It’s that time of year again! Time to think PACKING! We know the packing list may seem overwhelming at first, especially for our newest LOC families. Here are a few outside-of-the-box tips we thought we’d share.

Packing Tip 1:
Our camp colors are BLUE AND WHITE, and our boys LOVE to wear them proudly. Unlike our sister camp, Timber Tops, you do not need to pack shirts of different colors.   During the 1^st half of the summer, we provide them with a shirt for the three days of Olympics that depicts their team color. During the 2^nd half of the summer, we don’t have a traditional “Color War”, but our own exciting Frontier Week. The teams are not depicted by color, but by tribe name that is chosen once the teams are formed. We do celebrate the 4^th of July in a big way, so make sure to pack something to wear and fun hats or glasses or whatever wacky items your camper likes. During the 2^nd session we have OWEGOWEEN for grades 2^nd through 6^th. Many like to make their costumes at camp but, some like to bring one.

Packing Tip 2:
Speaking of clothing, remember to pack a few WHITE articles of clothing. Can you say Tie–Dye?!

Packing Tip 3:
Your campers are never too old for pre-addressed envelopes or postcards. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and best family friends are definitely not getting that letter you promised unless it’s over-the-top easy for your camper to send. (Pre-address envelopes home too. It’s one less step for your camper to take while he’s running to the mailbox on his way to the basketball court, or the lake, or to adventure!)

Packing Tip 4:
We keep the boys very busy but there is some down time during each day. We have gathering decks with fun activities like knock-hockey, hoop shots and ping pong but Magic Cards and games like that are great to pack. Supervised Free Activity (pronounced S’Fa) is everyone’s favorite time to hang out on the gathering decks, write letters and relax. Most seniors, 7^th-11^th grade, pack a folding Camp Chair, like what you would bring to a sporting event. They use these at campfires. Some of the juniors do as well but, it is not necessary.

 Packing Tip 5:
Don’t buy expensive clothes, jeans or bathing suits. Don’t pack too many things to throw on the bed. Don’t pack anything you don’t want going in the laundry. Your son will be wearing the same t-shirts on rotation and getting dressed and ready faster than you thought humanly possible. They hate missing a single moment. Just LABEL EVERYTHING clearly. Every boy has a blue raincoat, a blue duffle, a blue sweatshirt, a blue…you get the picture. They are so busy running from one activity to another that it is inevitable that they will leave something somewhere.

Packing Tip 6:
If you’re worried that your son may need more storage space for his athletic equipment, we recommend gear bags that fit under the bed. Once again, label every cleat, shin guard, glove, stick and racquet.

Packing Tip 7:
You’ve probably heard the term “shoe bag” or bunk junk bag thrown around. At camp, shoe bags are often used to hang up on the wall or at the end of the bed and store extra “stuff” in (think flashlight, hair brush, etc). Small shoe box bins are great to keep socks and underwear organized within the cubbies and on top to hold extra stuff like magic cards, etc. You can pack right in them and they place them right into the cubbies from their trunks and duffle bags. You can find them at Target and Walmart for about $2/bin.

Packing Tip 8:
Leave the electronics at home! No matter what you hear from friends about other camps, LOC parents don’t sneak them into their campers’ bags! Our parents are rule-followers, and our kids follow their parents’ lead. At camp it isn’t “cool” to have electronics or phones. In fact, it’s “cool” to leave all that behind. Believe us when we tell you that Lake Owego boys appreciate unplugging. It’s just part of our camp culture.

The post Packing Tips for LOC Parents! appeared first on Lake Owego Camp for Boys.

In less than a month, the kids will be back at home at Lake Owego Camp (but who is counting??).

This is my fifth year packing my sons, and you would think that as a Camp Timber Tops alumna and a veteran sleepaway camp mom, packing would come easy – wrong!  My boys and I lay out what seems like everything they own in our house, in piles, and as I look at the piles and heaps, I have to remember that it will not be as bad as it looks.

Here are a few tips for new moms to help make packing seem less overwhelming.

1. Follow the camp list. It is provided for a reason.  Check off each item as it is laid out, and check it off again when it is actually packed in the duffle.
2. Go to the camp store (Bunkline) online and pre-order camp officials. I usually buy a size up so I can get a few summers out of them.
3. Buy stick on laundry labels! Gone are the days of mothers sewing labels into underwear, pants, shirts and socks. These attach right to the tags of clothing. I use Mabels Labels (http://www.mabelslabels.com/) for my kids each year.
4. Still purchase a few thin sharpies for the tag less clothes and socks. Don’t forget to label the duffels too!
5. Assign your children the task with picking out the appropriate number of t-shirts, shorts, swim suits, etc. (so they can pick their favorites) and then go through their picks before packing into the duffels. This way, you can pull out the extras that may find their way into the piles (they do not have to pack every camp t-shirt they have from every summer they have attended camp!).
6. Buy cheap socks and underwear. Do not plan for all of these to come home.  I send my sons to camp with lingerie bags for them to put their socks (which have their initials written in sharpie on the bottoms) into before sending to the camp laundry, though I have my doubts about whether or not they are actually used J.
7. Send old towels that you are not attached to for swimming and bath towels. They will use towels for multi purpose, so don’t stress over what kind of towels are packed.
8. Pack a raincoat or poncho, and old sneakers to wear on rainy and muddy days.
9. I send them with pre-stamped postcards and pre-addressed everything. This way they only have to write the letter and put it in the mail, guaranteeing that the letters will at least get to me.
10. Pack an extra set of flip-flops for the shower!
11. A battery powered, clip-on, flexible fan goes a long way.

A few more tips that I’ve picked up along the way:

If you forget to pack something, or if your son runs out or something, the camp will let you know and ask you to send it up or they’ll simply get it for them.  They will be well taken care of!

You will see your son in pictures wearing the same clothing over and over.  This is because when it comes back from camp laundry, it is on top of the pile in their cubby and is just easier for them to wear it instead of putting on something new.  It is OK – only you will notice it, and hey, it’s camp!

Lastly, I always send a letter to camp well before they leave.  This way, they have a letter from home waiting for them on day one.

Good luck, and plan for your boys to have the best summer of their lives!

The post Packing Advice from an LOC Mom! appeared first on Lake Owego Camp for Boys.