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.

Off on camp this weekend....

if she is camping as in in a tent not a hall in the next few weeks... bobble hat, bed socks - a fresh pair for each night (damp sweaty socks are cold - if she changes nothing else all trip try and get her to change her socks before bed), gloves, thick fleecy pyjamas (not onsies as trip to the toilet block leaves you freezing....), extra blankets - if you can stictch the blanket together down its seem to make an extra "bag'to put her sleeping bag in... its cold...

She might do bed rolls with guides. Some do some don't bother. If she does she'll need a piece of tarpaulin or a survival bag to wrap it up in, and either 2 legs from old tights or some bungee ropes to tie it together. Make sure she has a proper sleeping mat - that and the taup/survival bag which stays underneath the mat will keep her warm... if she doesn't do bed rolls I'd still take the taup/bag but a large sports direct bag is another option for carrying bedding

Did I say it's cold....

Oh she has a thin sleeping mat- do I need to change it for an inflatable one??

Depends if she's in a tent or not. The thicker it is, the more insulating against the ground and the warmer she'll be.

She needs to pack herself. Give her the kit list and get her to make a pile of stuff that you discuss and check as it goes in the bag. Eg sports style t shirts are better than cotton as cotton gets all heavy when wet. A fleece is better than a thick hoody for the same reason. Unless the thinks about the reasons for her choices she won't learn and understand why we suggest them.

Get her to think about spare batteries for torch etc.

If she stays in guides and does a lot of camping then a couple of dry bags are a good investment so she can use a big one to line her bag and a smaller one for other bits. My dc usually put the sleeping bag in a dry bag at the bottom so it can be accessed from the bottom zip and then line the rest of the bag with a big dry bag.

Packing cubes are great for organising, I love them. A small one for underwear so it doesn't end up spread over the tent, a bigger one for t shirts and then a small wash bag and one for used underwear.

Label everything you can. Even pants. Especially pants. For some reason there are always pants left at the end of camp and nobody will claim them.

Sweets and snacks for midnight feasts are obligatory even if the leaders tell you not to. But be considerate, not something that will get squashed around the tent. We once had a child being a lemon drizzle and eat out with their friends in the tent, they just tore chunks off! But oh the state of the tent.....

Ordered a thicker sleeping mat- she is in a tent!

When I camped at her age my mum would always send me with a list of everything I had brought with me. I then ticked it off as I repacked my bag at the end and meant I didn’t forget stuff.

Will leave the oodie she has a fleece. Will list things and get her to pack herself, do I need packing cubes or will ziplock bags do just as well. I hope she’ll do other camps but it depends how this one goes.
Need to order asap if going to get them! Hat and gloves I didn’t think of so that’s great
The guiders have advised against phones gently but said that the girls can bring them at their own risk so I decided not to let her take hers but am a bit worried if all the others have them- might try to check on that…

I'd say no to phones. We discourage girls from bringing them as ringing home makes any homesickness worse, plus potential for inappropriate use, losing, damage etc.
I send DD with a thin thermal roll mat and an inflatable SIM.
Personally I like to use a sleeping bag liner for a bit of extra warmth at night.
Try not to overpack. She'll have to carry her own stuff.

Definitely get her to pack her own bag herself. It really helps once on camp, as she will know where things are, and what she's got. Of course you can supervise to make sure everything is in, but let her do the actual physical packing.

Organising into ziplocks/packing cubes is a good idea, it will help keep things organised and dry.

A spare torch if you have one is a great idea. It's amazing how many torches go missing on the first night, only to reappear at the end of the camp, usually under the groundsheet, or at the bottom of a sleeping bag!

Ziplocks are fine. Mine has gone this weekend with her kit divided into the biggest ikea green sandwich bags

Great thanks so ziplocks it is then!
the advice on here is great for anyone sending their kids off on a first camp so thanks everyone.
Dd now has 2 sleeping mats, one pair of fleecy pyjamas and other things that she wouldn’t have taken otherwise!!

Hope she has a great time. Just back from expedition with our scouts including 2 of my dc so my kitchen floor is now covered in rucksacks. Tent to dry, water bladders to clean etc. Thankfully not much washing as none of us bothered to change our clothes and just got straight into sleeping bags fully dressed. Keeps you warm and saves time in the morning!

Thanks @OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea im sure she will have a great time. Hopefully our careful packing will help!
How much money do you usually send them with for Tuck shop etc?