Green-friendly, filtered water bottle
Encourage your camper to drink up with the Biodegradable Filtered Water Bottle from Watergeeks. Made with recycled, food-grade, BPA-free plastic, this 24-ounce water bottle features a carbon composite filter that eliminates chlorine, bad taste, odor and heavy metals. Filter lasts up to 400 refills. Bottles are available in red, green, blue and aqua. $19.99. Replacement filters $6.99. watergeeks.com.
Drying designs
Fellow campers will call it a stroke of genius when your child shows up at the pool with a Camp-Themed Towel from Campstuff4less.com. Available in a variety of styles and sayings, these 30- by 60-inch beach towels are made of 100 percent cotton and feature more than a dozen kid-pleasing designs such as fun flip flops, a vibrant-colored ice cream cone and a sports towel embellished with footballs, basketballs and soccer balls. $20. campstuff4less.com.
Cool clothing
Keep your camper cool and dry with Under Armour Heat Gear® apparel. Short sleeve t-shirts, tanks and shorts for both boys and girls feature moisture-wicking capabilities and ultraviolet protection to keep kids cool, dry and safe in the swelter summer sun. Made of 95 percent Polyester and 5 percent Elastane, From $14.99. underarmour.com or dickssportinggoods.com.
Safety shades
Protect your children’s eyes from ultraviolet light with MFS Eyewear. Three lines to choose from—Xtreme Sports, Xtreme Elements and Big Leaguers—all feature 100 percent UVA/UVB lenses that are made of shatterproof, impact-resistant polycarbonate material with dual-textured surfaces. Sturdy, wrap-around, foam-backed frames minimize exposure to peripheral light, and anti-fog prevents moisture build up on lenses. The sunglasses come in a variety of colors and styles and include a microfiber sleeve to protect the shades. $19.99. mfseyewear.com.
Shoe aerator
When your child returns from camp, tell him to “stuff it” with the Stuffitts® Shoe Saver. These 100 percent cedar-filled, foot-shaped shoe inserts are made from a dual-wick fabric that eliminate footwear odor and absorb moisture eight times faster than air drying. Stuffitts come with a zippered heel so cedar inserts can be removed and the external fabric washed. Available in small, medium, large and extra large sizes. $24.95. stuffitts.com.
Cooling fan
When the heat is on, your child can chill out with the Cool Mister Fan. This battery-operated device features finger-safe flexible mini blades, a 16-ounce reservoir with a wide opening for holding water and ice and a trigger for releasing a cool, breezy mist. The fan comes with a shoulder strap and is available in a variety of bright colors. $16.90. safetycentral.com or preparedness.com.
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Jan Udlock is a freelance writer and mom of five. She has wonderful memories of going to camp where her grandmother was the crafts director.