A Camper’s Guide To Packing
Hello to the HVC Community!
Summer is almost here… and that means it’s almost time to start PACKING!
Whether you have already begun packing or see packing a daunting task, this blog post can help out, providing some pointers and hopefully get you feeling prepared and excited for camp. Even if you are packing for your final summer at camp and feel experienced, you can always continue to master your packing craft.
HVC’s website already has an in depth packing list that can be found here. On that page you can find:
Specific breakdown of items to pack
As well as information for parents on laundry, labelling, bedding, luggage and shipping, electronics, and more
This blog post is more specifically focused on packing from the camper’s point of view. The following questions can help campers think about different aspects of packing with couple sentences to help them think through the questions.
How would you like to treat the clothes you bring to camp?
We all have a favorite shirt. We might have a cool sweatshirt that we want to show our camp friends, but the camp environment is often not made for our favorite, cool clothes. Clothes can get stained with clay from the pottery studio, paint from an art class, dirt from the ground or horse bar, or damaged in other ways. It may be a good choice to leave your favorite or nicer clothing items at home.
Are there any activity specific items you want with you?
Maybe you have a specific tennis racket that you want to play with in a tennis class. Maybe you have instrument, prop, or costume you want to bring for a Valleyfest performance. There are also lots of fun themed dances throughout camp that you can dress up for. Some themes in the past include: the glow-in-the-dark-dance, the jungle dance, the decades dance, and more!
How can you prepare for the weather?
It can get pretty rainy (schvitz-y) during the summer, and because we spend so much time outside, we often get wet. A way to combat this is to back lots of socks to help your feet stay dry (especially because socks can easily get lost under beds or in the wash)! On the flip-side, some days can be very hot and sunny. Figure out a good sunscreen that you like and make sure you know how to put it on so that you keep all of your skin protected. Another great way to stay safe from the sun is with a hat. If you don’t have a hat, feel free to checkout the hats page of the camp store.
Do you have items to use during free time?
Times like rest period, flashlight time before bed, Interest Groups, and Pool Activities are some times at camp when you can hang out and engage with items you brought from home. Many campers bring lots of books to camp, but if you don’t have space for heavy books in your bag, camp also has its very own library in the Red Barn that you can borrow books from. Some other common items include stationary + stamps, notepads + pencils/pens, card games (like Magic: The Gathering), small puzzles (like a Rubik’s Cube or Mad Libs), and jewelry making supplies. At the same time, keep in mind that these items will be stored in the shelves in and around your bed so you may want to stick to smaller items.
Books, games, and more at Pool Activities!!!
Do you need this or do you want this?
This question is not meant to limit your packing or make you underprepared. This question is simply reminding you that camp has a lot to offer and not a lot of storage space. Focus on packing items that you need and will positively impact your camp experience. While it is smart to bring along multiple towels or extra batteries for a flashlight, our cabins aren’t built to store larger items.
How can you prepare to unplug?
If you have been to camp before, you probably know how special it is to it to be a part of an electronics free space. At the same time, it is totally understandable that parting from electronics can be hard. To make the transition easier, maybe take a little time away from electronics in the days leading up to camp. Maybe take some time to think about the benefits of being in an electronic free space. To fill one of the gaps that is created by not having electronics, consider bringing a camera to camp. Polaroid cameras are especially a great tool to share and distribute pictures with your camp friends.
Finally, have fun packing! Sometimes packing can be tiring or stressful, but in truth, it is the first part of camp. Use your packing time to get excited about camp. And we will all be unpacking together very soon!