The Ultimate Camp Guide — Everything You Need to Pack, Send, and Know Before Drop Off
My complete camp prep guide, the products I swear by and a smoothie bag recipe that will save your mornings all summer long
Camp season is here and I’ve got one camper heading off to sleep away camp this year. There’s always a LOT of prep involved but after doing this for a few years I feel like I have a good sense of what the kids actually need and fun finds to make the whole experience even more epic.
This is everything I have been buying, doing and organizing to get my kiddo ready for camp this summer — plus a smoothie bag recipe that has been saving my mornings and will absolutely save yours too. Upgrade your subscription to access the recipe!
Let’s get into it.
The First Thing You Need — Labels for Everything
Before anything else goes into that trunk every single item needs a label. I cannot stress this enough. Clothing, water bottles, toiletries, electronics, bedding — everything. If it is going to camp it needs a name on it otherwise you’re not getting it back and your kid might not get it back after its first trip to the laundry at camp.
We’ve been using Mabels Labels for years and I am their biggest fan. They are waterproof, dishwasher safe, laundry safe and they stay on through an entire summer of camp life (and through the school year) without peeling or fading. I put them on everything and I mean everything — and I have never had a single item come home without a label still firmly attached.
The best part — they have labels for every single surface. Iron on labels for clothing. Stick on labels for water bottles and lunch boxes. Shoe labels. Tag labels. Whatever you need they have it and it is the most satisfying thing to sit down and label everything before drop off. My kids love picking their designs too which makes it feel like part of the fun.
Use code PREPRALLY for 15% off your entire order → MABEL’S LABELS
What I’m Packing — Clothing
Camp clothing needs to be practical, durable and cute enough that they actually want to wear it without costing too much because it usually gets ruined anyway. my 10 year old, Jolie is tiny but she has a very sophisticated style. I’ve been finding really great xxs or xs items that fit her and are hits. I found some great ones from Gap, AE, Aritzia and more! Here is everything I have been adding to the duffle this year:
Ribbed Henley Pajama T-Shirt and Pants Set for Girls by Old Navy — High-Waisted Skort for Girls by Old Navy — Old Navy Mid-Rise Baggy Cut-Off Jean Bermuda Shorts 9-inch inseam — 3 Pack Socks — Kids Relaxed Wide-Leg Pants by Gap — High Rise Tumble Shorts —John Galt Light Blue Plaid Anastasia Baggy Pants
Browse my complete Shopmy camp list with great clothing finds→ linked here
What I’m Packing — Health and Personal Care
Owala Water Bottle — Wondercide DEET-Free Insect Repellent in Cedarwood 2-Pack — Vacation Classic SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray Pack of 3 — Band-Aid Travel Ready Portable Emergency First Aid Kit 80 Piece — Wild Aluminum Free Deodorant Starter Kit in Fresh Cotton and Sea Salt —Native Shampoo and Conditioner in Citrus and Herbal Musk 2 Pack — Downy Wrinkle Release Spray Bundle — Portable Shower Caddy with Handle in Pink —
Browse my complete camp Amazon list — everything I packed, every product I love, all in one place → linked here
What I’m Packing — Sweatshirts and Sweat Sets
Camp nights get cold and camp mornings are chilly and there is nothing worse than a kid who is freezing with nothing to throw on. A great sweatshirt or sweat set is the most reached for thing in the duffle every single summer — pack more than you think you need and thank yourself later.
Big Apple Oversized Hoodie — CMFT Sweatpants — Oversized Crew Neck Sweatshirt — Malibu Oversized Hoodie — Relaxed Wide Leg Pants
Browse my complete Shopmy camp list with great clothing finds→ linked here
The best parts of this week’s post are waiting for you on the other side.
Behind the paywall is my Shabbat at Camp blue and white edit, Camp food favorites, and care package finds. Plus my prep ahead PB+J Smoothie Bags!
Upgrade now and get instant access to all three plus exclusive monthly giveaways and the full Prep + Rally experience.