Are you getting ready to send your child off to camp soon? I know I am — eek! It may feel early to think about camp clothes, but planning now saves time and stress later.
It’s really not too early to think about it!
Camp in many regions begins in mid-May to mid-June, and soon campers everywhere will need appropriate, easy-to-manage clothing for long, active days. With a little preparation you can make mornings smooth and stress-free.
Here’s a simple, practical plan to get your camper dressed and ready each morning. Take it from a former camp director — this approach works.
First, shop early.
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Buy now: aim for about five pairs of shorts and seven shirts that you won’t mind getting stained, sun-faded, or otherwise well-loved at camp. Try to keep the total under $100. Camp clothing will likely return with tie-dye, paint, grass stains, sweat, and chlorine — so choose inexpensive, durable pieces.
Prioritize easy outfits your child can manage independently. Avoid extra buttons, snaps, or complicated closures unless necessary.
My go-to stores for affordable, durable camp clothes are Target and Old Navy — reliable, budget-friendly options that hold up to active use.
Some staple items to consider for camp:
- Sporty shorts
- Loose tank dresses
- Comfy t-shirts
- White cotton low-cut socks
Next, bathing suits. These don’t need to be expensive. Shop sales when possible, but you’ll find good prices year-round at stores like Target or The Children’s Place.
Consider how often your camper swims and how frequently you can do laundry. It’s worth having multiple swimsuits. If you can, get one for each day plus a spare — it saves time and hassle. For our family I buy seven swimsuits so we rarely worry about laundry timing.
Theme Days are real!
Most camps plan special theme days and dress-up events. Those are fun for kids but can make mornings more complicated unless you plan ahead.
Trust me: ask and plan in advance.
Send a quick message to your camp director at the start of the season to request the theme/dress-up schedule. Once you have those dates, follow these simple steps:
- Look through items you already own that match the themes.
- Gather those pieces and place them in a zip-top bag.
- Label each bag with the theme and date, then store them where you’ll find them easily.
When the reminder about Crazy Sock Day comes, you’ll be ready!
One last step to make mornings easiest
- Find an empty plastic bin or drawer and label it “camp clothes.”
- Get five gallon-sized zip-top bags and label them Monday through Friday.
- Store the labeled bags in the designated space.
- As you purchase or set aside camp clothing, add it to the storage bin.
ONLY CAMP CLOTHES go in the designated spot!
Each Sunday evening, sit with your camper and let them pick out outfits for the week, including any dress-up days. Place each outfit in the corresponding day-of-the-week bag and arrange the bags in order. That’s it — mornings become fast and predictable.
Repeat weekly.
When you do laundry, keep camp clothes together in one load. After washing and drying, return them to the camp bin so everything stays ready for the following week.
Simple as your favorite gray t-shirt.
I’d love to hear if this helped. Leave a comment or send an email telling me which theme day your camper is most excited about — and which one you dread as a parent. Sharing feedback helps make camp better for everyone.