Packing Advice

Last week, we received some WONDERFUL advice from parents on packing for camp. Many of you new parents had some great questions too. You’ll also want to make sure to check out our Packing For Camp and our Visual Packing page to find even more answers to your packing questions.

The number one Packing Tip from our seasoned Greystone parents was to use Ziplock bags. Parents use them in 2 different ways:

1.Use them to sort all of one item together – put all your socks in one, all your underwear in one, etc. One parent even mentioned putting all random “extras” in a bag (hat, sunglasses, small costumes – that sort of thing).
2.Use them to put one whole outfit together – put a shirt, shorts, and socks into one bag so that each outfit is already together and ready to use.

Most parents will put these Ziplocks into their daughter’s big drawer under the bed, for easy accessibility. Many parents also commented on how using Ziplocks help to keep clothes organized, fresh, and dry.

Here are some of our other favorite packing tips:

•Pack your socks inside of your shoes to save room
•Do not forgot warm clothes/clothes for the rain!! Last year my girls didn’t have enough because I didn’t think it would rain as much as it did!!
•On Opening Day I bring duck tape, extra batteries, zip lock bags and trash bags just in case something happens when we get there
•Pack at least 3 swimsuits so that if you have multiple swim activities in one day, you don’t have to wear a cold, wet swimsuit!
•Buy a name stamp; it makes labeling a piece of cake! (Check out our info on Name Bubbles)
•Bring several pairs of white clothes…they get dirty easily!
•Use space bags for towels, linens, etc. – suck the air out to take up less space
•Make sure that everything is secured in a bag or trunk, that way nothing gets lost on Opening Day
•Bring a lot of fun costumes!
•Roll your shirts and towels to make more space
•Remember to pack bunk decorations
•PACK RAINWEAR
•Bring more than one pair of tennis shoes!
•Remember to pack a bag to carry around to all your activities (like a bookbag or tote bag)

We also received some great questions from new parents; here’s some answers to our most commonly asked questions:

What extras will I likely forget and need, which are not on the suggested packing list?
Bunk decorations are something many girls enjoy…not necessary, but most campers bring something to hang up on their bunk. Also, bring something to do during rest hour – stationery, books, magazines to look through, etc. The suggestion above about bringing duct tape is a good one – never know when you might need that.

What different types of shoes should I bring?
We actually threw this one out to our Instagram crowd, and received some great responses from campers. The shoes mentioned over and over were tennis shoes, Crocs, Chacos, and rainboots. Many campers mentioned bringing 2 pairs of tennis shoes, which is a GREAT suggestion. Other shoes mentioned were cowboy boots, Keens, nice shoes to wear on Sunday for church, flipflops, and riding boots.

Do I need to bring a dress, and if so, what color does it need to be?
June, Main and August campers will attend church on Sundays, so you will need a simple dress or skirt/shirt combo. No specific color – anything is fine!

How much clothing do I actually need to pack for my daughter (August camp)?
We get asked this question a lot! We recommend a 10-day supply of clothes due to the possibility of rainy weather or colder days. Your daughter will also have her laundry done one time while she is at camp. Due to the rotating schedule, it isn’t always half-way through camp; some campers will do laundry within a few days of arriving, and some will wait a week to do laundry. You can gauge what all you need, but we do recommend sending a 10-day supply.

Do you recommend an extra set of sheets/linens?
This question is really a matter of preference. We provide sheets and blankets, but many people do bring their own; as we don’t wash personal sheets, you’d need to bring more than one set, as we do change sheets during most sessions. If your daughter would feel more comfortable in her own bedding, then bring it! However, really not necessary, as our jersey blankets are great.

Did we forget anything? Have more Packing Advice? Comment on this post so that everyone can see what you’d suggest!