Your preteen or teen will be very excited to head off to camp. It's in your best interest to help him/her pack. While he/she may be able to do this on his/her own, you will save yourself a trip or two to the camp with forgotten items if you oversee the packing. But, be sure to enlist your teenager’s help - this a wonderful teachable moment.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 3 weeks
Here's How:
- Create a camp packing list using the recommended list from the camp your child is going to and other necessary items that your teen may need, i.e. his/her medication.
- Highlight all of the items on the list that you will need to purchase for your teen. You will need your teen to try on items that may have become too small over the past year so that you can highlight them if needed.
- Three weeks before camp begin shopping for items your teen needs to take to camp. Finish this task in one week.
- Purchase an extra set of hygiene items for your teen so that the items can be packed and your teen will not have to remember the day that camp begins. For example, purchase a toothbrush and toothpaste to pack and leave their home set at home.
- Label all of your teen’s items with his/her name.
- Pack one outfit per day in a large gallon or 2-gallon size plastic zip bag. This will keep your teen’s clothes dry and your teen organized.
- A stuff bag for your teen’s sleeping bag and pillow is a must. A rolled sleeping bag always comes unraveled when walking through camp.
- Place your teen’s toiletries in a type of plastic bag kit or plastic basket that would make it easy to travel to the showers. The kit should be big enough to hold your teen’s shower shoes/flip flops.
- The day before camp starts recheck the list, pack up all of the gear and close the bag.
Tips:
- Do not allow your teen to pack things that are on the ‘not allowed’ list. There are reasons for ‘not allowed’ lists. For instance, bubblegum attracts animals and camp counselors would prefer not to have to deal with animals in your teen’s tent or cabin.
- Stick a note in your teen’s bag where he/she will find it the first couple of days. Don’t get too sappy! Only a couple of hundred XO’s are allowed in these kinds of notes.
- Is your teen getting a summer job?
Parenting Quizzes for Parents of Teens
