🍼 Life Milestones 82 items
Summer Camp Packing List
Two checklists for parents packing for a kid: a one-to-two-week sleepaway trunk, and a stripped-down day camp backpack. Plus the labeling and quantity math that keeps half of it from coming home lost.
Updated Jun 2026 · 3 scenarios
Quick answer
Category
Life Milestones
Items per trip
~27 items
Scenarios
3 scenarios
Tips
8 pro tips
Pull your camp's official list first, then label every item with your child's full name. For one to two weeks of sleepaway, pack clothes for the days between laundry plus extras, bedding, a towel set, toiletries in a caddy, a flashlight, a water bottle, and stamped envelopes. Day camp needs a daypack, lunch, swimsuit, and sun protection.
The first rule of camp packing is that the camp's own list wins. Camps differ on what they provide, what they require, and what they ban, so the most useful thing you can do before buying anything is pull the official packing list from your specific camp and pack to that. This page fills in the gaps that list usually leaves out: how many of each thing, what to label, and what quietly disappears into the woods every summer.
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Label everything. Iron-on labels, stick-on labels, or a laundry marker on the tag, your call, but every shirt, sock, towel, and water bottle should carry your child's first and last name. The American Camp Association puts this near the top of its own guidance for a reason. Shared cabins and shared laundry mean unlabeled gear is gone, and a kid who can find their own stuff has a much smoother week.
Quantity is where parents over- or under-pack. For sleepaway, plan around the laundry schedule: if the camp does laundry mid-session, pack roughly a week of clothes plus a few extras; if there's no laundry, pack the full length of stay. Kids burn through clothes faster at camp than at home because they're outside, wet, and dirty most of the day. For day camp, you're packing a daypack every morning, not a trunk, so the math is different and a lot shorter.
An overnight session of one to two weeks for a younger camper, roughly ages 7 to 12. Built around a trunk or large duffel, with quantities set for a mid-session laundry day. If your camp has no laundry, pack the full length of the stay instead.
👕Clothing
Essentials
- T-shirts and tank tops x8 (Roughly one per day plus spares. Send only shirts you'd be fine never seeing again)
- Shorts x6
- Underwear x10 (Pack extra. This is the one category nobody regrets overpacking)
- Socks x10 (They get soaked and lost. A few extra pairs of athletic socks earns its space)
- Rain jacket or poncho (Camp runs in the rain. A soaked kid in cotton is a miserable kid)
- Swimsuits x2 (Two so one can dry while the other gets worn)
Nice to Have
- Long pants or leggings x2 (For cooler nights, campfires, and hikes through brush)
- Pajamas x2
- Sweatshirt or hoodie x2 (Layers matter when evenings drop and mornings start cold)
- Sun hat or baseball cap
👟Footwear
Essentials
- Sneakers (broken in) x2 (Two pairs so wet ones can dry. Break them in at home, not on day one)
- Water shoes or sport sandals (Closed-toe styles for the lake, creek, and pool deck)
Nice to Have
- Flip-flops for the shower (Shared shower floors. These stay by the toiletry caddy)
- Rain boots
🛏️Bedding & Bath
Essentials
- Sleeping bag or twin sheet set with blanket (Check whether your camp's bunks are twin or extra-long twin before buying sheets)
- Pillow with pillowcase
Nice to Have
- Bath and beach towels x3 (At least one for showers and one for the waterfront. They don't dry fast in a cabin)
- Mattress pad (Camp mattresses are thin. A pad is a small kindness for a week of sleep)
- Laundry bag or mesh hamper (Labeled, so it survives laundry day)
🧼Toiletries
Essentials
- Shower caddy (Carries everything to a shared bathhouse and back in one trip)
- Sunscreen SPF 30+ broad-spectrum x2 (Two bottles. AAP says reapply every two hours and after swimming)
Nice to Have
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, and case
- Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash (Plastic bottles only. Glass is banned at most camps)
- Insect repellent
- Deodorant (Age-dependent. Worth a quiet pack for older kids in this range)
- Brush or comb and hair ties
- Lip balm with SPF
🔦Gear & Comfort
Essentials
- Flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries (A headlamp wins at lights-out and on the walk to the bathhouse)
- Refillable water bottle (Labeled. Dehydration is the most common camp infirmary visit)
- Reusable bags for wet and dirty clothes x4 (Gallon ziplocks. The wet-swimsuit problem is real and smells worse than you think)
Nice to Have
- Pre-addressed, pre-stamped envelopes and writing paper (The only reliable way to get letters from a young camper)
- A book, deck of cards, or small game
- Comfort item (stuffed animal or family photo) (Especially for a first-timer. Homesickness peaks around night two or three)
📋For the Counselor & Camp Office
Essentials
- Medications in original labeled containers (Hand off to camp staff at check-in and tell them about allergies in advance)
Nice to Have
- Emergency contact and allergy sheet
- Copy of the camp's own packing list, checked off (Makes the end-of-session repack at home far easier)
Packing Tips
- 1 Get your camp's official packing list before buying anything. Camps vary on what they provide, require, and prohibit, so their list overrides every generic checklist online.
- 2 Label everything with your child's first and last name. Iron-on or stick-on labels for clothing and a permanent marker for gear. Unlabeled items in a shared cabin rarely come home.
- 3 Pack to the laundry schedule. If the camp washes clothes mid-session, bring about a week's worth plus a few extras. If there's no laundry, pack the full length of stay.
- 4 Use SPF 30+ broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen and send a spare. The AAP says reapply every two hours and after swimming, so kids go through more than parents expect.
- 5 Send clothes that can get ruined. Camp is mud, lake water, and sunscreen stains. Leave anything you'd be sad to lose at home, including nice shoes and favorite outfits.
- 6 Pack a few gallon ziplock bags for wet swimsuits, muddy clothes, and dirty laundry. A swimsuit left balled up in a duffel for a week comes home as a science experiment.
- 7 Send pre-addressed, pre-stamped envelopes and a pad of paper if you want letters back. A homesick eight-year-old will not hunt down your address and a stamp on their own.
- 8 Confirm the camp's electronics and prohibited-items rules in writing, then pack accordingly. Phone, tablet, and pocket-knife policies vary widely, and many sleepaway camps are screen-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many clothes should I pack for a one-week sleepaway camp?
Pack to the laundry schedule, not the calendar. If the camp does laundry mid-session, plan roughly one outfit per day for the days between washes plus two or three extras, so about 8 shirts, 6 shorts, and 10 pairs each of socks and underwear for a week. If there's no laundry service, pack the full length of the stay. Kids go through clothes faster at camp than at home because they're outside, wet, and dirty most of the day, so extras in the high-turnover categories (socks, underwear, swimsuits) are the safest place to over-pack.
What should you NOT bring to summer camp?
Common camp rules, which vary by camp so check yours, usually prohibit weapons including pocket knives, alcohol, tobacco, vaping devices, fireworks, matches, and lighters. Most camps also ban valuables like jewelry, large amounts of cash, and sentimental items, since shared cabins make them easy to lose. Perishable food and candy are often forbidden because they attract animals and pests. Glass containers are typically banned in favor of plastic. Always pull your specific camp's prohibited-items list before packing, because the details differ from one camp to the next.
Can kids bring phones to summer camp?
It depends entirely on the camp, and many sleepaway camps are deliberately screen-free. The American Camp Association advises parents to check with the camp on its electronics policy, and a lot of overnight programs collect phones at check-in or ban them outright to keep campers engaged with each other and the outdoors. Day camps tend to be more relaxed but often still restrict phone use during activities. Confirm the rule in writing before you pack a phone, tablet, or gaming device. For camps that allow letters but not screens, a disposable camera and pre-stamped envelopes are the usual workaround.
Do I need to label everything for camp?
Yes, and it's the single highest-value thing you'll do. The American Camp Association lists labeling everything near the top of its packing guidance. Put your child's first and last name on every piece of clothing, towel, water bottle, and piece of gear using iron-on labels, stick-on labels, or a permanent laundry marker on the tag. Shared cabins and shared laundry mean anything unlabeled is effectively gone, and a kid who can identify their own stuff in a pile has a much easier week. Label the water bottle and flashlight too, since those wander the most.
What sunscreen should I send to camp?
Send a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher, and pack at least two bottles for a sleepaway session because kids burn through more than parents expect. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends applying it at least 15 minutes before going outside and reapplying every two hours, and after swimming, towel-drying, or sweating. The AAP notes that mineral-based sunscreens with zinc oxide are preferable to chemical ones. A lip balm with SPF and a sun hat round out the kit. Label the bottle so it survives the cabin.
What kind of luggage is best for sleepaway camp?
A camp trunk, a large duffel, or a couple of suitcases all work, and the right choice often comes down to your camp's storage and your travel method. The ACA suggests living out of a backpack, duffel, suitcase, or trunk. Trunks stack neatly under or beside bunks and double as a lockable spot for valuables, which is why returning camp families tend to favor them. Duffels are lighter and easier if you're flying a child to camp. Whatever you pick, label it with your child's name and pack a smaller daypack inside for daily activities and trips off-site.
How do I help my child with homesickness at camp?
Pack a comfort item like a stuffed animal or a family photo, especially for a first-timer, since homesickness tends to peak around the second or third night and then fade. Pre-addressed, pre-stamped envelopes and a pad of paper make it easy for them to write home, and a short upbeat letter from you waiting at check-in helps. Avoid promising to pick them up early if they're sad, which can undercut the adjustment. Most camps have staff trained to handle homesickness, so talk through their approach before drop-off and trust the process for the first few days.
What's the difference between packing for day camp and sleepaway camp?
Day camp is a daypack you refill each morning, with no bedding, no trunk, and no laundry math. The core is a labeled backpack, a lunch with extra snacks, a full water bottle, a swimsuit and towel for swim days, sun protection, and a spare change of clothes in a ziplock. Sleepaway adds everything you'd need to live away from home for one to two weeks: a week or more of clothes, bedding or a sleeping bag, towels, a full toiletry kit in a shower caddy, a flashlight, and stamped envelopes. The shared thread is sun protection, a labeled water bottle, and clothes you don't mind getting ruined.
Should I pack money for my child at camp?
Usually not as cash. Most camps either run a store account or canteen tab you fund ahead of time, or they discourage campers from carrying money because it's easy to lose in a shared cabin. Check how your camp handles spending: many let you deposit a set amount for the camp store, snacks, or an off-site trip. If your camp does allow a small amount of cash, send only a little and label an envelope for it. For teens heading off-site, ask the camp what they recommend rather than guessing.
What footwear does a kid need for summer camp?
Plan on three types. Closed-toe sneakers are the daily workhorse, and most camps require them for activities, so send two broken-in pairs for sleepaway so one can dry out. Water shoes or closed-toe sport sandals handle the lake, creek, and pool deck. A pair of flip-flops is for the shower only, since shared bathhouse floors are not a place for bare feet. Break in any new shoes at home before camp, because a blister on day one with two weeks to go is a long week. Label every pair, including the flip-flops.
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