Packing for Camp: A Mom's Guide - New Camper Blog Series

Packing for camp is a rite of passage - both for your camper and for you! I’m Louise, a mom to three Greystone girls, and a Greystone girl myself. I’ve packed (and repacked) more trunks and duffels than I can count. Each of my daughters has a different approach: one loves to pre-plan outfits and rolls up a full set (T-shirt, shorts, undies) for each day, while the other two prefer the flexibility of mixing and matching. Over the years, we’ve found a system that works well for us - but trust me, even when we didn’t have a system, they survived just fine!

Here’s what I’ve learned from years of Greystone packing and what I’d tell any new camp parent gearing up for summer:

The Trunk, The Duffel & Storage Bins

Trunk: For us, clothes go in the trunk, organized with plastic bins from Target that fit neatly into the camp drawers (dimensions: 32 x 32 x 9.5 inches). I separate T-shirts, shorts, socks, and underwear into different bins. The first few years, we didn’t use bins - and they survived - but I’ve found this makes it much easier to keep things organized!

Duffel: The duffel is for everything else - shoes, toiletry basket, fan, and all the random things that just have to be shoved in.

Bedding & Laundry Bag: I pack sheets and comforters in their laundry bags, but I also wrap them in a trash bag to protect against unexpected rain on drop-off day. Pillows don’t go in trash bags - my girls carry those themselves!

Note: At Junior and August, Greystone asks that you pack in only 2 bags; many parents fit their sheets and comforters in their duffels!

Clothes: Pack Smart, Not Too Much

The packing list in the Parent Handbook is solid - stick with it! A few things I’ve learned:

Don’t overpack sweatshirts or leggings. Mornings and evenings can be chilly, but it warms up fast during the day.
Rain jacket is a must! Non-negotiable. It will definitely get used.
Extra shorts > extra T-shirts. They’ll get an extra camp tee or two, so I don’t pack extra shirts, but I do add a few extra pairs of shorts. My girls love to change after water activities!
Ask your daughter what she likes to sleep in. One of mine loves nightgowns, the others prefer pajama sets - comfort is key!
Crazy Creek chairs are “optional” but…my girls say they’re a must. Especially when the grass is damp!

Costumes: Don’t Skimp on the Fun!

Some of my favorite camp memories involve dressing up for Lip Sync skits, Talent Shows, and themed nights! Costumes are a big deal at Greystone, and my girls love being prepared with fun options. Here’s what we pack:

Small accessories make the biggest impact! Think headbands, face glitter, silly hats and glasses, and cheap wigs.
Don’t worry if you don’t have a full costume closet at home. The Greystone Costume Closet has plenty of fun dress-up items your daughter can borrow!
Pack items you won’t mind losing. Costumes don’t always make it back home, and that’s okay!

Name Labels & Laundry Prep

Labeling is key because things will get mixed up! We used the labels link on the Greystone website (log in to your Greystone account and click on Oliver’s Labels).

My go-to method:

Name Stamps (or sharpies) are my #1 labeling favorite especially for socks, undergarments, and other small items.
Iron-on labels are my go-to for clothes that don’t have an easy place to put the name stamp.
Sticker labels for water bottles, fans, flashlights, and anything plastic.
And when it’s time to come home? Everything is wet. I pack extra jumbo-size Ziploc bags for damp swimsuits and towels. Some of my friends even stop at a laundromat on the drive home to wash everything before unloading at home!

Toiletries & Random Essentials

Plug-in fan. Don’t forget this lifesaver!
Battery-powered clock. If your daughter doesn’t have a watch, this helps her keep track of time.
Extra batteries. Flashlights, clocks, and fans will need them!
Sling Kavu bag and add a carabiner for water bottles. My girls love these!
My girls never use washcloths so they never get added in, but your daughter may be different!
One essential item all 3 of my girls can agree on is an inexpensive and dark colored bath mat to put on the floor at the foot of the bunks. It’s nice to wipe off their feet before climbing in bed and that mat will get tons of use (aka it’s filthy!).

Stationery & Personal Touches

Every camper is different; one of my daughters writes home daily, while another only writes when she needs a meal ticket on Sundays! I’ve learned to pack plenty of stationery and stamps just in case.

One thing they all love? Decorating their camp bunk with a photo collage. We print pictures at CVS, laminate them, and use sticky tape to attach them. It’s one of their favorite traditions!

Rest Hour Must-Haves

Rest Hour is a great time for quiet activities, so I surprise my girls with fun things at the top of their trunks for them to see when they are unpacking after arrival. They love:

Fresh markers & pens
Journals
Activity books or crossword puzzles (origami books, sticker books, hidden picture books and mad libs are still a favorite!)

They love having something new to look forward to when they unpack!

Odds & Evens: Be Ready for Team Spirit!

At dropoff on Opening Day, you’ll find out whether your daughter is an Odd or an Even for team competitions. To make it easy, I pack:

One bag of green items (for Odds)
One bag of gold items (for Evens)

That way, my girls just grab what they need! One year, I tried to hand them their bag at drop-off…and in the flurry of excitement, I completely forgot! Luckily, the Greystone Store had everything they needed. These days I just pack a bag of each in their trunk, and they just grab whatever color they need.

Shoes: The Winning Lineup

Shoes take up space, so we keep it simple:

Crocs – My girls convinced me these are the best for going from water activities to land so that you still have a closed toe shoe for certain activities.
Chacos or Tevas – A must for all-around camp life.
Rain boots – Label them! And pack a couple pair of taller socks to wear with them.
Two pair of sneakers – One pair will likely get wet or muddy!

Final Thoughts: It’s Camp—Keep It Simple!

At the end of the day, camp isn’t about having the perfect packing list - it’s about fun, freedom, and learning independence. Pack smart, but don’t overthink it. Your daughter will figure things out, make memories, and have the time of her life.

See you on Opening Day!