Care Packages for Summer Camp: Over 60 Ideas!
I remember my first experience as a camp mom. Since I had never gone to summer camp as a kid, I spent weeks asking friends about what my daughter should pack, how she should pack, when to send care packages, what to send in a care package…among a million other questions. I shopped in secret to build her care package for weeks in advance and had everything ready to go. It was essential that I crossed every ‘t’ and dotted every ‘i’ so her first camp outing would be memorable and perfect.
The morning after I dropped off my daughter, I hightailed it to the post office to mail a package. They assured me it would arrive in two days. Every day I waited to get an email from my daughter telling me how much she loved my care package. Emails arrived daily, but no mention of the care package. Sure enough, as soon as I went to pick her up, she was sitting on her bunk bed opening her care package for the first time. I learned it arrived the morning of check out! Despite the post office glitch, her experience turned out to be memorable and perfect anyway.
So what did I learn? Consider dropping off your care package the same day you check-in your child! I also kept my list care package ideas for this year’s summer camp adventure, and I share them below. Maybe my list will make your preparations easier. Not every camp allows food in care package, so be sure to ask in advance.
I hope your child’s summer camp experience goes off without a glitch. And now to more than 60 care package ideas to help you do just that… We made it easy and created an amazon link for each to easily add to your cart!
Love from Home
- Self-addressed stamped envelopes
- Stationery/note cards
- Notes from family members
- Picture of family
- Picture of family pet
- A letter from your family pet
Little Extras
- Band-aids
- Waterproof Ear plugs for swimming
- Extra sunscreen, Sunscreen Stick, and Sunscreen Applicator
- Colored zinc
- Chapsticks
- Toiletry items
- Insect repellent
- Aloe Vera for sunburns
- Bug bite relief
Unexpected Surprises
- New Swim Goggles
- New Sunglasses
- New Flip flops
- New bathing suit
- New water bottle
Sweet Treats
- Candy – the stuff you normally don’t buy
- Snacks (trail mix, pretzels, granola bars, etc)
- Homemade baked goods
For the Long Nights
- Flashlight (don’t forget the batteries!)
- Booklight
- Journal – These themed summer camp journals are perfect for giving them prompts to write about
- Books
- Magazines
- Sketchbooks
- Pens and pencils
- Portable Fan (don’t forget the batteries if not rechargeable)
- Warm, fuzzy socks
Make Them Stand Out
- Glow-in-the-dark clothes (PJs, socks, shoelaces)
- Glow-in-the-dark bracelets and necklaces
- Glow-in-the-dark body paint
Building Memories
- Disposable, Poloroid, or Waterproof camera
- Portable Photo Printer
- Fabric markers and a plain white t-shirt or pillowcase to sign
- Autograph book
- Address book
Cabin Mate Fun
- A small token to give to a cabinmate
- Deck of cards
- Puzzles
- Mad Libs
- Glow Sticks
- Water guns
- Bubbles
- Magic 8 Ball
- Crazy glasses
- Prank items (Five Below has a ton…)
- Temporary tattoos
- Wigs
- Stick on mustaches
- Fake teeth
- Camp Bunk Box of Questions
- Walkie talkies
- Small travel-size games (like Spot It, Uno, Would You Rather)
- Frisbee
For the Girls
A Couple of Other Ideas
~ Consider wrapping each item individually so it’s like a holiday occasion for your child to open the care package.
~ Don’t have time to coordinate a care package? Send a pre-made camp care package from Amazon, the Wrinkled Egg, or Camp Pacs. Brilliant idea!
~ If you have more ideas to add to this list, leave a comment below!
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Great ideas – thank you! I would add fidget toys – Rubix cube, pop-its, really anything to keep the hands busy. That’s what my 10 year old asked for for his second summer away this year. And THANK YOU for telling us about The Wrinkled Egg! What a fantastic selection they have, a nice owner too, and the shipping cost is worth it to have them package and send directly! We will make that an annual tradition as well as sending our own small packages…
More candy! I am 10 and my first time going to sleep away camp for a week was last summer I loved it but I told my mom that I did not want a care package that was a big mastake I was the only one in my cabin that didn’t get anything but all I wanted the whole week was candy and to write down what I did that day,
Omg, I can relate! Last year I went to sleepaway camp for the THIRD YEAR!!! and I had to suffer and watch everyone open their care package! This year I’m praying that I get one.
Same! Last year was my first time and I didn’t know that we could bring snacks so when my mom offered to send a package, I dismissed it, thinking we couldn’t bring it. BIG MISTAKE! I went to camp and the next day people started getting packages and me and my cousin sat there feeling upset that we didn’t get anything
Super helpful!
Silly string!
Great write!! Love a care package to any where and any one . . . but always love it to your camper!! These are great ides and I love the way you separated them into groups!!
thanks for sharing . . . and that picture of the campers is GREAT!!