Summer Spectacular
A look at this year’s hot items for camp.
by Elaine Haber and Susan Inglese

TWEENS & TEENS News April 2007

Soon you’ll be off to camp for the summer. Curious about the latest and greatest gadgets and accessories to bring? The following are a mix of items to help make you the coolest camper in the bunk!

Peace, Love and Happiness
For starters, trendsetters are claiming 2007 as the year that peace and love truly return. Even campers who don’t know much about the groovy 70s should stock up on peace signs, which are sure to be hot, hot, hot! Tote to camp at least one thing with a peace sign on it. If that item is tie dyed, it’s even better! Find posh peace signs on tank tops, shorts, lap desks, fleece blankets, towels, clipboards, stationery sets and even autograph pillows. Dig it? Groovy.

Hats Off to You
Baseball caps are a must-have item for summer, but you need a funky one! Bling is always in style. Try to find a cap with sequins, a fun saying or a rhinestone design. Parents will be happy to know the cap is protecting you from the sun. Friends will be impressed by the oh-so-cool style your cap conveys.

Get Organized
Organize your space. You may not have a lot of room to call your own, but you still can put your own stamp on your personal space. Venture to a room decor store with your parents to search for a hanging organizer in a hip color or pattern, so finding your stuff becomes a cinch— and you can do it with pizzazz.

To store even more keepsakes in a tidy way, a plastic or cardboard storage box or oversized bag that fits under your bed gives you plenty of easily accessible extra space to keep your favorite things. For inexpensive storage bins and bags, head to Kmart, Wal-Mart, Target or other specialty stores. Spice up the storage container with stickers, markers or sequins for extra bling.

Under Cover
Make your bed look festive, and your friends will always want to visit. The latest way to adorn a camper’s bed is with fleece blankets displaying colorful patterns. Think cell phones, dogs, sports motifs— or anything else that reflects your personality. For many blankets, you can locate pillows with a matching motif. Complete the look with matching pajama pants!

If you opt to sleep with a solid blanket, you can allow your bed to sparkle by shopping for pillowcases with rhinestone accents and beads. If kids in your camp use jelly rolls, or throw blankets rolled at the foot of their beds, feel free to sew on rhinestones and such for a shimmery do-it-yourself project— perhaps with a parent’s help. Boys might want to put a personal spin on bed decor by finding a blanket showcasing their favorite sport or team’s colors.

Bedtime and Beyond
An autograph pillow or pillowcase is a timeless way to preserve your special 2007 summer memories. Pillowcases come in tons of styles, featuring flip flops to hearts for girls and sports symbols to camouflage for boys. Customize the case even more by having a camp outfitter stamp on a camp logo, cherished picture or your name. If you want to stick with the bling thing, get a pillowcase decked out with a decal of a diamond ring, ultra cool sunglasses or designer shoes. Even plain pillowcases can be used for autographing. Simply take a permanent marker to camp so your bunk mates and counselors can pen their thoughts and signatures for you to preserve forever.

The Write Stuff
You may not have your cell phone at camp, however, you can still keep in touch with your home friends— and your parents who sent you to camp! Pick up (or print on your computer) some funky stationery sets, because everyone in the bunk loves to trade! Stickers can make even blank paper look like stationery that people will love to trade you for or receive at home. A sticker album will help you keep your stickers organized.

Consider getting a storage clipboard, which is great for positioning on your bed or lap to scribble letters from, and these clipboards also store stationery and stickers. Storage clipboards come in great patterns for both girls and boys.

Special Days
Don’t forget special days at camp like Olympic day and color war! Whatever your camp or team colors, you can find accessories in the right hues to expose your team spirit.

The most current accessory for color war is the “Funzie” band. A Funzie is a multicolored stretchy ribbon band that doubles as a bracelet and a hair band. Funzies come in a variety of colors. One is good, but a collection of Funzies is best! Also, pack face paint, plastic jewelry, headbands, colored hair spray and tank tops in an array of possible team colors. Go team, go!

And if you forget anything, don’t despair— there’s always visiting day!

Elaine Haber and Susan Inglese are two Moms who met as Girl Scout leaders. After years of cookie sales, holiday parties and craft projects, they started a children’s birthday party business, The Cookie Jar Parties & More in Westchester County, NY. They now also own www.funcampstuff.com, born out of their desire to provide “one-stop-shopping” for parents and kids preparing for camp— or simply desiring some cool stuff.