Summer Camp Packing List 2026 — Free Printable Checklist (Day + Overnight)

Download Your Free Packing Checklist

Download Free Checklist (PDF)

Use the free printable PDF as a category checklist alongside your camp’s own instructions. Cross out anything the camp supplies or prohibits, and write your quantities beside the items you need. The day-camp and laundry examples below help you adapt it.

Day camp: build one daily bag

Wear: The program’s required clothes and shoes, chosen for the day’s activities and weather.

Carry: A labeled water bottle, the requested spare clothes and a bag for wet or dirty items. Add the weather protection the program requests.

Add only when needed: Swim gear on swimming days, lunch when it is not provided, and specialist equipment only when the camp asks for it. Check the next day’s schedule each evening.

For a program that ends each afternoon, start with the items needed for that day. Keep the rest at home and reset the bag after pickup.

Overnight camp: count until clean laundry returns

Seven days, no laundry: A starting example is seven daily sets of underwear and socks plus two spare sets. Add enough tops and bottoms for the expected changes, with extra clothing for wet activities. This is an example, not a camp requirement.

Fourteen days, clean laundry back on day eight: Plan the first eight days plus spares, then reuse the washed items. Confirm which garments the service accepts and how they must be labeled and bagged.

Fourteen days, no laundry: Plan for all fourteen days plus spares. Do not simply reuse a one-week quantity; ask the camp about bag-size limits and a realistic clothing plan.

Ask both when laundry is collected and when it comes back. A pickup on day seven does not mean clean clothes are available on day seven. For planning, count each day before the clean load returns, then add spares based on activities and your child’s needs.

Five checks before you close the bag

The exact session: Confirm arrival and departure dates, including any travel day that changes the clothing count.

Supplied items: Mark which bedding, towels, food, art supplies or sports equipment are provided.

Required handover: Keep check-in documents and anything staff must receive separate from items your child will use independently.

Rules and fit: Check prohibited items, footwear requirements and luggage limits. Have your child carry the packed bag and try the closures.

A return plan: Label the laundry bag, photograph the contents and leave room to repack. Save the camp’s packing instructions for the trip home.

Clothing & Footwear Essentials

Use these categories for an overnight stay; choose quantities from the laundry plan below. A day camper normally wears one outfit and carries the change of clothes their program requests.

Tops & bottoms: Choose clothes your child can manage and get dirty. Count days until clean laundry returns; add a spare outfit and any activity-specific changes. Long pants may be required for particular activities.

Underwear & socks: Plan a fresh pair for each day until clean laundry returns, with spares for wet or muddy days. Do not assume a two-week session includes laundry.

Layers: Check the destination forecast and the camp’s list for a warm layer and rainwear. An indoor program and a mountain overnight camp need different layers.

Footwear: Follow the activity’s shoe rules. Pack comfortable, already-worn shoes; confirm whether water shoes need a heel strap or closed toe. Shower shoes are different from shoes for running or climbing.

Swim gear: If swimming is scheduled, confirm the requested swimsuit, towel and other gear. A second suit may be useful when there is time to dry one between sessions.

Toiletries & Sun Protection

Check which personal-care items the camp asks families to supply and how staff handle their use. A day bag does not need a full overnight toiletry kit.

Sun protection: Sunscreen SPF 30+ (labeled with your child's name!), lip balm with SPF, and a hat with a brim. Kids burn fast when they're outside all day.

Bug protection: Bug spray or insect repellent — essential for any camp with outdoor time, which is basically all of them.

Hygiene basics: Toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant (if age-appropriate), brush or comb, and hair ties.

Extras: Hand sanitizer (travel size), facial tissues, and moisturizer if your child has dry skin. For older kids: contact lens supplies and feminine hygiene products.

Gear & Essentials

Match gear to the camp’s actual facilities and schedule rather than packing every item for every program.

Day camp basics: Use a manageable backpack and labeled water bottle. Add lunch and snacks only as instructed; confirm food restrictions and storage arrangements. Keep a separate bag for wet or dirty clothing.

Overnight camp basics: Confirm bed size and whether the camp requests sheets, a sleeping bag or both. Then add the requested pillow, towels, laundry bag and flashlight. Check what is provided before packing duplicate equipment.

Health & Safety Must-Haves

Arrange the camp’s required forms and handover process before arrival.

Medications: Ask the camp for its packaging, authorization and check-in instructions. Agree on storage and access arrangements with the camp and your child’s clinician where needed; do not assume medicines belong loose in a child’s backpack.

Forms & documents: Confirm that required health forms and emergency contacts have been received. Keep any documents requested for check-in accessible to the adult handling drop-off.

First aid extras: Ask what staff provide and what campers may carry. Pack personal supplies only as requested; a generic checklist cannot establish a camp’s health procedures.

Specialty Camp Add-Ons

The PDF has specialty categories. Treat these as questions to check with the program, not a shopping list: sports equipment, devices, tools and materials may be supplied or restricted.

Sports camps: Confirm the sport, playing surface, required protective equipment and whether rentals or loan equipment are available. Check fit before the first day.

STEM / Coding camps: Ask whether devices are supplied. Bring a laptop or tablet only when requested, with the required charger and headphones; check software or login instructions beforehand.

Arts / Theater camps: Ask which materials and clothing the program provides. Pack an old shirt or smock if requested; confirm any rehearsal shoes, portfolio folder or performance outfit separately.

Outdoor / Nature camps: Use the program’s route, weather and equipment requirements. Confirm footwear, rain protection and whether specialist equipment is supplied before buying or packing it.

Overnight camp extras: Check rules for shower shoes, wet-clothes bags, fans, locks and camp-store purchases. Some camps prohibit cash entirely, so do not assume a spending allowance should go in the bag.

What NOT to Bring

Check the camp’s prohibited-items list before closing the bag. Policies differ for phones, smartwatches, cameras, food, cash and specialist tools. Keep valuable or irreplaceable belongings at home; send comfort items only if permitted. For example, Camp Canaan’s day and overnight lists prohibit electronics and cash, which shows why a generic camp-store allowance is unreliable.

Make the bag easy for your child to use

Label and photograph: Put your child’s name on belongings as the camp requests, including the laundry bag. Photograph the packed items so your family has a return-home inventory.

Pack together: Ask your child to show you where their water bottle, rain layer and spare clothes are. If they cannot open a container or carry the bag comfortably, simplify it before departure.

Separate clean and wet: Keep clean clothing apart from wet swimwear or muddy shoes. At day camp, empty and reset the bag each evening instead of leaving damp items inside.

Check the return trip: Leave space for the items that will come back unfolded. Put a copy of your final inventory in the bag so packing to come home is easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far in advance should I start packing for camp?

Start a week before camp begins. Make a first pass with the checklist, then use the remaining days to fill in gaps. Avoid packing the night before — you'll forget something important.

Should I let my child help pack?

Yes! Kids 6 and older should be involved in packing. It helps them feel ownership over their belongings, reduces anxiety about being away from home, and means they'll actually know where their stuff is when they get to camp.

How many outfits should I pack for a one-week camp?

For overnight camp, count the days until clean laundry returns, then add spares for the activities and your child. Seven days without laundry could start with seven daily sets of underwear and socks plus two spare sets. Confirm tops, bottoms, swimwear and bedding against the camp’s own list. Day campers usually carry a daily bag and the requested spare outfit.

What if the camp has a specific packing list?

Follow the camp’s current list and prohibited-item rules first. Use this checklist to organize questions and quantities; do not add items the camp prohibits just because they appear on a general list.

Can I send care packages to camp?

Ask the camp before sending a package, including food or small gifts. Check the delivery address, timing and any restrictions. If packages are not permitted, ask whether letters or another contact method are welcome.

What should a child bring to day camp each day?

Follow that day’s program list: usually a manageable bag, water bottle and requested spare clothes, with swim gear, food or specialist equipment only when needed. Empty wet items and reset the bag after pickup.

How do I pack for two weeks of sleepaway camp?

First confirm whether laundry is provided and when clean clothes return. Pack through that return day plus spares. If there is no laundry, plan for the whole session and check the camp’s luggage limits.

Sources and further reading

• Camp Canaan: separate day, overnight and specialty packing lists
• Girl Scouts of Northern California: session-length and camper packing guidance