Start Packing Without Actually Packing

Starting to pack for camp can feel overwhelming. When do you start? Where do you even begin? And do you really need to open the trunk this early?

Good news: you don’t.

If you’re not quite ready to start filling trunks but want to feel productive, try what I like to call “organize packing.”

Instead of packing items away, you’re simply creating a system for them.

Designate a space in your home—a drawer, a corner of a room, a few plastic bins, or even a basement area—and make it your camp zone. Every time you pick up something for camp, it goes there.

Grab sunscreen, shampoo, or goggles? Into the bin.

Stationery, clothing, towels? Same place.

Between now and mid-June, you’ll be collecting items little by little. Having one dedicated spot keeps everything organized and eliminates that last-minute scramble when it’s time to actually pack.

Pro tip: Label items as you go. Future you will be very grateful.

When trunk day arrives, everything is in one place, prepped and ready to go.

Packing becomes simple instead of stressful.