Summer Camp Care Packages Any Kid Will Love
What's in Your Box?
Screen time isn't the only way to keep mini people busy and quiet on a rainy afternoon or an early Sunday morning. Fill a box with lo-fi toys, books, and art supplies to entertain them for hours in the cabin bunks.
From top: Second Big Maze Book, $7, barnesandnoble.com
. How to Draw a Chicken, $11,
. Eco-Kids Eco Dough, $20 for 5 containers,
. Ento Botanical Field Press, $20,
. Creatology Sidewalk Chalk, $5 for a set of 52,
. Haba Terra Kids Beaker Magnifier, $4,
.
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For the Budding Artist
Your creative camper may be taking arts and crafts classes, but she'll be thrilled to have a few art supplies and activities to experiment with in her downtime. Put together a package of kid-friendly tools and instructional kits to get her creative juices flowing.
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Design Your Own Backpacks
Inexpensive and sold in bulk, these drawstring backpacks can be a treat for the whole cabin. Include fabric markers for campers to autograph one another's bags.
Design Your Own Drawstring Backpacks, $20.50 for 12, Oriental Trading
Crayola Fabric Markers, $4.99, Crayola
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Watercolor Postcards
Your son can use these watercolors and blank postcards to paint pictures of camp life for family and friends.
Strathmore Watercolor Postcards, $3.56 for 15, Dick Blick Art Materials
Crayola Pan Washable Watercolors, $3, Crayola
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Friendship Bracelet Kits
Filled with detailed instructions, this book will guide your daughter in making friendship bracelets that she can wear or give to new pals. Include a pack of fluorescent floss for a bright alternative.
DMC "Friendship Bracelets 101" Book and Prism Floss Pack, $13, Kmart
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Fruit Leather
Use berries and chopped stone fruit to make a variety of fruit leather flavors. Your son will have plenty of these sweet treats to share with bunkmates.
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"Nail Art"
Your camper will pick up tips, tricks, and inspiration for painting her nails with this creative kit. It includes a photo instruction book and six shades of water-soluble, nontoxic colors that peel off without polish remover.
"Nail Art," $22, Klutz
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Homemade Scrapbook Kit
A scrapbook is a handy place for your daughter to collect mementos as stays at camp. Assemble a scrapbook kit with a binder, sheets of 8" x 11" card stock, and clear sheet protectors. Organize pre-punched shapes and stickers in clear pocket pages and include a zipper pouch filled with tools, a glue stick, and pens.
Martha Stewart Home Office with Avery Smooth Finish 1" Binder in Red, $13, Staples
Martha Stewart Home Office with Avery Secure-Top Sheet Protector 1 Pocket, $4, Staples
Martha Stewart Home Office with Avery Secure-Top Sheet Protector 4 Pockets, $4, Staples
Martha Stewart Crafts Stickers, $2-$7, Michaels
Martha Stewart Home Office with Avery Zipper Pouch, $3, Staples
Martha Stewart Crafts Small Glue Stick, $3 for three, Michaels
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For the Bookworm
Though summer camp boasts a flurry of group activities, your book-lover can spend his quiet time diving into the adventures between the pages. Fuel his need to read with a personalized package of age-appropriate novels and reader-friendly tools.
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Brag Book
Remind your daughter of how much you miss her with a small picture book filled with snapshots of siblings and family pets. Add sentimental or silly messages to photos with talking bubble sticky notes.
Recollections Brag Book, $4, Michaels
Talking Bubble Sticky Notes, $3 for set of three, Kikkerland
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Reading Lights
If your ravenous reader isn't out like a light at bedtime, she can use one of these small lamps to illuminate a book under the covers without disturbing other campers.
Clockwise from top left:
Petite Poise Book Light in Red, $9, Perpetual Kid
Lego LED Clip on Light/ Head Lamp, $12, Perpetual Kid
Black Cat LED Crank Flashlight, $10, Kikkerland
Super Bright LED Booklight White, $9.50, Kikkerland
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Blank Bookmarks
Your camper and his bunkmates can personalize these blank bookmarks with drawings and doodles.
Recollections Blank Bookmarks, $3.50 for 50,
Martha Stewart Home Office with Avery Classic Smooth-Finish 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" Blue Journal, $10, Staples
Martha Stewart Crafts Colored Pencils Set 36 Pack, $18,
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Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys Novels
Even if your daughter has never read one of these timeless tales, she's sure to get sucked into the mysterious stories of young sleuths and capers.
Nancy Drew: "The Secret of the Old Clock," $8, Barnes & Noble
The Hardy Boys: "The Tower Treasure," $8, Barnes & Noble
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Puffed Rice Trail Mix
This crunchy trail mix includes a healthy blend of pumpkin seeds, sesame sticks, and roasted peas that your camper will love munching on.
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Bare Books Journals
With plain white covers just begging to be decorated, these journals are a perfect place for your daughter to record her camp memories.
To create a storage spot for pens, sew a simple loop out of felt to encircle the front cover. Then stitch a pocket on the loop and tuck a couple of pens inside.
Portrait Blank Bare Books, $1.75 per book, Bare Books
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For the Gamer
If his game face is always on, then your camper will certainly enjoy this package of interactive games and activities. Send a mix of things that he can play alone and with friends to ensure he stays entertained throughout his camp stay.
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Board Game Playing Cards
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Summer Camp Mad Libs Junior
The whole bunk can participate in this camp-themed edition of Mad Libs, which features silly fill-in-the-blank scenarios to make kids laugh out loud.
Summer Camp Mad Libs Junior, $2, Barnes & Noble
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Travel-Friendly Games
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Activity Books
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Cajun Popcorn
Your camper will stay at the top of his game by snacking from this tin of this flavored popcorn.
Half-Gallon White Tin, $4.49, The Container Store
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"The Book of Cards for Kids"
Featuring an oversize deck of cards that's easy for small hands to hold, this kit includes 35 kid-friendly card games that your daughter can play alone or with up to five other campers.
"The Book of Cards for Kids," $14, Workman Publishing
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For the Adventurer
Camp offers plenty of adventures, but your camper might enjoy having his own tools for a solo mission. Send a package full of everything he'll need for explorations in the water, in the woods, or by the campfire.
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Skin Care
Adventures can take a toll on your camper's skin. Make sure she's ready for anything, from daytime swimming to evening campfires, with skin care products like insect repellant, sunscreen, and lip balm with SPF.
Neutrogena Wet Skin Kids Lotion SPF 45, $11.99, Neutrogena
Neutrogena Wet Skin Kids Stick SPF 70+, $8.99, Neutrogena
Burt’s Bees After Sun Soother, $10, Burt's Bees
Burt’s Bees Herbal Insect Repellent,$8, Burt's Bees
Burt’s Bees Sun Protecting Lip Balm, $4, Burt's Bees
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Keepsake Volleyball
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Fig Pinwheels
Campers will never know that you sneaked a few healthy ingredients like orange juice, apple juice, and figs into this dessert. Be sure to send enough for sharing!