Worried about what to pack? Fear no more! We’ve compiled a handy checklist in this camp trousseau for our future camp students, so you can breathe easy and focus on more important things…like having a BLAST at IBS of Provence Camp!
IBS Camp Trousseau Essentials
Day & Boarding students should bring the following:
Important: Please make sure that all clothing and equipment are clearly labelled with the student’s name
Reusable water bottle
Hydration is important! The climate in South of France is the hottest in France, with average summer temperatures above 30oC (80oF). We make sure that the kids drink a lot during the day (even during our Spring camp !), which is made easier if they carry a water bottle around. Also don’t forget to pack a cap and sunglasses!
Sports Equipment
For those who are serious about their sport, we advise them to bring their own equipment. Tennis raquet, tennis shoes, swimming goggles, football shoes for the football camp…
Comfortable clothing and shoes
No matter which of the camp formula your child is enroled in, comfort is a must. There is nothing wrong with wearing sports shoes during the morning classes. (except spike shoes of course).
A jacket or sweatshirt
Weather is a funny thing, right? I mean, even the professionals get it wrong at times. Springs and Summers are for sunshine, yes, but it’s best to always be prepared.
Bathing suit and sunscreen (summer camp only)
Yes we have a swimming pool on campus, and at most of our boarding houses! Unless your child is a day student enroled in the intensive class formula, he/she WILL need a bathing suit. Sunscreen is also very important to protect their skin.
Spending money
It’s always good for campers to have a little pocket spending money—good for purchasing vending machine snacks or souvenirs from one of our cultural visits!
$20-$40 per week is usually a good amount.
School supplies
Even though our courses are based on listening and speaking, a notebook and a pen are the minimum to have in the classroom.
Boarders should bring the following (in addition to the items above):
Multiple sets of socks, undergarments, etc.
As a parent, you know. It’s not easily explained, but for some reason, there is always a shortage here. Pack socks and undergarments, and pack extra! One of those things you really don’t want to/can’t be without. Keep in mind that our laudry service takes dirty laudry on mondays and give in back on fridays. So if your child is staying 3 weeks, you should have at least 15 days of clean clothes ready.
Pajamas/robe
Perhaps one of the most-forgotten items—pajamas or something comfortable to wear at night. We get so consumed with making sure kids are packed with comfortable day clothes and shoes, and that they have enough undergarments (per the above), that we forget about what they’ll need when it’s time for “lights out.”
Extra pair of comfortable shoes
Shoes can easily get dirty, and worse, they can get wet. Or, maybe a camper starts to develop a blister from the primary pair of “comfortable shoes.” So, an extra pair always helps.
Flip flops
Separate from “comfortable shoes” for a reason—flip flops serve a different purpose, and should be worn when there’s a chance of water, at the pool, at the beach, etc.
Bath towel
When packing, it’s always helpful to mentally visualize a day in the life. Such an exercise helps you remember to pack things like bath & beach towels (for summer camp only), which might otherwise be forgotten. However, never, ever, ever pack a normal bath towel for your kid. They are too big, too bulky, and take way too long to dry. They’ll eat up unnecessary luggage space. Prefer Microfiber or travel towels.
Toiletries including toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, etc.
Or, the bathroom bag of independence. If kids needed a reminder to do all of the things they’ll probably forget to do without prompting, this is that reminder. They should be able to open what they’ve packed and see all of these things staring at them in the face, and thus reminding them that they need to be used.
Backpack
Part of the reason things aren’t packed, even when remembered and thought about is because it’s believed that kids just won’t have the capacity for all of these things all of the time. But, a backpack provides the option for transportation, and thus things like water bottles, etc. now make more sense because they can be easily moved from one place to another.
2-week supply of medication per week
Of course, if applicable. Be sure to keep medication in original prescription bottles along with the doctor prescription copy.
3-week supply of contact lens supplies per week + correction glasses.
Again, if applicable. But, always pack extra contact lenses, as a supply can quickly be exhausted for unforeseen reasons. Having an backup pair of glasses to wear if there’s something wrong with contact lens is also a good idea.
What NOT to bring to camp/Prohibited Items:
Roller-blades, skateboards, or shoes with wheels. Drones and hoverboards are not permitted under any circumstances. And of course, lighters, matches, cigarettes, illegal drugs or substances, and weapons are prohibited.
What you may want to leave at home:
While campers are not required to bring any electronic devices to camp, we know they might want to bring along a smartphone, laptop, iPad, or gaming console. We recommend keeping these items zipped up in backpacks, both for safety, and so campers can get the most out of camp!
Also, expensive handbags, jewelry or make up should stay at home.
PDF camp Summer trousseau here
