Whether this is your first time going to camp or your first time as a counselor, there are things that you might find useful to have that won’t be on any of the generic packing lists (speaking of, you can find a general list of things to pack for camp on our blog).
Before joining the team at Camp Starfish, I spent over 10 years at camp, first as a camper and then as a counselor (yup, that’s me as a camper in the picture above). As a first-time camp counselor, I certainly realized there were things I didn’t know I would want or need until I was actually at camp, despite having been a camper. These have since become a staple of my personal packing list.
Here are 10 things to pack for camp that won’t be on any other packing list:
1. School Supplies
These may seem like strange things to pack for camp. After all, summer camp should be the antithesis of school, right? Yes, but your typical school supplies (tape, scissors, folders, binders) will always come in handy. You never know when you’ll need to cut a loose thread or hang a piece of paper on the wall. I will guarantee that you will use your scissors or tape at least once a week.
Folders or binders are a great place to put the paper you will accumulate throughout the summer. Whether it’s drawings from your campers, paperwork, or letters from home – you’ll be glad you have a place to put them. On that note, I even suggest bringing a hole puncher and a binder to make a pseudo scrapbook of the things you’ve accumulated throughout the summer.
2. Tissues
Tissues may seem obvious, but they’re easily forgotten. I encourage you to not only bring tissues, but to bring lots of them. At some point, you’ll probably get a runny nose or have an explosive sneeze. Toilet paper may seem good enough, but after a while, it really isn’t. Your campers will also have snot-related incidents, and sometimes it’s good to have a real pack of tissues on hand. You’ll thank yourself when you have a plethora of tissues in your back pocket for the summer.
3. Stickers
Stickers can be a great tool for rewarding good camper behavior throughout the summer, especially for children with special needs who sometimes need clear and physical reinforcement. In general, positive reinforcement is shown to be one of the best methods of behavior management. It encourages children to behave in expected ways rather than punishing unexpected behaviors.
But beyond behavior management and rewards, stickers are just fun. You can put them on things, hand them out as random acts of kindness, and trade them with campers and other counselors. I always had fun picking out personalized stickers for people at camp and seeing their reactions to them. It’s an easy way to show others you are thinking of them, making them among the most important things to pack for camp.
4. Wacky Clothes and Accessories
Camp should be fun, so your clothes should be, too. There will be so many opportunities and events where you will want to dress up in your wackiest and coolest outfits and accessories. Pack things like wigs, funky hats, and silly socks.
The old fairy wings from when you went as Tinkerbell for Halloween at 7? Bring those too. I once spent an entire day wearing a bright blue plastic wig and another wearing oversized clown glasses. Cobble together old pieces of Halloween costumes or the random accessories at the bottom of your drawer you no longer have use for. I guarantee you’ll have a use for it at camp – so don’t forget to include it on your list of things to pack for camp.
5. Crazy Creek (Camp Chair)
Crazy Creek, a specific brand of camp chair, are one of those things that you don’t know about unless you’ve been to camps. Even then, they’re a niche pull. Yet, having one of these lightweight, foldable, legless seats is definitely a lifesaver. Campgrounds get muddy, and having a comfortable and clean place to sit is amazing.
Crazy Creeks are light and portable, and can be easily clipped onto the back of a backpack and are easily un-buckleable to make a mat for two people to sit on clean ground. I still have my tie-dye Crazy Creek from my camp days, signed by all of my former bunkmates and counselors. It is one of my most prized possessions, and it comes in handy all the time, whether it’s for beach trips or outdoor concerts.
6. Disposable Camera
While this one is less of a necessity and more of a suggestion, I really recommend bringing a disposable camera to camp. There is something really magical about developing photos from camp months later, not knowing what pictures await you. It gives you an opportunity to revisit the memories you made with your co-counselors and the beautiful scenery from camp. Of course, be careful about who and what you take pictures of, but when you get post-camp depression, you can combat that by getting nostalgic looking at your photos.
7. Slippers or Fuzzy Socks
At camp, your shoes may become disgusting simply by walking around camp (sidenote: don’t bring shoes you like). They might get muddy or wet (or smelly). Back when I was a camper, after a particularly heavy rainfall, I woke up to a real live slug in my sneaker. Before this, I didn’t know slugs have a smell, but I learned the hard way that they very much do. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want sluggy, muddy shoes traipsing through my living space.
Still, I didn’t want to walk around the cabin barefoot, especially at night when my feet would be cold. This is why I always suggest bringing slippers or fuzzy socks to wear when you’re inside. That way, you can keep your feet warm, dry, and clean when inside without wearing your shoes inside. Slippers or fuzzy socks will truly be your best friend.
8. Room Spray
Camp cabins get musty, sometimes even sluggy. Sometimes, someone simply stinks up the bathroom. With so many people living in such tight quarters, things will eventually start to smell. Candles and wax burners are obviously a no-go for fire safety reasons, so I always liked to have Febreeze or a room spray of some kind on hand. That way, when the mustiness gets a little too overwhelming, I can freshen up the room.
A cabin that smells like fresh linen or ocean breeze is preferable to one that smells like body odor or stale sheets. Of course, before using room spray of any kind, ensure that no campers or staff members are sensitive to smells or sprays, but if everyone is okay with it, room sprays can make a world of difference.
9. Deck of Cards and Games
If you’ve been to camp before, this one is probably a no-brainer, but if you haven’t, a deck of cards is a must-have for camp. It is simply impossible to have activities planned so well that they fill all 24 hours of the camp day perfectly. The downtime and in-between times when there’s nothing for you and your campers to do can be incredibly boring and often lead to behaviors.
To avoid this, teach your campers simple card games like War or Egyptian Rat Screw. Once they know these games, you can pull out your deck of cards during lulls and fill fifteen minutes with a fun game rather than sitting around bored. This can also fill time with your co-counselors. Whether it be card games or some other board game you bring with you, playing games with your coworkers can fill your time off and be a good bonding activity. Don’t forget to include these items in your list of things to pack for camp.
10. Books, journals, and coloring books
I recommend cards and games to fill downtime with campers or co-counselors, but there will also surely be downtime when you’re by yourself. To fill this time, or to simply decompress at the end of a long camp day, I always enjoyed having a good book with me. If reading isn’t your cup of tea, I also really liked having a journal and coloring books.
Journaling can help you process your day and can become a time capsule of your summer, and adult coloring books are relaxing and centering. If you make room in your luggage for these three things, you’ll certainly feel less bored without cell service and constant access to WI-FI. You’ll also have a great way to process your emotions.
To conclude, camp is not just a summer job – it’s your home for up to 3 months. Make sure you pack what you need to make it memorable, comfortable, and exciting. If you need more recommendations on what to pack, you can reach out to us about our suggestions for summer staff. And if you haven’t applied yet – what are you waiting for?
