School is almost out and summer day camp is around the corner! Other than feeling a sense of relief, parents may be wondering if they have everything they need to send their kid/tot to camp each day. Here you will find the best kids gear to buy for summer day camp (all found on Amazon!).
*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. All opinions and recommendations are my own.
Water Bottle
One of the most important things for kids to do at camp- hydrate! Most day camps spend a solid part of the day outside in the hot sun and it’s so important to have an insulated water bottle that will keep their water cold. While few water bottles with straws are truly leak-proof, some come pretty close. (You can choose a water bottle with a twist top, but in my experience, that’s just asking to spill all over one unhappy, wet kid)
For kids ~6 years old or older, we love this Simple Modern water bottle in the 18oz or 22oz sizes:
For kids ~5 years old or younger, the 14oz Simple Modern water bottle is a great size:
Lunch Box
In addition to keeping their water cool, having an insulated lunch box at day camp will keep their lunch and/or snacks tasting fresh and ready to eat. While I love PBK lunch bags, these Simple Modern lunch bags are a good size, insulated, and more affordable!
These are fun designs for the younger kids (our younger boys have Dinosaur Roar & Shark Bite– both are so cute!):
Ice Packs
I can’t tell you how much I love these ice packs. Can someone love ice packs? I do. These are so slim that they fit perfectly into our kids’ lunch boxes (you could even add more than one on a really hot day). We have about 8 of these in our freezer and use them all the time- for school, camp, picnics, bringing popsicles on a stroller walk, etc. – they work great!
Bento Box
If your kid will be eating lunch at camp, do yourself a favor and get a bento box! Bento boxes offer a great way to organize and separate different food groups in one container. We’ve always had the Yumbox Original– I love how easy it is to fit into lunch boxes and how 6 food dividers offer so many options for lunch.
These are some other highly rated bento boxes for your child to bring to camp:
This Bentgo Lunch Box is better for the youngest campers, as the lid doesn’t detach, making it easy to open and close:
This Kinsho Bento Box is a great option for any camper and has great reviews:
Sunscreen
Keep your camper safe in the sun all day by lathering on some sunscreen. We have always used Thinkbaby sunscreen (it smells amazing too!). But for the kids that don’t want “baby” in the sunscreen name, the company makes Thinksport– a natural sunscreen free of all harmful chemicals!
I always lather the kids up with a solid sunscreen like Thinksport or Thinkbaby, and then I’ll throw in a spray sunscreen in their camp bag if they want to add more on themselves. Because let’s face it, a toddler and a bottle of creamy sunscreen are a disaster waiting to happen.
This Alba Botanica Sunscreen is our go-to:
Bug Spray
Not my favorite item on the list of kids gear to buy for summer day camp (and it never smells that great), but sometimes bug spray is a necessity for those buggy outdoor spots your camper will venture to.
This Badger bug spray is a good natural option free of all harmful chemicals:
Sandals
I wish Keen would sponsor me already because we’ve been sporting this shoe since about 2015, buying bigger sizes each year. These Keen sandals are the BEST summer sandal for kids. They are water-resistant, machine washable, and GREAT quality- we’ve passed down these sandals through 3 boys and *somehow* they look good as new. They won’t fall off when kids run and they’ll allow good air flow to those little feet. Keen sandals are definitely at the top of the list for the best kids gear to buy for summer day camp.
Waterproof Wet Bag for Swimsuits
A waterproof bag is usually the item parents forget to pack in their kid’s camp bag and later realize they need something when their child has a sopping wet backpack filled with swimsuits and towels. This wet bag does the job to contain those wet items that are bound to make their way into an otherwise dry backpack.
Goggles
If your camper will be having pool or beach days, don’t forget to buy goggles (or a few pairs since they tend to go missing when you need to pack them in the morning!).
Frogglez are a great choice for goggles for day camp because their soft straps are gentle to get on over your child’s hair and easy enough for them to get on on their own:
I also recommend the Aegend goggles for kids because it clips behind their head vs. tugging their hair out:
Lightweight Towel
Whether camp includes pool or beach days, odds are there will be sprinklers, water balloons, and other water activities! The key is to buy a lightweight and thin towel so it can fit in a backpack and dries quickly just in case it will be reused throughout the day. These Dock & Bay towels fit the bill and are also a necessity for gear to buy for summer day camp:
Backpack
A backpack is the best item to hold all of the camp gear. Small bags work fine, but water bottles spill or get lost out of the bag. Having a backpack gives a designated spot for water bottles and can hold all of the extra clothes, lunch/snacks, swim gear etc. (and any surprise craft projects that get sent home at the end of the day).
I love the Simple Modern backpacks– they’re soft and padded, easy to clean, and have held up well after a year of getting tossed around the house and yard!
Swimsuit
Last item on the list- a swimsuit! For all of the water days ahead, here are some cute options on Amazon:
Kanu surf for your active camp girl:
Ruggedbutts swimsuits have some really nice simple designs (we own this one!):
Kanu surf rash guards are great too:
That about rounds up the best kids gear to buy for summer camp. Now don’t forget extra clothes, a lunch, and snacks, and you will have one happy camper! Now parents- get ready for camp and enjoy some QUIET and some SUNSHINE!
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