Small luxuries/gifts for sleepaway camp
July 10, 2024 12:54 PM Subscribe
My daughter (13) is going to a sleepaway camp, and I would like to give her a small gift/luxury that she can bring with her. Any suggestions?
The camp is for performing arts (she's doing theatre and dance), and she's into horses, theatre, dance, and reading. They'll be doing some of the standard summer sleepaway camp stuff (swimming, canoeing, hiking, etc.) but most of the focus is on the arts. She's not into fashion or makeup, though she does have very long hair that she usually braids or does something fun with. They are not allowed to bring food. Electronics are not allowed, but she will have a non-internet connected digital camera. The only thing that comes to mind is a nice journal and pen so that she can write down her memories of camp, but she has a whole stack of journals that she has never touched.
It's been 30 years since I've been to summer camp, so I have very little memory of what I would have liked. Plus, we could bring anything we wanted so I already made sure to bring my creature comforts.
Thanks!
The camp is for performing arts (she's doing theatre and dance), and she's into horses, theatre, dance, and reading. They'll be doing some of the standard summer sleepaway camp stuff (swimming, canoeing, hiking, etc.) but most of the focus is on the arts. She's not into fashion or makeup, though she does have very long hair that she usually braids or does something fun with. They are not allowed to bring food. Electronics are not allowed, but she will have a non-internet connected digital camera. The only thing that comes to mind is a nice journal and pen so that she can write down her memories of camp, but she has a whole stack of journals that she has never touched.
It's been 30 years since I've been to summer camp, so I have very little memory of what I would have liked. Plus, we could bring anything we wanted so I already made sure to bring my creature comforts.
Thanks!
A fancy claw clip for her hair? One of the very popular water bottles that are ubiquitous now (Owala, Stanley)? Would an ipod shuffle (which has no screen) be considered electronics since all it does is play music?
On a practical level - depending on the sleeping arrangements - a pair of nice earplugs and a carrying case might be appreciated.
posted by hepta at 1:27 PM on July 10
On a practical level - depending on the sleeping arrangements - a pair of nice earplugs and a carrying case might be appreciated.
posted by hepta at 1:27 PM on July 10
Portable mist fan! Small fan to attach to her bed! If this camp is anything like the one mine just went to, there is no AC and the ceiling fans aren't quite up to the job.
posted by tafetta, darling! at 1:29 PM on July 10 [7 favorites]
posted by tafetta, darling! at 1:29 PM on July 10 [7 favorites]
Cute deck of cards! I was a camper and counselor for years, and decks of cards as well as games like Set and mancala were absolute staples. Also a Polaroid instant camera and a bunch of film. (Retro! Cool!)
posted by Charity Garfein at 2:01 PM on July 10 [4 favorites]
posted by Charity Garfein at 2:01 PM on July 10 [4 favorites]
My kids love glow sticks and graphic novels when they are away at camp
posted by akabobo at 2:04 PM on July 10
posted by akabobo at 2:04 PM on July 10
My daughter went to sleepaway camp for the first time last summer and she said she would have liked stuff to decorate her space or a nice headlamp since it's a pain to hold a flashlight at night in addition to anything else you're carrying back to the bunk. As her parent, I suggest that couple of quick-drying beach towels would be great; based on the condition of her duffel when I picked her up, I do not get the impression that anything ever dried out fully the entire time she was there.
posted by anderjen at 2:05 PM on July 10 [4 favorites]
posted by anderjen at 2:05 PM on July 10 [4 favorites]
Save the money now and use it to send her a care package midway through the camp!
I spent 4 summers of my childhood going to long term camps (3 weeks) and I never got anything from my parents while I was gone. I was so envious of the kids who got care packages, even with silly little dumb stuff, because it showed that their parents were missing them.
I remember one girl got a little tube of lotion with a note from her mom that said something like "I remember how dry my dorm room used to get--make sure you lube up those elbows!" and I just thought that was so nice. Like it was just a thingy of un-fancy lotion, but it was care.
Nice things for a care package: homemade treat, photos of the pets, letter/drawings from the younger siblings (or pets), cute version of a useful item like a flash light, etc, cards or a card based game/tarot to play with her new friends.
posted by phunniemee at 2:15 PM on July 10 [3 favorites]
I spent 4 summers of my childhood going to long term camps (3 weeks) and I never got anything from my parents while I was gone. I was so envious of the kids who got care packages, even with silly little dumb stuff, because it showed that their parents were missing them.
I remember one girl got a little tube of lotion with a note from her mom that said something like "I remember how dry my dorm room used to get--make sure you lube up those elbows!" and I just thought that was so nice. Like it was just a thingy of un-fancy lotion, but it was care.
Nice things for a care package: homemade treat, photos of the pets, letter/drawings from the younger siblings (or pets), cute version of a useful item like a flash light, etc, cards or a card based game/tarot to play with her new friends.
posted by phunniemee at 2:15 PM on July 10 [3 favorites]
Eyeshade/sleepmask and a small fan! (If that doesn't count as an electronic...?)
posted by tristeza at 2:18 PM on July 10
posted by tristeza at 2:18 PM on July 10
My daughter was excited to bring the battery-powered portable CD player we got her with a few used CDs. The CD player was allowed as a non-wifi device. I sent her comic books in a package last year and that was a hit.
posted by JuliaKM at 2:18 PM on July 10
posted by JuliaKM at 2:18 PM on July 10
My friend is the most obsessive care package maker and she nails this one every time. Her greatest hits:
- Huge temporary tattoos, lots and lots of them. Her 12yo son became incredibly popular with a few packs of these to share, even the counsellors wanted them! She said it was like he had cigarettes in prison. Send a travel spray bottle for applying them, and hand sanitizer for removing them.
- Anything cool that lights up for night time - glow necklaces, glow in the dark stickers.
- Light up decor for their cabin - a mini neon sign, battery operated twinkle lights, LED tea lights.
- Hair stuff to share like a big pack of colourful elastics or little 1990s butterfly claw clips.
- Cute dollar store jewellery like those 1990s black braided chokers or jelly bracelets.
- Easy origami book + papers
- Chatty prompt game like a "Would you rather" or "Apples to apples" situation
- Fun socks
- Keychains for their backpacks
- Waterproof vinyl stickers to share (Amazon has tons), for decorating water bottles and gear
- For dance - cute bandaids!
- For theatre - pretty pens and highlighters for her scripts, and a nice little pencil case for them!
Some period thoughts from someone who had a few uncomfortable moments in the woods as a teen: Make sure her menstruation supplies are ample and she knows how to use them in woodsy conditions! If she might get her first period there, talk about what to expect and practice how to use pads. Even if she's already used to it, it'd be good to discuss how to change pads if she has to pee in the woods.
How often to change tampons in inconvenient conditions, and to change them after swimming in unchlorinated water, and to make sure her hands are clean enough (even if she doesn't usually use them, she might try if another kid has them).
In general discuss what to do about period+swimming, and send dark swim shorts and a full coverage dark coloured swimsuit bottom to conceal if she has her period.
Send some kind of opaque low key pouch to conceal period supplies for hikes, small enough to be subtle but large enough to include a travel pack of flushable wipes, and a few opaque plastic bags in case she needs to pack used pads out of the woods on a canoe trip. And check if there's a bear risk on any hikes and figure out what to do with used pads if so!
Also send Advil for cramps, little hot water bottle, and black underwear, lots of dark pants, and dark pajamas so she doesn't worry about stains, and a stain remover stick in case of any accidents.
Oh - and maybe a little fun gift with a private note telling her that you sent it so she could privately give it to a kid who doesn't get a care package? Like a cute fuzzy keychain for that kid's bag? (make sure the jump ring is VERY good quality so it doesn't get lost)
posted by nouvelle-personne at 2:31 PM on July 10 [20 favorites]
- Huge temporary tattoos, lots and lots of them. Her 12yo son became incredibly popular with a few packs of these to share, even the counsellors wanted them! She said it was like he had cigarettes in prison. Send a travel spray bottle for applying them, and hand sanitizer for removing them.
- Anything cool that lights up for night time - glow necklaces, glow in the dark stickers.
- Light up decor for their cabin - a mini neon sign, battery operated twinkle lights, LED tea lights.
- Hair stuff to share like a big pack of colourful elastics or little 1990s butterfly claw clips.
- Cute dollar store jewellery like those 1990s black braided chokers or jelly bracelets.
- Easy origami book + papers
- Chatty prompt game like a "Would you rather" or "Apples to apples" situation
- Fun socks
- Keychains for their backpacks
- Waterproof vinyl stickers to share (Amazon has tons), for decorating water bottles and gear
- For dance - cute bandaids!
- For theatre - pretty pens and highlighters for her scripts, and a nice little pencil case for them!
Some period thoughts from someone who had a few uncomfortable moments in the woods as a teen: Make sure her menstruation supplies are ample and she knows how to use them in woodsy conditions! If she might get her first period there, talk about what to expect and practice how to use pads. Even if she's already used to it, it'd be good to discuss how to change pads if she has to pee in the woods.
How often to change tampons in inconvenient conditions, and to change them after swimming in unchlorinated water, and to make sure her hands are clean enough (even if she doesn't usually use them, she might try if another kid has them).
In general discuss what to do about period+swimming, and send dark swim shorts and a full coverage dark coloured swimsuit bottom to conceal if she has her period.
Send some kind of opaque low key pouch to conceal period supplies for hikes, small enough to be subtle but large enough to include a travel pack of flushable wipes, and a few opaque plastic bags in case she needs to pack used pads out of the woods on a canoe trip. And check if there's a bear risk on any hikes and figure out what to do with used pads if so!
Also send Advil for cramps, little hot water bottle, and black underwear, lots of dark pants, and dark pajamas so she doesn't worry about stains, and a stain remover stick in case of any accidents.
Oh - and maybe a little fun gift with a private note telling her that you sent it so she could privately give it to a kid who doesn't get a care package? Like a cute fuzzy keychain for that kid's bag? (make sure the jump ring is VERY good quality so it doesn't get lost)
posted by nouvelle-personne at 2:31 PM on July 10 [20 favorites]
Waterproof disposable camera
Supplies for making friendship bracelets (embroidery thread, beads, string, tools/scissors if allowed)
posted by shock muppet at 3:01 PM on July 10
Supplies for making friendship bracelets (embroidery thread, beads, string, tools/scissors if allowed)
posted by shock muppet at 3:01 PM on July 10
A battery operated clip fan and batteries.
posted by nickggully at 4:04 PM on July 10
posted by nickggully at 4:04 PM on July 10
One of those little flashlights that hooks on the zipper of your jacket/backpack (get a decent one) 2 even better.
posted by BoscosMom at 5:39 PM on July 10
posted by BoscosMom at 5:39 PM on July 10
I sent my kids some of these mini hands in a camp care package and they were well received. Other things that my daughters liked were glitter hairspray, hair chalk, slime. More dramatic make up than they usually wear (like silver eyeliner, purple lipstick)
posted by MadMadam at 6:22 PM on July 10
posted by MadMadam at 6:22 PM on July 10
Things that are shareable often go over well. Hair chalk, temporary tattoos, cards, glow sticks, embroidery floss for hair wraps, etc.
If it’s just a item for her, something like a “Mister Mister” fan/spray bottle combo can be really good
posted by raccoon409 at 6:39 PM on July 10
If it’s just a item for her, something like a “Mister Mister” fan/spray bottle combo can be really good
posted by raccoon409 at 6:39 PM on July 10
One of the new Polaroid cameras with plenty of film? That way she can immediately share the pictures she takes with her new friends!
Battery powered fairy lights.
posted by Grandysaur at 7:54 PM on July 10
Battery powered fairy lights.
posted by Grandysaur at 7:54 PM on July 10
Mad libs
posted by brujita at 11:56 PM on July 10 [1 favorite]
posted by brujita at 11:56 PM on July 10 [1 favorite]
Back in my middle school camp days, I liked an eye mask and earplugs for sleeping (I was in a bunk with six other girls), a fun little light to clip into my bunk (so I could read even if the light wasn't great), a Sharpie (we were allowed to write on the walls of our bunkhouse), and stuff to share with the other girls. Usually it was snacks but if that's not allowed then maybe fun hair doodads.
My daughter has thick, waist-length hair and if she's doing outdoor stuff and swimming it gets super tangled. I'd throw some detangler spray and a wide tooth comb into her duffel, and make sure she knows how to work out the knots.
posted by champers at 3:09 AM on July 11
My daughter has thick, waist-length hair and if she's doing outdoor stuff and swimming it gets super tangled. I'd throw some detangler spray and a wide tooth comb into her duffel, and make sure she knows how to work out the knots.
posted by champers at 3:09 AM on July 11
We sent glow in the dark scrunchies to share with cabin mates one year and they were a huge hit.
Also maybe fun dress-up stuff? My daughter's all-girls camp had a "prom" and they all dressed up in wacky outfits and danced the night away. I can imagine thrift store dresses could be fun for a group.
One year when I was a kid at camp someone sent us a box of basic water guns and I thought that was so cool.
posted by luckdragon at 7:04 AM on July 11
Also maybe fun dress-up stuff? My daughter's all-girls camp had a "prom" and they all dressed up in wacky outfits and danced the night away. I can imagine thrift store dresses could be fun for a group.
One year when I was a kid at camp someone sent us a box of basic water guns and I thought that was so cool.
posted by luckdragon at 7:04 AM on July 11
Fidget toys! Crazy markers! Stickers for sure. Games she can play with her bunkmates (small games, not Catan or Risk). But really, fidget toys and a reading light.
posted by papergirl at 1:34 PM on July 11
posted by papergirl at 1:34 PM on July 11
You can order DIY stickers with your own design: photo of the dog, name of the camp, some silly drawing or saying. Most online print on demand sites have templates and clip art or use Canva. Could be a mid-session care package and tailored to her experience, cabin/team name? funny incident?
posted by TWinbrook8 at 2:09 PM on July 11
posted by TWinbrook8 at 2:09 PM on July 11
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Temporary tattoos
Would a lantern or fun flashlight be considered electronics?
Something to decorate her space
Really nice beach towel
Sunglasses or hat
Fun pajamas
Small, portable crafty activity that can be shared with bunk mates—one of those books of stickers that can be colored in, a cootie catcher kit, etc. Silly, but the right group might find something like that fun.
posted by corey flood at 1:05 PM on July 10 [1 favorite]