This guide is here to give you a heads up on what to expect from school camp and what to bring. We’ve covered everything from preparing for school camp, packing list, activities info and everything else you need to know about school camp.
School camps are a great way to try new things and meet new people. They also provide an opportunity to practise independence skills and learn new things in a safe environment.
The following tips will help you get the most out of your school camp experience:
- Plan what you want to do at school camp before you go so that you can take advantage of all the activities on offer.
- Be responsible for yourself and follow directions given by staff and teachers at all times.
- Be polite, courteous and respectful towards everyone at school camp including teachers, other students and parents/carers who may be visiting during the day or staying overnight with their children.
How To Prepare for Having A Great Time At School Camp
Here are some tips on how to prepare for having a great time at school camp:
- Get enough sleep before school camp starts. If you feel tired, you will not be able to enjoy yourself as much or learn as much from the activities that are going on around you. It is important to get enough sleep in order to have energy throughout the day.
- Come with an open mind and get involved. Going to camp puts you into a new environment so embrace it or you might as well stay at home
- Prepare your clothes and personal items in advance. Don’t get caught out by something you forgot! Make sure that everything that you need is packed up properly so that there will be no last-minute searching for essentials like deodorant or shampoo!
School Camp Packing List – What to Bring
Packing for school camp is exciting and Camp can be tricky if you forget something. Below is a list of what I recommend bringing. Please note that there are no lockers at school camp, so it’s important to pack light and only take what you need!
- Clothes including
- socks
- underwear
- Comfortable daytime clothes appropriate for the climate of where you are staying (you probably want a new set of clothes each day)
- bathing suit / swim-shirt
- Sun hat
- warm clothes for the evening
- shoes for walking
- flip-flops for the showers
- pyjamas
- A sleeping bag
- A pillow case and pillow (or a sleeping bag liner)
- A torch or headlamp (and batteries)
- toiletries,
- Sunscreen (at least 30+ SPF),
- insect repellent
- lip balm with sun protection factor 15+ or higher
- Snacks
- Small games (e.g., travel games) to play with your friends during down-time
- Bring along some spending money with you so that if there are any extras (such as snacks) available at school camp, then they will not cost anything extra out of your pocket!
What Will Happen at School Camp?
You should prepare for having an open mind and being ready for some challenges. But it’s also about enjoying yourself and spending time with your friends so don’t forget to pack games and books or whatever you like to do when you’re having fun hanging out with your friends outside of school!
The full range of activities offered at school camps varies from one camp to another, but most camps will offer some activities in common. These include:
- Swimming is one of the most popular activities that people do at school camp. Swimming is a great way to keep fit and healthy. And it’s also very relaxing!
- Hiking is another popular activity at school camp. Hiking is good exercise, but also gives you time to be alone with your thoughts and enjoy nature.
- Canoeing or kayaking is a fun way to explore rivers, lakes or oceans! You might even see some wildlife along the way!
- Archery or rifle shooting for older students. Archery or rifle shooting are great ways to practice your skills as well as have fun with friends from other schools!
- Creative arts is often an option at school camps – many schools include art and music classes as part of their program at school camp. Activities can include drama, dance and photography.
- Crafts – You’ll also learn how to do different kinds of arts and crafts, like drawing, painting and sculpting.
- Swimming is a very popular activity at school camp – especially in the warmer months.
- Science activities that are designed to be fun and challenging, so you’ll get a real sense of achievement from completing them successfully
- Woodwork classes are often the most popular class at school camp. Woodworking classes teach students how to safely use power tools and build a variety of projects
- Campfire cooking classes are a fun way for students to learn about camping and cooking on an open fire.Games
- Movie nights – People always have amazing stories about their school camps and one of the most popular ones is when they talk about movie nights at their camps. Movie nights are probably one of the most fun activities that happen during school camps. Kids get together, watch some of their favourite movies, eat popcorn and generally have a great time together.
- Storytelling – You can tell stories about anything – your own life or made-up ones about monsters and fairies. If you want to try something different why not write your own story?
What If I Get Homesick at School Camp?
You can feel homesick at school camp. The first few nights can be hard. You might miss your family, your friends or your pets. But don’t worry! You’re not alone and there are lots of things you can do to help yourself feel better.
If you have a friend who is going on the same trip as you, make sure that you spend time together every day. It might help if one of your friends goes with their parents on an outing or tries something new like rock climbing or horse riding. You could even arrange for your group leader or parent helper to take photos of your group doing things together so that everyone gets into the photos!
Doing activities together as part of your day program helps create bonds between campers, which makes it easier for everyone to feel comfortable at camp.
Here are a few more tips to deal with homesickness when you’re on school camp:
- Talk about it with other people in your group or cabin
- Write a letter to someone at home (but don’t send it)
- Play games with other people in your group or cabin
- Write down all the good things about being away from home (and show this list to someone if you want).
- Look at photos of your family and friends back home so that when you do see them again, they will seem even more special than ever!
- Call home every day – it will make you feel closer to them and take away some of your homesickness
- Make friends with other students and hang out with them – this will help you get over your loneliness quickly
- Talk to the counsellors or teachers – they want to hear about how you are feeling, so they can help in any way they can
School Camp can be a wonderful and memorable experience. If you’re preparing for School Camp is a really fun experience and it only takes one or two days to make a bunch of new friends. You could end up meeting some great people that you wouldn’t have met in your day-to-day life at school or even your neighbourhood. You never know who might end up being your next best friend!