Are you ready for sleep away camp yet? Are your kids counting the days until the end of school and the start of a week of freedom? I will admit our summer planning is a bit less orderly than previous years. My oldest daughter has taken a job at the end of August and she’s asked to do a sleep away camp that is two weeks long at the start of August. That is a bigger commitment for us, and for her, and I imagine we’ll be packing a fair bit more this year as a result of the two week stay, which also means more stuff that can potentially be lost.
Thankfully, we are starting sleep away camp right with a Mabel’s Labels Sleep Away camp package and we have plenty of time to be sure we get everything labeled. That’s what I love about these labels. Nobody is losing anything with Mabel around. I can’t tell you how many water bottles and gloves and hats and clothing items we’ve retrieved after someone misplaced them. I am accustomed to the children’s disorganized nature and the way they drop things and forget them sometimes. We each do regular scouring of the lost and found at school and at all the extracurriculars. So we are big fans of Mabel and we know how well she works. There’s no room for argument when you find a bottle or pair of gloves with that label clearly declaring it your child’s hat.
My kids have been doing camp for several years and they both generally enjoy both day camp and sleep away camp. Over the years we have learned a few things about packing. The first year I sent Payton to sleep away camp, for instance, I had no clue that children received mail from home several times a week. So my camper got no letters while everyone else got letters. (You write them in advance and leave them in the office then they deliver them each day. Why did nobody tell me that?) I never made that mistake again. There are a few things that are crucial to sleep away camp. These have made my top five.
Five Things You NEED for Sleep Away Camp:
- A good warm sleeping bag. It gets cold at night sometimes in the cabins or tents. These are important.
- A pillow from home. This is a comfort object and a necessity and it serves so many purposes really. It’s nice to have that small reminder of home when you are sleeping away from home.
- Sun screen, bug spray and a hat. Your camper needs to remember to apply sunscreen. It’s a skill for life actually and it’s important to staying healthy. So is bug spray right now especially. I am hearing that ticks are heavier than usual in many areas and precautions should be taken.
- Water bottle – a Refillable water bottle so they can easily carry it with them when they take hikes or do outdoor activities. My gals go to a camp where they have great cabins BUT they also do a tenting overnighter kind of activity and they need to stay hydrated too. I hope they actually remember to take them with them during this overnight occasions.
- Mabel’s Labels Camp Combo. Go ahead and slap these labels on everything. They easily go on clothes and hats and water bottles and backpacks and anything you don’t want to lose.
Mabel’s Labels Camp Combo consists of:
This value-packed collection of UV resistant, waterproof labels and tags was designed especially for everything that goes to sleep away camp! Identify everything from clothes and footwear to toiletries, swim gear, life jackets and more with this summer essential.
- 10 Personalized Name Stickers: 70mm x 16mm (2-3/4″ x 5/8″)
- 24 Mini Custom Name Stickers: 38mm x 8mm (1-1/2″ x 5/16″)
- 50 Tag Mates™ Stick On Clothing Labels: 21mm x 10mm (13/16″ x 3/8″)
- 8 Custom Shoe Stickers: 33mm (1.3″)
- 2 Personalized Bag Tags: 57mm x 32mm (2-1/4″ x 1-1/4″)
Mabel’s Labels camp combo is $39.95 Canadian and I also have one camp combo to giveaway. Good Luck! Follow the directions below to win. Canada only for this particular giveaway.
What will you do with your free time when kids are at camp?
i will be catching up on my crafts, reading and digital photograph projects!
I’ll be exercising
I will have uninterrupted naps!
Ni kids here so we have a lot of extra time, to go camping of course.
Ill be reading a book
drink my coffee Hot ,my lemonaid Cold and catch up on my reading
No kids at home but I have grandchildren who could use this.
Go for a bike ride by myself and take a nap!
Every year when the boy is at camp we make sure to have a dinner or two out at a nice restaurant. Somewhere that serves dishes that may not be completely kid friendly 🙂
I’ll work on my gardens and have the tv to myself!
I will work out!
My kids don’t go to camp (and never been, and no plans to ever send them). I would use these for school. Thanks for the chance.
I will be doing work around the house, like fixing our back deck.
Miss R goes to camp for a week and I work that week. We’re also decorating her new bedroom while she’s away.
I will be taking lots of long baths
I will be working so I can’t say that I will catch up on much.
I’m going to take it easy and enjoy drinking hot coffee.
I will read a book and drink a coffee.
I will be cleaning or relaxing.
No rest here cause I will be at camp as well helping out!! 🙂
I want to go to have a massage
Garden, sew, hang out with my husband, walk with the dog.
Besos, Sarah
Journeys of The Zoo
I’ll exercise!
I will try to catch up on some reading.
Sleep. Sleeping is good.
I would go shopping
I will exercise in that time!
spend some time in the garden!
I’ll mostly be working but any spare time will be spent gardening or hanging out with hubby.
I will be learning new recipes!
I will spend it reading!
I will go on a date night with my partner!
I will be home with our two youngest which of one will only be four weeks old. No such thing as relaxing. haha
I will be with mine when he goes camping, BUT once he goes to sleep I will sitting outside under the stars with some wine and just enjoying life
I will have more date nights!
relaxing quietly with a good book, away from the sun, in the shade with lots of sunblock and my nice big sun hat , thanks for the chance to win
I will hopefully get some cleaning and organsing done…i am trying to declutter amd down size!
i will be doing some crafting and house cleaning
I will be reading the many books from my “to read” list.
I will exercise more!
I will be decluttering the house.
I will go to the gym
I would catch up on my reading!
I will spend time catching up with friends and get a massage!
I would sleep in!
I will go and watch movies
I will take naps!
I’m going to take naps!
I will clean up my basemenet
I would clean the whole house from top to bottom!! I need to go through their clothes, books and toys to get rid of what we don’t need any more, and I need to clean without them around to mess up my work!
Well, I never seem to have enough time to read. 🙂
I’d definitely have a date night.
I’ll go to the dog park a lot!
Some days I would probably just put my feet up and drink a nice iced coffee and read while my kids were at camp!
I will hang out with friends!
I will be home with a newborn and a toddler while the oldest is at camp. There is no rest for this Mama.
I will be going for runs!
have stack of books to read!
I’ll be going to the gym!!
I would like to read, run, and sleep!!