I recently received an email from a girl who is having difficulty figuring out what she should pack for a three week summer camp at a university. She asked what I considered to be the necessities for what she should pack and re-wear over the course of those weeks. I’ve found that if one girl has a question, then there are usually a whole bunch of us out there who are wondering the same thing! So instead of just compiling a list for her, I decided to put together an entire post dedicated to packing for an academic summer camp! 

I did a little thinking, searching, and online shopping, and came up with the items I would pack if I was going to camp this summer! It’s funny that I’m doing this, because a few years ago when I was in high school, I went to the Vanderbilt Summer Academy for a few weeks and took a creative writing course! I absolutely loved it and now count Nashville as one of my favorite cities! 🙂 

Click on the item to shop it! 

What I’d recommend packing: 

A tassel scarf— because it’s the perfect way to dress up a white v-neck T or throw over your shoulders when you’re wearing a little white dress out to dinner!

J. Crew Chino shorts. These 3″ babies are preppy and classic and everything you’d want in a pair of shorts. They have every color you’d need and are on sale right now!! (if you’re feeling a little more pattern playful, then I’d recommend packing a few pairs of the Lilly Pulitzer 3″ Walsh shorts!)

A versatile sundress— I am particularly into white, navy, and pink, color combos for dressing for summer classes. These colors are mature, fun, and summery all at once– I’m also liking this jersey knit striped one!

Tassel earrings. Because you know… tassels…

A cute tumbler. I’ve always found that staying hydrated is key to helping me stay focused in class, and I am obsessed with cute tumblers (I actually had a whole chest full of them at school..).

This monogram tote is too darling, and would make a perfect addition to a large wheelie suitcase that you would take. You could potentially put all of your smaller items like your pajamas, undies, jewelry, etc., in here and put your large clothes and shoes in a big suitcase! #organization!

This is the new planner I’ve been using (except mine is gold polka dots). I am a total planner freak, and what I like about this one is how compact and lightweight it is. With all of the walking I do with my book bag and work bag, I want my notebooks and planner to be as light as possible!

Speaking of a school bag… this tote is such a reasonable price AND it’s reversible! The inside of this one is mint, and you have to take a look at the other color combos too. I’m obsessed with reversible things– it’s getting two in one!

I saw this cosmetic case and really liked how it zippered all the way around and has a convenient top handle. Cosmetic cases of other sizes also come in this pattern, (here and here) so you could potentially get a bunch of sizes and put all of your toiletries, make up, etc. in them! Matchy, matchy– we like.

This gold charm bracelet is just too darling. You can customize the charms and everything. I mean… a total packing necessity, am I right?!

This is such a great throw-on-and-go top, especially if you’re going to a camp where it’s going to be hot hot hot outside! I’d pair it with white jeans or regular jean shorts!

Because every summer suitcase should start with a pair of Jacks…

These jeweled sandals are totally on trend, so if you’re looking to wow your roommate at summer camp, then I’d go with these:)

A few other items I’d recommend packing that aren’t pictured: 

A classic jean jacket to throw over a sundress when you are out and about at night and it gets cooler.
  

A Vineyard Vines shep shirt for those times you’re freezing inside an air conditioned classroom (I hate freezing AC!)

A navy rain coat (this one is on sale!) because getting caught in the rain is not cute. (Unless you are in a Taylor Swift song with a handsome boy…)

I use Roberta Roller Rabbit makeup bags, see all of them here. I have found that these to work the best for me. They come in such gorgeous colors and various sizes for all of my (many) products. #lowmaintenance  🙂

Travel size Organix shampoo and conditioner is always a treat! Smells delish!

A Nars blush/bronze duo is an ideal way to save space in your makeup bag yet still have blush and bronzer. This girl can’t survive without her bronzer (blame it on my Jersey roots).

Comfy pajamas are key. Especially when you’re away from home and miss the coziness of your own bed. I’ve always had a lot of luck with Forever 21 pajamas, and am currently crushing on these!

I’m definitely one to bring my own sheets, blankets, and towels to camps. I use these PB Teen sheets at school (hint hint: you can monogram them online), but honestly all of these are such cute choices! And if you’re feeling totally wild, you’ll understand how I want this blanket in the worst way. It kind of reminds me of the one Khloe Kardashian is always carrying around— anyone know what I’m talking about?! (Okay, so I got curious and looked into this, and found out that this is the exact blanket she uses!) 

Let me know if there’s anything I’m missing and I will happily add it to the list! I am always up for suggestions for blog posts so feel free to shoot me an email if you ever have a question or want to see something that I haven’t posted about before!

Quick funny story: when I went to my summer camp, my mom and I stopped at a Target in Nashville before I moved into the dorms to pick up a few things like a pillow, a mattress pad, shower shoes, etc. It was about 103 degrees outside and no one was really around, but as we were walking out of the Target none other than TAYLOR SWIFT and HER MOM pulled up, got out of their fancy black tinted window car with a body guard, and walked INTO THE TARGET. We literally walked RIGHT BY them and it’s a miracle that I didn’t just die from shock and stardom right there in the Nashville Target parking lot. I mean, she was wearing a floral sundress and had her red lip on and was just stunning. (Btw, I have a major girl crush/all around life crush on her so this was a BIG moment for little me). At that time, she was the Covergirl spokeswoman, and so her face was all over the Target cosmetics aisle. So maybe she was going to take a look at that?? Or maybe she just needed some cat food and a pillow case like the rest of us? I will never know… Just funny how within my first 12 hours of being in Nashville I ran into my idol extraordinaire!!