From Oy to Joy: Getting Your Groove On Organizing Your Sleep Away Camper

UPDATE: Congratulations to Lorene, winner of the Stuck On You labels!!

 

By: Oksana, the Order Maven

Oy! It is time to gear up for camp. And you’re right, just like most parents out there, I am not exactly jumping for joy. However, after doing it for some years now, I know how to get my groove on. I am a big fan of planning and routines that eventually become habits.

Are you ready to rumble? Here are my tips for organizing the brood for sleep away camp:

4-5 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE START OF CAMP (OR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE)

Admin matters – Did you submit all medical forms and other camp paperwork? It is critical to take care of this step and to confirm camp’s receipt of the information. If your child has medical issues, put yourself at ease by speaking to a camp professional regarding any questions or concerns you might have. 

Do it “by the book” – camp is feeding you important information through its materials. It is critical that you take the time to review and discuss the camp handbook as well as your expectations with your kids. Camp has regulations for the use of electronics. Review it with your son or daughter so that they can overcome any potential disappointments.

Shop by the list – most camps provide detailed packing lists. Make a shopping list of the items you are missing and take care of the shopping. Consider colour coding socks and undergarments by child. Let’s say, one son would have only gray underwear, the other only white, and so on. Also, my philosophy is never to send clothes that I would not like to see damaged or lost. No reason to spend a lot of money on camp clothes. However, the key hardware (trunk/duffel bag/sleeping bag) that your kids will need year in and year out should be durable enough to withstand the test of time and hard use.

Order the labeling arsenal – My personal favorite is Stuck On You labels and, boy, do they have a special deal for you! See below. For shoes, I recommend using a permanent marker. Metallic Sharpie will do well on dark coloured shoes, whereas a black one will work well on light coloured ones.

2-3 WEEKS BEFORE TAKE OFF

Label – label items in stages. It might be overwhelming to do it all at once. And don’t forget to label the luggage, backpacks, and sleeping bag.

Writing Crew – email your family members to let them know about your kids’ departure for camp. Provide them with the camp’s address and duration dates of your child’s session. Encourage them to send letters or cards to camp; this especially helps the first-time campers who might become a bit homesick, as long as you don’t write to them about what they might be missing at home. Just wish them well and ask them about what they are up to instead.

Let the packing begin – designate an area for packing. Roll up small items such as underwear and socks and pack them in large ziplock bags. Use a leak-proof bag for toiletries. Use the packing list to determine the quantities of each item being sent. Highlight the items that are important to be brought home! Once the process packing is complete, insert the packing list into a sheet protector and pack it with your camper. Explain to him/her that the reason it is going into the luggage is so that he/she can use it as a check-off list when packing for the return trip home.

Hygiene talks – have a conversation with your camper about the importance of taking care of oneself, showering regularly, dental care, etc. Do a walk-through of the personal hygiene routine with young campers and offer them the opportunity to have any questions answered.

THE FINAL WEEK COUNTDOWN

Grooming – take your child for a haircut. Trim their nails, if they can’t handle it on their own.

Medications – depending on the camp’s policy, arrange for meds to get to camp. Make a point of speaking to the camp doctor or nurse, if needed.

Tour the luggage – ensure that your camper knows what is packed where and why.

On call person – if you plan to be on vacation while your youngins are at camp, relay important details to the person who will be on call in your place. Insure the transfer of all valuable information as well as emergency contact info. When it is all over, you let out a sigh of relief. The important thing is for your child to have a safe, fun, and memorable camp experience. Should you forget something, don’t beat yourself up. You will likely get to do this all over again twelve months from now… oy!

Oksana from Order Matters has arranged for a terrific Stuck On You Labels discount and a GIVEAWAY for you, readers!

1. Effective June 16-23, you can get 15% on Jumbo Dots, great for camp labeling. Your discount code is: organize4camp

2. One lucky winner will receive this terrific camp kit, $48 value. To enter the giveaway, please do the following:

- Like Stuck On You on Facebook

- Like Order Matters on Facebook

- Like Savvima on Facebook

- Comment below to let us know that you have done all of the above.

Giveaway ends Wednesday, June 22 at 11:59 am EST.

Oksana V. Bellas is the Founder and Chief Organizing Maven of Order Matters in Vancouver, BC. She holds an MBA and has many years of experience in operations and management of organizations. Through organizing individuals, entities, and their schedules and space, Order Matters’ goal is to bring balance and order to people’s lives. Check out Order Matters blog and LIKE us on Facebook for regular tips and inspirations for leading an organized life.