Summer Camp Essentials - Provided by Cricketzzz (Crickets) Kids Sleeping Bag Company

May 19, 2009 - PRLog -- Before packing, start making a checklist of necessary items to prepare your child while away from home.  Take into consideration the length of time he or she will be away.  Most overnight summer camps provide the fundamental items for your child, but it is smart to pack your own essentials.  Plus, by purchasing the items yourself, you can be assured of their quality!
•   Clothes: Since many overnight camps have weekly laundry service, it’s not necessary to pack much more than a week’s worth of clothes.  Pack 7-10 days worth of socks and underwear in case there’s a problem with the camp’s washers.  Pack several T-shirts, sweatshirts, one or two pairs of long pants, a few pairs of shorts and pajamas, one warm jacket and two pairs of comfortable shoes. Running shoes, sports sandals or hiking boots are best.
•   Toiletries: Toiletries should include biodegradable soap and shampoo, toothbrush, floss and paste, a hairbrush, face cloth and two towels (in case one gets wet).
•   Sunscreen: Not only are sunburns painful, but too much exposure to sunlight can increase the risk of skin cancer. A sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher can make spending summer days outside a safer proposition.
•   Bug Spray: Camps can be havens for mosquitoes, bees, and other pests. Bug spray can make a big difference, but you'd be surprised how easy it is to forget it.
•   Sleeping Bag: A sleeping bag is a camp necessity even when the kids are tucked away inside a nice cabin.  On cool nights, a comfy indoor sleeping bag offers extra warmth.  While on warmer nights, a sleeping bag that opens up flat, can top a bed like a comforter cover to give extra soft support like bed sheeting.  Click on the following link http://www.cricketzzz.com to see the perfect kids’ sleeping bags for children and teens (ages 4-13) going away to summer camp.  These unique sleeping bags come with a pillow, open flat to top a bed, and are ultra cozy for the best summer camp sleep away experience.
•   Bathing Suit and Flip Flops: Here are another few items that can be left out in the shuffle of packing. Swimming and water activities are a big part of many summer camp experiences, but most camps don't allow skinny dipping. So pack a bathing suit and flip-flops, to protect their feet in and around the waterhole.
•   A government-approved life jacket: A must for all water sports.
•   Disposable Camera: Send your child away with an inexpensive camera so he/she can capture camp memories to last a lifetime!
•   Flashlight: While many camps provide flashlights for nighttime activities, it's a good idea for your child to take along his own flashlight, along with fresh batteries. You never know when one might come in handy.  Plus, children always love having their own!
•   Sun Hat/Sun Glasses:  During sports and other outdoor activities, wearing a hat and/or sun glasses is a great way to keep the glare out of a child’s eyes.
•   Raincoat/Poncho: The ideal camp session would feature only sunny days, but Mother Nature has a funny sense of humor sometimes. Wet weather gear is a must.
•   If your child tends to have separation anxiety, do not forget to pack their favorite blanket or stuffed animal for added comfort.
•   For camps that hold banquets at the end of each session, your child should bring one dressier outfit — a skirt or dress for girls and nice pants and a golf shirt for boys.
•   Personal Notebook/Journal:  Encourage your child to keep a journal of her camp experiences. He/she may not realize it now, but later in life those memories will be meaningful.
One important thing to remember is that different camps have different checklists; so, remember to check their requirements before going on your shopping journey!  Having the right essentials make the happiest campers. 

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Cricketzzz (pronounced Crickets) designs and manufactures luxury sleeping bags for children ages 3 to 13. Launched in 2004, founders Glenda Weaver and Beth Lewis shared a common vision – to delight children who dream of taking the comfort of their own home to grandma’s house, a friend’s sleepover, slumber party, and even to summer camp.