Packing

This being my third summer, I've learned a thing or two about packing for camp, at least by a girl's standards

First of all, you are going to be moving every week to a new 'home.'  You can not pack everything.  'Specially books.  They are heavy and you will never read as many as you think you will.  There are also much more exciting or necessary things for you to do, such as sleep.  Sleep will become your best friend.  There is also no need to get the idea that you should pack fun things for your kids to do.  As much as a night painting your girl's fingernails and doing hair sounds like the perfect camp experience, the reality of it is that those kids will not sit still long enough.  They will need to take showers, and there will be little or no time for such things.  Also, the kids will most likley have brought their own forms of entertainment.  Your focus should be on their hearts, not how entertained they are.  That also includes by what you do for yourself.  Don't ever pack straighteners or curling irons.  You will not have time, and the time that you would take for such things is much better used sleeping.  Or that time could be used with your own personal devotions, and that will become increasingly important as you wear yourself out over the summer.  Your heart and health are more imprtant than your hair.  We won't care anyway.

Forgetting things is pretty normal for staff as well as campers.  My first summer I forgot a toothbrush! It was rather embarrassing when Sue brought it up during a staff meeting and told me she had extras.  There's no need to stress about packing to that point, because there are always ways to get by until the next weekend.  Then a Wal-Mart trip is always welcome!

I've also learned that you need clothes for every kind of weather.  Rainboots at Village Creek are one of the most important things you can have.  People without them will be incredibly jealous after the 3rd day of rain, and their tennis shoes are ruined, and your socks are still as white as they were when you first put them on.  Mine are bright blue with yellow polka dots, and they are fantastic!! Rain jackets are great, as well as umbrellas.  It rains a LOT at camp.  Band-aids are a must for cuts, as well as if your shoes start to rub your skin off.  Kids who complain of things like that will get on your nerves so fast! It's better to be prepared for these things.

I could go on and on about what to bring and what not to bring, but I think I'm missing an important thing.  I have to finish packing myself! See you tomorrow, Village Creek!

Lindsay