#camp prep

Camp season is almost here, and if you’ve ever replaced a lost water bottle, hoodie, or towel after camp, you already know how quickly those little losses add up.

That’s why we put together a new blog post all about camp labels and how to figure out what your child actually needs for day camp vs. sleepaway camp.

Inside the post, we cover:

what to label for day camp

what to label for sleepaway camp

when to use camp clothing labels

when waterproof labels make more sense

how to choose between iron-on and stick-on clothing labels

If camp prep is on your list, this one will save you time, stress, and probably a few missing socks too.

Packing for camp? If you’re searching camp labels, labels for camp, camp labels for clothes, camp clothing labels, clothing labels for camp, labels for camp clothes, name labels for camp, or camp name labels—this is for you.

I just published a step-by-step guide to camp labels for clothes that actually stay put through real camp laundry (wash, dry, repeat). It covers camp clothing labels (stick-on vs iron-on), exactly where to place clothing labels for camp so they last, plus shoe label tips so pairs don’t split up and disappear into lost & found.

Pack Your Bags! Camp Time!

What’s that? Is that the sound of a bonfire I hear? The awesome smell of toasted Marshmallows?

Is it Camp NaNoWriMo time again already?

Full disclosure, I signed up for camp last time around, and I didn’t get anything done. Between the Pandemic and the fact that my kids are absolutely crazy because they can’t get out and do anything… I just didn’t have time to get anything done. I’m fine…

Camp NaNoWriMo is here! It’s an exciting time, but it can feel a bit intimidating to tackle a new project head-on. Today, Camp NaNoWriMo Participant Elizabeth Sacks offers some helpful hints on how to keep writing when you feel stuck: 

It's Camp NaNoWriMo time! 

One of the few times of the year millions of old pros and novices come together to write a fantastical new story. If you are new to this exciting experience, I bet you're worried about tackling that first writer's block that comes your way. Maybe you're experiencing one right now. It happens to beginners and seasoned writers alike. I'm here to give you some tips and tricks on how to overcome that dreaded block on the road to an awesome story.

The first thing you can do is go to NaNoWriMo’s “Word Sprint” tab. This page has an awesome “Dare Me” button that will give you random writing prompts. Use that prompt to write a wild event into your draft. You may like the way this scene works into your story, or you may not. 

Camp NaNoWriMo is nothing without you, our incredible participants. Today, Grant Faulkner, our executive director reminds us why "But wait..." can be insidious:

Dear Intrepid Writer,

Lately I’ve been afflicted by a creature I call my Inner Editor’s cousin. In some ways, he is even more dangerous than my Inner Editor. He tends to walk around the rooms of my mind gazing at all of the imaginative ruckus with a persnickety, stuffy gaze. He exudes an air of judicious logic, speaking in the grave tones of seasoned caution (and, yes, he likes to wear ascots). He strolls in when I get an idea that I’m about to pounce on, and he says, “But wait...”

“But wait, this just isn’t logical.” 

“But wait, this is preposterous.” 

“But wait, no one would ever do that.” 

I think of But Wait as an unenthusiastic drip. He’s the kind of person who never quite gets behind an idea—the killjoy who lacks the oomph or the wonderful reckless zealousness that makes ideas come to life.

When I feel too many But Waits in my mind, I try to embrace the opposite force, the guiding principle of improv acting (and NaNoWriMo, you might say): “Say, ‘Yes, and…’”

It’s simple, really. Improv actors are trained to trust the impulsive force of an idea and just say yes to it. They accept whatever their fellow actors offer in a scene instead of stiff-arming the action in the direction they want it to go. Improvisers take risks and make mistakes by definition. They let themselves fall into the most foolish behavior and allow themselves to speak what’s taboo—because that’s what leads them in fresh directions and helps them connect with their audiences.

I first discovered improvisational writing during NaNoWriMo’s word sprints. If you’re not familiar with them, word sprints challenge writers to write as fast as possible during a set time limit, often with a prompt to get them started. You can do them with a group—with @NaNoWordSprints on Twitter, during one of our Virtual Write-Ins—or even privately. Just give yourself a prompt, set a limit of five or 10 minutes, and go.

As the clock is ticking, it’s important not to hesitate. A word sprint invites you to turn off judgments by entering the flow of intuition that high-velocity writing taps into. If improv actors pause before jumping into a scene, it shows they are planning what’s to come, or even pausing because of a hindering social norm (that’s when But Wait loves to enter the scene). The purpose is to just go.

Don’t worry about tripping on something foolish when you write. Trip on a banana peel. Trip on a plot point. Trip on a character description, a line of dialogue, a single extravagant word. I find that the more improvisational I am, the more likely I am to chase bolder angles and discover unexpected plot developments and surprising character pivots. The only hazard? Many a main character has been dramatically punished as a result—and I tend to overuse dashes.

Join me in this final writing stretch by saying a big yes to each new idea, and follow all of those wonderful ‘and’s to the Camp finish line.

Yes!

Grant Faulkner NaNoWriMo Executive Director

As a boy, Grant spent his allowance on all sorts of pens and paper, so there was never much question that he would become a writer. He’s also the founder of the lit journal 100 Word Story. He believes quite simply that everyone is a writer—that we create our world through the stories we tell—so he enthusiastically prods everyone he meets to write a novel and discover how life can be transformed through a daring creative act.