What to Pack for Camp America — The Honest Packing List

The Camp America packing question has two failure modes: people who pack way too much and spend two weeks at camp sitting on an overweight suitcase trying to figure out what to send home, and people who forget the obvious and end up in a Georgia Walmart on their first day off buying nail clippers and flip flops.

This is the guide that solves both problems.

The Golden Rule: Pack for Two Weeks

Your camp will have laundry facilities. You do not need clothes for three months. You need clothes for two weeks, because that’s roughly how often you’ll be able to wash things. Pack more than one week, fewer than three. Everything else is dead weight.

Clothing

T-shirts — Eight to ten is about right. Opt for ones you don’t mind getting genuinely dirty. Camp activities are not gentle on clothing.

Shorts — Four to six pairs. Again, not your best ones.

Trainers/sneakers — Two pairs minimum. One will get wet. The other needs to be dry. This is not optional.

Waterproof layer — Georgia in summer is hot, but thunderstorms in the American South are not comparable to rain in the UK. They are violent and sudden and very wet. A lightweight waterproof is essential.

Warm layer — Evenings can be cool even in summer, particularly at camps in higher elevation states. A fleece or hoodie you can layer up with.

Swimwear — Three sets minimum. They will not dry overnight.

Comfortable shoes for evenings — Not trainers, something you can relax in.

One or two nicer outfits — Some camps have events, Shabbat dinners (if you’re at a Jewish camp), or end-of-session celebrations where slightly less destroyed clothing is appropriate.

Toiletries and Health

Sunscreen — more than you think. Georgia sun is serious. American sunscreen is available but expensive. Bring a good supply.

Insect repellent. DEET-based. This is not optional. Ticks and mosquitoes in the American South are a genuine consideration, not a minor inconvenience.

Any prescription medication you take — With documentation. Enough for the full summer plus buffer. Do not assume you can easily access UK prescriptions from rural Georgia.

A decent water bottle. Hydration is serious in American summer heat. A reusable bottle that you actually want to carry.

Blister plasters. You will be on your feet all day on terrain that isn’t flat pavement.

Tech and Practical Items

Universal travel adapter — American sockets are different. You will need this.

Portable charger/power bank — Access to charging points isn’t always convenient at camp.

Headtorch — For anything outdoor-related after dark. More useful than a phone torch.

A small padlock — For any storage you want to secure.

Physical copies of all important documents — Visa, passport copy, insurance details, emergency contacts. Keep these separate from your original documents.

What to Leave Behind

Half your wardrobe. Seriously.

Anything irreplaceable. Sentimental items, expensive jewellery, anything that would genuinely ruin your summer if it got lost or damaged.

Your best trainers. They will not survive.

The Walmart Strategy

Whatever you forget, Walmart will have it. American Walmarts are large in a way that is genuinely difficult to convey to someone who hasn’t been. If you land in America and realise you’ve forgotten something, your first day off will solve the problem for about twelve dollars.

This is not an invitation to pack carelessly. It’s reassurance that a forgotten item isn’t a disaster.

Read about what it was like for me at Camp America here:

Book 1: There’s No Place Like Summer Camp on Amazon

 

Book 2: Camp America: Second Summer Shenanigans