How to Ship Luggage to Summer Camps with RunRex
The process of sending kids to a summer camp can be worrisome and stressful. It is especially so if you do not know how to go about it. RunRex has created this simple guide to ensure that the process will go about quite smoothly for you and your child.
- Plan Ahead
This is one of the most important tips for successfully shipping luggage to a summer camp. Leaving everything until the weekend before summer camp starts is never a good idea. There is always chance that you will miss something.
- Check the Camp Rules
Each camp has its rules. Some of the camps restrict the types of clothes and items campers can bring to the camp. It is thus essential that you understand all the rules. That way, you can avoid shipping something that will end up being rejected anyway.
- Label the Items You Ship
At summer camp, there is going to be hundreds of other kids with exactly what your kid has. It is thus important that you use clear labels for your kids’ equipment. It reduces the chances that their luggage ends up missing or in someone else’s bag. The package that you ship to your kid should have a clear label with uniquely identifying information such as their home address. That way, someone else cannot mistakenly claim it as his or hers.
- Avoid Packing too Much
Have you ever been on a vacation where you felt burdened by all the unnecessary baggage? That is what your kid will feel like if you pack too much for them. The summer camp accommodation does not have much storage space. Thus, the more you pack, the more likely it is that their cabin will be messy. It will thus make it quite difficult for them to find anything. It also increases the chances of them leaving something behind once summer is over. It is especially so for boys, who may end up wearing the same clothes for three days just because they can.
- Use Ziploc Bags
When your kid arrives at summer camp, he or she will need to identify where their stuff was put. It can be quite stressful, especially if they were not there when their items were being packaged. However, there is a way you can help them. Simply use a Ziploc bag to make their stay at summer camp easy.
Pack items for each day of their visit in a 2-gallon Ziploc. Ensure that the Ziploc is labeled by day. After they are done with the day’s clothing, tell them to put it back in the Ziploc. It minimizes the chances of them losing anything. Additionally, it ensures that they do not leave anything behind at the end of camp. Kids losing clothing at summer camp is quite common.
8. Pack Everything With Your Child
When preparing the luggage for your kid, ensure that he or she is there with you. That way, when they get to summer camp they know where every item was placed. If you do not do this, they may have to dump everything on the bed once they get to summer camp. It increases the chances of them losing something. Additionally, when you pack everything with your child, he or she could actually help you point out something that you missed.
9. Prewash New Clothes before Packing Them
When you do this, it reduces the chances of color bleeding during shipping. That way, they do not look messy when they try on their new clothes. Prewashing also helps you to identify which items may shrink or unravel upon washing. That way, your kid can avoid carrying clothing items that they will end up discarding during camp.
10. Pack Old Clothes and Gear
Summer camp is all about having fun. You kids will be running through the woods and participating in many sports. If you pack them new clothes, do not be surprised if they come back home with most of them shredded and or with large holes in them. To avoid this problem, pack for them clothes that you planned to discard. Additionally, pack clothes for them that are made of tough materials. For instance, pack clothes made of khaki. They are more resistant to all the fun that they will be exposed to during summer.
11. Choose the Right Bag
When picking a bag for your kid, ensure that it is one, which they can roll or carry by themselves. For instance, if your kid is young, avoid picking a bag that is the same height as them. It will create problems for them once they arrive at summer camps. Although your kid will most likely have some help at summer camp, giving the child a bag that he or she can handle gives them the feeling that they are responsible for their luggage.
14. Understand the Logistics
If you are going to be shipping your kid’s luggage to summer, you need to understand everything. The last thing you want is for your kid to arrive at summer camp and find their luggage is missing. Call the camp to find out about their shipping policy.