Summer Camp is a great time to learn new skills and create memories for a lifetime. Kids love it. Parents LOVE it! It comes with its own set of unique challenges since kids are away from home overnights (maybe for the first time). That’s where this Summer Camp Survival Kit comes in to give them all the oily tools they need to succeed at camp.
Preparing to Go to Summer Camp
Since these recipes are for on-the-go, you’ll want to take a few simple steps to pack your Summer Camp Survival Kit.
1. Kids probably can’t take glass containers. It’s a good idea to find plastic containers that you trust and try them ahead of time to make sure they’ll work for your child when you’re not around to troubleshoot any functional issues. Here are some carry-on size plastic squeeze bottles [1], jars [2], and spray bottles [3] that you might try for your kit.
2. Always label the containers you send with your child. You might also want to put an ingredients list on back in case the camp counselors have any questions. Even something as simple as Homemade Body Wash [4] should be labeled for safety. Plus you don’t want to confuse it for another product.
3. Make sure your sons and daughters are mature enough to handle these recipes on their own. Essential oil safety is hugely important so use caution to educate your children about the intended use of each recipe.
4. Check with the camp before packing to see if you can send them with their own water bottle and Vitality oils. If they’re allowed to bring their own water supplements, then we love these stainless steel water bottles [5] for our Citrus Water recipe [6].
Outdoor Essential Tools
As we all know, kids cannot help themselves…they touch everything! And you won’t be there to gently nudge them to wash their hands 6,245 times per day. That means you’ll want to pack an ample amount of Moisturizing Hand Cleanser Spray [7]. Our recipe is gentle on hands and nourishes as it cleanses.
I never leave home without my Homemade Moisturizing Vanilla Lip Balm [8]. My kids love it. Make a few tubes to throw in their backpack. Summers are hard on lips and this homemade vanilla lip balm moisturizes with some pretty awesome ingredients.
My kids go to some outdoor camps and some indoor camps/classes. If they’ll be outside in the woods or wilderness, for any amount of time, I pack the Outdoor Spray [9]. It helps keep them annoyance-free while they’re hiking or camping under the stars.
Even indoor classes could include some fun in the sun. That’s why the Soothing After Sun Spray [10] is a must-have in your child’s Summer Camp Survival Kit. The spray has a soothing and cooling effect. The recipe calls for it to be refrigerated, but if you make sure to store the recipe in a cool, dark place it will have an unrefrigerated shelf life of at least 2 weeks.
Nighttime Essential Tools
My kids are creatures of habit for sure. They like the same set of events at night to help them wind down. That’s why I pack their own personalized Bedtime Essential Oil Roll-on Blend [11] when they head off to camp. It’s a familiar, comforting hint of home when you’re far away from Mom and Dad.
You could also throw in a bottle of the Good Night Bedtime Spray [12] for good measure. Just spraying their pillow could help them relax and get the good night’s sleep they need to face the next full day of camp. (I’m pretty sure I’m packing my own bottle of this when I go to chaperone at camp this summer, too!)
Let’s not pretend that our kids brush their teeth 3 times a day when they’re not home. I’m over that fantasy. So I pack the Peppermint Mouthwash [13] to give them an easy way to freshen up. This IS NOT a replacement for brushing teeth. But if I can get them to AT LEAST rinse then this mommy can rest better at night.
Tween/Teen Essential Booster Pack
As your precious ones get older, they become a little more high maintenance. They begin to care about things that didn’t really matter when they were in elementary school. This booster pack has a few items that will come in handy for these times.
My girls can’t live without Homemade Hair Detangler Spray [14] on a daily basis. There will be many tears if they forget to pack this when they leave home.
Sweating and hormones can be tough on a teenage face. That’s why you should see if your junior high and high school sons and daughters would pack their own Foaming Face Wash [15], Natural Facial Toner [16], and All-Natural Blemish Gel [17]. You want them to have fun and be happy in their own skin. A shining, clean face can work wonders for confidence when you’re meeting new people.
Games, physical activities, and outdoor fun are priceless parts of summer camp. Older teens might appreciate a small jar of Homemade Muscle Rub Cream [18] to recover from a long day of roughhousing and other seriously exhausting fun.
Recovery Pack
The time coming back home can be an adjustment. The excitement is over and real life sets back in. Mostly, I find that my kids need to rest and recuperate.
I like to run some Relaxing Diffuser Blends [19] throughout the house and take our time getting back into the swing of things.
Their bodies might be a little worn out from time outdoors or in chlorinated pools, so some extra TLC with Overnight Hair Conditioner [20] and Frankincense Body Butter [21] can help ease them back.
Finally, we rehydrate and boost their wellness level with their favorite NingXia Red Vitality Shot [22].
Packing for a flight?
If your child is flying to their destination, make sure to pack the right sized containers for use in carry-on luggage or checked bags. Here are the current TSA guidelines on where to place liquid containers by size. Note that the carry-on containers also have to fit into 1 quart-sized resealable bag.
We’d love to hear what you put in your Summer Camp Survival Kit to prepare your kids for their best summer yet!