The Ultimate Camp Gear List: Church Camp Edition
As camp approaches and the excitement builds it’s easy to forget about packing. Every camp can be a little different but most things will be the same as what we have on our packing list at Midsummer Bible Camp. Check out the FAQs for the short version of the packing list. Here, in this article, we are going to take a deep dive into the packing list and if you have everything on this list then we are set-up for a successful week of camp. Let’s jump right in.
The Good Book, more commonly known as the Bible
Our campers are going to camp at Midsummer Bible Camp. Let’s not forget the reason we’re coming to camp at home. Bring those Bibles! If you don’t have a Bible at home you can pick one up at Walmart, any bookstore, and there are really cheap ones on Amazon. We generally use the New International Version (NIV) at camp but whatever version our campers have should work! Check out the FAQs for info on different reading levels and the corresponding Bible versions. Whatever Bible you bring please make sure the camper’s name is in it!
The NOT a Duffle Bag
Everything that is going to be brought to camp can be brought in a duffle bag and that will work fine but there is a better option. The problem with duffle bags, especially for our younger campers, is they don’t keep there shape, they aren’t water resistant, and they also don’t have a lot of organization to them. The step-up from the duffle bag is going to be a hard shell suitcase that keeps its form. These hard shell suitcases keep their shape, are easy to slide under the bed, and can stay a little more organized. The ultimate camp storage solution is a translucent, low-profile tote with wheels. They stack easy in the car and they have the biggest and easiest opening for our campers, they are waterproof, and they can easily have the campers name prominently displayed on them. The campers can see everything in the tote and the slim profile keeps them from having to dig and at the same time makes it easy to slide under the bed. Whatever you decide to bring (duffle bag, hard shell suitcase, or tote) will be fine. Just remember to put a name on it!
The Dirty Clothes Bag
An often forgotten camper essential. Our younger campers have a hard time keeping their clean clothes in their suitcases and it’s easy for the clean clothes to mix with the dirty clothes. There’s also this phenomenon where our younger campers (especially the boys) can’t see dirty clothes… It’s like the dirty clothes simply do not exist and if they can see them, well then they must be clean clothes! The smell says otherwise though. In all seriousness, a large trash bag that can occupy one corner of the camper’s tote or sit under their bed goes a long way for them to stay organized and not lose their clean clothes in the mix. A piece of duct tape on the bag with their name on it will also help them keep up with their dirty clothes bag.
The Bed Stuff
Campers are provided with a twin size mattress on a bed frame at Camp Leatherwood. It’s up to the camper to go from there! It’s pretty common that campers only come with a sleeping bag but this is a bad idea. If the camper wants to sleep in a sleeping bag, great! However, these sleeping bags tend to get wadded up and legs and arms hang out on an uncovered mattress. Every camper should bring twin sized sheets, a pillow, and a blanket. Somewhere around 3 in the morning the cold of the night tends to set-in and wake-up shivering ill-prepared campers. If a camper still wants a sleeping bag at least now when they wake up drooling with their head out of the sleeping bag it will be on their sheets and not a bare mattress. It’s also a really good idea to put the camper’s name on each piece of bedding.
The Shower Set
The bathhouse showers can serve as a black hole for all shampoo bottles, soap, toothbrushes, and other toiletries. The key here is to keep it simple and put your name on it. The boys side as it down on this one. Find that all-in-one and that’s what you need for the showers. Shampoo/Conditioner/Body Wash/Deodorant/Sunscreen combo should be perfect. The more all-in-one you can find, the better. When a camper heads to the shower they should be carrying a towel, all-in-one soap, clean clothes (a grocery sack works well to keep them off the wet floor), toothbrush, and contact stuff if needed. Deodorant and any lotion can be applied back in the cabin.
The toothbrush should probably be a cheap one with some kind of bristle cover and it should have the camper’s name on it. That’s one item you REALLY don’t want to be mixing up with someone else. There are a range of travel toothbrushes that work great for this.
A shower caddy that hooks on a door and sit on a table would be a great way for campers to carry their shower supplies back and forth to the bathhouse. This is a great way to avoid losing things throughout the week!
Shower sandals or crocs are another essential. Bare feet are not allowed walking to and from the shower and wet sneakers are the worst. A cheap pair here can be worn all the way through the shower and back to the cabin. Again, putting the camper’s name on them may help them make it through the week without getting lost in the bathhouse.
DO for the BO
If the child is old enough to go to camp then they are old enough to practice wearing deodorant. Yes, this really is worth it’s own section in the list. First timers, go for the travel size and try it out before camp at home. The worst thing that can happen is a camper smells a little better for having it on. The alternative is the camper becomes an avoidance beacon while indoors for not realizing they have BO. Help your camper out and send them to camp with DO.
Sun and Bug Defense
Campers should bring some good sunscreen that can easily be applied before they jump in the pool. The best for this is going to be a quick dry, waterproof version. You know what works best for your child when it comes to sunscreen just don’t leave it off the packing list. When it comes to bugs we generally don’t have that bad of a time with biting insects that need to be repelled. However, it’s not a bad idea to send the bug spray or some bug bands to camp. First time campers should know how to apply bug spray for themselves OUTSIDE the cabins.
The Clothes
Let’s keep it simple here. Keep it cheap and cool and keep it labeled. Do NOT send nice expensive clothes to camp. I repeat, do NOT send nice and expensive clothes to camp. They will not return nice and expensive. They will likely return holy… I mean full of or containing new holes. Also, when choosing clothes it’s a great idea to check out a thrift store like Goodwill for camp clothes. Our campers arrive on Sunday, have 5 sleeps, 5 swim times, and 5 days(not including Sunday) that they need to plan for. Let’s list it out:
6 day shirts (1 for each day and 1 extra; not counted is the 1 camp shirt campers receive)
Shirts should be modest with no stomachs or undergarments showing
1-2 sleep shirts (depends on if your camper showers at night or in the morning)
1-2 sleep shorts or pants (again, depends on shower time)
10 pairs of undergarments minimum (sleep and wear it before swim time, new pair after swim time)
8 pairs of socks minimum
5 pairs of shorts (fingertip length and modest)
1 pair of pants (it does get cold at night on occasion)
1 light jacket/hoodie (again, that cold will sneak up on you in June)
1 raincoat (optional, rain might count as an extra shower)
2 pairs of shoes (sneakers that can get absolutely wrecked and shower shoes)
2 Towels (1 for shower and 1 for pool)
1 hat
1 pair of sunglasses (cheap ones!)
This may have already been stated but putting names on things can go a long way to ensuring campers go home with what they brought! There is normally a pile of dirty clothes, shoes, and hygiene products that have to be thrown away each year.
The Light
Every camper should bring a light with them for after dark activities. The light you do NOT need at camp is a giant heavy one! You need a bright flashlight that will fit in your pocket. There are really 2 good options here. A small compact handheld flashlight or the golden standard- the headlamp. Our campers will be using their hands at camp and it’s hard to lose a light that’s literally strapped to your head. A great headlamp for camp is one of the flat LED lights that you can wad up in your pocket easily or wear comfortably. It’s light and gives a flood light instead of a spot light. Check out the OVLED on Amazon for an example (We are in no way affiliated with or sponsored by that light).
The Fan
Every camper needs a good, quiet, and portable fan for bedtime. The campers go to bed hot most nights so that fan helps easy them to sleep. Standing, tower, and box fans all work well for our cabins. There are plugs in the cabin but they are limited and sometimes nowhere near the camper’s cot. In addition to the fan campers should bring an extension cord that works with their fan and possibly a power strip. If it’s not needed during cabin set-up then camper parents can take it back home with them! Remember, names on things!
You’re Ready
That’s basically it for the essentials of camp. We’ve covered all the necessities for a week away at camp. Hopefully this gave some insight into what camp requires and what camp is like during the week. If you have a first time camper check out the “My Child’s First Time at Camp, How to make it a success!” article for some helpful tips. Also, if you would like a more concise, abbreviated list check out the FAQs page.