The camp packing list arrives and your heart sinks a little. Not because you don't want your child to have two weeks of archery, campfires, and friendship bracelets—but because you know exactly what happens to clothes at summer camp.
They come back stained. Stretched. Missing. Stuffed into the bottom of a duffel bag that smells like sunscreen and adventure.
Here's what I've learned after years of packing kids off to camp: the goal isn't sending the cutest outfits. It's sending outfits that can survive the week and make your child feel like themselves while they're gone. Because when they're homesick on night two, wearing their favorite soft shorts helps more than you'd think.
Camp counselors don't have time to help your seven-year-old wiggle into skinny jeans. And your child won't want to miss capture the flag because their shirt has too many buttons.
Think about what your child reaches for on Saturday mornings when nothing is planned. Those are camp clothes.
Elastic waistbands mean bathroom independence—crucial when the nearest counselor is supervising twelve kids at the lake. Soft knits that have already been washed a dozen times won't irritate sun-warmed skin. Simple necklines that pull on easily mean faster transitions between swimming and lunch.
I'm not saying send your child to camp in ratty t-shirts. I'm saying comfort and cuteness can coexist when you choose thoughtfully.
Pack five bottoms and seven tops that all work together. That's it. That's the magic formula.
When every top matches every bottom, your child can get dressed in the dark (and they will—those early morning wake-up calls are real). When something gets lost or ruined, they still have complete outfits.
For Summer 2026, I'm loving:
Girls: Soft cotton shorts in dusty rose, sage, and chambray blue. Matching ruffle-hem tanks and simple tees in coordinating prints. One or two knit rompers for easy one-piece dressing. A twirly cotton skort for days when she wants to feel fancy at the campfire.
Boys: Lightweight drawstring shorts in navy, khaki, and sage. Soft jersey polos that look put-together but breathe in the heat. Classic stripe tees that hide dirt better than solids (trust me on this one).
The key is choosing a color palette and sticking to it. When everything coordinates, nothing gets "ruined" by an unexpected pairing.
Here's where moms get creative—or crazy, depending on how you look at it.
Iron-on labels work, but they eventually peel. Permanent marker in the collar works better but looks rough. My favorite trick? Tiny initials in permanent marker on the care tag. It's already there, it's already ugly, and counselors know to check it.
For nicer pieces you want back intact, consider labeling only the inside waistband or hem. It's less visible but still identifiable when someone holds up a mystery item at lost and found.
One thing I never label: socks. They're going to disappear. Accept it now and pack two extra pairs. You'll thank me later.
Pack one special outfit—something your child loves but hasn't worn to death yet. Maybe it's a new dress with her favorite print. Maybe it's a soft henley in his favorite color.
Tell them this outfit is for "the best day"—whatever day that turns out to be. The dance on the last night. The special trip into town. Meeting their new best friend at breakfast.
Giving them something special to look forward to wearing provides a tiny anchor. Camp is wonderful, but it's also overwhelming. Having something familiar and beautiful to put on helps.
White anything. It's coming back brown or not at all.
Anything with complicated closures. Buttons, hooks, ties, snaps—if it takes more than three seconds to fasten, leave it home.
Brand new shoes. Break them in first or your child will spend the week with blisters.
Anything you'd be heartbroken to lose. That handmade dress from your trip abroad? Keep it safe at home.
Denim that isn't completely soft. Stiff jeans in summer heat leads to miserable kids.
Beyond the obvious—enough underwear, the required sleeping bag, the stamped postcards you'll never receive—think about these:
One lightweight layer for cool campfire nights. Cotton or French terry, nothing too warm. Texas summer evenings can drop into the seventies, which feels chilly after a 95-degree afternoon.
A simple cotton dress or nice polo for any special events. Some camps have visitors' day or closing ceremonies. One slightly elevated option covers you.
Extra hair ties if your daughter has long hair. They disappear faster than socks.
A soft receiving blanket from when they were little, tucked at the bottom of the bag. They don't have to use it. But knowing it's there helps.
Pickup day, you'll be standing at the edge of camp watching buses unload, scanning for that familiar face. You'll cry—don't pretend you won't.
Wear something that makes you feel like yourself too. Because when they run toward you, dirty and exhausted and already asking if they can go back next year, that moment deserves to be photographed.
And it will be. Someone's always taking pictures at pickup.
The clothes come home wrinkled. Your kid comes home taller, somehow. The outfits did their job: they let your child be comfortable enough to make memories without you.
That's the whole point.
Childrens Clothing
Sugar Bee Clothing was born from a mother's heart when Mischa started designing special outfits for her son Davis's childhood milestones in 2016.
Malone, Texas
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