Summer camp is coming, and we’ve got just what you need to know to get your Girl Scout all packed for camp!

What Forms Do I Need (& Where Do I Find Them)?

New for 2018 we’re excited to be using CampDoc.com for our camp forms! Not sure what that is?

“CampDoc.com is the leading electronic health record system for camps. Designed by camp doctors, nurses and directors, our secure, easy-to-use web-based solution manages health forms, medications/allergies and health logging for your camp throughout the summer. CampDoc.com can provide camp health staff instant access to vital medical information, decrease the time and energy spent during initial camper check-in, reduce risk and liability, and help keep safety in the forefront of camp operations.”

Sounds pretty nifty, right? So how do you use it? Within 2 weeks of registering for camp, you’ll get a welcome email from CampDoc.com. Click the link in the email, set up a password for your account, and complete your camper’s required forms. Need to update something later? You can return to CampDoc at any time to make changes or updates to your camper’s profile. We’ll lock your camper’s profile on the Tuesday prior to their first camp session so if you need to make changes after that date, please call the camp office directly.

One of our favorite bonuses to using this new resource? No more forms to print and bring to camp check-in. Win/win!

What to Pack (& How to Pack It) for Camp

You can find a great list of what to pack in your camp confirmation packet. For our council-sponsored camps, camper confirmation packets can be found at MyGS (in your member profile under “My Activities,” a PDF of the packet is listed under camp registration) or on the camp section of our council website.

Still having issues getting a confirmation? Give our Customer Care team a call at 888.350.5090 or email customerservice@gswo.org and we’ll email you a copy of the confirmation packet!

Packing Best Practices from the Camp Staff:

• Pack in plastic totes with lids. She can decorate her tote with stickers, duct tape or paint to match her own unique style! Make sure to include your camper’s name on the lid or side in large readable letters for easy identification.
• Have her pack with you. We get more lost and found items when a girl does not know what their parents packed for them. Campers will not claim a lost and found item if they do not know they brought it to camp.
• Pack items you don’t care if they get muddy, dirty, paint on them, don’t come home, etc.
• Pack an outfit for each day (top, bottoms, underwear, socks, etc.) in gallon Ziploc bags. This is a great way to keep your camper organized AND make her outfits waterproof (just in case).
• Put your child’s name, first and last, on her items and in her clothing. It helps us return items to the correct person!
• Buy a cheap nylon stuff sack that her sleeping bag and pillow fit into. Younger campers struggle to roll their sleeping bags at the end of the week. With stuff sacks, she won’t have to worry about rolling it to fit in the bag, she’ll just ‘stuff’ it in and close it.
• Make sure all bedding (that doesn’t fit in her plastic tote) is in a large trash bag or similar for waterproofing. We try our hardest to keep tarps over luggage during check-in and check-out, but having her bedding in a plastic bag will help. Make sure to mark the bag with her name. If using a garbage bag, send a second with her name written on it for check-out.
• Send toiletries in a shower caddy or ditty bag so your camper can transport them to and from the shower house with ease.

What Not to Pack

Any item on this list will be confiscated and returned at check-out.

• Sandals or shoes that are open in the front or back
• Halter or tube tops
• Electronic devices including: cell phones, MP3 players, electronic games, iPads and tablets
• Personal sports equipment
• Hair dryers/curling irons
• Bottles/glass containers/aerosol cans
• Food/gum/candy
• Valuables
• Tobacco products, including cigarettes and lighters
• Any weapons (including all knives)
• Pets (this includes during check-in and check-out)

A lot of our camps recommend girls also bring a day pack. This can be a smaller bag (usually a back pack) that your girl can carry with her during activities like hikes and such. So what belongs in a day pack?

• A full water bottle
• Camera
• Sunscreen
• Raincoat or poncho
• Bug spray
• Swimsuit
• Flashlight
• Towel

Are you feeling more prepared to help your Girl Scout pack for her camp adventure? We hope so! Summer camp is one of our favorite Girl Scout traditions and we’re so excited that your Girl Scout is getting outdoors and attending camp this summer.