First Guide camp- packing tips

[Alakazam8]

My dd is going on her first guide camp soon. She has additional needs so want to make things as easy as possible for her, and the guide leaders when she is there.
She finds it hard to find things or organise her things.
Any tips for how to pack her things or suggestions of what to take to make it easier for her.

-Large plastic sandwich bag- whole outfit in each
-empty pillow case for dirty clothes
-pack wash things with pyjamas and book in separate section
-label everything
-clinell wipes for cleaning hands

1. Involve her in the packing, so she knows what she has
2. Separate carrier bags (in the main bags!) Labelled with each day
3. Name everything!
4. Bag for dirty stuff.
5. Read the kit list carefully.

Make sure she knows how to pack up her kit at the end (sleeping bag, roll mat, SIM etc... ) I spend a lot of time showing my Cubs how to do this!

Thanks so much - that was quick and really helpful. Great ideas too. Have read and reread the kit list so got everything on it!??

Haribo
Extra tissues
Haribo
Extra torch
Haribo

She needs to pack or at least pack with you. This helps her know what is there, where everything is and is an important stage of independence.

No sweets in tents! It causes ants, its not being spoilsports... (if you have ever had to try and sort out 100s of ants in a tent you would understand...)

Please don't do this! It causes arguments, and is really hard to get them to go to sleep. I'm sure you wouldn't feed your child 3 packs of sweets just before they went to bed, so PLEASE don't do it to volunteers who have given up hours and hours over many months to plan and prepare the camp for your child to enjoy. It makes the kids, and the leaders, very tired. Nobody wins.

Goodness, sorry.
It’s always eaten the first ten minutes of the first evening at Scouts. Handed round to everyone, of course.

No ants get a look in.

Oh well, NO SWEETS soz.

So no sweets then! - they can bring their own snacks or money to spend in little shop. I am sending her with money so she can choose what she wants, more independence. We will be packing together.

Don't forget to name what she is wearing when she leaves the house!
And name underwear too. On cub camp I always end up with a pair of un named pants! No one will claim them. Ever!

Is she using a rucksack or holdall?
Does she find it easier to organise if she can see everything?
You can get rucksacks which open differently if this is the case - as top opening ones are much harder to see into.
I would pack items at the top that she will need first. Like PJ's. At the bottom things she needs last/next day/in daylight.
Plus have a system for what you do with worn clothes (bin bag maybe) so they don't get mixed in with clean.
Is she taking a day sack too? Use this for drinks bottle, snacks, waterproofs, headtorch and an extra warm layer.
Use main rucksack pockets for toiletries so she can find them easily. I tend to use a small drysack for underwear, these are usually bright colours so easy to spot and keeps your smalls dry. Have a dry pair of socks in an outside pocket too for quick and easy retrieval if she gets wet feet.
My DD is in Rangers now and she tends to pack a whole outfit together and roll it. So leggings, top, pants, bra, socks, roll up.
Tick off the kit list as you go and put it in the rucksack for a checklist on the way back.
Don't do it all for her, Guides need to learn to do this independently.
Our unit also recommends one of those big blue IKEA bags for all the sleeping gubbins - sleeping bag, mat, boots, etc. Also good when you strike camp to put all your overspill stuff in as it seems to expand over camp and won't fit in the rucksack..
I find the IKEA bag useful as I'm gathering items before packing so you can see everything you need is there and then pack.

I would also show her how to repack items - such as stuffing her sleeping bag back in its little bag and how to roll up mats. Plus making sure she doesn't lose things like straps etc and puts them somewhere safe as she unpacks.

Girl Guiding Packing

Great ideas I don’t have a big ikea bag but have similar so could use that. Will be taking a day sack so rucksack can stay in the tent! Great to take outfits in separate little bags too

Also (can you tell I have done this a few times!) don't take best clothes or pale clothes, take things that dry quickly (fleece rather than hoody is a good example) - basically comfy warm clothes you don't mind getting mucky. If she has long hair, pack some bobbles. Leaders will have spare san pro but pack some if you might need it.
We're fairly relaxed about sweets as they don't seem to be around long enough to attract ants. Pack a couple of things like cereal bars or breakfast bars - you shouldn't go hungry but it's useful to have something safe and familiar to eat if your child only likes certain foods. My DD came home quite hungry from a scout catered event once where literally every meal was sausages and bread! Don't take chocolate if it's going to be warm.

No best clothes going anywhere near her rucksack!!! She is taking a fleece and was thinking of her oodie to slip on- do any guides/brownies take them?

Will send some cereal bars with her

I labelled each day for dd, wasn't camping thankfully (not guided) but sent a spare days clothing, plus extra underwear too (accidents). I sent a spare sleeping bag via the leaders.

I'm a leader in Scouting. You've had some great advice here. My main advice would be to either use a bag with plenty of extra space or include a large extra bag (ikea bag or large bag for life). Loads of children arrive with neatly packed bags that are just big enough for all their kit but by the end of camp they can't squeeze it all in (especially tightly packed sleeping bags etc). It takes ages if leaders have to help everyone re-pack (and the children find it frustrating)- so much easier if the child knows they have an extra bag to throw everything in at the end. Also, make sure that the clothes (including shoes) etc can easily be taken on and off by your DD on her own- if there are particular items she needs help with let the leaders know so they can sort it for her without her feeling embarrassed by having to ask

From a former Guide leader, please no sweets...

I've spent too many nights waiting for over excited, sugar-fuelled Guides going to sleep in cold dark fields. Ants don't come into it - it's the sugar-rush and feeling ill that's miserable for leaders.

Ok definitely no sweets!!! Am sending and extra large bag with her for the overspill. Extra days clothes too. So glad I asked this on here! Would never have thought about an extra ikea type bag for example

Anyone got any advice about taking her oodie or not?
Also do most guides take phones? She isn’t I don’t think but if all the others do, don’t want her being the only one reithout!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Storage-Waterproof-Zip-lock-Reusable-Cosmetics/dp/B09X59X23R/ref=ascdff_B09X59X23R/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=601844210353&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10203941875650427504&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006876&hvtargid=pla-1670625173430&psc=1

My friend uses these for scout and guide camps with their names on and the day for the stuff to be worn/ used

I’d suggest not an oodie - they are bulky to story and heavy if they get wet. Better to layer up with a fleece, and hat and gloves if it is cold.

Your Guide leaders will have their own rule about phones - best to ask them. We always say no - we don’t want the responsibility or the upset if they get lost/damaged, we don’t have facilities to charge them, we want the girls engaging with the camp, not their phones, we want to curate photos, etc (some girls do not have parental permission for photos) and, possibly most importantly, we want them to talk to us if they are not happy, not to their friend at home. Their friends can’t do anything to help, and homesick girls tend to wallow in that; the leaders on site can actually help, so we want to be their first port of call. If they desperately want to call home they can use our phone.