Ideas for Teen Camp Care Packages

Whether teens admit it or not, a thoughtful gift from home can perk up even the best summer camp experience. When you show your teen that you miss her and care about her by sending comforts and reminders of home--something new and different or just the bare necessities--it can go a long way in giving your teen a summertime boost.

  1. Clean Socks and Spare Sneakers

    • Teens are often hiking on summer trips, which is an easy way to get socks dirty and wet, especially if it's a rainy summer or if the camp is near a lake, according to "Good Housekeeping." Your teen needs warm, dry, comfortable feet for the time he is there. If you arm him with spare clean socks and shoes, he can give a day's lag time for the shoes and not have to worry about socks for a week, depending on how often he hits the trail.

    A Hiking Kit

    • A flashlight, a compass, a water bottle and a portable calorie packet--a powdered drink mix or a gel pack--can go a long way in your teen hiker's supply bag, which is recommended by Lubbock Online. Buy your teen a special carrying case and put these items inside so she will have a pleasant and self-sufficient hike, even if she is with a group.

    Favorite Reading Materials

    • While teens are often busy at camp, there is down time, which is the perfect opportunity for your child to get in some reading. Send him the newest in his favorite comic book series and magazines along with some of his favorite books to help him while away the lazier moments of summer camp, or just something to help him drift off to sleep at night. Reading a familiar style or author may comfort your teen.

    Water Balloons, Water Pistols and Aerosol String

    • Some traditions never fade, and pranking cabin mates is a firmly held tradition in summer camp. When pillow fights or placing hands in warm water just isn't enough, arm your teen with the essentials in summer camp combat materials like water balloons and pistols, and aerosol or party string. Teens can have some good skirmishes with the balloons and pistols, and if they decide to join forces, they can rally together to "decorate" their counselors' cabins with party string.

    Games and Puzzles

    • Send a large table puzzle for your teen to work on with her cabin mates during camp free time. Send a few of your teen's favorite board games for her to share with her new friends, too.

    Disposable Camera

    • Your teen is making new friends over the summer and wants to capture these memories. You can get to know more about his experience when you develop the pictures at the end of the summer and look at them together. Encourage your teen to make a scrapbook of his summer with the pictures.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • How Does Diet Affect a Teenager's Skin?
      According to Ellen Marmur, M.D., author of the book, “Simple Skin Beauty,” and professor of dermatology at Mt. Sinai Hospital, there are no medically proven statistics that show that what your teen eats affects her skin -- but most dermat
    • Prevention Programs for Teen Obesity
      Childhood obesity is a problem that has long-term consequences. Children’s obesity is determined using the body mass index, which uses a persons age, sex, and height and weight to estimate body fat. Those who are above the 95th percentile are c
    • Are Parents Responsible for Their Teen's Eating Habits?
      As the years tick by, your teen is gaining more of a voice about what he likes and is willing to do, including what he puts into his body. If you’re ready to throw your hands up in defeat over the debate about healthy foods and eating habits, c