Walden Packing List

PACKING FOR CAMP

First-time camp parents will appreciate Assistant Director Annie Mauch’s Guide to Packing for Walden! Annie, a former camper, counselor, and mother of two Walden campers, offers suggestions and great hacks for making sure everything gets to camp—and comes home!

We have updated our 2025 Packing List to include limits on how much each camper can bring. Also, we are limiting the size of duffel bags that campers bring. Here is the suggest duffel to send to camp. This is just a suggestion, if you choose to use another bag, your bag of choice cannot be larger then the specified dimensions. While shelf space in cabins has not changed over the past half-century, the amount of stuff kids’ bring has! Please look at our packing list. Do not pack more than the limit allowed. If your camper packs too much stuff, we will let them choose the limit number and re-pack all extra items.

In general, clothes that come to camp should be comfortable and replaceable (expensive or valued items should stay at home!). Clothing should also be appropriate for an all-ages camp setting. If we see campers in clothes that are not, we will ask them to change.

This is a suggested list, as is the buying guide. If your child tends to go through clothes rapidly, then pack a bit more. If s/he loves sports, probably best to send more pairs of athletic shoes.

 

Please remember: We do not send out laundry for two-week campers. These campers will need a 13-day clothing supply. All other campers should have a 10-to-12-day clothing supply. Our camp clothes outfitters in the Detroit area are Brody’s in West Bloomfield and Perfect Trading Co. in Bloomfield Hills.

SAMPLE PACKING LIST

Our 2025 Packing list will be available in mid-february

CLOTHING

____ 6-8 pr shorts (At least a 3-inch inseam) (Limit of 10)
____ 6-8 pr of pants (jeans and/or athletic pants, sweatpants, leggings) (Limit of 10)
____ 10 short-sleeve T-shirts (including 2-3 Walden T-shirts) (Limit of 12)
____ 3-4 long-sleeve T-shirts (Limit of 6)
____ 3-4 sweatshirts  (Limit of 6)
____ 4-5 pr pajamas (1 for cool weather) (Limit of 7)
____ 15 pr underwear (Limit of 20)
____ 15 pr socks (we wear closed-toed shoes in the  evenings, which typically require socks!) 
____ 4 swimsuits, consider long-sleeve rash guards for sun  protection (please note our swimwear policy in the  Parent Guide) (Limit of 6)
____ 1 rain jacket
____ 1 mid-weight (i.e. fleece) jacket
____ 1-2 caps or hats for sun protection


SHOES
Camp is not a place to wear open-toe shoes on a regular basis. Slides and flip flops are fine for the beach but not as daily footwear.

With that in mind: 
____ 2-3 pair athletic shoes
____ 1 pair hiking shoes (a sturdy athletic shoe can often  substitute) 
____ 1-2 pair shower/water shoes like flip flops and Crocs.
____ 1 pr rainboots, if hiking shoe is not waterproof
____ If horseback riding: 1 pr paddock or cowboy boot, or a hard shoe with small heel (no tennis shoes)

BED AND BATH

____ 2 washable laundry bags.  **Two-week campers need only one.**
____ 4 bath towels  (Limit of 6)
____ 4 wash cloths and/or hand towels (Limit of 6)
____ 4 beach towels (Limit of 6)
____ 1 mattress pad (no egg crates)
____ 1-2 pillows 
____ 2-4 pillowcases
____ 2 cot-sized or twin fitted sheets  (either works; cot-sized are easier for little kids to make beds)
____ 2 cot-sized  or twin flat sheets (ditto above)

BED AND BATH, cont’d

____ 2 blankets 
____ 1 sleeping bag (may be unzipped and used as the second blanket’; campers may not sleep in zipped sleeping bags) 

MISCELLANEOUS

____ 2 medium duffel bags
____ shampoo/conditioner
____ hair brush/hair accessories
____ toothpaste/ tooth brush
____ body soap
____ deodorant, if needed
____ at least 30 spf full-spectrum sunscreen
____ bug spray
____ bug bite relief (e.g. afterbite)
____ lotion 
____ flashlight and extra batteries 
____ reusable H20 bottle (with or w/out carbon filters for taste)  
____ facial tissue
____ toiletry case/tote/dop kit
____ stationary/stamps (consider pre-addressing and stamping envelopes for younger campers)

OPTIONAL ITEMS (*available at camp)

____ Personal music player with no video capability  (Use CAMPWALDENMI10  for 10 percent off at bemighty.com)
____ Disposable cameras  ($5 off at Camp Snap: www.campsnapphoto.com/walden65)
____ Foldable, ground-level camp chair, e.g. a Crazy Creek
____ Stuffed animal, blankie, pictures from home 
____ *If preferred, a personal tennis racket, archery bow, lacrosse stick, baseball glove, etc. 
____ Personal musical instruments
____ Dance shoes (Tap, Ballet, Etc.)
____ *Board games, cards
____ *Books (NO KINDLES) Walden has a nice lending library, and we’re also happy to order books for kids)
____ *Horseback riding helmet, breeches and/or boots
____Costumes for the banquet (theme TBD!)

diversity, equity, inclusion

Walden understands that a relevant camp community requires the harmonies of many voices—not only those that inspire, but also those that instruct and challenge. We strive to be a camp where diversity is celebrated and supported, and where each camper and staff member is provided the resources and opportunities to succeed. Our mission of teaching empathy and respect is incomplete if it only serves those who think and look like we do. We believe that our camp can be anyone’s camp, and that our greatest strength lies therein.

Walden is an Equal Opportunity Employer that hires qualified staff regardless of their race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law.