Summer Camp Packing Calculator
Enter the session length and whether laundry runs mid-session. The calculator gives socks, shirts and the liter duffel that swallows it all - plus the two rules that matter more than any item.
Label everything with a marker that survives the laundry - unlabeled gear disappears into a lost-and-found bin that never empties - and check the forbidden list before the drive: snacks in cabins draw animals, phones are banned entirely at most camps, and the letter from home packed on top is the homesickness cure.
How to use
- Session length first; laundry halves the clothing count.
- Socks and underwear get two spares regardless.
- Find the camp forbidden list - snacks and phones are the usual.
Frequently asked questions
How many clothes should I pack for summer camp?
Days plus two spares on socks and underwear without laundry; about 60 percent of that if the camp runs a mid-session laundry. The calculator converts the session into a shirt and sock count.
What size duffel do I need for a week of camp?
A no-laundry week fills a 70-90 liter duffel including bedding; with laundry, a 50-60 liter bag does it. Sleeping bag and pillow ride strapped outside if the bag runs tight.
What should kids not bring to summer camp?
Snacks in cabins draw animals and most camps ban phones outright - the contraband discovered at check-in makes a rough first hour. Read the forbidden list the camp sends; it is written from experience.
How do I prevent homesickness at camp?
A letter from home packed where the camper finds it the first night - pre-written comfort at the exact moment it is needed. The camps add the rest: busy days cure homesickness faster than phone calls ever did.