What to Pack

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What to Pack for Camp America

The complete checklist — tick things off as you go

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Documents & Admin
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Passport (valid for full trip duration)
Check the expiry date right now. Not two days before you fly.
Essential
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J-1 visa DS-2019 form
Issued by your placement agency. Keep a photocopy separate from the original.
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SEVIS fee receipt
Proof you paid the fee. Border control occasionally asks for it.
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Camp placement letter / contract
Shows your employer details. Useful at customs and if anything goes wrong.
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Travel insurance documents
Camp America provides basic cover but check what it includes. Top up if needed.
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Emergency contact list (printed)
Phone dies. Phone gets lost. Have this on paper.
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Photocopies / digital scans of everything above
Email them to yourself too. You’ll be glad you did if a bag goes missing.
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From the books
Andrew almost missed his flight because his DS-2019 was in his checked bag rather than his hand luggage. Keep every document in your carry-on. All of it. No exceptions.

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Clothing
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T-shirts (7-10, plain or simple)
Camp will likely give you branded ones but you’ll want your own for days off. Dark colours hide everything.
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Essential
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Shorts (4-5 pairs)
Lightweight. You’ll be wearing these most days. Avoid anything with no pockets.
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Long trousers / joggers (2 pairs)
Evening fires get cold. Evenings in general get cold, especially in the Northeast.
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Underwear (10+ pairs)
More than you think. Laundry days are infrequent and unpredictable.
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Socks (10+ pairs, including thick ones)
Thin socks are miserable for hiking. Bring a mix. Merino if you have them.
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Swimwear (2 pairs)
You will be near water constantly. One to wear, one drying.
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Lightweight waterproof jacket
American summers have sudden heavy rain. A packable one takes up almost no space.
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Fleece or hoodie (2)
Campfires, late nights, air conditioning set to arctic. You’ll use these daily.
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Sturdy trainers / trail shoes
Your feet will thank you. Don’t bring anything new and untested.
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Flip flops / sandals
For the shower block. Non-negotiable for hygiene reasons.
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One smart-casual outfit
For travel days, nights off in town, and post-camp. You don’t need much, but you’ll want something.
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Themed fancy dress item
Camp theme nights happen. One versatile costume piece goes a long way. Cowboy hat. Superhero cape. Something.
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Andrew recommends

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Toiletries & Health
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High-factor suncream (SPF 50, plenty of it)
American sun is serious. You’ll be outside all day. Buy a large bottle and bring a backup.
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Insect repellent (DEET-based)
Mosquitoes in the US are relentless. DEET works. Everything else is optimistic.
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Prescription medication (full summer supply + extra)
Getting prescriptions filled in the US is complicated and expensive. Bring more than you need.
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Basic first aid kit
Plasters, antiseptic wipes, blister pads, ibuprofen, antihistamine. Camp has a nurse but small things are quicker to self-handle.
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Shampoo, conditioner, body wash
Camp may not supply these. Travel sizes to start, then buy in bulk at Walmart.
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Deodorant (bring several)
You will sweat more than you ever have. This is not the place to economise.
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Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
Obvious, but worth listing. Electric toothbrush users: bring a US adapter.
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Lip balm with SPF
Genuinely overlooked. Chapped lips after a week of sun and wind are grim.
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Andrew recommends
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Towels (2 – quick-dry if possible)
Camp may supply them but don’t count on it. Quick-dry ones are worth the investment.
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Feminine hygiene products
Bring your preferred brand. US options exist but variety is different and prices are higher.
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After-sun lotion
For the first two weeks especially, before your skin adjusts. Aloe vera gel works too.
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Optional

The thing most people forget
DEET repellent. Everyone researches it beforehand and then forgets to actually pack it. Mosquitoes at camp are not the gentle British variety. They are committed. Pack DEET before you pack anything else.

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Tech & Electrics
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US plug adapters (bring 3+)
Type A / Type B. They get borrowed and lost constantly. Three minimum.
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Phone + charging cable
Bring a spare cable. Cables die at camp with suspicious regularity.
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Portable power bank (large capacity)
Plug sockets in cabins are rare and contested. A 20,000mAh bank is worth every penny.
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Headphones / earbuds
Your retreat from the world on days off and before bed. Guard them carefully.
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Camera or GoPro
Phone cameras are fine but a waterproof camera is worth it for water activities. You’ll want photos that survive.
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Laptop or tablet
Not essential during camp but useful for travel afterwards. Assess how much you’ll actually use it.
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Waterproof phone case or pouch
Kayaking, canoeing, water balloon fights. Your phone will get wet. Assume this.
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Andrew recommends
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Alarm clock (non-phone)
Early morning duties are real. If your phone dies overnight, you need a backup. A cheap travel alarm costs almost nothing.
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Andrew recommends

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Sleep & Cabin Life
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Sleeping bag (rated for cool nights)
Cabins vary massively. Some are warm, some are not. Even summer nights can drop significantly.
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Pillow or pillowcase (check with camp)
Some camps provide bedding, many don’t. Email ahead and confirm. A compact travel pillow is a safe bet.
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Torch / headtorch
Camp at night is dark. A headtorch is better than a handheld one because it leaves your hands free.
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Earplugs
You will share a cabin with people who snore, talk in their sleep, or keep different hours. Earplugs are sanity insurance.
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Andrew recommends
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Eye mask
Morning light in cabins starts early. Combined with earplugs this is your best chance at a lie-in on days off.
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Small padlock
For your trunk or bag. Not because camp is unsafe — just smart habit.
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Optional
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Laundry bag / mesh sack
Separating dirty clothes from clean ones sounds trivial until you’re living out of a bag for three months.
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Essential
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Photos from home (printed)
Something small for your bunk or shelf. Everyone brings at least one. It matters more than you expect.
Andrew recommends

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Money & Banking
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Wise or Starling card (fee-free abroad)
Using a standard UK debit card in America will cost you a fortune in fees. Get a Wise card before you go. This is not optional.
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Some USD cash for arrival
$100-200 for the first few days. Tips, taxis, anything before you find an ATM.
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Backup card (different bank)
If your primary card gets blocked or lost, you need another option. Tell both banks you’re travelling.
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Travel money budget planned
Camp pay is low in your first summer. Know what you have to spend and build a post-camp travel fund before you leave the UK.
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Note of bank emergency numbers
The number on the back of your card won’t work from a US phone. Find the international number before you travel.
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The Extras Worth Having
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Small gifts from home (tea bags, chocolates, local sweets)
Americans love British stuff. A pack of Jaffa Cakes makes friends instantly and costs almost nothing.
Andrew recommends
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Reusable water bottle (large, insulated)
You need to stay hydrated all day in the heat. An insulated bottle keeps water cold for hours.
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Essential
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There’s No Place Like Summer Camp — Book 1
Andrew’s first memoir covering his debut summer at Camp Honeystone. Perfect for the journey over or rest hours at camp.
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Andrew’s book
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Camp America: Second Summer Shenanigans — Book 2
The follow-up memoir — what happens when you go back and everything has changed. Read Book 1 first.
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Andrew’s book
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Amazon Kindle
Both books are available as Kindle ebooks — lighter than paperbacks and you can carry a whole library. Ideal for long travel days.
See Kindle devices on Amazon →
Optional
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Journal or notebook
You will want to remember this. More happens in a single week at camp than in a month at home. Write it down.
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Andrew recommends
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Sunglasses (+ a spare cheap pair)
Lose the expensive ones at home. Bring ones you won’t be heartbroken about.
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Baseball cap or wide-brim hat
For outdoor activities in full sun. More useful than you think and very on-brand for camp.
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Positive attitude about early mornings
This one you can’t pack. But you’ll need it. The people who struggle most at camp are the ones who never quite adjust to the schedule. Prepare yourself mentally now.
Andrew recommends

You’re packed. Now go read the books.
Knowing what to pack is the easy part. Knowing what to expect when you get there is what Andrew’s two memoirs are actually about. Two summers, one very honest account.

Before you zip up
Packing tips that actually matter
The 50% rule
Pack your bag, then take out half of it. You will buy things at Walmart during your first trip to town. Arriving with a bag you can actually carry is more important than arriving with everything.

Label everything
Your clothes, your bags, your chargers. Communal living means things go missing constantly — not maliciously, just chaotically. A Sharpie on a label saves many awkward conversations.

Leave space for the way back
You will accumulate things. Camp merchandise, gifts, American snacks, post-camp shopping. Factor in return luggage space now or pay for it at the airport later.

What not to bring
Expensive jewellery. Anything irreplaceable. More than one pair of genuinely nice shoes. Things that require ironing. Anything you’d be devastated to lose, break, or have confiscated by border control.

📚 What happens after you unpack
Andrew’s two memoirs cover every week of both summers — the good, the hard, and the stuff nobody warns you about.

Read the books →

Try a free chapter first →

Is Camp America Worth It?
Camp America vs Alternatives
Browse All Episodes
The Books