• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Fresh Flavorful

  • Recipes
  • Entertaining
  • Adventuring
  • About
  • Clients
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Entertaining
  • Adventuring
  • About
  • Clients
  • Contact
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Entertaining
  • Adventuring
  • About
  • Clients
  • Contact
×
Home » Creating

Summer Camp Essentials Care Package Ideas

Published: Jul 8, 2016 · Modified: Jan 23, 2023 by Tristin Rieken · 2 Comments

A Summer Camp Essentials + Camp Care Package so you can send your kid off for outdoor fun at sleepaway camp packed like a pro!

Sleepway camp summer camp at camp kirby samish island

As days get longer and warmer it’s time to think about the kids off to summer camp. With this guide full of camp essentials and lots of the fun stuff you can prevent making the mistakes I’ve made, and pack like a pro from the get-go!

Learning from past camp packing mistakes

I’ve learned about packing for camp over the years. The first time I sent my daughter off to camp I had no idea what I was doing and made so many mistakes! There wasn’t a lot of information online about what kids REALLY need at camp it had been quite a few years since I had been myself.

I way over packed sending Chayce to camp on her first year with a backpack, duffel bag, huge sleeping bag, multiple pillows AND a full size rolling suit case. Which her Dad then had to wheel up the gravel hill, with parents and campers looking on, to her tiny shared cabin. The only camper equipped with luggage rather than the standard backpack. It was embarrassing, for everyone.

teepees on the beach at Camp Kirby, Samish Island, WA

It didn’t end there, though. I thought I was being such a great mother and a day after she left for camp I mailed out a super cute letter and a few surprises thinking that she would be so surprised when she received them.

Flat package camp care package

The package didn’t arrive at camp until two days after we picked her up from camp.

Que the MAJOR Mom-guilt.

This year she’s downsizing and I’m getting prepared early.

camp care package ideas flatlay

Summer camp essentials + some things just for fun

Standard essentials and bonus activities make it virtually impossible for camp to be anything but fun for both her and her bunkmates.

friends in the water at the beach at sunset

Please note: ONE armed MAMA is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. And these customized links, provided by Amazon, track the referrals to their website for the purposes of assigning commission on these sales.

Camp essentials

  • sleeping bag
  • water shoes
  • raincoat + sweats/pajamas + slipper socks + warm clothes
  • travel size toiletries + bug spray + sunscreen
  • swimsuit + towel + sunglasses
  • backpack or travel pack
  • water bottle
  • flashlight

Fun summer camp additions

  • camp journal
  • notecards for writing home
  • diy henna, nail polish, glitter tattoos, hair chalk, friendship bracelets, etc.
  • playing cards
  • glow sticks
  • instant camera + film + batteries
  • coloring book + colored pencils + stickers
  • mad libs
  • cute postcards
  • stickers
  • bubble gum
  • face mask singles and pore strips to turn the bunk into a mini spa
camp care package ideas flatlay
  1. water shoes from Native shoes
  2. journal for writing about camp, signatures and phone numbers from new friends, and taping in little souvenirs and pictures.
  3. Glow bracelets’
  4. beach towels like fouta towels can be used in so many ways – as a towel, a blanket, a shawl or a wrap skirt!
  5. water bottle
  6. comfy slippers and warm socks
  7. fun lip gloss from TonyMoly
  8. coloring book Tangle Wood
  9. art supplies pens from Staedler or Le Pen, colored pencils, washi tape, etc
  10. temporary tattoos
  11. reading material –  Most camps are technology free so it’s nice for the kids to have some books or magazines to revive their interest in actually reading something that they can physically hold.
  12. embroidery floss for doing Hair Wraps or making friendship bracelets
  13. playing cards
  14. nail art markers and nail polish remover pen
  15. flashlight
  16. instant camera and film
  17. sunscreen

Camp care package ideas

Many of these items can also be sent in a care package.  Which I will be sending a few days before she leaves this time around.

More summer camp packing inspiration

Check out my updated Summer Camp Packing Guide with more information and summer camp essentials for school aged boys as well!

the cabins at Camp Kirby

Pin for later!

A Summer Camp Essentials + Camp Care Package so you can send your kid off for outdoor fun packed like a pro! how to pack for summer camp | sleepaway camp | camp care package ideas

More Creating

  • Creamy Chai Spiced Hot Buttered Rum is a warm cocktail for winter that uses all the traditional hot buttered rum ingredients plus a little extra spice for a delicious hot buttered rum variation. hot buttered rum cocktail | hot buttered rum variations | hot buttered rum recipe | how to make hot buttered rum | chai hot toddy
    Creamy Chai Spiced Hot Buttered Rum
  • Green hot sauce and red homemade hot sauce in bottles.
    Homemade Hot Sauce
  • Food Trends 2023 report is a simple summary of annual food forecast research from top global hospitality and food and beverage consultants in the industry. food trends | food trends 2023 | current food trends
    Food Trends 2023
  • Close up shot of sumac berries and drupes after being harvested with sumac leaves also.
    How to Forage for Sumac
667 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

If you make this or any of Fresh Flavorful recipes be sure to share! Tag @freshflavorful on instagram or post a photo to the Fresh Flavorful Life Facebook page. Can't wait to see what you're making!

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Mintu Das

    November 07, 2016 at 6:14 am

    Thanks

    Reply
  2. Jane Smith

    November 30, 2016 at 4:19 am

    One of the things I've learned in camping is to make sure I opt for excellent brands that won't let me down. For the best folding knife, I really swear by the Chris Reeve Small Sebenza 21. This product is very lightweight and compact. It's a good utility knife and a proven crowd-pleaser. It's so useful and I don't leave the house today without a folding kniefe. For more http://myoutdoorslife.com/gear/camping-and-hiking/the-best-folding-knife.html

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Tristin Rieken, Welcome to Fresh Flavorful where I hope to inspire you with simple seasonal recipes and ideas to eat deliciously, entertain easily and adventure often.

More about me →

Popular

  • Fresh bright purple cookies with white chocolate stacked on a tray with frozen blueberries scattered around in addition to the blueberry cookie tray.
    Chewy Blueberry Cookies

  • Cranberry cookies that are bright maroon red and covered with coarse sanding sugar to look like sparkling sugar plums are stacked high on a plate with fresh cranberries scattered around the foreground.
    Sparkling Sugarplum Cranberry Cookies

  • Banana Chiffon Cake a light, fluffy cake with tender bite and rich banana flavor. chiffon cake | chiffon cake recipe | chiffon cake with lemon glaze | ripe banana recipes
    Banana Chiffon Cake

  • Bright purple blackberry iced tea with cream garnished with lavender and fresh blackberries
    Blackberry Tea Iced Tea Latte

  • Stack of cool, creamy, chewy, crunchy rocky road chocolate macaron ice cream sandwiches.
    Rocky Road Macaron Ice Cream Sandwiches

  • Overhead view of vintage cut glass punch bowl with citrus slices and citrus and cranberry ice cubes in the beautiful bright pink cranberry paloma punch.
    Cranberry Citrus Paloma Punch

Seasonal

  • Candied Rhubarb Ribbons are the perfect chewy, sweet rhubarb recipe to enjoy as a snack or as a garnish for desserts and cocktails. candied rhubarb | sugared rhubarb | rhubarb recipe | dried rhubarb
    How to make Candied Rhubarb Ribbons

  • A mason jar filled with pink grapefruit and rhubarb paloma cocktail garnished with a rhubarb ribbon.
    Rhubarb Paloma Cocktail

  • Rhubarb Crumble on a blue plate with a scoop of bright white vanilla ice cream.
    Quick Rhubarb Crumble

  • Light blush pink mimosa in a coup glass with a bottle of champagne in the background and garnished with a rhubarb ribbon.
    Rhubarb Mimosa

See more Rhubarb →

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About Me
  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact
  • Services
  • Media Kit

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Fresh Flavorful on the Feast Plugin

667 shares