camp-lover
Maybe I I'll write a book someday
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Latest Posts by camp-lover
Ways to teach a skill
Just as there are many ways to learn, there are many ways to teach. Here are some ways to teach skills at camp:
Say it. Tell the kids what the skill is, describe it.
Show it. Show pictures, diagrams, or other visual aids.
Model it. Do the activity yourself, such as tying a knot.
Learn by doing. Have the kids do the skill, alongside you or after you (or both). This is a great way to engage kids on multiple levels, as you often also need to incorporate some of the earlier techniques (say, show, etc) and this engages multiple learning styles.
Learn through play. An example of this is a simulation game, such as that deer game where you simulate resources (called Deer, Deer, Deer in Ultimate Camp Resource). This can be existing games, or one you made up. Another example is that I made up a simulation of holding hands in different formations to explain how colligative properties work in ice cream in a bag.
Engages the senses. This works well in conjunction with other techniques, but basically bringing in as many of the senses as you can, especially touch/kinestetic.
Since kids learn differently, ideally teach with multiple methods. Teaching is a learned skill that you develop as a camp staff, and everyone does it with their own flair. But these are some suggestions to get you started as you develop your own way of teaching.
Camp references
I get reference requests fairly frequently, and have made many myself. I can’t imagine a camp not asking for at least one reference, and many ask for multiple. Other jobs also ask for references, as do some volunteer positions, scholarships, and academic programs. I actually filled out several references this week (same person, multiple camps). So I have compiled some suggestions for camp references for those of you who find yourself in need of one:
Who should I ask?
Who you ask depends on what your experience is and what you are applying to. Some suggestions for camp:
Camp staff or volunteers from camps you have worked at, usually a supervisor. Often a supervisor is specifically asked for. Alternatively, if you were a supervisor, you can also ask someone you supervised.
Youth workers you work or volunteer with. Examples of youth work might include leading/working at/volunteering with Boys and Girls Club, scouts, church youth groups, child care, tutoring, or youth instruction.
Outdoor or specialty area people you work or volunteer with (such as a pool manager for a lifeguard).
General job or volunteer managers.
Teachers/professors/organization advisors.
Personal references. These are also called character references. This is just someone who can speak to who you are as a person, not necessarily someone you’ve worked with. This type of reference is often specified.
Overall, consider whether this person will be able to give you a good reference. Can they give you a positive, honest, relevant, and accurate recommendation? I understand this may be difficult if you are young or have little job experience. Volunteer work also counts, as do extra curricular activities.
How should I ask them?
Please ask someone before you use them as a reference. It’s really weird to randomly get a request for a reference from a camp you’ve never heard of.
Also consider the medium. I would say for a lot of people email is probably the most professional, such as a director who is a full-time staff at your organization. Email is also nice because it allows you to include all of the info suggested below. Now, if you’re a seasonal staff and are asking another seasonal staff (say the ACD or a program director), you may not have their email. The next top options I would suggest are Facebook Messenger and calling/texting. I have also been asked to be a reference for people over Snapchat and Instagram, and I am sure people ask over other social media as well.
It does also highly depend on who you are asking and your relationship to them, as well as how you usually communicate with them. If it’s someone that you don’t work with professionally and only text with or see on Facebook? Yeah, that’s probably better than a random email. I also think that this will be evolving in the coming years and already has been. I do recommend a lasting medium that they can look back on if needed though.
What should I tell them?
The things I recommend including are:
What job/kind of job it is.
What organization it is.
You may also want to include why you want to do this if you are asking someone who isn’t as familiar with your camp work or whatever you are applying for. For example, I had to ask STEM professors for recommendations for my social science grad program, so I needed to have an explanation of why I was changing my path so much.
If it’s been a while (like a few years) and you haven’t been keeping up with each other, maybe a little blip about what you’ve done in the past while that is relevant. This is also good if you are applying to grad school and need a recommendation from a professor you had a year or two ago.
Is this a reference or a letter of recommendation? A general rule of thumb is that if the camp/job is going to contact the person and has a set of questions, either phone or webform, that’s a reference. A letter of recommendation is an actual, free-form letter, like you use to apply to college. The biggest difference for me is time commitment. The longest reference I’ve done was a 10-ish minute phone call. A good letter of recommendation takes me over an hour.
Bonus: some people will go a bit more in depth and say what qualities they want you to highlight. I find that this is a good choice if your reference is someone who is unfamiliar with what qualities one wants in a camp counselor (or other job), if you have an unusual background, or if the position is looking for a specific skill set that may not be asked about or obviously tied to the position title.
I was asked to be a reference. What do I do?
Make sure that the person you are being a reference for has your correct contact information. For example, almost all camp staff know me as a seasonal staff, but I now prefer to use my work contact information to make it more professional. There is also nothing wrong with using your personal information or university information. Just make sure it is something you will check.
If you don’t think that you can give someone a good reference, you are allowed to say no. It sucks, but it’s better than giving someone a bad reference, either because you don’t think they should be on staff or because you don’t know/remember them well.
Hey y’all!
What are your favorite CIT programs/ideas/memories/whatever!
I have very little experience with the CIT program but I believe I’m supposed to help out with that this summer and as always I like hearing people personal opinions!
~Flame
Hey y’all!
Please share with me your favorite all camps, I’m looking for some new ideas!
Behavior Management Tips
So I know in the past I’ve gotten questions about handling specific situations with campers. And I am happy to answer these. However, here are a few quick tips to help you get started on your own:
Remain calm. You panicking or getting angry helps nothing. Yes, your adrenaline might be pumping and your anxiety is picking up, but you need to try to keep yourself outwardly calm. I know this is easier said than done, but it gets easier with practice.
Stop any immediately dangerous behavior. If kids are in an unsafe situation, get them out of it. If kids are fighting/bullying, separate them.
Take a minute to think. This is beneficial to you because you get to process what’s going on and think through possible solutions (and continue to calm down), and the kids get a chance to cool off so they’re in a better place to listen/talk. It’s a lot harder to think of a good solution and how to get there with the adrenaline and anxiety of a bad situation.
Don’t yell, be sarcastic, or snap.
Ask open ended questions. If they were doing something dangerous (example: I once had a 7th grader hop over the fence on our deck and stand on the ledge just because), ask them why that might have not been a good idea. If it’s bullying (like one on one), separate the kids out and ask them separately what’s been going on. If it’s bullying as a group, I usually talk to them as a group because I don’t want to hear the same thing from 15 different 6th graders and tell them all the same thing (some kids may ask to talk one on one after this, which is fine if you and another staff member are comfortable with it).
If someone was hurt, emotionally or physically, an apology may be appropriate. Alternatively, for group problems, team building activities such as Fill My Bucket can help.
If you, or another staff member, panicked or yelled or otherwise scared the kids, apologize. Kids are people too. I usually also make it a point to tell them that we are not angry with them and, if it was just a mis-judgement that ended up being something dangerous, that they aren’t in trouble we were just worried.
Check in afterwards. If I have the kids in a group, I usually have them rate one to five how they are feeling with their fingers while everyone closes their eyes and then let anyone who wants to share with the group.
As a note, I don’t actually punish kids. We talk through stuff, they agree not to do it again, and if we need to, we talk to the parents and the usual “punishment” we have is that they go home. Depending on what happens, we may call and inform the parents or send home a note.
Also there aren’t a lot of valid punishments at camp. Staff will ask me if I’m going to punish the kids for doing something. No, they’re 10, they just wanted to play in the river and didn’t think through why that can be dangerous if there aren’t adults with them. I don’t want them to hate kapers and I’m not going to send them to sit in their tent alone. So I aim for the above.
Maybe this isn’t how their parents do it or how some other camps want to do it, but this is a method that’s worked well for me. Kids are tiny people and they have feelings and need understanding as they learn about the world around them and what is appropriate and what is not. Let camp be a safe place for them to learn that.
The different things I did as a counselor that are the reason my alignment includes “chaotic”:
Accidentally made a 3-4 foot flour dust fire ball in our lodge using a fire starter in a metal cookout pot.
Instead of telling kids not to bully the girl who believed in fairies, I hid a fairy house in the woods and told them fairies were real.
Got the herpetology (reptile) club to come to camp and “paid” her with a walking taco and a s’more.
Brought a friend’s bearded dragon to camp for the critter care rotation and then kept it warm by keeping it on my shoulder while doing paperwork.
Dressed up in an owl costume, including mask, to run camper check in on the (public) road. Also made owl noises and motions while doing said check-in day.
When a child couldn’t sleep, I sang her the lullabies I knew. They were from a play I did about the holocaust.
And this is just in my two years as a day camp counselor. I had four more years after this.
Emotional Labor and Camp
I did a lot of research for this post, mostly because emotional labor is a concept I’ve only heard about in the past 2-3 years, but I’ve heard so many different things. However, a lot of things I’ve heard resonated with my experience working at camp. I also think that it’s a topic we need to talk about.
What is emotional labor?
This needs to be the starting place. Arlie Hochschild originally defined emotional labor in 1983. It has evolved since then in many ways and there are a bazillion tumblr posts and articles on the internet with varying definitions. For this post, we’ll stick to the original definition, which is the additional work required by someone in a paid position that requires regulation of emotions for the benefit of others, both clients and other staff. It is prevalent in “caring” positions and highly applicable in many jobs including waitresses, teachers, retail workers, child care workers, and flight attendants. (Interview with Arlie about evolution of the term here; article with a more thorough/detailed definition here). I will not be arguing about the various definitions of emotional labor.
How does emotional labor apply to camp?
As mentioned, emotional labor is often applied to childcare workers, which would include camp staff. Some examples of emotional labor might include:
Managing emotions in front of kids (being fun/energetic, not getting frustrated or disappointed)
Hiding the emotions involved in whatever is going on in your personal life
Not panicking in front of a child when they tell you something intense (abuse, self-harm, parent’s ugly divorce)
Parents - so many things
Now, these duties come fairly standard with being a camp counselor. And I’m not saying that you should be an upbeat counselor who is kind despite challenges. But what you do need to do is to cope with the stress of that emotional labor.
Consequences and coping
A big consequence of emotional labor is burnout. I previously published this post on burnout a few months ago and it summarizes symptoms/warning signs and some suggested coping skills. Large amounts of emotional labor may exacerbate existing mental health conditions or contribute to their development.
While you might be able to reduce your emotional labor somewhat, there will always be some. There was an interesting sounding article exploring whether emotional labor could be fun but it was behind a paywall because academic publishing is a sham (source: I went to grad school). But what I did find suggested some of the following techniques:
Emphasizing authenticity when possible. Obviously you don’t want to have a complete breakdown in front of kids. But perhaps acknowledging to your unit leader or leadership team that you’re struggling or something is going on for you personally would be good. They can either help themselves or refer you to someone such as an EAP or a hotline.
Engage in long-term coping skills. I separate coping skills into two categories: short and long term, which may broadly overlap. Long term coping skills are similar to lifestyle changes. They’re repeated activities that you use to maintain your health. Some examples from me:
Eating healthy. This looks different from person to person, but essentially enough food of a variety that makes you feel good and fuels your body and mind. Also drinking water.
Exercise and activity routines.
Engaging in hobbies.
Taking steps to manage chronic conditions, mental and physical.
Use your break times for whatever kind of rest and relaxation you need. Maybe you need a nap. Maybe you need to snack on something different than camp food. Maybe you need a hug.
Avoiding negative coping skills. I don’t want to trigger anyone so I won’t list them, but this is activities that are harmful to you or others, either physically or mentally.
For more coping skills, check the Mental Health Queue and Camp Wellness Queue for a variety of self-care ideas.
Additional note for campers/CITs: I know that some of my followers are youth who attend camp as campers or as CITs. This post is in no way saying that you can’t rely on your counselors or other camp staff for emotional support. They are there to support and care for you, and they should want to. This post is meant to emphasize proper self-care for staff so that they are better able to support and care for their campers.
Sources: x, x, x, x
Tl;dr: Emotional labor is common in being a camp counselor so watch for signs of burnout (a consequence) and practice good self care.
How to Annotate Literature
Many times language and literature classes require students to annotate the books that are given to them, but in many cases tips and advice on how to do so is lacking. I will be sharing my personal strategy for efficient and successful annotating that will not only help your understanding of the text but also gain the love of your teachers! The tips have been divided into 5 components, each with their own explanation. Sticky Tabs are Your Best Friend
I don’t know how I would manage to annotate without my sticky tabs. They help me organize and navigate the book before the reading, remind me what to look for while i’m going through the text and help me find whatever I may need once I get to further analysis for the class.
Create a key for your tabs, personally I use five colors each having a few specific purposes based on where I place them in the book. Most stickies are accompanied by a specific note that will remind me of what I wanted to point out, these stick out of the right margin.
Pink- Anything to do with characters, be it development or certain traits to remember. It can also be used for when you have questions about character related aspects of the text.
Orange- Refers to setting, in plays it is also applicable for stage directions.
Yellow- Is used for literary devices and use of language (tone, diction, patterns) and syntax, if there is a particular word the author used or a structure you want to take note of, this is the color to use.
Green- Applicable to any important plot events, notable scenes or things that you think will be significant later in the story.
Blue- Themes and context of said ideas, anything to do with time, place and space in which the text takes place. It can also relate to how your context (a student reading a book for a literature course) impacts your perception of the text.
These are the things teachers usually look out for and it is certainly useful in any kind of further task!
The top and bottom margins can be used to divide the book in to sections, such as chapters or scenes, mark the most important pages and to also highlight text to text connections. These colors you can pick yourself! I do not recommend having more than 5 sticky tabs per page, otherwise it gets too crowded and they lose their purpose! (but you will still need to buy aaa lloootttt)
This is my key for the book I am currently annotating, Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw.
Don’t Overdo it With the Highlighter
Find one color highlighter that you like the most and use it to mark explicit words or phrases that catch your attention, you can also use them in correlation with you sticky tabs! I prefer to use a yellow highlighter because it seems to bleed the least, and I usually use it in relation to the the yellow and blue tabs because those are the ones that relate to the most detailed and minute parts of the text. Once again you can find your own preference! But don’t overdo it, otherwise, like the tabs, the highlighter will lose its function to highlight important points.
This is an example of how much highlighting I usually do. For non-fictional texts or parts of a book (like in the introduction you see here) I reserved highlighter for dates and names.
Have a Conversation With the Author
This is one of the first tips that my high school teacher gave me and it’s really one of the most important ones to remember. And I know, it may sound kinda silly, but I find that it really helps me in developing my ideas and remembering exactly how I felt about a certain aspect of part of the text.
Whether the text is fiction of non fiction, anything in between, you can always do these few things
Ask questions- As if you were going to get an answer, ask questions, write them down and write down as many as you want. Writing things down helps people remember so then it is more likely that in a class discussion you will be able to recall your queries or wonders.
If you don’t like something, or you’re surprised by something, write it down! Use exclamation marks, use words that you would use in a regular conversation. I always write ‘WOW!!’ or ‘OMG’ when i’m especially impressed, and having such vocal- well written vocally- emotions will bring you closer to the subject of the text.
Talk to the characters as well, if you are questioning a character’s actions ask them and provide an explanation as to why you speculate they may have acted a certain way. Not only does that further contribute to your involvement (also making things more entertaining) but it also deepens your thought!
What i’m trying to say is write down anything that comes to mind, your first response is your true response, and it is a valuable addition to your notes! And if you want to write a whole essay in between the lines… Actually, i’ll come back to that later!
Pens, not Pencils
I used to make notes completely in pencil but my approach changed when I realized that overtime the pencil would rub off and get illegible. I think it was because I used my book so much, but having switched to pen I realized that it helps me in quite a few other things as well.
The good thing about pen is that you can’t erase it and let’s say you started writing down a note, scan down the page and realize what you are taking a note of is completely wrong. That’s ok! That’s actually really good! Don’t scribble out what you just wrote down, but instead continue and explain why you may have thought a certain way and what your understanding is now. That relates really closely to the previous note. Evidently pen also appears darker on the page, then there’s no possibility of it ever disappearing. It also won’t smudge or bleed as long as it’s ballpoint! That’s a good thing when drawing arrows between lines, underlining in addition to your highlights and circling/boxing whatever you deem necessary.
Time, Effort and Commitment
It’s clear that this post took me a while to make, and it took me a while to develop this system with all of the things that I have considered. So it must be self evident that using this type of annotation won’t be quick. It might get tiring at some times, and for me it really does, but at the end I find that it always pays off! You have to stay committed to this technique, you have to put in the same amount of effort for every page, which means you need time. So here are a few final general tips I will leave you with.
Don’t procrastinate! As goes for any task, and this one more than any, don’t waste time getting to it! I advice you check how many pages you have in total and make sure that you do a certain amount per day (usually 5-10 pages a day is good!)
If you go off on massive tangents in the side bars, make sure that you don’t get too distracted by them because they will take up a lot of your time. But one now and then may be good! Be sure to mark it for later reference!
Play mind games with yourself. This one is actually pretty interesting but it personally gets me a long way. If you have 20 pages left, don’t look at it as 20 pages but instead as 4 times 5, then the amount will seem a lot more manageable! It’s a kind of self encouragement!
That can also be said by looking now and then at how far your bookmark has moved through the book and giving yourself a pat on the back for all of you hard work!
That’s all I have for now! If you have any further questions for advice or explanation please message me and I will be more than happy to help! And I hope that this helps some people out too! (I’m counting this as 21/100 days of productivity as all I did today was related to annotating.)
“Having seen firsthand the way some counselors struggle to connect with their campers — to create money in the bank with them — I have put together the following list of practices that can help you do just that.
Take turns sitting next to different campers at each meal. Change it up so you get to hang out with all of your campers.
Make a point of walking and talking with one, two, or three of your campers together while going from one activity to another. This downtime is often when you hear more from your campers about what is going on among them as a group. It gives you the opportunity to connect with them more like a peer (even though we know you are not their peer). If you tend to walk alone or with other counselors, you are missing an important opportunity to connect with your kids.
Sit with different groups of your campers during rest hour and either talk, play a card game, or engage with them in some other quiet-time activity. Again, especially in the first few days of a new session, this is a terrific chance to connect more informally with your kids. If you tend to sleep during rest hour, once again you are missing a key opportunity to create money in the bank with them.
Make a checklist of things that you know about your campers. For example, do you know the favorite camp activity of each of them? Do you know if they have a pet at home and what their pet’s name is? (Talking about pets, who occupy a special place in many kids’ hearts, is an especially great way to make a more personal connection with most any camper.) Do you know what they are most looking forward to doing while at camp? Did they read an especially terrific book during the school year? What about a movie? A new hobby? A place they went on vacation? All of these are “keys” to connecting with your campers.
After a few days, check your list of “keys” (if you email me, I can send you my version of this handy bunk or cabin group list) to see which kids you seem to know well and which ones you still don’t have much of a connection with. Sometimes, seeing it written out on paper helps to focus where you may need to place more of your attention as a way of getting to know certain campers better.”
Camp staff discussion
What strategies do you use to manage your mental health at camp? Reblog with comments/tags or reply to start the discussion.
I like to talk things over with people, have a good cry, take breaks when I need them, and try to relax on days off.
Any tips for taking initiative? I’m always worried that I’ll make a wrong decision, especially because I’m on under-18 staff
Hi friend,
That’s a great question. Taking initiative can be little things that fit easily into your job but put you ahead. Always make sure that you’re doing your job and prioritizing it before your go above and beyond. Some easy ideas for taking initiative:
Be enthusiastic!
Help tidy the dining hall a little after meals with your kids if you’ve got time. Make it fun by singing songs or playing games.
Talk with the quiet campers.
Walk with the slow campers.
Give campers leadership opportunities.
Offer to lead songs or grace at meals.
Offer to help with campfires or all camp games.
Help unload the vans after a supply run if you’re in the area and have time. The kids can help too.
Help carry heavy things when you see someone struggling.
Make sure your kapers are always done and on time.
Come up with exciting games and activities for your kids beyond the regular camp activities. Play canoe tag or go all out for the color war.
Make sure that you’re always doing your job to your best ability.
Best of luck and have a great summer!
what to do when everything’s a mess
Wash your hair. Don’t worry about all those articles online about the best haircare products of 2019 and whatnot, get in, wash it like you usually do, get out. Leave it to air dry, it’s less work for you.
Brush your teeth. Even if you brushed them this morning and are probably going to brush it tonight, do it anyway. Especially if it’s exam time, all that tea or coffee you’re most likely downing (props to you if you only study with water) probably makes them feel kind of gross.
I know most of these lists tell you to run a bath, but let’s face it, for those of you who even have a bath in the first place, the thought of filling that tub and sitting there in complete silence for a couple hours seems like a trek. And ironically exhausting. So instead, just brush your hair, take a nap (set a nice soothing alarm) and once you’ve gotten out of bed, wash your face or at least splash cold water on your face.
CLEAN clean clean clean CLEAN. Easier said than done, but at least start by clearing one messy component of your area; it could be your floor, your desk or your bed. You don’t need to clean and re-organise your entire room marie condo-style for you to actually have a reason to take the time to clean in the first place. A little goes a long way, and you don’t ALWAYS need to do the hard yards ya know.
I would say read a book, but sometimes your brain is melting or buzzing so it can’t really focus on anything lengthy. So instead, find someone reciting a poem online, and just listen to it. I recommend Jeremy Irons and his voicing of tons of T.S Eliot poetry, or Allen Ginsberg reciting his own poetry (Howl is a classic).
If you’re one of those people who drowns their sorrows by listening to music, don’t listen to music!! Don’t reinforce your pain!! So to that I say, listen to a podcast. If the classic podcast genre of true crime is a little too stressful and you’ve already cried twice today, listen to interviews with actors, screenwriters and directors. It can be really refreshing to listen to people you already enjoy the content of talk about their work. I recommend Awards Chatter and Happy Sad Confused.
Stop staring at screens! Just physically sit outside for a bit, you don’t need to go for a jog or do a general workout, just…sit. People-watch, try and memorise the exact scene in front of you, from the mis-en-scene to all the colours and sounds and the way the sunlight feels on your eyelashes. Write it down if you want to, you could even denote a single notebook to your little outdoor descriptions. Or just write on a napkin. To each their own.
Have you eaten today? And I mean something hearty, something that isn’t primarily made out of air and salt. Something that falls under the umbrella of snack does not count; meal is more like it. If not, eat. Preparing food might feel exhausting, but so’s going a relatively long amount of time without something nutritionally substantial.
If you’re feeling emotionally heavily, get out a notebook or even just a scrap of paper, a pen and cry until your eyes are as blurry as can be. With tears down your cheeks, scribble out how you’re feeling. Don’t bother with how neat or messy it is, whether the sentences even stay on the lines, it’s not about being aesthetic. In fact, it’s about being as messy as possible. Let all of it out, and let is act as a physical manifestation of what’s going on in your head. Don’t fight it or deny it, relieve yourself by both constructing and understanding yourself.
Packing List 2.0, Part 2
Previously we covered what clothes to bring to camp. Here is a suggestion of what else to bring:
A rubbermaid tub - to keep all of this and your clothes in
A sturdy medium to large backpack. Not a sinch-sack (the square ones with string straps), they will wear into your shoulders towards the end of a long day and they don’t hold much.
2 or more water bottles, 20 ounces or bigger. I actually suggest 1 liter bottles like Nalgenes, especially if you do a lot of sports activities or go on longer hikes. I generally have 3 water bottles at camp.
A bandanna/headbands/hair ties
Personal hygiene items - toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush/comb, shampoo, conditioner, lotion (trust me on the lotion)
Clipboard - I personally like my opening clipboard, which has been thoroughly decorated.
Mess kit - I use one of those clamshell-esque plain aluminum
Hat - wear what you like. Most staff wear baseball caps. I wear a bucket hat covered in SWAPS.
Headlamp and flashlight
2 towels - one for showers, one for waterfront
Bed kit - sleeping bag, sheet to go under it (twin fitted sheets are like $5-8 at Walmart), blanket, pillow. Trust me, bring a real pillow.
Sunglasses, with UV protection
Laundry bag
Multitool - like a larger scale Swiss army knife
Kleenex pocket packs
Journal
Sharpies
A watch and battery-operated alarm clock
As with the clothes, you don’t need to get the fancy, top of the line stuff from REI. Walmart has pretty much everything on this list. Kroger and Target are also great options.
The only thing you may want to step up on is the backpack. I used to have an old Jansport, which was fine, but then I got a sweet Osprey in 2017 with a Camelback and I LOVE it. It is my favorite backpack and I use it in my personal life as well. Many camp staff are also outdoorsy and therefore already have a good hiking backpack. But a lot of people just use their old school backpack, like the no frills kind canvas not the laptop kind. Which can usually be found at Walmart/Target. Also thrift stores.
Post about theme day accessories to follow.
Clothing Packing List 2.0
I’ve done packing lists before (or reblogged them, idk). But here’s some general guidelines:
Basic packing list
6-7 short-sleeved shirts (such as t-shirts)
1-2 long-sleeved shirts, preferably a wicking material, such as polyester
1-2 sweatshirts/fleeces
1-2 pairs of jeans/long pants
1-2 pairs of shorts/capris
1 pair of leggings/sweat pants
6-10 pairs of socks
6-10 pairs of underwear
However many bras you need for 10 days, if you wear those
Raincoat
2 pairs of everyday shoes (hiking boots, tennis shoes) - something with ankle and arch support, not converse/vans
PJs
Specialty items: hot/muggy areas
Wicking material short-sleeved shirts - either substituted or in addition to t-shirts
Extra shorts
Zip-off pants - highly recommend if you’re in an area that cold in the morning and hot during the day such as low elevation mountains
Specialty Items: high elevation/cold areas
Extra long sleeved shirts, such as cuddle duds
A thicker jacket - maybe not a winter coat, but something between that and a sweatshirt
A non-cotton sweater-ish thing, such as a fleece. Fleece retains heat when wet.
Boots, kept in your car.
Wool socks - warm but wicking
Basically, I would suggest that you have enough clothes for 6-10 days, or however long in between your laundry cycles. You may want to pack more if you work a longer duration of time or if you have a living situation with a bit more space. Layers are your best friend because camps are often cold in the morning and at night but hot during the day.
Outdoor Fabrics
Cotton - the general fabric, what most t-shirts are made out of. Pretty versitle, fairly lightweight. Doesn’t retain heat while wet, takes a medium amount of time to dry out. Medium durability but easy to craft/customize.
Nylon/ polyester - a good base layer. Stretchy and thin. Some varieties are warmer than others (think cuddle duds vs Nike). Often found as sportswear. Dries quickly. Wicks moisture (draws it away from the skin). Insulating when used in layers.
Fleece - technically also polyester. Warm and retains heat while wet. Not particularly wind-proof. Excellent for a mid layer in winter or for wearing at night to sleep in. Also great for hiking.
Wool - also warm and wicking. The classic outdoor fabric. Great for socks (10/10 would recommend actual wool socks).
Waterproof stuff - rain gear (pants or coats). Thickness varies, from the super thin to that thick vinyl we all wore to elementary school in the 90s (I also wore this at the day camp, don’t judge).
Basically, t-shirts are fine for your everyday wear but if you’re in funky weather, it might be wise to wearing something different that will keep you more comfortable.
You can get many of these items at thrift stores, don’t feel like you need to go drop $150 at REI for your camp wardrobe. You do you, but you can make your budget work.
Posts about other items and ideas for theme day attire to follow.
I have $24 to last me til Friday, what should I buy with it?
What I want to teach my CITs
This is the earliest post in my drafts, started way back in September of 2015, when I first started this blog. And I wanted to share it with you now, with some new additions.
There are some things I want to teach my leadership girls while they’re at camp.
1. Camp is where girls go to escape the real world. Let them.
2. It’s ok if you are at camp to escape the real world too.
3. It’s ok to be overwhelmed. Just try not to let your girls see.
4. It’s ok to be confused, to need to ask questions. You will learn something everyday, no matter how long you have been at camp.
5. You will wonder what you are sending your kids home to. Is it the same love and acceptance of camp? Is it ambivalence? Is it something else entirely?
6. You will wonder because children say things. They trust you and so they tell you things. And because you see things, you watch how they act. And you will wonder.
7. You will never forget your campers. I remember campers from when I was a program aid, ten years ago, and I remember the name of every CIT from this summer (2015).
8. You will want to share life lessons with your campers, things you wish someone would have told you at their age. But then you realize that it’s camp and you can’t tell them. And so you hope they will learn on their own.
9. You will make mistakes, at camp and in life. I’ve made mistakes, I still make them. You just have to learn from them.
10. You will change while you are at camp. It is our experiences that shape us and camp is an experience with a shape that isn’t found anywhere else in the world.
11. Camp songs will be stuck in your head forever.
12. You will work with girls from all walks of life, all different experiences. Learn compassion.
13. You are loved and you are valid. Being a teenager is hard. Being a young adult is hard. But you’re not alone in this world.
14. Camp is an amazing place. Cherish it while you can because one day, not as far in the future as you may think, it won’t be in your life but will instead be a memory.
10 tricks you didn’t know you could do with your food.
By Blossom
Hey! So I just got hired as leadership director at a new camp and I feel super anxious and unqualified for it. I’ve been a uc and a ul but I’m still very nervous to have this new leadership position. Do you have any advice/wisdom/literally anything pls help
Hello anon! Sorry it’s been a bit, I’ve been on a 2200 mile road trip with my best friend.
First, congratulations! My summer as leadership director was my favorite summer ever and I look back on it fondly. I do remember feeling overwhelmed and underqualified when I started too. I had only ever been a UC at a day camp, so this was a big change.
I think my biggest piece of advice is to take time and bond with your kids. Learn more about them than their names and where they’re from. And encourage them to bond with each other. Your goal should be to make a community, and you should be part of it. And the friendships they make with each other will last for years.
One of your jobs is to be a mentor. You’re teaching them things, yes, but they are also learning by your example. They’re going to pick up on the things you do, good and bad. They will know when you are happy, when you are stressed, when you are excited to be somewhere, when you would rather be curled in your sleeping bag instead of chugging coffee in the vain hopes of waking up. So be conscious of that.
CITs are older, so they want to be seen as mature. So being honest with them is really important. Like my year we were all very clear with the CITs that being a counselor, while very rewarding, is stressful. And they learned that first hand, but we didn’t sugar coat it much if at all. When they decided to prank me by making me think one of them cut their hand open (like bad), we had a very frank discussion about why that wasn’t a good choice and what it really feels like when you think one of your campers is seriously injured. When we did night debriefs and they inevitably turned the question back on me, I answered. And when they saw that my eyes were puffy because I had been crying on my break and they asked about it, we talked about that too. Obviously I did not tell them all of the things that happened at camp or were happening with me, but I did try to be as honest as possible with them.
Part of your job that you might not have thought about is that it is now your job to protect your CITs. I love all the counselors at camp and they are absolutely, 110% wonderful. But their priority is their own campers, not necessarily the CITs. So it’s your job to make sure that they don’t get thrown in over their heads because that can happen. We as counselors get thrown into all sorts of situations, but we have admin to help out. That’s your responsibility to your CITs.
I love the CITs so much and I hope that you will have as great an experience as leadership director as I did. You’re always welcome to message me too. I wish you the best of summers.
Camp Playlist
Every camp staff knows the struggle of finding camp-appropriate music to jam to. So here’s my playlist of camp-appropriate songs (which I play while driving).
“Best Day of My Life” by American Authors
“Pompeii” by Bastille
“All American Girl” by Carrie Underwood
“Bubbly” by Colbie Calliat
“Bright” by Echosmith
“Immortals” by Fall Out Boy
“On Top of the World” by Imagine Dragons
“Don’t Stop Believin’“ by Journey
“Suddenly I See” by KT Tunstall
“Ho Hey” by the Lumineers
“Whole Wide World” by Mindy Gledhill
“Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield
“Home” by Phillip Phillips
“Fight Song” by Rachel Platten
“Life is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts
“Brave” by Sara Bareilles
“Geronimo” by Sheppard
“Anthem” by Superchick
“One Girl Revolution” by Superchick
“Shake it off” by Taylor Swift
“Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon
“Firework” by Katy Perry
“Story of My Life” by One Direction
“Renegades” by X Ambassadors
(various Disney songs)
Alright camp people of Tumblr, add on your favorite camp-appropriate songs.
How many times can you wear it between washes?
Via
New Counselor Packing Tips
Hiring season for summer camp is in full swing, and there are a lot of folks they’ll be counsel just learning they’s be counselors soon! Being a camp counselor is one of the best, most rewarding experiences out there, and that’s super exciting; but it’s hard to know what exactly you should bring and know before diving in.
Here are some packing tips to get you started.
Clothes
Pack about enough base outfits to last you two-three weeks, depending on how long you’re going to be there. (2-3 months, or a summer season, should only need 2 weeks of base outfits)
Shirts
Bring a few extra
Look for thin material, short sleeve/tank tops over long-sleeves (you can wear a sweater instead of a long-sleeve).
Flannels are never a bad idea!
Pants & Shorts
Whatever you can wear more than once, at least one pair of sturdy jeans.
Look out for big pockets! You can never have too much pocket space.
Undergarments
Bring about a week’s worth of extra underwear and socks
One or two pairs of brand-new, never-worn, super-comfy socks you can bust out near the end of the summer on a particularly exhausting day.
Look for comfortable and sports bras over under-wires and push-ups.
Jackets & Sweaters
Two-three jackets: one for rain, one for warmth, (optional) one for style.
Looks for sweaters you can wear under your jackets for more warmth, and light sweaters good for stuffing in a bag or sleeping in overnight. No more than 4-5 of these.
Pajamas
Two or three comfortable pairs, at least one pair of sweats for sleeping outside
Shoes
Invest in at least one pair of good shoes! You’ll be on your feet a lot.
Chacos, Keens, or Tevas are all good hiking sandals that most camp people swear by. I bought Chacos three years ago, and they’re still in great condition with fantastic fit and support.
Water-tight shoes are important and will save you from squishy feet if it rains.
Backup sneakers/walking shoes in case your’s get wet.
Flip-flops or shower shoes for showers.
Nice insoles for later in the summer will help you with burnout.
Something you can tie-dye: should be white, simple, and cotton. Polyester and active-wear fabrics won’t hold dye.
A set (or two) of nice/dressy clothes for breaks and staff events.
Swimsuit: modest, and bring one even if you don’t think you’ll use it.
Living Space
Bedding
A sturdy and warm sleeping bag (invest in a good one: my favorite ever is from L.L. Bean and has a flannel lining for maximum comfort).
Comfortable sheets: check with camp on how big the bunks are.
Top sheet can sometimes be sacrificed as a window cover/drapes.
Good pillow
Just bring one, but INVEST
Extra blanket
Something heavy and warm is good, even if it’s hot where you’re going or you run hot.
Laundry bag (can be used as extra packing space)
Fairy lights, small/portable lamp, and/or multiple night lights
Fairy lights are good for making a space feel more homey, lamps can be taken outside for campouts, and night lights are great for camper cabins and bathrooms.
Hanging shelves or pop-up bins for storage.
Shower mat (if your cabins have showers- be sure to check).
(Optional) Alarm clock with radio
Books
Something for you to read during breaks/before bed, maybe 1-2 books per month
A book with plenty of short stories to read campers to sleep with
I personally used “The Tales of Beedle the Bard”; just check which stories are camp appropriate before cracking them open.
Air freshener
Extra stuffy for homesick campers
Toiletries:
Small tote & shower caddy- look for fabric and canvas over hard plastic.
Extra toothbrush
Tums/Anti-Diarrheal (camp food is a gamble)
Bag balm
Tons of extra hair ties
Whatever you use at home (shampoo/conditioner, body wash, wash, etc.)
Towels
One for showering, one for the beach, plus a wash cloth.
If you have glasses, croakies.
Lock box for any valuables you have to bring + personal meds.
Electronics
Extra charger for your phone
Power bank for your phone
Otterbox or Lifeproof phone case
Bluetooth speaker (for breaks, cleanup, and if your camp allows phone music), or radio or CD player with speaker
Headphones + backup headphones
Downloaded music, podcasts, movies, etc.
Musical instrument if you have them
Something silly! A large flag, costume item, silly hat, etc.
One or two of these is plenty
Backpack & Daily Use
Bring something school backpack-sized, with lots of extra pockets. North Face makes amazing backpacks with hip & chest straps for excellent weight distribution. Also good are fanny packs (trust me), and smaller day packs.
Watch
Look for digital, waterproof watches, with alarms. Bonus if you can light up the face to see it in the dark.
Consider bringing a backup
Clipboard
Either get one that opens & closes (translucent is best), or a plastic sheet/folder to protect papers.
Sunglasses (polarized is good)
Sunscreen (+ backup)
Bug spray
Nalgene, camelback, or other good, high-capacity, sturdy water bottle.
Metal and glass should be avoided. Metal especially gets bent up very quickly.
Travel mug
Duct tape
Start with a big roll, get more later if needed.
Bungee cords (optional)
Pocket knife or multi-tool (check local laws on pocket knives)
Lighter (+ extras)
Flashlights or headlamps: 2-3
Hand sanitizer/baby wipes
Kleenex/napkins
Chapstick galore (bag balm also works for this)
Camera: small, durable, consider disposables.
Depending on climate: fan, minifan, and extra batteries.
Bandanas
Keeps the sun off you, can be soaked in water & placed on neck to cool down.
Hat (for shade)
Umbrella (for keeping the rain or sun off you & campers)
Writing/drawing supplies
Pens, markers, and sharpies you don’t mind lending out
One or two good mechanical pencils + eraser
Sharpies (lots)
Paper you can give to campers for on-the-spot drawing
Notebook/sketchbook for doodling and taking notes: small and spiral-bound is good.
Envelopes and stamps for sending letters
Tape, scissors, and a glue stick.
Sturdy deck of cards
I like to tape up the edges with duct tape or painter’s tape to prevent wear & tear
Friendship bracelet & lanyard supplies
Hemp, embroidery floss- a big pack off amazon is good- and maybe some plastic beads for decorations
Plastic string for lanyards
If you don’t know how, now’s a good time to teach yourself.
Durable fidget/stim toys
Good for campers with attention, hyperactivity, or sensory regulation
This is my favorite store for these toys!
Tea packets
Caffeinated black tea
Ginger tea for nausea
Hand/toe warmers
First Aid kit:
Aloe vera (for sunburns)
Band-aids (+ extra) (fun designs and characters are the best)
Alcohol swabs, antibiotic ointment
Safety pins, tweezers, and scissors
Gauze (many varieties), Q-tips, and cotton balls
Gloves
Ear plugs
Personal meds (first-aid kit should be locked if you have these)
Incl. ibuprofen or another anti-inflammatory pain med.
Emergency supplies:
A bit of rope
Fire starter (in case your lighter(s) go out)
Mirror (for emergency use)
Extra cash + quarters
Compass, whistle, emergency blanket
If you have room:
Extra pair of socks, underwear, and a very light, thin, small shirt.
Extra Tips
Overpack on:
Thin t-shirts and tank tops
Socks & underwear
Pads & tampons (If you need them)
Good shoes
Bandaids
Sunscreen
Flashlights
Sharpies
Tape (masking tape, duct tape)
Sunglasses
Chargers
Lighters
Pack less:
Non-essential items like hand/toe warmers, stim toys, writing utensils, and paper.
Art supplies, books, recreational activities that take up lots of space/weight
Purses, scarves, and fashion-only items.
Decorative items
IF YOUR CAMP PROVIDES THEM: first-aid and emergency supplies
When packing:
Choose thin, small, lightweight items over bulky and heavy items.
Thin fabrics for clothes, towels, and bedding
Look for items that do multiple jobs
Roll clothes instead of folding or stuffing.
Waterproof bags & bags that you can compress to remove excess air
Use these for clothes, bedding, towels, and stuffies.
Bags within bags to keep like objects together
Use bags with a purpose at camp (backpacks, hiking packs) for travel & packing.
Pack things inside other things: nalgene bottles can hold writing utensils, shoes can hold rolled-up socks, etc.
Wear your bulkiest items on the trip there & back (boots, thick jeans, long-sleeve shirt, bulky sweaters, bulky/for-warmth jacket).
Minimize the number of things you’re carrying on the trip there.
Good luck, and please add on if you think of anything else!
I have $24 to last me til Friday, what should I buy with it?
Practice SELF CARE!
What is your favorite thing to do with campers to pass time?
attention college freshmen/anyone feeding themselves for the first time
this is for you
it has come to my attention that some people are not feeding themselves properly bc they don’t know how to cook/aren’t sure how to cook on a budget. bc i am everyone’s mom (or at least everyone’s wise older sister) let me drop some very real Broke Rookie Cooking Knowledge. 2 of my favorite recipes are under the cut, both of which come out to $2 OR LESS PER SERVING.
-MAKE a MENU. pick out like 5 things you know how to make and buy JUST WHAT YOU NEED FOR THOSE THINGS. and also a few snacks, but otherwise, JUST THAT. don’t just buy some random-ass groceries you think you’ll need. (also, if you don’t know how to make 5 things, seriously just google simple dinner recipes. i used a “mississippi heirloom cookbook” my aunt gave me and got a ton of good ones.)
-tbh i don’t even buy snacks except for a giant box of cookies that lasts me like 2 weeks at a time and an assload of apples. snacking is bad for you, and if you don’t HAVE snacks, you can’t EAT snacks. fuck snacks.
-off-brand EVERYTHING. you think you can taste a difference? you CAN’T. get shit in cans. vegetables. pasta sauce. salsa. whatthefuckever. it all comes in cans, and it’s always cheaper. i have no idea why.
-whole grain bread and brown rice/pasta are not more expensive than the regular kind, and they keep you full longer. GET THEM.
-@ my americans, Dollar Tree has literally everything. every kitchen utensil. (it’s where i got my big-ass chef’s knife, and that bitch is still sharp.) dishes/cups. snacks. drinks. literal loaves of bread. all kinds of basics, from peanut butter to sriracha to progresso soup. some even have freezer sections. all for ONE DOLLAR. go to Dollar Tree first, then go to the grocery store for whatever you couldn’t find there. i s2g it saves me so much money. (they also have tupperware, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, EVERYTHING. for one dollar.)
-produce is way cheaper than you think. get some fresh vegetables. you really will start to feel like a bag of hot garbage if you don’t eat your veggies.
-COOK in ADVANCE. i work during the day and go to school in the evenings, then i come home and work out. lemme tell you, my ass does NOT wanna cook when im done with all that. cook shit in big quantities, stock up on tupperware (dollar treeeeee), and stick it in the fridge for later. when you’re exhausted and remember you have instant dinner already made, you will want to kiss yourself.
-find some sandwiches you love. make a lot of sandwiches. (pls for the love of God dont use kraft american singles tho. deli-sliced cheese is literally right next to it, and it is NOT more expensive.)`
-FUCK organic free-range shit. you got organic free-range money? GREAT. i sure as hell don’t, and neither do most people. don’t waste your money trying to live your foodstagram #goals while you’re young and poor.
-if you qualify for SNAP/EBT, GET THAT SHIT. there are some assholes out there that will tell you not to, to leave it for the ~real~ poor people. tell them, ‘motherfucker I AM REAL POOR.’ for real though, corporations take advantage of any assistance the government gives them and they still lobby for more. you’d be a fool not to do the same.
now some cheap-ass recipes
Keep reading
Advice on how to be a better counselor
Now taking suggestions
Hey camp friends!
I’m hoping to do more regular posting on this blog, possibly with more original content, like the queues I’ve done in the past. Does anyone have any requests? It can be something serious or silly, I’m open to all sorts of topics.
CBM Essentials
Our list of popular items that aren’t on the main packing list!
Chaco’s- this is by far the most important item on the list. Chaco’s are worn all day, every day by almost everyone aside from that one weird staff member with a pair of Teva’s. Why? They’re the most comfortable and versatile shoes out there. Just make sure that you give yourself a few weeks before camp to break them in to avoid blisters.
Flannels- Flannels are also very important to bring because of their many uses. They’re perfect for when it gets cold at night and in the morning, and for a wide variety of dress up days. The possibilities are endless.
Knee socks- Perfect to wear with your Chaco’s in the morning and make any dress up day outfit stand out in a crowd. Make sure that you have them in different colors for color war!
Nike Shorts- Jean shorts and fancy clothes are not necessary at camp besides services. You’ll need double what you think you need when it comes to nike shorts. You go through them super quickly since the dirtiness of camp doesn’t make re-wearing clothes too easy.
A decked out Nalgene- One of the marks of a super cool camper or staff member is a Nalgene covered in stickers. It just is. The more, the most different the better.
Long Sleeve Shirts- Perfect for nighttime activities and mornings. Always worn with nike shorts, never anything else. Theres nothing comfier than an old long sleeve shirt to keep you stylish and cozy.
Bandanas- Bring bandanas and bring lots of different colors. Having a variety of colors and patterns makes everything easier when it comes to color war and dress up days.
Patriotic attire- In the world of summer sleep away camp, patriotic and red white and blue is certainly not just for the fourth of July. An ENO- This is the second most important item on the list. No explanation needed whatsoever.
Somewhere between adolescence and adulthood there occurs in human development an age which is physically and psychologically impossible. It is that unfathomable stage known as the camp counselor, a creature undefined by psychologists, misunderstood by camp directors, worshiped by campers, either admired or doubted by parents, and unheard of by the rest of society. A camp counselor is a rare combination of doctor, lawyer, indian and chief. She is a competent child psychologist with her sophomore textbook as proof. She is an underpaid babysitter with neither television nor refrigerator. She is a strict disciplinarian with a twinkle in her eye. She is referee, coach, teacher, and advisor. She is an example of humanity in worn out tennis shoes, a sweatshirt two sizes too large, and a hat two sizes too small. She is a humorist in a crisis, a doctor in an emergency, and a song leader, entertainer, and play director. She is an idol with her head in a cloud of woodsmoke and her feet in the mud. She is a comforter under a leaky tarp on a canoe overnight, and a pal who just loaned someone her last pair of dry socks. She is a teacher of the outdoors, knee deep in poison ivy. A counselor dislikes waiting in line, cabin inspection and rainy days. She is fond of sunbathing, exploring, teaching new games, an old car named Mrs. Beasley, and days off. She is handy for patching up broken friendships, bloody noses, and torn jeans. She is good at locating lost towels at the waterfront, fixing stopped up toilets, making friendship bracelets, and catching fish. She is poor at crawling out of bed on rainy mornings, and remembering to fill out forms. A counselor is a friendly guide in the middle of a cold, dark, wet night on the long winding trail to the TLC. Who but she can cure homesickness, air out wet bedding, play 16 games of 4-square in succession, whistle “Dixie” through her fingers, carry all the cook-out food, speak Pig Latin in Spanish, stand on her hands, sing 37 verses of “You Can’t get to Heaven”, and eat four helpings of Sunday dinner. A counselor is expected to repair 10 years of damage to Jill in 10 days, make Julie into a woman, rehabilitate Judy, allow Joan to be an individual and help Gertrude adjust to a group. She is expected to lead the most prized possessions of 16 adults much older than she. She is expected to lead them in fun and adventure, even when her head aches; to teach them to live in the outdoors, even though she spends 9 months a year in the city; to teach them indigenous activities when she can’t even spell the word; to guide youngsters in social adjustment, when she hasn’t even reached a legal age; to ensure safety and health, with a sunburned nose, a band-aid on her thumb, and a blister on her heel. For all this she is paid enough to buy the second text in psychology, some aspirin, some new socks, two tires for Mrs. Beasley, and some new tennis shoes. You wonder how she can stand the pace and the pressure. You wonder if she really knows how much she is worth. And somehow, you realize that you can never pay her enough when, as she leaves at the end of the summer, she waves goodbye and says, “See ya next year!”
Phyllis M. Ford, 1970 (via colours-light)
This is what I aspire to
A Complete Guide for Packing for Camp
Step 1: Figure out your camp. At my camp, counselors move cabins every week, so we try not to bring TOO much stuff. If this is similar to your camp, plan on packing in something you are able to carry/roll/etc.
Step 2: Clear you schedule for at least a couple hours. This is gonna take longer than you thought. You might want to bring a snack and some water to your room too.
Step 3: Clean up your room and clear some space. You’re gonna have stuff laying around all over as you try to sort through what you are bringing and attempt to organize it all.
Step 4: Have a organization plan. I personally pack my big backpacking pack with bedding, sleeping bag, cabin junk, shoes, toiletries and other random things. Then I have a duffel bag for clothes, and towels. And I pack my day pack in advance too. (I also keep a backpack with my laptop that will rotate between staff lounge and my car).
Step 5: Make a list. Not necessarily for specific clothes, but rather for all the other little things that are lying around your room and house that you may have to go searching for.
Step 6: Pack.
Step 7: Double check your list. Put everything in a pile or in your car. Don’t leave anything unpacked lying around your room/car so you don’t forget it and not realize it until later.
TIPS:
a. Bring lots of tampons/pads. Campers may need them.
b. If you are going to want a comforting item (blanket, stuffed animal, boyfriend’s sweatshirt, etc.) BRING IT. You will not regret it. Find a way to fit it into your luggage.
c. I don’t care what your camp’s generic packing list says, bring A BILLION PAIRS OF SOCKS.
d. Bring a cute outfit or two. It’s nice to shower after campers leave and look cute for if only a few hours.
e. Have a shower/bathhouse bag.
f. Tie shoes to the straps of bags if you are running out of space.
g. You’re probably gonna wear the same few pairs of shoes all summer. (I have 2 pairs of sneakers, a pair of chacos (we can’t wear them when campers are here) and my barn boots. Don’t overestimate how many pairs you will wear.
h. I like to keep my car clean and organized as well, so I can keep extra stuff in there instead of the cabin.
i. Pack some silly clothes. Pack some big t-shirts. Pack a baggy sweater.
Can you post a really good packing list? including some fun items or things I would never think of. Thank you so much!! your blog is great and helpful
Thank you anon! I’m glad that you like my blog!
Here’s my packing list/suggestions.
Clothes:
Socks. A lot. Fun socks, if you can.
Old camp t-shirts. I pretty much wear only camp shirts, and you’re guaranteed that they’re camp appropriate.
Shorts and pants, in whatever style floats your boat. I like cargo - cargo shorts, cargo pants. They’re comfy and all the pockets are really useful. I also wear jeans a lot too. Make sure your shorts aren’t too short, especially if your camp has a stricter dress code.
Overalls. Comfy, lots of pockets, and fun.
A swim suit or two (depends on how much swimming there is at your camp).
Swim shirt (everybody)/swim shorts (peeps wearing the one-piece swim suits). This is a matter of personal preference, but I really like having extra covering and it’s less to put sunscreen on. Plus, less of a chance of sunburn.
Hats. Sun hats, ball caps, beanies, weird hats, etc.
Bandannas. I have a thing for bandannas, so I bring a bunch, but not everyone does. I use them for headbands, as a hair cover/hat, as a decoration. They’re super useful.
A couple of sweatshirts/flannels/sweaters.
A long sleeve shirt (or two)
Raincoat!
A regular coat (unless your regular coat is also a
Shoes! Hiking boots, sturdy sneakers, flipflops for the shower, whatever sandals/water shoes you can have at waterfront.
PJs/sweatpants. I am forever happy that I brought sweatpants to camp last summer.I also have a rubber duckie onsie. I don’t actually sleep in it, it’s just for dress-up days.
Weird clothes you have laying around - I’ve got a cape, a Harry Potter tie, purple tie-dyed leggings, costume jewelery, extra crazy mismatched socks, and a crazy abstract space dress (it was part of a Luna Lovegood cosplay).
*these clothes reflect the camp that I work at, which gets really cold. You might need to adjust if you work in somewhere really hot/muggy all the time. Also, we have a fairly conservative dress code.
Other stuff
A headlamp AND a flashlightI have a lantern that I use in my tent and I really like that too.
Sunscreen, bugspray, chapstick (lots of chapsticks, you will loose them)
Your general toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste/toothbrush, hair brush, sanitary items, etc)
Stationary/notebooks, envelopes, postcards, and stamps
A camera!
Your trusty sleeping bag, a pillow, and perhaps a blanket too
A sturdy backpack
2 towels - one for lake, one for showers
2-3 water bottles. No they don’t need to be name brand Nalgenes, just make sure they’re sturdy and don’t leak. Bonus points if you put stickers on them.
Sunglasses
Laundry bag
Rubbermaid tote (to put all of this in)
Mess kit (if you need one)
Comfort items - I posted about self-soothing a little bit ago. I bring things like tea and a stuffed bunny. I’m bringing a few sensory items to put in a place that all the CITs can get to too.
Lotion. With all the hand washing and sanitizing, your hands will dry out.
A journal. I write down the funny things and the things that I need to tell someone, but can’t for confidentiality reasons.
A clipboard. I like the ones that close and open. They’re waterproof and hold a lot of stuff. My phone actually fits into mine along with a ton of paperwork. I also decorate it with camp photos, camper notes, and stickers.
Sharpies
A multi-tool (think heavy duty Swiss army knife). Ask about your camp’s policy.
Hairbands - if you have long hair
Kleenex packs to stash in your backpack.
I might come back and edit/add to this later.