I’ve been on the sleepover camp scene for a loooong time, really my entire life minus a few formative years.  I started going away to camp the summer before I turned six. Now, before you get ready to lynch my parents, understand that I loved it more than anything!! I was supposed to go for one month, and I asked if I could stay longer. In the end, I was away for six weeks, and I never looked back, remaining a die-hard camper until I was 21 years old and head staff.

My kids go to sleep over camp too, although I waited until they were eight to send them off.  I’ve become a master at packing those duffels up, more out of necessity than want (nobody likes packing for camp….although the kids really do like going, and I appreciate the me-time while they’re away)

Because I like to share my rare talents and expertise, I worked with Ourkids.net, and OurKidsTV, to create this preparing for camp video. Not only do you get to meet my dogs in the little movie, but you also are able to watch, through the magic of time-lapse, me actually packing up their stuff and readying them for their summers to remember.

Whether your kids are off to sleepover camp for the first time, or you’ve been doing the pack-up job for a while and are looking for some new tips, I hope that you find what you’re looking for in this little video we like to call Packing for Camp.

Now, don’t cry when the buses roll out. Instead, do the happy dance and start stalking the mailbox for those letters!

Mara can be found blogging about life at her blog Be Nice or Leave Thanks and about teenagers and midlife mothering at momfaze.

She is the Community Manager for OurKids.net and ComfortLife, where she chats about kids, parenting, education, camp, and living the life of the Sandwich Generation.