Activity/Day Camps ... what does he really need to take with him?

[roisin]

DS1 (9) is going next week to Day Camps in the Lakes. He will be doing: fell walking, orienteering, rowing, arts & crafts, sports & games, obstacle & ropes courses, king swing, environmental!

The list of what he needs seems very long, and already means a big, full bag. Do you think he really needs all this stuff? And is there anything else you think he really needs:

Comfortable clothes
Packed lunch
Cold drinks
Swimsuit and towel
Waterproof top and bottoms for water based activities
Trainers
Footwear for water use
Walking boots & socks for fell walk day
At least one complete change of clothes
Sun hat/sun ceram/insect repellent

Sounds fun. Can he/you lug in a massive bag on the first day and leave it in a locker at base camp, maybe, so he can dip in as necessary but not have to carry it endlessly back and forth?

plasters?

Thanks for the suggestion Sminkopinko, but I don't think they are equipped with lockers, and I think he'll probably have wet soggy stuff which will "contaminate" everything else in his bag; so I will need to clear it out every evening.

But he's travelling up on the escorted coach service, so he needs to be able to manage it all himself.

(At the end of term on Thursday I popped in to give his teacher a bottle of wine, and was there when ds1 opened his locker, and everything fell out. It was a complete disaster zone! Me thinks we will have to do a bit of work on organising his own stuff this year.)

Thanks SueW. Hope your dd has a fantastic week too. Will you hear from her during the week?

Hope she's doing well SueW, and you haven't heard from her again?

Ds1 had the biggest bag today: but he seemed quite happy, and is adamant he wants to take everything again tomorrow "just in case"!
He had a great time, but doesn't seem as exhausted as I expected

I'm pleased she settled down. Hope she has a wonderful week; you can look forward to hearing all about it.

Ds is just at the YMCA thing . It's very good value, and includes escorted coach travel from pick-up 3 mins walk from home! So it's ideal. Last year he chose not to do it, but he was only just old enough so it was probably a wise choice on his part. At 8.45 am til c. 5.45 pm it's a long day for him, and I wasn't my usual relaxed, chilled-out self today!

The YMCA one looks great value considering the activities they are doing.

I wish there was something like that near us, I will wait until they are aa bit older and send them on residential camps.

I went on loads as a kid and loved them, I even went back to one as a teenager as a volunteer and it made a big difference in my life having the opportunity to do stuff like that, plus the fending for yourself is a good learning experience too .

P.S. list sounds about right, remember to include a couple of spare socks.

When I pack for holiday and work I still put in extra pants - In case I fall in .

Now I know why everyone else has smaller bags. They went on the lake today, got completely drenched, but just played around in the sun and everything was dry within about an hour.
So ds1's change of clothes is still untouched in his bag

He's loving it
He is looking a bit more tired today, but I think he should be able to last the week.

We are so lucky living here that they can so easily do day camps in a fantastic location, but still have the ease/security of living at home ... and someone to check they get properly clean at least once a day!

I'm particularly pleased that ds1 is enjoying it, as next year ds2 is old enough to go as well!

SueW: When does your dd get back?
DS1 "climbed a mountain yesterday" ... ROFL!

Great news!
I'm really pleased she enjoyed it.
I'm sure you're delighted to have her back.