From the moment my oldest daughter was born, I have eagerly counted down the days, waiting for her to be old enough to come to Camp Alleghany. Finally, when she turned five, I knew it was time to bring her to camp for Mother-Daughter Weekend! As a long-time camper and counselor, I was thrilled at the thought of watching her step on the barge and create memories of her own.
Gearing Up For 'Ghany
As we approached the big weekend, suddenly it hit me that it had been 15 years since I’d packed up for Camp Alleghany. I wondered how much things have changed. Do I still know what to pack? Do I need to dig my trunk out of my parents’ attic? Where the heck was my old crazy creek?
Thankfully, there were plenty of helpful communications from Camp that told me everything I needed to know. It warmed my heart to see a packing list that looked nearly identical to what Elizabeth’s grandfather instructed us to pack decades ago.
Nonetheless, over time a few things have changed. Here is my advice as a camper turned counselor turned mom of a camper.
How to Pack
If you have a trunk, use it. No worries if you don’t have one, large duffels will do. Just remember that everything has to go across the river in a truck and will probably spend some time sitting on the ground. No open tote bags or fancy luggage.
For those who have read Bonnie’s advice, she is spot on: leave the fluffy towels at home. Older, thinner towels dry faster and take up less space. My daughter and I used lightweight Turkish towels after our swim in the river, which thankfully dried out before we packed up to go home. One helpful hint: bring a garbage bag or other wet-dry bag to use for any damp items that haven’t dried out completely overnight.
How to Dress
Layers were key! My daughter and I both wear long pants (sweatpants, leggings) and long sleeves (fleece or sweatshirt) in the morning. By lunchtime, we were both in shorts and t-shirts. In the afternoon we changed into bathing suits and put on river shoes to float down the river. Just make sure the river shoes can stay fastened on their feet.
We wore the traditional blues and whites to dinner (white t-shirts and navy blue shorts) and evening activity. For evening campfire we put on jeans and were thankful we brought lightweight camping chairs to sit in while we watched the skit and sang songs. While I was able to find my old crazy creek, it turned out my five-year old preferred to sit in my lap and that was just fine by me.
It gets chilly at night and both of the little girls in our tent wanted to keep the flaps open so they see the moonlight. My daughter wore pajamas and a sweatshirt to bed and was fast asleep before her head hit the pillow. I was glad I packed a substantial comforter to keep her warm at night.
The Extra Stuff
What were some of the “new items” I brought for my daughter? A pair of sunglasses. I packed a small flashlight for her to use, which she loved using with her new camp friends at night. We both brought water bottles, which was key as the day warmed up and we walked to activities in the sun. I packed a plastic cup which we used to carry our toothbrushes and toothpaste to the bathroom.
I also brough a small coloring book, a few markers, and a sticker book for her to use during rest hour. No need to overdo it, the girls will have plenty of crafts and activities all day long, but it was nice to have something she could do quietly on her bed. When my daughter arrived at camp, her backpack was nearly empty. By the time we left two days later, it was filled to the brim with crafts she made at camp. Make sure to leave some room in your bags!
The Good News
Inevitably, something will get left behind. The camp store sells many of the essentials for both adults and kids. Better still—Ghany girls know how to share. Wearing a new friend’s hair scrunchie is often more special than your own.
Looking forward to another great Mother-Daughter Weekend.
- Lee Floyd, Camp Alleghany Alumni and former Mother-Daughter Weekender
