Are your kids heading off to summer camp soon? We’re day dreaming of bunk life, swimming, arts & crafts, archery, friendship bracelets, sing-a-longs. Fresh air and time in nature, away from the normal daily routines, developing life skills and making life-long friends. Consider us envious!
We’ve rounded up some of our favorite items for your camper, whether to pack in their daily lunch box, sleep-away trunk, or to send along in care packages throughout the time away from home.
Badger Balm Sunscreen + Bug Spray
In our eyes, Badger Co can do no wrong. This New Hampshire based company is well-known for their commitment to ethical sourcing, sustainable manufacturing practices (including solar power), and also the cutest logo in the industry. Badger’s clear mineral sunscreen goes on smoothly and absorbs to translucent - no awkward white cast from the zinc oxide - and their deet-free bug spray is formulated from clean and effective essential oils - laboratory-tested to repel mosquitos, certified organic, and safe for your kiddos.
Make friends with temporary tats! These artist-designed tattoos are sure to be a crowd pleaser and a conversation starter for even the most introverted kid. Pack a bunch in their trunk for rainy afternoons in the bunks, or in their lunchbox for a fun mealtime activity.
Matr Boomie Journal ~ Metallic Mini
Summertime is for creativity and adventure - long, open-ended days hanging with your best friends, learning new skills, and also self-reflection. Writing down one’s daily activities and thoughts can help make sense of all the new experiences, ideas, and questions of life. Start your young person on a life-long journaling habit with these beautiful, fair trade mini journals - perfect for packing into your day pack, or stowing in your jorts pocket for a quiet moment.
Kleen Kanteen Insulated Water Bottle with Twist Cap
It’s important to stay hydrated when spending your morning kicking butt at kickball, acing the archery course, and racing to the second dock with your best buds. We love Kleen Kanteen’s new patterned water bottles - they’re both beautiful and well-designed to keep your child’s water icy cold for hours. Add in a dash of Superieur Electrolytes for some extra deliciousness and nutritiousness, and they’ll be hydrated all summer long!
We’re completely in love with these two new Baggu items - their gorgeous insulated lunch boxes that can be compressed after use and stuffed into a backpack, and their 90’s inspired, full-coverage, light weight bucket hats that will be sure to keep your kid’s precious mug protected from the sun all summer long. Who says you can’t look cute while being sun-safe?
Being away from home (for the first time, or even after many years!) can be overwhelming for many kids. We love this gentle extract by Herb Pharm, featuring Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), an herb in the mint family that has been used for centuries and is supportive for daily calm and focus. It’s a great remedy to have on hand for those homesick moments - even if they don’t end up using it - sometimes just knowing it’s there goes a long way! (Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before adding a new herb or supplement to your kiddo’s routine.)
Dr. Bronner’s Biodegradable Castile Soap
Most camps require biodegradable soaps and shampoos - we’re perennial fans of Dr. Bronner’s, a leader in clean, organic, and regenerative ingredient sourcing and formulating products that are safe for people and planet! Dr. Bronner’s also has developed something of a cult following amongst the younger generation - so if you were slightly embarrassed (like us) to bring your Bronner’s to summer camp in the 90’s, never fear, all the cool kids are using it these days.