How to Prepare for Your Teen’s Adventure Treks Summer Camp: Packing, Gear, and Hygiene Tips

Is your child heading off on an unforgettable Adventure Treks trip this year? Whether it’s their first time or fourth, knowing how to pack, prepare physically, and understand wilderness hygiene expectations can make all the difference in creating a smooth and stress-free start to their summer adventures.

Our 2025 Spring Series guide (this is part 1 of 3) will offer essential tips for getting your teen ready for their outdoor adventure—from choosing the right hiking boots to getting in good shape to how to stay clean in the woods.

We suggest watching the video above first, and then going through the bullet points below to make sure you got all of the important stuff!

Did you see our last blog? Click here to for advice from returning families on packing and prepping your child (and you!) for the best summer ever.

Packing made simple

And you’ll find it in your  CampInTouch portal. Download it, print it out, and check off each item as you go. We fine-tune these lists every year to make sure student has everything they need (and nothing they don’t).

We’ve also put together online gear recommendations and an AT gear store to make shopping even easier.

Many essentials—like cotton T-shirts and socks, athletic clothing, and tennis shoes—can already be found in your child’s closet. Others can be picked up at stores like Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, or Walmart, or from outdoor-specific resellers like REI’s Re/Supply or Patagonia’s Worn Wear. Some items will be most easily found at outdoor-specific stores like REI or Cabela’s.

✅ Waterproof rain gear
Invest in a good-quality rain jacket and pants—these are essential for keeping your child dry and comfortable in unpredictable mountain weather. Make sure you don’t accidentally purchase water-resistant!

✅ Mid- or full-height hiking boots
These boots are designed for multi-day backpacking and offer crucial ankle support and durability—especially for growing teenagers. Avoid trail runners (but you can pack these as camp/tennis shoes). Be sure your child breaks in their boots in well before the trip—blisters are no fun on the trail and can really negatively impact their whole experience. They can break them in by wearing them around the house or neighborhood, or on weekend hikes.

✅ Water shoes or sandals (with a heel strap)
No flip-flops or Crocs (though Crocs can be brought as camp shoes). Our advice: Stick with Chacos or Tevas.

✅ Non-cotton clothing
Synthetic or merino wool is a must for all backcountry and high-activity days. These fabrics wick away sweat and keep you warm when wet—cotton doesn’t do either of those things. (Also, know that baselayer = long johns/long underwear—essentially, these synthetic or merino items.)

Pro tip: Wash and dry all new non-cotton clothes before the trip in case they shrink.

✅ Flair!
Yes, this is a must-have. Bring fun, wacky clothing and accessories to wear throughout the tirp.

Fun extras

You can absolutely send a few “extras” with your child, like small musical instruments (with hard shell cases), paperbacks, a journal, small games, travel chess sets, and cameras or GoPros.

A group of 15 to 30 people total can easily mean 100+ water bottles, matching Crazy Creeks, and hundreds of socks and T-shirts. Here’s how to stay organized:

  • Label EVERYTHING! From camp chairs to water bottles to pants—put your child’s name or initials on everything they bring.
  • Use Ziploc bags (gallon- or two-gallon-sized) to group similar items.
  • Your child should be involved in the packing process so they know what they’re bringing and where to find it.

Most everything will go into your child’s duffel bag (their checked luggage); check your packing list for what to put into their daypack (carry-on luggage) for day one.

Quick tips:

  • Keep it simple with travel-sized toiletries, except for a full-sized toothpaste.
  • Don’t forget the lip balm with SPF.
  • Use Ziplocs or dopp kits/toiletry bags to keep everything organized.
  • Bring unscented where you can (like deodorant and travel wipes).

Medications

  • Bring the original container, or have your pharmacist create a labeled blister pack.
  • No need to pack OTC medications like ibuprofen, Tylenol, Benadryl, or Imodium—we carry those.
    • You can, however, bring very specific OTC meds that your child might need, like Miralax, vitamins, specific allergy medications, etc.

What about menstrual products?

  • We carry pads, pantiliners, and tampons. But we encourage your daughter to bring whatever items she’s most comfortable with.

Here’s what you should skip:

  • Food, snacks, and gum (unless prior arrangements have been made for dietary restrictions/food allergies)
  • Sunscreen, bug spray, and laundry detergent (we provide these; only bring if your child needs a very specific type)
  • Electronics (Kindles, iPads, etc.—we’d hate for them to get broken… send paperback books instead)
    • But students can and SHOULD bring cameras!
  • Knives, multitools, other weapons (only exceptions include Leadership Summit and Norway)

Getting in good shape

They don’t need to be an elite athlete or train like an Olympian to succeed at Adventure Treks—but being active ahead of time helps your child enjoy their trip to the fullest.

Great ways to prepare for an AT trip:

  • Walk or hike in boots (and carry all school textbooks in a backpack)
  • Play sports like soccer, basketball, tennis, or lacrosse, or swim or dance or cheer (either competitively or for fun)
  • Get outside for biking, paddling, or climbing
  • Build cardiovascular fitness by simply moving more

Maintaining good hygiene at AT

Adventure Treks students don’t shower every day, but we take hygiene seriously. This helps everyone stay healthy and feel better, even when we’re in the woods.

Key hygiene practices on trip:

  • We’ll have access to soap, water, and hand sanitizer every day (even when away from running water) to keep hands and faces clean
  • We will always wash hands after the bathroom and before all meals
  • Bring travel wipes or astringent pads to stay clean between showers
  • We’ll get to splash around and rinse off in lakes and rivers often throughout the trip

We’ll also teach students how to discreetly manage bathroom trips and menstruation in the backcountry from day one.

More helpful resources

Want to dive into more details? We’ve got the resources for you!

Read these blogs:

Remember:

  1. Download the packing list from CampInTouch
  2. Visit the Adventure Treks store

And get ready for an AMAZING summer!

This summer is going full of adventure, growth, connection, and fun—and we can’t wait to see every single one of our students!