My thanks to our sponsor, CVS Minute Clinic for providing the products shown below along with a promotional item to help facilitate today’s #ReadySetCamp post. All opinions and love of outdoor fun are my own.
Is your child attending camp this summer? Whether your child is attending a sleep away camp, or just a fun-filled day away from home; going to camp can be an exciting time for kids and parents. CVS Minute Clinic and I have partnered up today to share some simple tips and checklists to help your child be summer camp ready.
Some camps require a camp physical, sometimes called pre-participation physical. A quick visit to the nurse practitioner at your local CVS Minute Clinic will save you time and stress. They will review your child’s health history and immunizations, perform a thorough physical exam and complete and stamp required paperwork. The nurse practitioner can also make a note of any medications and dosages for the camp staff to keep in your child’s file.
While your child is getting their exam, you can shop for some camp essentials that go beyond the usual swimsuits, towels and sneakers.
Camp Shopping Checklist:
Broad spectrum sunscreen, lip balm and sunglasses.
Small first-aid kits with bandages, antiseptic, poison ivy cream, insect bite relief and insect repellant.
A small flash light and batteries.
Any medications with dosage instructions.
Postcards to mail back home.
Stamps for postcards.
Disposable cameras.
Send them off with Confidence:
As the big day draws near, you and your child may start to feel anxious about spending time apart. Here are some tips to help you prepare:
Talk to your Child:
Let your child know that it’s okay to be worried and a little nervous about the newness of camp. Remind them it’s okay to miss home at first. Give lots of love and support by listening to their concerns. Be encouraging and remind them that this will be an adventure and home and family will be waiting with open arms when they return.
Stay in touch:
Ask if the camp offers ways to connect with your camper. Can you email or call each other?
Pack pre addressed and stamped post cards to home so they are ready to go when your camper wants to share their adventures.
Pack something familiar:
Kids don’t want to be embarrassed around other kids, so talk with your child about items from home before you pack them. Factors to consider when packing something from home: Age of child, experience with camping/being away from home and length of trip. You both might decide that a small family photo is enough, or your camper may need a favorite blanket, toy or stuffed animal to go along on this adventure.
Helpful Health Reminders to avoid summer ailments:
Summer is full of outdoor activities, especially at camp! We know our kids love outdoor activities and that lots of good safe fun is waiting for them at camp, but preparing for each day will help them avoid some summertime ailments like:
Poison Ivy & Oak: Remind your child of the saying, leaves of three, let it be. These leaves will be pointed and can grow in a bush or vine. The leaves change color with the seasons too. Reddish in spring, green in summer, yellow orange or red in the fall. Avoid all.
Bug Bites and Stings:
Apply insect repellant daily. Remind your camper to never spray directly on their face. Instead, spray hands and rub them carefully over face avoiding the eyes and mouth. Use sparingly around ears. Don’t use on irritated skin or wounds. Wash skin after coming indoors.
Sunburn:
Who among us hasn’t overdone it in the sun and regretted it that night? Help your camper remember to wear sunscreen daily and CVS Minute Clinic says to use the shadow rule to measure UV exposure.
A shadow that is longer than you means UV exposure is low; a shadow that’s shorter than you means UV exposure is high. That’s when your camper should wear protective clothing including a hat with a brim, sunglasses and a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVB and UVA rays.
By following these simple tips and checklists, you and your child will be ready for all the adventures and fun summer camp offers.
Will your child be going to summer camp this year? If so, what types of camp adventures await them?
Great tips Linda – I wish there was a camp that my son could go to. I remember mine from 6th grade, even!! We weren’t allowed to bring snacks, though. That would have made it more fun! 🙂
Thank you Jamie! Isn’t amazing how wonderful childhood experiences stay with us? Snacks make everything more fun!
Both of my kids will be going to camp for a little bit this summer. I’m not sure what they’re going to do, but they’ll be slathered in sunscreen while they do it!
I hope your kids have a wonderful adventure!
those are perfect, good ideas 🙂
This is all very good advise before sending your child away to camp. Those leaves of three can be very deceiving and hide inbetween perfectly fine plants–they should be very careful!
I agree on the leaves of three Michelle! We have poison Oak on our property, so we’re cautious when we walk down to the pond and the girls help spot it.
Love the tip about shadows and UV exposure. I didn’t know CVS had their own brand of these products – glad I can save on these necessities.
I’m glad you found these tips and ways to save on camp/summer needs at CVS helpful Maggie
These are great tips. Its always good to have your child prepared and relaxed when going to camp.
I think keeping ourselves relaxed (which can sometimes be a challenge) helps our kids be relaxed when heading off to camp, especially the first time.
Awesome tips. My kiddos are getting older but I am not ready for camp yet! It is hard to let go.
Hi Heidi, it is hard to let our kids go away from us and if and when the timing is right, you’ll know. My kids haven’t shown an interest in going to sleep away camps, so I’ve gotten lucky.
I didn’t know they made that into a spray! That is really handy, I need to look for that. I think during spring, summer and fall calamine is one of the top used items in my medicine cabinet
I was excited to see that CVS offered Calamine lotion in a spray as well Melanie!
These are great tips for helping be summer camp ready for children. I know I always have the calamine lotion on hand for sure in the summer. That is a big one to have in a kit. Thanks for sharing.
I miss the good old summer camp days. Great kit and glad to see you are making sure hey are prepared!