- Some camps do not allow you to send food in your care package at all. This is because food attracts bugs and certain types of animals (bears). Make sure you are allowed to send food before you pack it. Since your child will be getting three meals each day, focus on packing snacks. Healthier snacks are best. Granola bars and cereal bars are filling if your child is still hungry after his meal. Pretzels, chex mix, peanuts or sunflower seeds are tasty any time of day. You can purchase small packages of these foods or pour some from a large bag into a small plastic zipper bag. You can also make some cereal packets the same way. Just pour some dry cereal into a baggy and zip shut.
- Your child may have some off time during camp when no activities are scheduled. You can send a few toys and games that your child can use by herself or with other campers. A Hackey Sack ball is a perfect example of this. Your child can practice keeping it in the air with her own foot, or she can organize a game with the other kids in her cabin. Cards are small and fit well in a care package. Your child can play solitaire or rummy with a group of friends. Some other items you may want to include are: MadLibs, a Frisbee, or any travel size game.
- Add some items to the package that will mean something to your child. A letter is key, and also add some items from home. If your child has a favorite stuffed animal, pack it. If he usually wears his Phillies baseball cap 24/7, pack it. If you aren't sure what to send, take a look around his room and think about which objects he would appreciate seeing. After you pack those, toss in a few photos of the family. You may also want to add a disposable camera so that he can take pictures of his camp experience. Whatever you do, do not send money or any items that the camp has strictly forbidden. This could result in the package getting taken away.
