As a kid, I spent most of my summers at day camp. I have fond memories of those days too. It’s where I learned how to play Capture the Flag. It’s where I fell in love with canoeing. It’s where I learned a ridiculous amount of camp songs and games that I still remember to this day. It’s also where I learned how important sunscreen is for a pale, freckled redhead.
If you have plans to send your kids to camp this summer, you can be sure they’ll spend their days swimming, making new friends, playing sports, learning new games, exploring nature, singing songs, laughing, and making memories to last a lifetime. That’s why packing lunches for day camp that will fuel them for endless days of fun is so important.
Need some tips on how to pack a lunch for day camp that they’ll love? We’ve got ‘em!
Keep them on their toes
Camp isn’t like school. School lunches are filled with food to fuel their brain to help them learn and work hard. Camp lunches should be filled with food to fuel their bodies to help them run and play hard! So, keep them on their toes all summer by changing up their lunch a bit. Think an extra juice box, fruits that help hydrate them, and extra protein.
Summer Camp is a time to have fun, so it’s always most important to ensure they eat (anything!). They need fuel to keep going all day in the sun – so maybe add a treat or two!
Keep it cool
Ice packs are your best friend when it comes to packing camp lunches. Remember that their lunch could be left outside in the summer heat for most of the day. It’s a good idea to find out from your camp where lunches will be stored, as this will impact how and what you pack.
If you use one ice pack for school lunches, you’ll likely need an extra one for camp. Also, don’t pack anything that will melt or spoil if those ice packs don’t hold up. No kid wants a smushed banana. Make sure to toss any food that may have sat out too long; it’s not worth the risk.
If lunch is being left outside, make sure your items are shelf-stable, like nut butters, apples, bananas etc.
If your kids are a little nervous about attending camp, send some of these Washaway Lunch Box Notes labels in their lunchbox to add a special note to make them feel better.
Keep it in season.
Summer is full of amazing fruits & veggies kids love to snack on. Throughout the summer months, different produce comes into season, and you can change it up based on what’s available. June & July are great for strawberries, July is perfect for raspberries, and watermelon season kicks off in August! If you’re looking for a weekend activity, you can take them to pick their own!
Here are a few ideas to add to the lunch box:
-Snap peas and hummus
-Strawberries and yogurt (sprinkle in some chocolate chips for fun!)
-Cherry tomatoes & cheese skewer
-Celery or apple slices with wow butter
Keep it simple
Camp lunches don’t need to be anything fancy. You know what your child will eat, and keeping things simple is usually the best way to go. I would rather pack my child a lunch filled with things I know he likes than pack a bunch of things I know he won’t eat. We want our kids to eat and fuel themselves – especially when they’re out there being active all day in the heat.
The most important thing is that they eat; if this means apple pouches and crackers, so be it!
Keep them hydrated
Water! Lots and lots of water! Send them with a refillable water bottle that they can refill throughout the day. Make sure to label their water bottle, as they all look similar!
Kids love these Water Bottle Bands, which avoid germy mix-ups and make their bottle special!
Summer camp is such a great experience for kids, and we hope yours love it and come home each day full of dirt, stories, smiles…and memories!
And of course, we hope they come home with all their own stuff – don’t forget your Day Camp Label Pack!
If you’re a seasoned pro at packing camp lunches, we’d love to hear from you! Leave your tips for other parents in the comments below so we can all have happy campers!
Here are some additional lunch ideas and recipes that your kids may love!
