What should DD take on year six residential trip?

[Waitingonastar]

The school have provided a basic list covering waterproof coat, swimmers etc etc, but do mumsnetters have any tips for what helpful bits and pieces DD should take on her Y6 residential trip in a few weeks please? Someone in real life already suggested a disposable camera which I think is brilliant idea, so other suggestions like that would be great, thanks.

Sweets. Ds was sharing with 5 others so I made up a sweetie bag for every night for him to share.
More layers than you thought they’d need.
Onesie
Bag for all wet stuff.
Top trumps or uno. A week off of tech did Ds good.
Accept not everything will make it home.
I also put a little letter in to say I hoped he was having fun and that I love him.

I'd also suggest wet bags for them to put e.g. wet swim kit in.

If they go swimming on day one you don't want the wet stuff in their bag for the rest of the time making everything damp

I have one of those hoody towels as well for Ds which gives a bit more privacy than a towel.

Also, Ds had to lift his stuff up staircases so maybe have a practice.

@TakeMeToYourLiar

Take note of the actual list

Ex brown owl here

One year out list said e.g.
Hiking boots or outdoor trainers
Old shoes for canoeing

A parent decided to send one pair to do both jobs, didn't mention to me.

So after canoeing I gave a child whose only pair of outdoor shoes are wringing wet 🙈

We had to buy a pair of cheap shoes as a spare as 'old shoes' were always outgrown shoes!

I sent mine with exactly what was on the kit list, nothing more or less. More stuff is just more stuff to get lost. Ours specifically asked NOT to send any food/sweets/any kind of phone/device etc.

At some residentials they expect pupils to make/strip their bed. Amazing how many children don't know how to do this.

If the list says no sweets please do stick to this.

If the list says no mobiles/or sim card has to be removed so can just use as camera please accept this rule

Make sure your child knows what is in their bag, get them to pack it preferably, they will need to be able to pack it at the end of the trip

Another who would say - take what is on the list and label everything.
Also, involve your child in their packing. DO NOT do it without them. They need to know what is in there , where it is, and what it is for "These are the old ones to wear when you are canoeing, dc" etc.

Also, bin liners for wet and muddy clothes to keep separate from the clean ones.

Definitely involve the child in the packing! When mine went I had her do her own packing, so she knew how to pack it all away again at the end of the week. I’m also with those saying stick to the list. While the disposable camera sounds nice, actually they probably won’t have any time to take photos or be easily able to carry a camera. The adults will take photos I’m sure, we have lovely ones and they copied them on to a memory stick for everyone.

Label everything!

I think the most useful thing I taught DD ahead of her first camp was how to keep clean dry things separate from wet/muddy things and, if things were wet & muddy, how to get them as dry as possible again before the next activity ... so make sure you pull the sleeves of your coat through, hang it up rather than just throw it down. It was all stuff she should have known but a reminder helped!
The tightest French plaits imaginable if they have unruly hair as then they don't need to think about it.
Instructions on the bare minimum of ablutions - and how to deal with roommates hogging the bathroom. When we were told they were in rooms of 6 with a shower per room, I thought that washing etc couldn't possibly be an issue but that was before DD was put in a room with a girl who insisted on showering every morning and evening and, as the only mirror was in the bathroom, doing her make up every morning, again before evening activities and then doing a full cleanse, moisturise etc! This girl also had her hairdryer & straighteners with her.

They always take sweets even though schools say none. I put a little bag in. I put my daughters outdoor clothes, indoor clothes and party clothes in carriers with labels on so she could grab something quickly. There tends to be a queue for the showers and last one in has to rush to get changed so I put a shower cap in so she didn't need to wash her hair every day. Some girls parents French plaited their hair which stayed like that for the trip.

Poundland used to sell non-black rubble sacks. If they don't still buy/beg/borrow a white markers for a couple of strong bin liners. Label each "child's name" + "wet" or "dry" and send them with two bag clips or elastic bands.

Never underestimate the need for sun cream.

Please don’t be that parent who thinks the rules of what to bring/don’t bring don’t apply to their child

Great post @dynamitegirl

Label everything
List what you pack - can be used as a checklist later
Do it with your child so they know where everything is
Leave space in the bag or rucksack. Things take up more space once worn and no longer folded neatly
Put underwear in a dry sac
Camping towels are much smaller and lighter than normal towels and dry faster
Hair bobbles for long hair
Distinctive items - harder to lose
Torch/head torch
Bin bag for dirty/wet clothes
Make sure they know how to shower, hang up towels, not flood the bathroom, wear clean underwear daily, brush teeth, etc. Many kids are a bit clueless and forget this stuff in the excitement!

DD did a PGL type residential and is also a Scout, muddy activities are well know in our house.

For outdoor activities - see if you can get decent hiking trousers second hand. If not, defintiately no jeans, thick leggings are better. Jeans can be used for evening indoor activities.

T-Shirts and jumpers, fleece is good as it's thinner and warm and dries quicker than a thick hoody. 2 T-shirts per day in case they get all muddy.

2 pair of socks and underwear per day.

Two pair of trainers at least, can you get you hand on walking shoes/boots? DD had to bring a pair of indoor shoes, slipper or similar, requirement of the center as they didn't want the mud everywhere.

DD took a small digital camera with her, dangerous as she coulod have lost it but she came home with great photos. Phones were a no-no as were game consoles.

They were encouraged to bring playing cards and at least one book and a torch.

Bin bag for muddy and wet clothes.

Wash kit with sanitary products, you never know if it starts.

If you can, get a travel towel, takes less space than a normal one in case you need to bring your own.

A book, torch, small games like uno, top trumps or dobble. Hair brush and loads of bands, My dd and friends did each other's hair for the disco night. Label literally everything!

Yes to San pro. Tell her it's fine to give it to friends if they need it.