Camp Visiting Day: What to Bring for Kids & What Adults Need

Written by Amanda Brown

July 12, 2026

Visiting Day at Sleepaway Camp is such a special time for kids and parents! While the main point of visiting day is that it’s a day for kids to show their camp world to their parents, to bond over activities together, and for parents to check in and see how their kids are faring while away from home, it’s also when parents bring items to their kids at camp.

What to bring to your kid, and what you need for your day visiting camp, can be a lot to figure out! Since my job as your Type A Mom friend is to streamline this kind of unseen parenting work I’m here to help! Below are some ideas to make the most of your visit with your kid so you create new memories together and so you set up the second half of their camp experience for success😊 (for all of these items in one Amazon list, click here)

Before we get to the list of what to bring, there are two main points to remember about items you bring to your kid at Visiting Day:

1. Check with the camp for their specific guidelines before bringing anything (especially around what food – if any – can be brought!)

2. This is a day for replenishing supplies not for adding supplies because kids will have to pack up everything you bring when they leave camp – this is not a haul of supplies!

WHAT TO GIVE YOUR KID AT VISITING DAY

**Remember to label EVERYTHING!!!

TOILETRY RESTOCK

It’s been at least 3 weeks since kids left home so their toiletries may be running out! Crucial to restock are:

Toothbrushes (they fall on the floor... bring toothbrush cases for them!)

Body Wash

Shampoo + Conditioner

Sunscreen (stick + spray)

NEW WATER BOTTLES

The water bottles they’ve been using are most likely super dirty… Bring 2 new ones and take home the ones they’re using for a good wash!

Owala Water Bottles are the brand I’m seeing in all the camp pictures because they have a handle that’s great for tying friendship bracelet string off of to make bracelets

BATTERIES

Many items kids have are out of batteries by now! Bring them an extra big set - many sizes - and help them change their batteries so they know how to do it if they need to before the end of camp.

CAMERAS

Kids want to record their camp memories while they’re there so they can relive camp during the school year😊 A great way to help them do this is with cameras that are screen-free (since most camps do not allow screens at all).

Disposable Cameras

CampSnap Camera (screen-free digital camera specifically made for camp – use code TYPEAMOM for 7% off)

FRIENDSHIP BONDING SUPPLIES

Bringing new activities and additional supplies for the activities kids love to do with their camp friends is a great way to help kids have as much fun in the last half of camp as they did in the first!

Friendship Bracelet Kit Restock

Premade Friendship Bracelets + Silicone Bracelets + Corded Bracelets (to share with friends)

Pokemon Cards + Stickers (to share and trade with friends)

Travel-Size Board Games

Glow Sticks

Jibbitz (to share and trade with friends)

QUIET TIME ACTIVITIES

Kids may have used all their coloring pages or finished all their books, so bring them updates on what they do during daily quiet time!

Books – the next one in their series or a couple new ones to read

Coloring Pages + Books + Markers

Mad Libs

Squishy Toys (Butter + Dumplings are popular right now)

Fidget Toys

Address Book to Collect Friends’ Info to Stay in Touch

SKIT ACCESSORIES & COLOR WAR & LEAGUE TEAM GEAR

By this time in the camp session kids know what their color theme is for all-camp activities/competitions, and they may have run through all the skit accessories you sent at the start of camp, so they need new items!

Color Themed Wigs, Tutus, Pom Poms, Bandanas

Color Specific Hair Chalk

Face Paint Crayons

Hair + Face Glitter (use code TYPEAMOM10 for 10% off)

SENTIMENTAL ITEMS

Thinking about what will be special for them when you visit, and that you can leave behind as an extra hug to last them through the final half of camp, is important.

New Small Stuffy to Cuddle

Notes Hidden in their Bunk for them to Discover – goodnight note under their pillow, cute “hi!” notes in their Caboodle and letter writing clipboard

Video Messages from Family Members Who Couldn’t Attend (Facetime timing is too tricky on Visiting Day)

Hand-drawn Pictures by Siblings to Add to Bunk Wall (kids hang these with washi tape to make “wallpaper”)

ITEMS THEY FORGOT

Most camps do not allow care packages to be mailed while kids are at camp. That means whatever they brought the first day is all they've had to use, and they may have forgotten some crucial items or they want things their friends brought! Ideas for what to bring:

Crazy Creek Chair (they love sitting in these all around camp)

Drawstring Backpack + Hip Bag (kids loves these to carry items around camp but many don't realize they need them until they're at camp!)

Music Player + Headphones (screen free, and can be loaded with music and audio books - make sure to load it ahead of visiting day, and that the headphones are wired because kids cannot recharge Bluetooth ones)

Cozy Blanket for Relaxing in Their Bunk

STATIONERY

If your kid loves writing letters, bring more stationery and stamps!

CLOTHES

Some items get really worn out because kids are using them so often, and it’s also nice to add a few fun fresh items for the last half of camp.

Bathing Suit – they wear this everyday!

Warm Weather PJS – at this point there are only hot nights ahead, so switch these out with their flannel PJS

Bunk Shorts in a Fun Pattern for Chilling

FOOD

Always check with the camp if food is allowed! Typically camps are nut-free and do not allow food in cabins because animals may get them, so if you are allowed to bring food only bring food for that day! I know some parents go all out with this and bring Starbucks etc., but the basics are to bring something sweet and something salty that your kids love and are not getting while at camp.

Candy in Cute Sampler Box

Large Cute Tackle Box of Candy to Share

Huge Candy Tower to Share with EVERYONE!

Movie Theatre Candy Set to Share with EVERYONE!

Personalized Snack Box to Fill

Huge Box of Snacks

PLANS FOR WHEN THEY RETURN

Returning back home is a time where kids feel many emotions at once – sad to be leaving camp, excited to be going home and seeing family, unsure how they’ll make it through an entire school year without seeing their camp friends – so much at once!

I’ve found it helps to have a specific plan kids can look forward to on their first day home filled with what they love and that doesn’t require much effort on their part because they're exhausted! This is the time to find out what they want to do on that first night home. As an example, in our house our kids choose their favorite dinner and whatever movie they want for their first night back.

This is also a time to check in on any required summer assignments they need to get done by the end of summer, or make a plan for how they’ll get done when kids return home.

If your kid has a birthday within the first month they’re back, this is when to ask what they’re thinking they want to do for it so you can make a plan and not scramble when they return.

WHAT PARENTS NEED AT VISITING DAY

Remember to plan for what you’ll need at visiting day! Typically parents are included in the camp activities, and are with the kids the entire day, so make sure to prepare for that – aka wear sneakers and be ready to get sweaty and dirty!!

Items to consider bringing are:

Canvas Bag with Zip Top (so nothing spills out) to Store it All

Bathing Suit

Water Shoes

Hat

Sunscreen

Sweater/ Jacket for Evening

Towel for Water Activities

Portable Charger for Phone

Bag for Wet Bathing Suit

Water Bottle to Refill

I hope you have the best visiting day, and that your kids love everything you bring them, especially your hugs🥰