fans - there won't be enough outlets and those bunks are hot. And he'll be exhausted every night and sleep anyway (my kids have been going to Camp Letts for years). Glow in the dark bracelets (from the dollar store, a 20 pack) can be fun at night in the bunk or at the camp fire.

Unlike others, Camp Letts does allow snacks (or at least they have in the past, but I would still call and ask), if you send him with, make sure it's enough to share with his bunkates. Make sure his name is on everything (esp towels), and check the lost and found before you leave.

A water bottle (make sure his name is on it). Extra sneakers in case his gets wet, or better yet, Keens or Teva water shoes or similar (make sure they are close-toed).

[Anonymous]

The ‘deluxe’ bunks in my kids cabins include - foam mattress toppers, mini fans, battery powered fairy lights. My kids go for 4 weeks so the mattress topper was an extra I splurged for.

Agree with pp, food is typically confiscated because of mice.

We use packing cubes and it really helped my kids learn how to do their own packing from a young age. One cube for - shirts, shorts, underwear/socks, etc.

Depending on the cabin/camp instructions, you may be able to bring plastic drawers. We aren’t allowed as the kids have a stack of cubbies. We use shoe boxes in the cubes to keep things organized.

[Anonymous]

Get labels that iron on. My kids camp makes you label every item, including every individual sock, and it is a huge undertaking. Hopefully they won’t make you do that for a week.

The camp will give you a packing list.

[Anonymous]

Op here. They tell me that camp letts cabin has air conditioning, and it is bunk bed. I don't think he needs a battery operated fan, but I may pack one just in case. What does battery operated fan look like? Any link? A mini one around neck or handheld One? One of my concern is that he may fall off from bed even if he sleeps on the lower bunk. How do I prevent it? He has slept walked before at home, but only happen 1-2x/year for the last 2 years. Should I tell them about it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. They tell me that camp letts cabin has air conditioning, and it is bunk bed. I don't think he needs a battery operated fan, but I may pack one just in case. What does battery operated fan look like? Any link? A mini one around neck or handheld One? One of my concern is that he may fall off from bed even if he sleeps on the lower bunk. How do I prevent it? He has slept walked before at home, but only happen 1-2x/year for the last 2 years. Should I tell them about it?

If the cabin has a/c (what!) I wouldn’t send a fan. But if you really want to, this is what I send with my kids to their camp.
https://www.amazon.com/Treva-Inch-Battery-Powered-Multi-Directional/dp/B075QP4Q17/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_pp?crid=21STJZRUCSX6J&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EJf8lIyKA_MiGavwsQ_s3vCTKxGih3J2eJJJ8K_DGeCX-Tx4f6vvhQLG6MTX7YfFvHhs77BtYStd1tujp1jL7ZG5d_Hjoth9WhDy25RgGVOMcZbTCqbKEVS2s5auNE_Zcwdb9Sl3CMCKBmnAGS2G008vaEqgzvNEChf60OyO3KFeu7-NxqueYez2cMnCaPwS_RJvOTZ7g7RwDd9GJT_HOg.j_35J-APj9ZyCWqP7dCD2Xg9QcGuGw6XsqG9HJ09uQA&dib_tag=se&keywords=treva+fan+battery+operated&qid=1750065445&sprefix=treva+%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-1

As for the bunk, I would have put the history sleepwalking on the camp health forms and requested a lower bunk. If it’s too late for that, just send an email to the director.

[Anonymous]

Games they can play with the other kids. A deck of cards for example.

[Anonymous]

Flip flops or slides to wear in the shower. Don’t send food. Laundry bag.