Prepping Your Kids for Summer Camp

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Fireflies do not bite, but bedbugs do. This summer, kick the kids out of the house on a good old fashioned camping trip. Pack a bag with the essentials- bug spray, clean underwear, and enough comic books to keep the bears up at night. If this is your child's first safari, have no fear. Here's a list to get them ready for the outback. Just remember camp labels if you ever expect the gear to make it back to the garage, however. Camp and clothing labels list your child's name and even a phone number, so perfectly good camping gear is never condemned to the summer camp's lost and found.

Do not Pack and Run:
Pack early. Do not wait until the last minute. You'll likely come up with new things to add as you pack, and you might need to hit the store for a few last minute add-ons. Do not realize the rain jacket has holes a half hour before the Humvee is expected to hit the highway.

Initialize and Brand:
No, you do not need to brand your kid with an identifying tattoo, at least not until they're 18. It's a good idea to mark the child's clothing with clothing labels, however. You can get personalized labels for any kind of stuff, backpacks, clothes, toys and even gadgets. They feature creative, cool designs so your child will not feel like such a dork having parents that care. You can get camp labels for gear.

Dry, Warm Boots and Rain Gear:
A warm, dry pair of boots and rain gear is essential for any camping trip. Mother Nature's wraith reins, and when it does, a warm pair of feet and dry clothes stays in the woods longer than cold, wet ones. If you want your own personal parent vacation to last, make sure your kid is outfitted with proper footwear. Keep them out of the house and camping with the deer for as long as you can get away with.

Sufficient Clothing:
Be prepared for all weather and conditions. Without it's a backpacking trip, it's better to over pack than under prepare. Pack plenty of clothing, especially sweat shirts, and encourage the child to dress in layers. Use clothing labels to make sure it comes home. Really, camp labels in general are a good idea, as unchecked gear ends up in the hands of wild bears and wandering moose a lot more often than you'd expect.