6 Ways to Get Ready for Day Camp

By Amy Crelly

1. Make it low-maintenance
It shouldn’t be the end of the world if your campers’ clothes get stained, torn or go missing. Likewise, brand-new gear won’t make their day camp experience any better. (Nothing says “ouch” like a hike around the lake in never-been-worn shoes.) So, remember: those s’mores stains, tree branch snags, and mixed-up hoodies are badges of summer camp fun, and all the more reason to buy gently used items or just dust off old gear.

2. Label kids’ gear
Day camp means never having to spend a day packing, right? It certainly makes getting ready easy, but if you want your little one’s stuff to stay with them (particularly if your child inherited that absent-minded professor gene), it doesn’t hurt to label items. Fabric pens, iron-on tags and sticker labels make it easy.

3. Cut the cord…
Cut the cordless too! Make camp an electronics-free zone—even if the camp allows them (most likely, it doesn’t). “Unplugging” kids helps them reconnect with nature, real-life friends, and new experiences—the kind that don’t depend on an iPod, cell phone or Internet connection. It also spares campers the responsibility of guarding their favorite tech toys against loss or theft. With day camp especially, kids aren’t likely to suffer from tech withdrawal. You probably won’t miss that afternoon check-in call, either, since they’ll be home in time to share their day’s adventures over dinner.

4. Let counselors in the loop
In the hustle and bustle of getting ready for summertime adventures, remember to tell counselors directly if your child has any allergies, whether to foods, bee stings or medications. Speaking of meds… You’ll want to let counselors know if your child is on medication, or if your child is going off medication for the summer, since both can affect kids’ behavior. Likewise, if your family has suffered a loss, is going through separation or divorce, or has experienced some other emotional difficulty, you may want to share this with the camp’s counselors. The more they know, the better equipped they’ll be to meet your child’s physical and emotional needs.

5. Do your homework
Read those camp materials (policies and procedures, etc.). Knowing what to expect—and what is expected of you—will help things run smoothly. If there’s an open house event that will let you meet the staff and see the facility ahead of time, attend it! If not, arrange to introduce yourself and visit before camp days start. If your child cannot participate in certain activities or needs special care, make sure you—not your child!—inform the camp’s staff.

6. Get your camper stoked!
Mark the calendar: shopping for supplies, Camp Open House, and, of course, FIRST DAY OF CAMP! If you have a day-by-day schedule of activities, you can mark those down, too. A quick shopping trip (for those little things like sunscreen, bug repellant, and maybe a new-favorite tee) can have that Back-to-School excitement effect for kids who still need a little encouragement. As you count down together, remember to share your own happy camp memories (the friends you made, what you learned, and all the fun stuff you did). There’s nothing like a little contagious enthusiasm to help kids look forward to that first day.