What do boys actually wear and use in camp?
A while back in 2017, the team at Between Carpools put together a thorough and very helpful camp packing list for girls that we always update. At that time, everyone else on the BCP team had teen girls (except for me). My camp experience began, rather, with packing up boys. And so, our boys list soon followed.
Each year, when they returned home from camp, they’d give us notes to remember for next year and we’d continually update. And as they age from elementary to high school, we saw that their needs change. Of course, every boys of different backgrounds will have different preferences, and so you’ll adapt as needed. Food items are not included.
DOWNLOAD THE CAMP LIST
(Read the invaluable footnotes near the items in the post below. The download is the item list only without the notes.)
Boys Camp Checklist
- Labels! Use code BCP
- 2 extra large duffels OR 1 duffel + set of plastic drawers.
(Depends on boys preference, storage space available, and bunk space. If using drawers, you will also need packing tape and a scissor to secure it closed and open it up. You will want to label duffels VERY well with something identifiable–like neon duct tape and a Sharpie–so it’s easy to find your sons’ when the luggage truck drops them off.)Clothing
- 12-14 t-shirts
(Older boys who are wearing a white shirt for much of the day need less. In some camps, such as more Chassidishe camps, the boys will wear polo shirts instead of t-shirts.) - 9-10 sports pants and/or shorts
(This means Tiros mostly. In mesivta-style camps, boys don’t wear shorts.) - 10-12 underwear
- 12-14 weekday socks
(Socks do get lost) - 4 pajamas
(Sleeping sweats/shorts and sleeping t-shirts. Abercrombie joggers are great ones when they are in stock and on sale. Quince joggers with these Modal t-shirts are another great option. ) - 5-6 white weekday shirts
(6th/7th grade and up.) - 3-5 weekday pants for davening/learning
(6th/7th grade and up. In different camps, white shirts/pants are worn for different durations. In some camps, the boys only put on real pants for special occasions and they wear Tiros with a white shirt in the morning. Then, they’d need just 1-2.
In other camps, they wear pants for davening and/or learning groups and then change for the day; then 3-4 is good. When they reach Mesivta age, they’ll wear pants most of the day and change for sports/activities. “Stretch pants,” a more comfortable pant, are popular. This style is our boys’ favorite of all.) - 2 Shabbos shirts
- 1-2 Shabbos suits
- 4 Shabbos socks
(Keep some separate for Shabbos if he wears the same for Shabbos and weekday mornings.) - Shabbos shoes
- 1-2 ties
- Belt
- Hat/Jacket
(Over Bar Mitzvah. Don’t bring the good Shabbos hat.) - 1-2 bathrobes
(2 if he uses it as a towel also.) - 5-6 Tzitzit
- 2-4 Kippahs
- All sports equipment
- Natives/Floafers/Swims
(Some older boys like Swims because they look like loafers and they can wear them with their pants/shirts in the morning. Note that they’re expensive, but sometimes you can find deals on older styles. They also go on sale, up to 50% off, in the winter) - Slides – Kids’ and Mens’ (a favorite)
- 2-3 bathing suits
- Rashguard
- Goggles
- 2 sweatshirts
Bath & Bed
- Toothbrush & Toothbrush case
- Toothpaste
- Mouthwash
- Tissue Box
- Shampoo OR a 3-in-1 Shampoo/Condition/Body Wash saves some schlepping
- Soap (Liquid soap)
- Deodorant
- Sunscreen
- Off Spray
- 3-4 Bath/Swim Towels
- Hand Towels
- Sheets
(2 sets of cheap linens if going for 2 halves. Preferably a dark color.) - Covers/blanket
- 2 pillows & pillowcases
Important Misc.
- 2 mesh laundry bags.
(Some camps give the kids a standard bag.) - Mesh bag for socks and underwear
(Some more orderly boys keep socks and underwear separate and throw the small bag into the big bag. Others just throw it all together.) - Siddur/tefillin bag/tefillin/sefarim
- Set of little drawers to hold misc little stuff or end of bed caddy.
- Folding chair.
(In some camps the chairs are used constantly, in others not. The bungee chair is popular and lightweight, but expensive and takes up more space/doesn’t fold up so small. There are many lightweight foldable camping chairs that cost less. This is a great one at a reasonable price. Walmart has one for $7.88 but it breaks.) - A good flashlight.
(They use this a lot.) - Netilat cup.
(The collapsible cup available at Judaica/houseware stores is practical.) - Poncho or umbrella
- Fan.
(Either a large fan for the bunk house, or a clip-on fan) - Lint roller.
(Lint gets on everything since it’s all washed together.) - Bathroom caddy. Some use, some are just fine with carrying their shower stuff each day.
- Hairbrush
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