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Camps in and around
Washington County, PA

 

Camp Packing List 1940s to 1960s
Compared to Camp Packing List of 2008
Nostalgia / Memories

 

 

 

EXAMPLE CAMP LIST
Read history of clothing styles, 1950s.

Please label clearly with camper's last name and first initial.

Toiletries
[  ] Soap [  ] Brush [  ] Q-Tips [  ] Clothes hangers, 3-5
[  ] Soap Dish [  ] Comb [  ] Box of Tissues [  ]
[  ] Toothbrush [  ] Nail Clippers, Nail File [  ] Sanitary Napkins for teens, with sanitary belt (2) [  ]
[  ] Toothbrush Holder (Tube) [  ] Deodorant [  ] Bobby pins, barretts [  ]
[  ] Toothpaste [  ] Shampoo [  ] Needle and thread (white) [  ]
[  ] Small plastic drinking cup [  ] Shower Cap  (girls) [  ] Hat or Beret [  ]

*

*

Clothing (for 6-8 WEEKS)
[  ] Shorts, knee length, 10-12 pair [  ] Socks, 12 Pair

[  ] Knee socks, 1 or 2 pairs

 [  ] Raincoat/Poncho, 1 (a coat or jacket protects better than poncho)
[  ] T-Shirts, 7 - 9 [  ] Underwear, 7-14 pairs [  ] Windbreaker or light Jacket, 1
[  ] Long pants, 2 - 3  [  ] Undershirts (boys and girls), 7 [  ]  
[  ] lightweight long sleeve shirts, 2 

[  ] Long Sleeve heavier shirts, 1 or 2

 [  ] Swimsuit (girls) or Trunks (boys), 1 or 2 [  ] Hiking Boots (boys), 1 Pair
[  ] Flannel Shirts, 1 or 2 [  ] Flip-flops, thongs, sandals, 2 pairs [  ] Dress clothes for special occasion, 1
[  ]  [  ] Pajamas / Nightgowns 2 - 3 pair (include flannel
and lightweight)		 [  ] Handkerchief (white, boys) (plain, girls) ; bandana
[  ] warm hat and gloves for chilly mornings/ evenings  [  ] Housecoat, robe (girls), 1 [  ] Sundresses permitted
[  ] Cardigan, sweater, 1 or 2 [  ] Shower robe, 1 [  ] Laundry Bag, good sized
[  ] [  ] 2 Belts (boys) [  ] Poodle skirts, 1
[  ] Tennis Shoes / Sneakers, 1 or 2 pairs [  ] 7 brassiers [  ] Saddle shoes, 1
[  ] Extra Shoe Laces, 2-pack

 

 [  ] Loafers (boys), 1
     

*

*

Other personal needs
[  ] Eyeglasses [  ] Games & Books [  ] Baseball cap [  ] plate, bowl and cup  (aluminum or plastic)
[  ] Extra pair of eyeglasses [  ] Lined paper [  ] Sunglasses [  ] silverware set (knife/fork/spoon)
[  ] flashlight with batteries [  ] Pens / Pencils [  ] 2 dozen safety pins [  ] Canteen
[  ] Camera & Film [  ]  stationery, postcards, pre-stamped envelopes, stamps [  ] Mouthpiece (boys) [  ] Calamine Lotion
[  ] Extra batteries [  ] Swim Goggles [  ] Athletic Supporter w/cup (boys) [  ] 1 knapsack
[  ] Transistor radio, optional [  ] Nose clip [  ] Shoes with cleats (optional) [  ] Baseball cap
[  ] Paper sacks, 2 or 3 large [  ]  Clothes pins, 12-20 (we liked the spring ones the best) [  ] Clothes pins, extra, for crafts [  ]  Plain wristwatch.
[  ]  [  ] [  ] [  ]
       

*

*

Bedding And Linen
[  ] 1 Pillow [  ] l light blanket [  ] Sleeping Bag
[  ] 2 pillowcases [  ] 1 heavy blanket [  ] Quilt
[  ] 2 flat sheets [  ] bath towels, 6-8 [  ] Towel for swimming
[  ] 2 twin flat sheets or quilt covers [  ] face/hand towels, 2 [  ] 1 small mesh laundry bag for dirty or wet socks
[  ]  [  ] wash cloths, 2 - 4 [  ] a small duffle bag, gym or totebag
[  ] [  ] [  ]
[  ]  [  ] [  ]
     
 

*

*

Athletic Gear
*Note: Most camps provide sporting equipment but your child may want to bring his/her own.
[  ] Softball / Baseball  [  ] Tennis Balls [  ] Flute, bugle
[  ] Softball / Baseball glove [  ] Tennis Racquet [  ] Guitar
[  ] Badmitten net, racquet, birdies (shuttlecocks) [  ] Fishing rod, tackle box (small) [  ] Harmonica, hand bells, or Triangle
[  ] Rollerskates and key [  ] Dodge Ball 

 

 [  ]
[  ]  [  ] [  ]
[  ] [  ] [  ]
     
 

 

Transistor radio Some children liked to bring a transistor radio.

 

 

Regency-TR-1

Other: Children may bring one 78-record or 33 & 1/3 from home to use during camp programs.

Unsure whether we packed these in 1950s-1960s: Costumes or props for special events, or skit/talent show

Happy packing!  

***********

 

ITEMS ON CURRENT LISTS - MY HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED!

Current camps give these instructions:

Do NOT bring any valuables, such as expensive watches and jewelry.

Notes for All Campers

1. Please send enough clothing for your child's camp season. 

2. Laundry service is likely not available at camp. 

3. Camp clothing should be casual attire appropriate for outdoor activities. Your child will be participating in hiking, climbing, canoeing, and other outdoor activities every day that will require clothing that protects their skin from sun, allow freedom of movement, and is functional. Short-shorts, spaghetti straps, strapless or bare-midriff tops, extra baggy shorts, and close fitting or revealing clothes are not appropriate camp attire.

2. Please be sure all clothing, shoes, and camping equipment are clearly labeled with the camper’s name. 

3. Shoes will get wet from trips near water, rainy days, and mud puddles. Shoes can be sun drying while another pair is worn. Campers do not need hiking boots. A sturdy shoe with good tread will be sufficient. Make sure you purchase your child's shoes or boots well in advance of camp so they are well broken in before camp starts – new shoes can cause blisters and sore feet.

5. Activities at camp continue rain or shine. Please send sturdy waterproof rain gear - the thin poncho type is not sturdy enough.

6. Storage space for clothing is limited in the cabins. A foot locker is nice and many campers bring one, but it is not required.

7. One of the evening programs for 2-week campers is a skit/talent night. Your child may want to bring costumes or other clothes/props/instruments for that night.

8. The camp administration and staff are not responsible for any personal property brought to camp by campers. We discourage sending expensive items or jewelry to camp.

 

Some items on today's "recommended" packing list made me gasp or laugh, especially about the rationale behind what to bring.  The differences between 1950 and 2008 are almost shocking!

Item from 2008 Camp List My commentary
[  ] Blue Jeans, 2 to 4 pairs [ No! ] Denim and jeans were just becoming popular in the mid-1950s, but rural American children were not yet wearing them.
[  ]  pairs of shorts (please no short shorts or extra baggy shorts), 20 pairs [ No! ] The only reason our shorts were baggy is if they were hand-me-downs!  Modesty reigned- there were no "short shorts"!
[  ]  T-shirts, but please no spaghetti strap or midriff style, 10 tops  [ No! ] "T-shirts" were literal t-shirts, an undergarment. Modesty reigned- there were no "spaghetti strap or midriff style" yet.
[  ] 2 White T-Shirts (for tye-dying) [ No! ] Too early for tye-dye.
[  ]  Wash-and-wear or Permanent Press Fabrics  [ No! ] ALL our cotton clothes were "Wash-and-wear" and we "Permanently Pressed" all the wrinkles and dirt into the fabric with our dirty bodies.
[  ] 14 pairs socks and 2 pair should be a wool blend such as Smart Wool or Thorlo [ No! ]  Smart Wool or Thorlo?? huh? IF our parents wanted to punish us, they sent us with the old scratchy wool socks, white.
[  ] 20 pr. sweat socks [ No! ]  Socks were plain cotton, anklets for girls, white only.
[  ] 14 T-shirts but no sleeveless or capsleeves [ No! ] Sleeveless only happened if a boy ripped his sleeve badly enough when falling out of a tree. "Capsleeves" weren't around yet.
[  ]  1 cap with sun visor [ No! ]  No "sun visor" except for a hand, held in a salute position just above our eyebrows.
[  ]  1 pair watershoes [ No! ]  When did they stop calling them flip-flops?
[  ] 1 pair Sandals or Tevas [ No! ]  Sandals were closed-toe, no Tevas then.
[  ]  2 Pairs of Athletic Shoes [ No! ]  They were called tennis shoes or sneakers!  And girls' were plain white, boys' were black, all were thin-soled.
[  ]  2 - 5 pairs of tennis shoes and 1 pair should be a sturdy pair for walking on trails. [ No! ] That many pairs???  We were lucky to have ONE NEW pair of (white ) tennis shoes!
[  ]  1 Pair of Shoes that are good for rain.  [ No! ]  Aren't ALL tennis shoes good for rain?  They were when I grew up!
[  ]  Sleeping bag with stuff sack, or a compressible stuff sack [ No! ]  Our "stuff sack" was whichever pillow case got dirty first.  "Compressible stuff sack"--is that when we stuck our foot into the pillow case to push the clothes in tighter?
[  ]  Sleeping pad, such as a closed cell foam camping pad [ No! ]  Sleeping / foam camping pad??  No, no, no! What good is it to sleep outdoors if you don't wake up to bruises from sleeping on rocks!?  Foam?  Nope, styrofoam drinking cups were JUST beginning to be used in the mid-late 1960s.
[  ] 2 Fitted Cot Sheets [ No! ]  No "fitted" sheets, but we learned how to make tight and tidy beds.
[  ]  1 mattress pad, optional [ No! ]  It's CAMP, folks!  Aren't we coddling our kids just a bit when they need a mattress pad to cover a camp cot??
[  ] Swim suit - modest style (girls - one piece or tankini, please no bikinis) [ No! ]  ALL girl's swim suits were one-piece and modest style.  Bikinis weren't made. Is a "tankini" a game of pretending to fight a "tank" (left-over game from WWII-era)? 
[  ]  4 Swimsuits (girls: 1 must be athletic swimsuit) [ No! ]  One camp today really asks for FOUR swinsuits?  Wow, ONE was all anyone owned in the '60s.  We rinsed them out and hung them out to dry!  "Athletic swimsuit"-- not made then.
[  ] 4 Beach Towels [ No! ]  We had to settle for "one large towel".
[  ] Sweatpants and Sweatshirts, 
2 or 3 Zippered Sweat shirts, 1		 [ No! ]  Sweats materials were not made yet, nor fleece outerwear.
[  ]  Theme Clothing (Halloween/50s/Western – 
Optional). 		 [ No! ]  Laughing-- We were IN the 50s!
[  ]  Hiking Boots, 1 Pair [ No! ]  Maybe for boys, but not girls.
Misc.  
[  ]  1 disposable camera, optional;  regular camera (include extra film or memory sticks) [ No! ]  We had no "disposable" cameras, unless we dropped ours in the creek. Oldest Polaroid cameras required fixative to "set" the picture--too messy for small hands. The only "memory sticks" we had was us making sure we made terrific memories that would "stick" in our minds for a LONG time.
[  ] [ No! ]
[  ]  Hair dryer  [ No! ]  Wasn't that what the wind was for?
[  ]  Sunscreen product of SPF 30 or higher, enough to last the entire camp session.  [ No! ]  The trees were our "sunscreen".
[  ]  Insect Repellent, enough to last the entire camp session. [ No! ]  Our swatting hands weren't good enough?  We had more mosquito bites and bee stings that some kids looked like they had measles. At the end of camp, we counted the marks as a competition to see who had been "the sweetest".
[  ]  Contacts (eye contacts) [ No! ]  Not made.
[  ]  Beach Chairs, Folding Chairs, Bean Bag Lounging Cushions [ No! ]  We sat on the "chairs" God provided, either on big rocks, a fallen tree, or the green grass.  Beans were to eat, not sit on.  (And, boy, did camp fix a LOT of beans.)
[  ]  Soft Trunks [ No! ]  As compared to... hard trunks?  We only had hard trunks.
[  ]  2 Water bottles, liter size, tight seal lid, label with child's name [ No! ]  We drank from the creek, using our sweaty, dirty hands!  It was too much hassle to walk back to the drinking fountain.  And if we ran out of nickles, we couldn't buy a bottle of pop (soda pop).
[  ]  Knee pads, Protective pads- 1 pair [ No! ]  The good green earth gave enough padding.  Or, maybe they meant "sanitary napkins"? ;-)
[  ]  Protective helmet for specific sport [ No! ]  Hel-what?  Not made.
[  ]  Shin guards - 1 pair [ No! ]  Shins survived for centuries without "guards".
[  ]  Rollerblades [ No! ]  Not made.  Wouldn't work on grass, anyway.
[  ]  Hockey Stick [ No! ]  Not used in SW PA too much.  Wouldn't work on grass, anyway.
[  ]  Skateboard [ No! ]  Not made.  Wouldn't work on grass, anyway.
[  ]  Climbing harnesses [ No! ]  Not made.
[  ] [ No! ]
[  ] [ No! ]
 

2008 Camp Packing Lists Contained DO NOT SEND Lists.

"Please do not send."   Camps in 2008 also include a "Do NOT send" list. Campers between 1920s to 1930s *maybe* had such a list, but I can't think of what would have been on it!  I'll show the 2008 contraband and I'll put a comment, too.

Item from 2008 Camp List

 My commentary
[  ]  Campers are not allowed to bring pets or animals to camp. [ No! ]  That's why WE went TO camp, to see animals in the woods. Boys often brought back home tadpoles or a frog or two.
[  ]  Weapons are not permitted. Persons in possession of weapons will be subject to prosecution by State Law. [ No! ]  They had to make a law to create and enforce common sense!
[  ]  Items in glass containers or dangerous items (i.e. : knives).  [ No! ]  EVERY boy had a pocket knife.  Now, legislating is going a bit too far.
[  ]  Drugs, tobacco and alcohol are not allowed . Any participant (staff or camper) suspected of alcohol / drug / tobacco use will be asked to leave the camp property immediately. [ No! ]  "Back when", first our parents would be called.  Then, the irate parent(s) would arrive at camp and very likely, make us eat (and swallow) that tobacco (or at least a bit of it). Then, the parent(s) would advise the camp that their child will likely have a stomachache later and to not "baby" the child.  The child, sufficiently embarrassed and punished, eventually regained enough poise to show his/her face outside the cabin door again.
[  ]  Plastic containers for cubby tops to hold miscellaneous items. [ No! ]  Cans-- empty soup cans, washed out, with the remaining jagged edges on the inside of the lip, made from hand-can openers. 
[  ]  Cellular Phones/ Beepers/ Pagers/ Walkie-Talkies [ No! ]  One or two campers MIGHT have had money for Walkie-Talkies.  It was more fun to YELL, though. The rest were not made yet.
[  ]  Expensive music players, MP-3 players [ No! ]  We sang, even without music.
[  ]  Music with explicit lyrics not suitable for community living areas [ No! ]  Wash our mouths out with soap!  Nastiest-tasting soap, too.
[  ]  Expensive electronic items (ie: Radio Boxes, TVs, DVD Players, "Game Boys" (or other hand-held games) [ No! ]  Isn't "[Play a] game, Boys" what we yelled to the boys when their camp visited ours?  Tug-of-war was a favorite for the boys; the boys hit too hard in dodgeball, so girls preferred anything that didn't hurt.  What's "electronic"?  We didn't even have portable TVs!
[  ]  Fans (with electric cords)  [ No! ]  What electricity? We had ONE bare light bulb per cabin.  Fans?  -- our hand beating fast against the air.
[  ]  Large Musical Instruments (drums, amplifiers, etc.)  [ No! ]  WHAT??  What kid wants to take a huge Bass with him to camp?  Better to catch a bass from the creek.
[  ]  Water Guns (or "SuperSoakers")  [ No! ]  Awww... our tiny water pistols couldn't hurt a fly.  Most often, the plug broke on the first day, anyway.
[  ]  Cardboard/Plastic Shelving Systems, Milk Crates for Storage [ No! ]  We used cardboard boxes.
[  ]  Cup-A-Soups, pre-packaged one-serving microwave meals or snacks [ No! ]  Micro-wave was what the smallest kids did as their parents drove away.
[  ]  Frozen foods, snacks, or treats [  No! ] Like we'd find ice and a freezer just waiting for us?
[  ]  Gum, Candies, Cookies, Soda  [ No! ]  That's what the camp store was (is) for!  So, stop stuffing those gum balls in your pockets!
   
   

 

 

 

I hope you've enjoyed these memories, and that you got a few chuckles about just how much camp has changed.

 

 

 

 

 

Index