Before you want to judge, and make snide comments about how over the top this list is, let me explain.😕Last summer when Hailey was going to sleep away camp for the 1st time, like all 1st time mothers I did not even know where to start.😱😰😩I asked on various Facebook groups, emailed veteran sleep away camp moms, and many helpful people gave me suggestions. So I compiled various resources and came up with my very own list. OF COURSE Hailey did not bring everything on this list…(although her camp director may beg to differ 😜). But I found this list very exhaustive and helpful. It gave me a starting point.

I know some of you are even thinking SLEEPAWAY CAMP…the horroooooorrrrrr 😳😳😳, how can you send your child away and not be with them all summer…I hear ya. I really really reaaaaallllly do. It took me a long time to “come around”, and to be honest I never fully did come around… if you will. We felt like for our family the compromise was a one month camp(3.5 week) instead of 7 weeks. For yeaaaaaarssss after discussing with what felt like, millions of people, after being what felt like, pelted with judgmental and persistent rocks,  and after being for a lack of better words “a worn down woman”, I finally conceded and understood the merits of sleep away camp.😐😍 I read tons of articles on the topic (sent to me by friends, and was tagged in various articles on FB(you know who you are)) and listened to countless friends tout sleep away camp as the. best. years. of. their. lives. I came to decide that there must be something to be said if this opinion was almost unanimous, I guess I’m just missing something. I never went to sleep away camp, I guess growing up in Queens and being Catholic💒🗽, it just wasn’t popular, and too many families including my own could not afford it.💰❌ My siblings and I just spent the summers just hanging out with our family and friends, going to the beach, riding bikes, playing with neighbors, going on vacations (driving down to Rehoboth Beach- save for another post, and just being like an average kid during summer vacation. But even still, even understanding all the positives and benefits of sleep away camp, I still could not would not did not feel like I could ever let these summers go by without spending time with my kids. 10 days at the end of summer just doesn’t cut it for me.

The summer is the BEST TIME of the year and there is way too much I want to do with my kids. I will never want to live with regrets, on the summers gone by that I didn’t spend with my kids while they were young. We like to travel, we like to do things as a family, we like to relax, we like to have fun together, we just like to DO….(as you may or may not have realized by now LOL). Hailey wasn’t even dyiiiing to go to camp, but because that’s what almost all of her friends do around here (and you don’t have to reprimand me and say you don’t need to follow the crowd), unfortunately I felt like the choice was taken away, and the seed was planted in her head and she was curious. She was excited enough to do one month but that was enough for her AND for us. Being open minded and willing to learn about other ways of parenting I felt comfortable and EXCITED for her to try this amazing experience I’ve heard so much about. Thankfully we found the perfect camp for us: Timberlake West. It gave us the best of both worlds! She had a wonderful experience, awesome counselors, and made many new amazing camp friends across the Tri-State area!

Let it be KNOWN, that I know thousands of kids LIVE FOR SLEEPAWAY CAMP,(hence the saying LIVE 10 FOR 2) they count down the days till camp starts again literally from the day they get back home. That is so wonderful and amazing! Maybe one day my kids will be like that too. You never know.😉 Sleep away camps definitely provide kids with experiences that no matter how hard parents try, you just can’t replicate. They get to try out a myriad of activities and new things that they don’t have access to at home, they get to just be KIDS, they put the technology away for a few months, and build friendships with bunkmates from around the world. So you can see how for many families this experience is priceless. Instead of looking at it as a punishment, or parents “getting rid of the kids”, many people look at it as a financial sacrifice that is treasured. It is a reward. A gift for their child. We loved that she had this experience and you can be sure that on visiting day 2 weeks in when we saw her it was one of the best moments of our lives!

Thankfully 2 weeks after visiting day, she came home and we had the next 5 weeks to be spend together as a family. The summer was just beginning for us…we were whole again.

Anyway, I digress…so back to “THE LIST”.📑 So I put together my list last year, and posted it on FB, and got mixed reactions. Some people were very thankful 🙌🏽 and some people rolled their eyes. 🙄 Hmmm. Oh well. Moving on. So here it is, take from it what you need and dispose of the rest. Keep in mind the list is more skewed towards girls because thats what I was packing on in 2015. Obviously your camp my have different rules, or it may be a uniformed camp. Do not take this as The Bible…although I do like how that sounds- “The Bible of Sleepaway Packing”📖 😝…I’m a very visual and organized person, so I like not having to reinvent the wheel and rethink about things every year I just want to LOOK.👀 I prefer to go down the line and check things off like a robot. 🤖✅

Oh and by the way…if this parenting thing gets tiring in a few years🙃, there’s a GREAT chance you will find Shane and Skyler, trunks packed and shipped out to a 7 week camp…and you will find me with my tail wagging between my legs! 😜

👬💼💼👓⛺️7️⃣🏊🏻⚽️🏀🏈⚾️🎾🏌🚣🏽🎨🎤🎬

 

Sleep away camp packing list:(girls or boys)

 

2 Embroidered SOFT BIG TRUNKS(with camper’s name)

 

CLOTHING:

4 Camp Shirts (usually have to be ordered)

2 Camp Sweatshirts (usually have to be ordered)

Camp Shorts

Shirts in Camp Colors for Color War

 

T-Shirts

Tank Tops

Malibu Sugar Tank Tops

Long Sleeve Shirts

4 Sweatshirts

Dressy Shirts

Dress Pants

Dresses (for Banquet)

Sports Jerseys

 

Mesh or Cotton Shorts

Jean Shorts

Fancy Shorts

3 Jeans

Leggings

Capris

Skirts

4 Sweatpants

Sports shorts

 

Sports Bras

Bras

20 Pairs of Underwear

20 Pairs of Socks

2 Pairs of High Socks (for Sports)

8 Bathing Suits ( 4 bikini and 4 one piece)/trunks

8 Pajama Tops

8 Pajama Bottoms (4 Shorts and 4 Pants)

1 Bathrobe

 

Warm Jacket (Fleece)

Light Jacket (Windbreaker)

1 Rain Jacket (Charles River or K-Way)

Denim Jacket

 

1 Hair Towel

1 Spa Wrap

2 Gymnastics/Dance Outfits

Bandana

 

ACCESSORIES:

Cosmetic Case

Mirror

Hair Accessory Case

Makeup

2 Pairs of Sunglasses

1 Day Bag/Back Pack

Pocketbooks

Wallet

Watch

Necklaces

Bracelets

Rings

Earrings

Color Hair Spray

Hair Chalk

Make-up

Lip Gloss

Headbands

Umbrella

2 Hats

1 Visor

1 Wallet or Change Purse

2 Pairs of Goggles

Tattoos

 

TOILETRIES:

2 Toothbrushes

2 Hairbrushes

Body Soap

Body Lotion

Deodorant

Shampoo/ Conditioner

Mosquito repellants

Black hair ties

Bandaids

Nail clippers/file

Nail polish

Bug Spray

Sunscreen

2 Wet Bag for bathing suits

 

 

SHOES:

2 Pairs of Sneakers

2 Pairs of Flip Flops

1 Pair of Shower Flip Flops

1 Pair of Rain Boots

1 Pair of Cleats

1 Pair of Nice Sandals (for night time)

1 Pair of Nice Sneakers/Shoes (for night time)

1 extra laces

1 Pair of Slippers

1 pair of Uggs

 

BATH/BEDDING/LAUNDRY:

Towels (Shower and Pool)

1 Loofah

1 Comforter

1 Blanket (to put on top of Comforter)

2 Sets of Sheets

2 Pillows

4 Pillow Cases

1 Waterproof Mattress Pad

2 Laundry Bags

2 Mesh Sock Bags

1 Egg Crate Mattress Pad

1 Sleeping Bag

1-2 Throw Pillows

Stuffed Animal(s)

Autograph Pillow

 

BULKY ITEMS:

1 Camp Ground Chair

1 Shower Caddy

1 Storage Caddy for extra Toiletries (to put in bathroom cubby)

Under The Bed Storage Box BIG

Under The Bed Storage Box MEDIUM

Cubby Cubes for keeping clothes neat

1 Lock Box

1 Clipboard

1 Caboodle

1 box for Bath and Body Works Kind of Stuff

1 Set of Plastic Drawers

1 Set of Plastic MINI Drawers

1 End of Bed Shoe Bag

Lap Desk

 

MISCELLANEOUS AND EVERYTHING ELSE:

2 Flashlights

Tiny screwdriver

1 Hanging Light for bed

1 Big Battery Operated Fan

2 Fun Fan (to carry around)

1 Clock

Pictures

Photo Album

Picture Frame

2 Water Bottles

1 Spray and Mist Water Bottle

1 Spray Mist Fan

Name Labels (pack some if needed at camp)

Extra Ziplock Bags

1 Large Beach Towel

Batteries (extra set of batteries for all battery operated items)

Spending Money (to put in front office)

Roll of Quarters (Soda/Juice Machine)

 

STATIONERY:

Address Book

Stationery packs

Address Labels ( with home, family and friends addresses)

Pre-addressed envelopes to family and friends

Keep In Touch Cards

Stamps

Envelopes

Pens/Pencils

Crayons and Markers

1 Plastic File for Mail

 

BUNK JUNK AND OTHER STUFF:

1 Bunk Junk Organizer

Dry Erase Board

1 Friendship Bracelet Organizer

Duct Tape

1 Scrapbook

Fatheads

Cling Its

Posters

Wall Decals/Gel Gems

Glow in the Dark Decals/Stickers for Walls

 

COLOR WAR STUFF: (one in each color put in the Color War Bag)

fur hair

colored hair spray

hair extensions

hair ties

soft headband

headbands

tutu hairpiece

 

tutu in red

gloves

neck tie

socks

suspenders

 

nail polish

megaphone

pompoms

rubber bracelets

stickers

jewelry

glasses

face paint

whistle

tattoos

mustache

Bracelets

Necklaces

 

 

KEEPING THEM BUSY:

1 iPod/itouch

2 iPod Chargers

2 Pairs of Headphones (over the ear and ear buds)

1 Digital Camera/ Polaroid Camera

2 Disposable Cameras

Polaroid Camera

Polaroid Film

Small Speakers

Trading Cards

Books

Activity Book

Activity Pads

Magazines

Sticker Book

Stickers

Trading Cards (Sports)

Trading Cards Book/Box

Jacks

Mancala

Playing Cards

Uno

Pick Up Sticks

Silly String

Water Balloons

Mad Libs

Journal

Crayons

Markers

Duct Tape

String for Friendship Bracelets

Rainbow Loom (Accessories and Loom Bands

Book Light

Fabric Markers

 

SPORTS EQUIPMENT:

Cleats (Soccer and Baseball)

Basketball Sneakers

Baseball or Softball Glove

Hockey Stick

Lacrosse Stick

Tennis Racquet

Bike/Zipline/Rollerblading Helmet

Shin Guards

Rollerblades

Gaga Gloves

Frisbee

Knee Pads/Wrist Pads

Golf Clubs

Mouthguard

Sleeping Bag

For Boys: Athletic Cup

For Girls: Sports Bras

 

TO DO BEFORE CAMP BEGINS:

 

********DONT FORGET A BUNK GIFT FOR WHEN THEY ARRIVE, SENT INSIDE YOUR TRUNKS- WHICH WILL BE PICKED UP ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE CAMP, WHEN YOUR TRUNKS ARE UNPACKED THEY SHOULD PUT THE GIFT FOR YOUR CHILD ON THEIR BED WAITING FOR THEIR ARRIVAL********

 

********PACK A BUS BAG (SNACKS:(BEWARE OF ALLERGIES), STUFF YOU FORGOT TO SEND IN TRUNKS, A FEW ACTIVITIES TO KEEP THEM BUSY (WHICH WILL GO UNUSED LOL), ITOUCH IF THEY ARE ALLOWED, OR ANY OTHER JUNK YOU CAN THINK OF LAST MINUTE THAT WILL KEEP THEM HAPPY ON THAT MIXED EMOTION DAY😀😰******

 

GOOD LUCK MY FRIENDS…GOOD LUCK! HAPPY PACKING!!! 😬😬😬😬