Ready or not, summer’s coming!
Whether you wish the school year would never end or you’ve been counting down to the summer since September, it’s time to face the fact that camp is now just a couple of weeks away. You’ll get your well-deserved break … after you shop. And prepare.
And — deep breath — pack.
For first-timers, packing is overwhelming. Worry not — each year brings more experience with the what-worked-what-didn’t thing, and you’ll be a whiz before you know it. If you’re new to the process this summer (or if you, like me, like to read random emails for fun), read on for important packing tips.
You got this!
Lists
Camp packing lists are going to look different for different people, depending on the child’s age, gender, functioning level, medical challenges, and which camp will be attended.
How much clothing should you pack?
Camp is fun — we’re talking foam pits, shaving cream fights, and lots of outdoor play. Fun can get dirty, so… send a LOT. Toilet training over the summer? Send double the amount of underwear and pants than you normally would.
Many camps have a once-a-week laundry system, and if your child has only exactly enough, he or she may be stuck without clean clothes. Not every camp has the option of just throwing in a load.
We put together a generic packing list for you below. Although there’s no one-size-fits-all, feel free to use this list for reference to make sure you’re not missing anything important!
After you make the list and pack, pack the list!
If your child’s counselor has a record of everything you’ve sent, you’ll make it much easier for him or her to keep track of your child’s stuff (and you’ll be more likely to get everything back at the end of the summer).
Worried that you’re forgetting something important?
Here’s a great way to make sure you’re not missing any of the random stuff:
1) Grab a paper
2) Go through your child’s daily routine, from wakeup through bedtime
3) Write down every item needed throughout the day
Yossi wakes up at 7:00 a.m. and immediately starts crying and clawing at the side of his crib tent (Oh! I should probably send the crib tent to prevent midnight adventures…). Sure enough, as usual, his pajamas and sheet need to be washed (guess I should send a few spare sheets). I change him (Desitin) and dress him for school, giving him a book to occupy him (for him to stim on, who am I kidding) while I wet and curl his peyos (favorite book, hairbrush, gel). Yada, yada, yada… You get the point.
If your child uses any specific equipment or has medical routines, go through it all and make sure you aren’t missing any of those little straps, batteries, or prescription creams.
Label
Do you remember how your mother, when you were a kid, would stand over the ironing board as you packed up for camp, painstakingly ironing labels onto every last sock?
Do yourself a favor: Leave the iron in the closet and just order washable, peel-and-stick labels, personalized with your name and number.
The coolest part of stick-on labels is that you’re not limited to ironable materials — stick ‘em onto all of your child’s supplies and equipment, down to toothbrushes, sunscreen, and shampoo bottles.
Labeling is a must; to you it may be obvious, but your child’s counselor of one day has no way of knowing that you buy Head and Shoulders, not Suave. Ditto for shoes, yarmulkes, and even strollers. Label, label, label!
Tips
➡️ If you’ve got a spare/old wheelchair or stroller, consider sending it to camp instead of your nice one. The rocky paths of camp grounds aren’t the kindest to wheelchairs.
➡️ You want your kid to look cute, and that’s reasonable. But don’t send expensive clothing. Camp laundry is not home laundry, things get lost and things get ruined. If you’ll be heartbroken if it doesn’t make it back home — don’t send it.
➡️ Send a large supply of incontinence supplies, especially if your child needs a specific brand. Don’t assume that the camp stocks extra diapers in every size for everyone’s use.
➡️ You may want to pack your child’s clothing directly into a set of Sterilite-type plastic drawers to keep things organized and make it easier for your child’s counselor. (Check with the camp first, though, as not all bunkhouses have a good setup for this.)
➡️ Take the time to watch the recording of our Preparation for Camp webinar, and come away with aditional tips and advice from three experienced and understanding camp directors!
The Rabinowitzes were making a chasunah and were struggling to find an appropriate arrangement for the special day for Toby, their daughter with special needs. They reached out to Ezreinu, and they received volunteers to care for Toby, not just for the duration of the wedding, but for the aufruf and sheva brachos evenings as well! ⬛
Yitzy is an adorable little baby who was born with a rare medical condition. Yitzy’s mother felt like she was all alone on her journey, until Ezreinu connected her with two organizations for this condition which were able to provide her with the practical and emotional support she needed. ⬛
Identifying details have been changed to protect client confidentiality.