Packing for Summer Camp

Organizing Tips

Jun 9

Everything You Need To Know About Packing for Summer Camp

Read on for an in-depth look at how to get your little campers ready for their next adventure.

Austin and Charleston have some fantastic summer camps. And as with any trip, packing with a plan is the best way to stay organized all week long.

Not sure where to start? We’re here to help!

As professional organizers and moms, we understand that it can be overwhelming to pack for camp. We’ve put together a guide to help you and your family prepare for an amazing adventure this summer. With some prep work, you can spend those last few days before camp making memories instead of last-minute packing.

It’s a Family Affair

You might be tempted to handle all the packing yourself, but we’ve found that bringing the kids along for the ride is the best way to encourage good habits and empower them to use the packing systems you create.

Talk through every step and give them age-appropriate tasks like finding clothing or writing labels. Who said packing couldn’t be fun?

Start with a List

Some camps give out thorough packing lists, while others offer suggestions. Create a checklist before gathering things together to avoid forgetting anything essential. Need a starting point?

PRO TIP: Group things by category for easy reference during the packing phase.

You can grab Graceful Spaces Organizer Robin’s list for campers here!

Robin’s Pro Tip:

Everything Summer Camp offers discount codes for hundreds of camps, so be sure to check if your camp is included to save money!

Find the Perfect Pack

Every good system starts with the perfect pack. At Graceful Spaces, we love using trunks for overnight camp. It’s a great way to pack everything in one place, and your child will love all the ways you can personalize it.

PRO TIP: Try this trunk option from Everything Summer Camp. It comes in several colors the kids are sure to love—plus, you can also buy fun trunk accessories like nameplates and decals.

Create a System

Every kid is different, so we recommend talking through ideas with them to find a system that works. Our favorite ways to keep things organized include:

Color-coded packing cubes to separate outfit categories
Placing outfits in labeled zip-lock bags for easy retrieval
Using an organizer for smaller, non-essential items

PRO TIP: Make sure your child is part of the process to know where everything is before heading off to camp!

Torie’s Pro Tip:

No matter how you choose to pack, be sure to involve your child so that they know where everything is!

Lean on Labels

Kids will be kids. To increase the chances of everything you pack making it home, we recommend labeling everything.

And we mean everything.

From stand-out decals on trunks to iron-on labels for clothes, marking items with your child’s name helps the kids (and their counselors) keep things sorted.
PRO TIP: We use Scripts by Sarah Ashley for all our labeling needs. Adorable and kid-friendly!