Summer Camp Counselor Packing List
With summer fast approaching, it’s important to get everything ready for the summer of a lifetime. This means you have to start to think about packing.
All over the internet, there are hundreds of ‘summer camp packing lists’, and every time you click on one, it’s designed for the campers.
If it’s your first summer working as a summer camp counselor, how are you supposed to know what you need to wear and what you need to pack?
That’s why we have created the ultimate summer camp counselor packing list, so no matter what summer camp you work at, you’ll be ready and prepared for the best summer of your life.
This summer camp counselor packing list will be perfect regardless of which camp program you are doing. So if you’re looking what to pack for Camp America or for a Camp Leaders packing list, this camp counselor packing list will be of use to you.
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Camp Counselor Packing Top Tips:
Buy compression cubes so you can pack as much as possible into 1 bag
Bring a big water bottle with you to camp - we’d recommend a cheap Nalgene water bottle for daily use or the LifeStraw Water Bottle if you’re going to be doing expeditions/overnights
Always use a backpack over a suitcase. They can store as much and they are easier to use when travelling after camp. Here’s our recommendations of the best backpacks for summer camp counselors.
Buy a cheap, reliable and waterproof watch - they are one of the most essential items for camp counselors
Summer Camp Counselor Packing Basics
We have worked as counselors at Timber Lake West - the best summer camp to work at for a combined 13 summers, and as international staff, have got very used to packing up our lives into backpacks and heading to the US for the summer.
That’s why we decided to create this summer camp counselor packing list for you. In our first summers, we generally had no idea what to expect and had no clue as to what we needed to pack.
Orla went down the ‘overpack for all eventualities’ route, which proved difficult when it came to travelling afterwards and lugging around a 25kg suitcase. On the other hand, Ben took the ‘underpack and hope for the best’ route, which again proved difficult when travelling after camp as he only had 2 T-shirts left that were in any sort of reasonable condition.
Timber Lake West - Upstate New York
In terms of the ‘suitcase’ vs ‘backpack’ debate - it’s up to you. If you’re confident that you can fit everything into a backpack and would prefer the convenience of a backpack for travelling afterwards, then go for it.
More often than not though, people struggle to fit everything into a regular backpack and opt for a suitcase instead. As long as you’re happy carrying around a suitcase on your travels afterwards, then this is absolutely fine too.
Typically we would say, if you’re going to be travelling for a while after camp then bring a backpack. If you’re going to be returning home pretty much straight away after camp has finished, then a suitcase is probably a better option as you will be able to pack more.
If you’re going to be experiencing some of the best places to travel to after camp, then we would definitely recommend bringing a backpack. You don't want to be lugging a suitcase on the bus from San Diego to San Francisco.
As a general rule of thumb, it is best to pack enough clothes to last between 10-14 days. There are many different types of camps but most will offer a laundry service, or at the very least a place to do your own laundry, so you should never need to survive for longer than this without clean clothes.
Our top tip: We always use compression packing cubes to help us pack as much as we can into our suitcase/backpack.
Summer Camp Counselors on the Lake
For everything on this summer camp counselor packing list, just remember that you will probably find some time to buy extra things from Walmart when you arrive in the US. If not, you can always order things to camp in case you have forgotten something important.
The last thing to note before we get into the actual list, people at camp love sharing. Everybody knows that international staff will have less opportunity to bring everything they want with them, so be surprised when many of the American staff will be willing to share their stuff with you.
That’s the basics covered, now we will outline our summer camp counselor packing list.
Camp Counselor Packing List Essentials (The obvious things)
We will begin by saying that this list is designed for international counselors that have to catch a flight to camp, where obviously luggage allowances are limited. So the ‘absolute essentials’ have to find a way into your suitcase, and everything else after that can go in if you have any room leftover.
If you’re going to be driving to camp as an American/Canadian, then perhaps you will have room for absolutely everything on this list:
T-shirts - At least 10 - remember that for the majority of the time, you will be wearing your camp staff t-shirts. For all those other times, you’re going to be needing your own regular t-shirts. It’s best to bring a mix of nicer t-shirts, and ones where you can be active and sporty in.
Sweatshirts - Yes camp is going to be warm, but for the times that it will get cold, you are definitely going to need a sweatshirt. 2 or 3, just so you have a good choice, is likely to be fine. If you have space for more, then go for it!
Sweatpants/Joggers - these are going to double up as comfortable clothes to chill out in, as well as essentials on those colder days. A few different pairs, similar to the sweatshirts, is going to be fine.
Shorts - fingers crossed, these are going to be the item of clothing that you wear the most at camp. As long as the weather is okay, you are going to want to be in shorts. So remember to bring a good combination of shorts to cover being active, being lazy and generally chilling out.
Remember: most camps will organise a trip to a mall or Walmart in orientation so if there isn’t room for something in your bag, you’ll always have a chance to buy it once you arrive.
Socks - no matter how many pairs you bring to camp, you will always run out of socks. Bring as many as you can! We always buy a big pack of trainer socks like these every summer. Something cheap, as many as possible, and know that you will come home with half as many as you brought to camp!
Underwear - exactly the same as socks, bring as many pairs of underwear as you can because at camp they somehow disappear all the time!
Jeans - you will only really need jeans for the evenings and fancy occasions so a couple of pairs is likely to be okay.
Pyjamas - probably going to be dependent on your camp situation, but generally there will be some point during the summer where you will end up wearing pyjamas for more than just sleeping in. Whether it’s a pyjama party, a random evening activity or just a day where camp decides to wear pyjamas all day. So make sure to bring a couple of sets so that you’re covered.
Waterproof Jacket - again, hopefully this won’t be needed all too often throughout the summer but it is an essential anyway. Just 1 rain jacket is absolutely fine.
Towel/s - the majority of camps provide towels but they are often the small face towels that you get at gyms, so it is best to bring a couple of your own too. They are also essential for days off when you invariably end up by a river or a lake on a warm day. If you’re conscious of taking up space, these travel towel sets usually come in handy.
Swimwear - there are some weeks where you may end up in the water every single day. It’s one of the best things about camp, so make sure you come prepared.
Shoes - there is a tendency to overthink how many shoes you are going to need at camp, but don’t worry about it. In general you are going to need 1 pair of slides/flip-flops, 2 pairs of trainers, 1 waterproof pair (one of your pairs of trainers could double up as this) and 1 or 2 nice pairs for the evenings and days off. If your camp runs a lot of outdoor activities or expeditions, then obviously hiking boots are going to be essential too.
‘Fancy Outfit/s’ - you are going to need some nicer outfits for the evenings and days off, away from camp. At camp you’re never really expected to look at your best all the time, but it is nice to look smart every once in a while. Things like jewelry, shirts and dresses all come into this category. Again, don’t go crazy, but it’s always good to make the effort to look nice occasionally.
Baseball cap - any form of headwear is going to be fine. It’s going to get hot during camp so a hat is essential.
Cheap Watch - you always need to know the time during camp. Summer camps run on a strict time schedule so as camp counsellor it's vital to have a watch and keep on time to activities. Don’t be going for a rolex or anything, just something easy and reliable like this cheap and waterproof watch will do the trick nicely. The bonus of this watch is that you don’t have to take it off when you go swimming, which will happen a lot during camp.
Blankets/Pillows/Sheets/Sleeping Bags - some camps may provide these for you but for others you may be expected to bring it with you. If you do need to bring it with you, then we’d recommend one of these best sleeping bags for camping as they are great for all weathers and can easily fit into your luggage.
Phone/Phone charger/Documents/Headphones/Wallet etc. - pretty much anything you are going to need for days off and any time spent away from camp. Don’t bring anything too expensive though, you will generally not get much time to use it and it isn’t worth the hassle if anything gets broken or lost.
Smaller backpack/Day bag - you’re definitely not going to want to be taking your huge suitcase with you on days off, so bringing a smaller day bag or backpack is certainly a good idea. It’s also great for stuffing lots of campers essential items in during the day when you’re working too - you will often find counselors walking around with backpacks full of their campers medications, sun screen, water and other random items.
Water bottle - you are going to drink a lot of water at camp. Running around in the height of the summer, chasing children all day long, is going to be very thirsty work. We’d recommend something strong and sturdy like the nalgene water bottles we use, as it isn’t going to be easily broken when your campers invariably get their hands on it. We go through a full rundown of water bottle options in our packing tips for long-term travel.
Toiletry Bag (Fully stocked) - We’re obviously not going to go into full detail about what should be in your toiletry bag, you know yourself what things you are going to need. As a rule of thumb, just bring enough to survive for the first few weeks and if you run out of anything, you will always be able to buy it while you’re on your day off. One thing to note, the US isn’t known for spray deodorant, they only tend to do roll-on. So if you’re like us and prefer spray, maybe bring an extra bottle with you in your toiletry bag.
Travel Adapter - you definitely don’t want to forget a travel adapter. They are particularly useful for after camp when you’re travelling and don’t have the luxury of borrowing somebody else’s American charger. We have always used a travel adapter like this, as it has plenty of USB ports which makes it really handy when you’re travelling in a group. We also use this one because it’s universal, so we never need to buy a new one if we ever travel anywhere else.
Remember to send this article to your friends who are going to be camp counselors for the first time this summer. Perhaps it’s even worth posting the article into your camp staff facebook page, so as many staff as possible can feel prepared for the summer ahead?
Basketball Court and Dining Hall at Timber Lake West
Things to pack for summer camp that are helpful, but you can survive without
The next category of items to pack for your time as a summer camp counselor, are things that are certainly going to be helpful, but aren’t necessarily essential.
They are the kind of things that many would consider ‘camp luxuries’. The items that you will either be able to deal without, or borrow somebody else’s that has more space in their suitcase than you do.
With this list, if you are fortunate enough to have the space leftover after filling your backpack or suitcase with the ‘essential’ items, then definitely consider some of these items. If you only have limited space left, then you should prioritise which items you personally deem as ‘essential’.
A typical Summer Camp Counselor Packing set-up
Flashlight/Torch - one of those things that it’s always really handy to have, but you will also be able to stumble around in the dark without one. Typically at camp your phone is going to be safely tucked away somewhere, so using your phone light isn’t going to be an option. Something like this high-powered flashlight is going to be useful, particularly if you’re camp does a lot of overnight camping trips/excursions.
Hair dryer - this probably depends on who you are, as to whether this item should be deemed as essential or not. Just remember that somebody in your bunk is likely to bring one to camp with them, so you will always be able to borrow one.
Laundry Bag - you’re going to go through a lot of clothes at camp, so it’s probably best to have somewhere to put them once they’re dirty. If you can fit one into your backpack, a laundry bag like this is going to be extremely useful. These are the kind that all the American staff will have.
Shower Tote - when you’re at camp, it is unlikely that you’re going to be able to keep all of your shower gels, conditioners, shampoos and sponges in the shower at all times. When there are 20 of you sharing 4 showers, that is just impractical. To solve this, it’s best to grab yourself a shower tote like this - means you can keep it in a cupboard, and bring it to the shower when it’s your turn.
Disposable Camera - trust us on this one, you are going to want to have as many photos of the best summer of your life that you can, and for that we’d recommend taking a good Disposable Camera with you to camp. Plus, it’s always fun to print photos off and hang them on the wall of the bunk.
Camera - you can never get enough photos during the summer and although disposable cameras are great, we also recommend getting one of the best cameras for travel because once camp has finished, you’re going to want to have the best quality camera possibly to capture all of those amazing travel experiences!
Our advice: a disposable camera is one of those great gifts for summer camp counselors - you could ask for one as a birthday present or as a ‘I am going away for the summer and you’re not going to see me for the next 3 months’ present.
Sunscreen - so sunscreen is absolutely essential. Even if it isn’t for your own use, it’s important that the campers don’t get sunburned. It’s never a good look as a counselor to be walking around with some very red campers in tow. It doesn’t make the ‘essential’ list simply because you may not have room and might be able to buy it once you arrive at camp.
One full outfit you don’t mind getting ruined at some stage - at some stage during the summer, whether it’s a particularly messy outdoor game or some sort of art activity, you’re likely to need an entire outfit that you don’t mind getting ruined. The great thing about this, is that once you’ve ruined your outfit, you can just simply re-use it every time you need to get messy.
Sunglasses - nice and simply, if you need them, pack them. If you think you can survive without sunglasses, then leave them at home and use the room to pack something else.
Beanie Hat - believe it or not, the nighttimes can get pretty chilly at camp. Particularly if you’re going to be working in an outdoor expedition camp, you’re probably going to want to pack some sort of warm hat.
Cleats/Football Boots - if you are going to summer camp to work as a Soccer specialist, then boots are going to be absolutely necessary. For everybody else, it’s pretty much personal preference. They certainly come in handy, but you are able to survive through the summer without them.
High ropes counselors hanging out
Camp Counselor Packing List Optional Extras
At this point, it’s unlikely that you’re going to have much room left in your suitcase. So these are the kind of things where you have to really think, ‘will I be okay without them?’
If you are a counselor that is running a specific activity, like a sports specialist or an arts and crafts counselor, then you may have to make the room for things more suited to your job.
Perhaps you’re going to be a general counselor this summer? In this case, some of these items may be used fairly regularly and prove very useful.
Small fan - as you can imagine, when you’re sleeping in a summer camp bunk with 20 campers and 10 counselors, it’s going to get hot. Grabbing yourself a portable battery powered fan like this is great because it can clip onto the end of your bed and you don’t have to worry about having to prop it up. At our camp, around 80% of the counselors use a clip-on fan like this because night-times can become unbearable without one.
Tennis Racquet/Baseball Glove/Sports Equipment - we have grouped these together as they are going to be used quite often throughout the summer. Particularly if you’re working with male campers, throwing a baseball around is a nice and simple way to keep the boys occupied. Using camp equipment is always fine, but there is nothing like using your own sports gear!
Books - we will be impressed if you ever find the time at summer camp to read, but we know that every year there are counselors that come to camp that love reading during their days off to help them relax. If this is you, then finding room for a book, perhaps even a great travel book, is certainly a good plan.
Bluetooth Speaker - it is surprising how useful a good speaker can be during the summer. If you’re looking for a way to motivate younger campers to clean their bunk, then playing some uplifting music can always help. If you need to play some music for a game or a way to entertain the group, then a Bluetooth speaker is going to come in handy.
Get yourself a speaker: Orla’s JBL Clip Speaker has been used hundreds of times over the past 5 summers and she wouldn't have survived being a counselor without it. Click here to see the latest prices.
Food/Drink from home - obviously there isn’t going to be much room for this sort of thing, but finding space for some proper tea bags or cadburys chocolate is surely a good idea?
Hammock - particularly if you are an outdoor/expedition camp, a hammock can be a really fun and useful thing to have in your summer camp arsenal. We have one of these hammocks at home and it comes with straps so you can attach it pretty much anywhere.
Orla participating in Color War
Fun things to pack as a camp counselor
We have made it to the final section of the ultimate summer camp counselor packing list. This is where you have to start finding room in the suitcase that you didn’t know you had.
Anything from here on out is certainly not designed to be the first thing you think about packing, but is going to make you stand out as a great summer camp counselor.
One of our best tips for being a great summer camp counselor is that you need to be as creative as possible. Packing items like these from home is definitely going to help you out when you’re trying to be as creative as possible, to give the campers the best summer imaginable.
Pack of cards/Uno - uno is a universal game and can be played (and enjoyed) by any age group, which makes it perfect for summer camp. On those rainy days when your campers are bored and restless, a pack of cards can solve a lot of problems.
Games to play with kids - bringing some games with you to camp can be a brilliant way to bond with campers that have just arrived. Before you get to know a camper properly, inviting them to play a game with a few of the rest of the campers in the group can be a great way to help them settle into camp life. Obviously you don’t want to be bringing any bulky boxes with you, so the best travel games are going to be a more practical option.
Crafty/fun things - it is surprising how many times you will find yourself in need of some sort of craft item throughout the summer. Whether it’s for a game that you have conjured up your campers, or whether it’s for a specific evening activity, crafty items are certainly going to prove useful. Something like this embroidery thread kit for making bracelets goes down very well with younger campers.
Costumes/Silly things to dress up in - we would say that at least once a week, you will be encouraged to dress up in some sort of fancy-dress outfit. Whether it’s for a specific activity, or just because camp has decided to look silly that day, you will certainly be in need of some clever costumes throughout the summer.
Color War/Olympics Outfits - we have made this section separate to the costumes part, simply because many camps finish out their summer with a color war/olympics. Often this comes in the form of the camp dressing up in a specific colour or theme. At our camp for example, Color War splits the camp into two teams - red or white. So bringing lots of red and white items to dress up in is certainly useful.
Orla sporting a tutu during Color War
Summer Camp Counselor Packing List Round-Up
There we have it folks, the complete summer camp counselor packing list.
We hope this list has given you a good indication as to what you need to prioritise for camp this summer. Do you think we missed anything out? Please let us know!
Being a summer camp counselor is going to be one of the best experiences of your life and we hope that we have helped you get prepared as much as you can.
If you’re looking for even more summer camp counselor inspiration, then be sure to check out our summer camp resources section.
