Summer for our family means summer camp. And not just because we work at a summer camp. Our daughters love GOING to summer camp.
Well, okay, technically the 5-year-old isn't old enough to attend camp. And I'm not actually sure that she will be able to detach from my hip when she is old enough...Unless they come up with a camp where kids get to bring their moms to camp with them, and sneak into her bunk in the middle of the night so many times that her mama doesn't even wake up anymore.
But, our 10-year-old LOVES camp, and looks forward to it all year long!
Being the good OCD mama that I am, about a week before summer camp, my fingers start to twitch at the thrilling thought of starting the packing process. Oh! The clothes to organize, the shower products to container-ize!! My husband dreads that fated once-per-year pre-summer camp Walmart trip...because I find it very very difficult to resist anything that makes the packing process more streamlined and organized.
In case you find yourselves in the same pre-summer camp situation, I thought I'd share 3 of my own packing tips. But, I do have to be honest. The title of this post could read, "My 54 Favorite Packing Tips." Because, really? How can a girl choose her 3 FAVORITE packing tips? That is like choosing a favorite child or a favorite ice cream flavor.
So, THAT is why I did not entitle this "My 3 FAVORITE Tips." I just can't choose. Please don't make me do it. I am giving you 3 really great tips...but I reserve the right to decide tips in the future that I like better, or when I find a newer container at Walmart--whichever comes first.
Here they are: 3 Tips--in no certain order, because I love each of them equally.
Tip #1 Roll'em and Band 'em, baby!!!
When packing the 10 pairs of required shorts and t-shirts, I roll up each individual outfit, and rubber band it. There are 2 sample outfits above. I lay out the shorts, a matching t-shirt, a pair of underwear and a pair of socks, roll, roll, and band it. Repeat 9 more times, the end.
I love this because it takes all the guess-work out for my daughter. She can dig through the bottom of her trunk (destroying all order I have painstakingly established), grab a roll 'o clothes, and be out of the cabin door in 2 minutes flat. Well, except for the part that she gets a teensy bit distracted every 4 seconds, and therefore never gets anywhere in 2 minutes. But, you get the idea.
Tip #2 Shower Container Heaven
Oh, containers put me in that happy place. This container even more...because it was purchased at the $1 Shop!!! Now, you know I normally have a deep and faithful love for all things Walmart. But, sometimes I have been known to cheat when it comes to $1 bargains.
I like to think that by putting all of my daughter's shower items in a container, that she is able to keep things organized while at camp. I have no idea if that really happens--since I am not there. But, it does an OCD mama's heart good to think so.
This $1 shower container is not very durable--but for 2 weeks at summer camp, it is perfect! (Okay, and I know it's not another tip...but I just cannot resist talking about that cute elastic holder hanging on the front of the container. Isn't that the cutest thing ever? Yep, Walmart!)
Tip #3 3-in-1 Shampoo ...means you can pack 2 extra lip glosses!
Okay, anytime you can combine items on your list into ONE item--ding ding ding Winner!!! The thought of ewy gooey soap sitting in the bottom of the beautiful shower container for 2 weeks grosses me out. So, I just skip the whole bar of soap idea and purchase this product (you know--Walmart). I also like to think it makes my daughter's shower time easier. Instead of having to handle 2 different slippery bottles and a slimy soap bar, she only has to handle 1 slippery pink bottle and a fluffy blue scrubbie to do the job. Easy enough!
Well, there you have it--3 packing for summer camp tips!
I'd love to hear YOUR ideas--what summer camp packing tips do you find helpful?
P.S. I promise Walmart in no way reimburses me to sing her praises, although if you are reading Walmart, I am not above accepting any form of product payment...preferably from the organizer aisle, the cookware aisle, the home goods aisle...heck, any aisle will do! (Except hunting and fishing, please)
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