Nine weeks, an outdoor job, a climate most Indian participants have never experienced, and a shared cabin with limited storage. Packing well for camp is less about quantity than about picking the right things.
The rule that governs everything
Camps have laundry facilities. Pack for roughly two weeks and wash, rather than packing for nine. You will also acquire camp T-shirts, gifts and souvenirs, so leave room in your bag.
Documents (carry these on you, never in checked luggage)
- Passport with your J-1 visa.
- DS-2019 form — keep it accessible for immigration.
- Camp contract / job offer letter.
- Sponsor documents and emergency contact information.
- Flight itinerary and camp arrival instructions.
- Insurance details provided through your programme.
- Photocopies and digital scans of everything above, stored separately and in your email.
- A few passport-size photographs.
Immigration will ask for your passport and DS-2019 at entry. Do not pack them in a bag you will not be holding.
Understand the climate first
Most American camps sit in the north-east, the Midwest or mountain regions. Summer days are warm, but evenings and early mornings can be genuinely cold, and rain is common. Participants from Gujarat and similar climates are frequently caught out by how cool a June night in Maine can feel.
So pack for warm days and cool, wet evenings. A single warm layer and a waterproof jacket are worth more than three extra T-shirts.
Clothing
- T-shirts and casual tops — 10 to 14, quick-drying where possible.
- Shorts — 4 or 5. You will live in them.
- Long trousers / track pants — 2 or 3 for cool evenings and campfires.
- Warm layer — a fleece or hoodie. Two if you feel the cold.
- Waterproof jacket — not optional.
- Swimwear — 2 sets. One is always wet.
- Underwear and socks — more than you think, including a few thick pairs.
- Sleepwear suitable for a shared cabin.
- One smart-casual outfit for a staff banquet, a day trip or photographs.
- A hat or cap and sunglasses. You are outdoors all day.
Skip anything you would be upset to ruin. Camp clothing gets muddy, painted, stained and torn.
Footwear
- Sturdy trainers — your default, all day, every day.
- A second pair of trainers or sports shoes, so you always have something dry.
- Water shoes or sandals with a proper sole for waterfront and showers.
- Flip-flops for the cabin.
- Walking or hiking boots if your activity is outdoors or you plan hikes.
Closed shoes are mandatory for most activities on safety grounds. Do not plan to work in sandals.
Kit for your activity
Camps supply general equipment, but bring what is personal or hard to replace:
- Tennis or sports: your own racquet if you rely on it, grips, appropriate shoes.
- Swimming: goggles, a spare swimsuit, a whistle if you have one.
- Music: your instrument if it can travel safely, plus picks, strings, reeds.
- Art: a few favourite brushes or pens; bulk materials are provided.
- Photography: camera, chargers, memory cards.
- Any certification cards for coaching, lifeguarding or first aid.
Also bring two or three session ideas on paper. Arriving with a plan makes an excellent first impression on your programme director.
Practical essentials
- Torch or headlamp — camps are dark at night. Genuinely essential.
- Reusable water bottle.
- Sunscreen and insect repellent — mosquitoes and ticks are a real feature of wooded camps.
- Toiletries for the first couple of weeks; restock locally.
- Quick-dry towels — two.
- Basic medicines you personally rely on, plus any prescription medication in its original packaging with the prescription.
- Universal travel adapter for US sockets, and a power bank.
- Padlock for a locker or trunk.
- Laundry bag.
- Some US currency in small notes for the first few days.
Something from home
This is the item people forget and later wish they had brought. Camps run international or culture nights, and staff are often asked to share something from their country. Small Indian flags, postcards, inexpensive trinkets, photographs of your city, a simple recipe, or a few things to teach — a phrase, a game, a dance step — go a very long way. Campers remember it, and so do directors.
What not to bring
- Expensive jewellery, watches or valuables. Storage is shared and you will be outdoors.
- Alcohol, or anything against camp policy. This is grounds for dismissal.
- Large electronics you cannot secure or will not use.
- Formal clothing beyond one outfit.
- Restricted food items. Check US customs rules before packing anything edible — many products are not permitted.
- An oversized suitcase. Cabin storage is small.
Confirm the specifics with your camp
Bedding, uniform T-shirts, phone policy and what equipment is provided all vary by camp. Ask before you fly — and our pre-departure orientation covers exactly this for your placement.
Before you fly
Read a day in the life at an American summer camp so nothing about the routine surprises you, and check the full placement process.
Questions about your own packing list? Ask us — we have sent enough participants to know what gets forgotten.
Ready to take the next step?
Robinhood Overseas has placed 75+ Indian staffers at camps abroad since 2019. Tell us your skill and we will tell you honestly which program fits.