Combining some of our very best parent, alumnae, and past camper tips, here you’ll find the “Inside Scoop” on all things Greystone. If you have a Helpful Hint you would like to suggest, please fill out our form and let us know!
There is no wrong answer to your question! If it is your first summer at Greystone, we would recommend using a duffel or a plastic trunk (or rubbermaid box). All of our camp beds have big drawers underneath them, and girls will unpack all of their clothes into these drawers. Duffels are nice, as you can fold them up and put them in your drawer, waiting to use on Closing Day. A cheaper plastic trunk is also nice if you want to leave some “extras” on the porch in a water-proof type of tub (things like extra towels, costumes, or riding gear).
There is no need to spend a lot of money on a nice trunk, especially if this is your daughter’s first year. Many campers end up wanting a nicer trunk as they return year after year, as it provides the perfect place to show off all of their Greystone stickers. But, for your first year, a nice trunk is fine to use, but it is not necessary!
When we asked which was better (duffel or plastic trunk) on our Facebook page, the results were mixed - so you really can’t go wrong!
We asked our Instagram followers this question a few years ago, and the shoes mentioned over and over were tennis shoes, Crocs, Chacos, and rainboots. Many campers mentioned bringing 2 pairs of tennis shoes (a newer pair for activities and an older pair to get wet and messy) which is a GREAT suggestion. Other shoes mentioned were cowboy boots, Keens, nice shoes to wear on Sunday for church, flipflops, and riding boots.
Parents have many different suggestions on clothes organization. Each camper has her own wooden drawer (size is 32 x 32 x 9.5 inches), and most campers unpack all of their clothes into this drawer. There is no one “right” way to organize a drawer, but here are a few ideas from our parents:
If your daugther would like to try out for our Talent Show at June, Main, or August camps, make sure she doesn’t forget her costume, instrument, music, or other items she made need.
At all of our sessions, we celebrate our camp teams, the Odds (green) and the Evens (gold). All campers will need something green and something gold, as they won’t know their team until they arrive on Opening Day. A simple green or gold shirt is all you need. Some campers bring more “fun” outfits like socks, wigs, tutus, etc. Our Greystone Store sells team shirts, so you can purchase what you need on Opening Day, if you would like to wait to know what team your daugther will be on for the summer. Camp also supplies free Odd and Even dress up supplies before each team event.
You’ll want to check out our details on what you can use to decorate your bunk, but the gist is you can only bring photos and bedding to make the space “homey”. Camp is a simple place, and that is really all you need to make a bunk cozy!
For decorating: As far as decorating her space with photos, we have a couple of directions we can recommend. Option 1: just bring the photos with you and hang them on your headboard or beside your bed. Option 2: make a photo collage ahead of time on a small posterboard or small bulletin board that you can then hang or set next to your bed.
For bedding: We will have a jersey-style blanket available for you to use. You will need to bring two sets of twin sheets, a pillow, and a pillowcase. Many campers do like to bring their own comforter or quilt to make their bed feel like home. You can bring stuffed animals and fun pillows, which you will see on many camp bunks.
We asked our Instagram folks for their top THREE things that you need to bring to camp. Check out their answers.