Packing List

Camp Walden 2025 Packing List

First-time camp parents will appreciate Assistant Director Annie Mauch’s Guide to Packing for Walden (link top right). Annie, a former camper, counselor and mother of two Walden campers, offers suggestions and great hacks for making sure everything gets to camp—and comes home!

In general, clothes that come to camp should be comfortable and modest. Our bathing suit policy prohibits swimwear tops or bottoms that tie with “strings” or are simply too revealing. Use your best judgment or call us with questions! If we see campers in clothes we deem inappropriate for an all-ages camp setting, we will ask them to change.     

Please remember: We will not send out laundry for two-week campers. These campers will need a 13-day clothing supply. All other campers should have a 10-day clothing supply. Please see our new LIMITS for clothing and towels. (Also, campers do not  need to pack for Special Day team colors. Walden has ordered t-shirts, face paint, tutus, sweat bands, etc for those events). 

For trips out of camp, such as Mackinac Island, we request that campers wear a Walden T-shirt or sweatshirt for easy identification. Closed-toe shoes are required after 8 p.m. each night. Our camp clothes outfitters in the Detroit area are Brody’s in West Bloomfield and Perfect Trading Co. in Bloomfield Hills.

Clothing 

____ 6-8 pr shorts (At least a 3-inch inseam) (Limit of 10)

____ 6-8 pr of pants (jeans and/or athletic pants, sweatpants, leggings) (Limit of 10)

____ 10 short-sleeve T-shirts (including 2-3 Walden T-shirts) (Limit of 12)

____ 3-4 long-sleeve T-shirts (Limit of 6)

____ 3-4 sweatshirts   (Limit of 6)

____ 4-5 pr pajamas (1 for cool weather) (Limit of 7)

____ 15 pr underwear (Limit of 20)

____ 15 pr socks (we wear closed-toed shoes in the  evenings, which typically require socks!) 

____ 4 swimsuits, consider long-sleeve rash guards for sun protection (please note our swimwear policy in the  Parent Guide)  (Limit of 6)

____ 1 rain jacket 

____ 1 mid-weight (i.e. fleece) jacket

____ 1 cap or hat for sun protection 

Shoes 

____ 1 pr water shoes (not flip flops; shoes that  will reliably stay on feet when in the water/river) 

____ 2 pr athletic shoes 

____ 1 Crocs or slide on shoe

____ 1 pr hiking shoes (a sturdy athletic shoe can often  substitute) 

____ 1 pr rainboots, if hiking shoe is not waterproof 

____ If horseback riding: 1 pr paddock or cowboy boot, or a  hard shoe with small heel (no tennis shoes)  

Bed and Bath 

____ 2 washable laundry bags.  **Two-week campers need only one.**

____ Small mesh laundry bag(s) for socks and underwear being sent to laundromat or laundry loop

____ 4 bath towels  (Limit of 6)

____ 4 wash cloths and/or hand towels (Limit of 6)

____ 4 beach towels (Limit of 6)

____ 1 mattress pad (no egg crates)

____ 1-2 pillows 

____ 2-4 pillowcases 

____ 2 cot-sized (30" x 74") or twin fitted sheets  (either works; cot-sized are easier for little kids to make beds)

____ 2 cot-sized  or twin flat sheets (ditto above)

____ 2 blankets 

____ 1 sleeping bag (may be unzipped and used as the second blanket'; campers may not sleep in zipped sleeping bags) 

Miscellaneous  

____ 2 medium or large duffel bags (10,400 sq inches or less; length x width x height) 

____ shampoo/conditioner

____ hair brush and accessories

____ toothpaste/ tooth brush

____ body soap

____ deodorant, if needed

____ sunscreen (broad spectrum spf 30 or higher)

____ bug spray

____ bug bite relief (e.g. afterbite)

____ lotion 

____ flashlight and extra batteries 

____ reusable h2o bottle (with or w/out carbon filters for taste)  

____ facial tissue

____ toiletry case/tote/dop kit

____ stationary/stamps (consider pre-addressing and stamping envelopes for younger campers)

Optional Items (*available at camp) 

____ Personal music player with no video capability (Use CAMPWALDENMI10  for 10 percent off at bemighty.com)

____ Disposable cameras  ($5 off at Camp Snap: www.campsnapphoto.com/walden65)

____ Foldable, ground-level camp chair, e.g. a Crazy Creek 

____ Stuffed animal, blankie, pictures from home  

____ *If preferred, a personal tennis racket, archery bow, lacrosse stick, baseball glove, etc. 

____ Personal musical instruments 

____ Dance shoes (Tap, Ballet, Etc.) 

____ *Board games, cards

____ *Books (Walden has a nice lending library, and we're also happy to order books for kids) 

____ *Horseback riding helmet 

____ Riding breeches or riding boots

____ Costumes for the Hallowalden banquet (Halloween-themed final night of camp, on July 17 and August 8)