Preparing for Agawam

You can access our suggested packing list by visiting the Amerasport website (you can get a printer-friendly PDF of Amerasport's list here). They are the official outfitter of Camp Agawam and can fill all of your uniform needs. They also sell other items that may be useful to campers. Many items, aside from the uniform, may come from your own wardrobe, and need not be purchased through Amerasport.

After packing, please attach a complete inventory of your boy's equipment and clothing to the inside of his trunk cover. A trunk list for this purpose will be sent out with our May mailing to parents. You can get a printer-friendly PDF of the Agawam Packing Inventory here.

CAMP UNIFORM

Required

Camp Agawam is a uniform camp. A complete set of the required camper uniform includes:

• 8 Agawam camper t-shirts
• 4-6 pair of Agawam camper shorts (at least two must be gray twill)
• 2 Agawam camper sweatshirts

Official, But Optional

The following items can be worn as part of the Camp uniform, but are not required:

• maroon soccer-style shorts  
• Agawam sweatpants    
• Agawam hat  
• Agawam fleece pullover

Ordering Uniforms

Our official Camp outfitter is Amerasport of Norwood, MA. All items mentioned above can be purchased through them. Amerasport sells many products, but the only mandatory items are those listed above. You can find the required Camp uniform items on pages 3-4 of the Amerasport catalog or on the “Required Items” link on their website (www.amerasport.com). You can also access the Amerasport website through www.campagawam.org/Parent.htm and click on the Suggested Packing List link.

Other items may have the Agawam name and/or logo, but they are not required (labeled “Official” in the Amerasport publications).

Renting Uniforms

We have a limited number of camper uniforms available for rent. Rental requests received later than the due date (April 1st) are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, until our stock is exhausted.

Other Required and Recommended Clothing

The following items are also required, though they may come from your son’s regular wardrobe:

• waterproof, hooded raincoat
• blue jeans
• 1-2 sets of informal clothing (for dances, day out, traveling home, etc.)

for boys 12 and older:

• hiking boots or sturdy walking shoes (please break-in new boots/shoes)

for boys 13 and older who want to participate in more challenging trips:

• wool or polypropylene socks
• polypropylene (or other non-cotton synthetic material) long-sleeved undershirt
• polypropylene (or other non-cotton synthetic material) long underwear
• wool or fleece winter hat
• frame pack (recommended)
• “camelback” or comparable hydration bladder (recommended)
• nylon wind pants (recommended)
• dry bag for canoe trips (recommended)

EQUIPMENT AND PERSONAL ITEMS

The list that follows can help you and your son in packing gear for Camp. Please include an inventory of your son’s equipment on the Camper Packing List. Items that are optional are so marked. Please see Sample Packing List (page 31).

• personal trunk/footlocker
• laundry bag (2)
• Honor Band (new campers will receive Honor Bands at Camp)
• prescription medications 
• Please mail prescription medications to Camp in quantities sufficient to last through the summer before your son’s arrival. If you are bringing your son to Camp by personal car and you do not mail prescription medications, parents or guardians may hand deliver medications to the Camp Nurse. Medications will be stored and administered by our health care staff, except for self-administered emergency medications as specified by Maine state law. Please refer to the Self-Administered Emergency Medication form (page 5).
• acoustic guitar or other non-electric instruments (optional)
• pre-addressed envelopes with postage (optional)
• These are especially helpful for younger boys or boys whose parents will not be at their home address this summer.
• personal sports equipment (optional)
• Personal equipment brought to Camp must be used and stored under the same guidelines as Camp-owned equipment. Personal equipment includes, but is not limited to, tennis racket, baseball glove, soccer shin guards, lacrosse stick, fishing pole. Camp has equipment to borrow, but if your son anticipates lots of participation in a particular area, we suggest bringing carefully marked items from home.
• appropriate reading material
• There is a paperback Book Fair early in the summer where boys can purchase good quality summer reading.
• daypack (optional)
• Daypacks are used for day hikes and other possible out-of-Camp excursions.
• sleeping bag (optional)
• Most boys prefer to bring their own sleeping bag for use on overnight trips. Sleeping bags may not be used in place of linens for cabin cots.

EQUIPMENT AND PERSONAL ITEMS THAT SHOULD NOT BE BROUGHT TO CAMP

We request that you do not send the following items to Camp as they do not support the Agawam philosophy and detract from our Camp environment:

• candy, food or gum
• Please share this information with friends and relatives who might consider sending such items to your son at Agawam.
• skateboards, rollerblades and bicycles or vehicles
• aerosol spray cans (deodorant, insect repellent, etc.)
• pets or other animals
• electronic equipment
• Agawam places great emphasis on a boys’ ability to interact with fellow campers and staff. Electronic games (like PSP), computers, iPods, discmen, palm pilots, cell phones, etc. distract from this mission and should be left at home.
• wristwatches
• Agawam’s schedule uses bugle calls and bells, so watches are not necessary.
• knives
• Agawam provides knives for outdoor living skills and for other crafts and boys are taught the proper safety techniques for care, use and storage of such items.
• weapons or fireworks
• Agawam has a strict policy forbidding the possession and use of weapons and fireworks. Boys who participate in Riflery and Archery are taught the proper safety techniques for care, use and storage of such items.
• alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and illicit or controlled drugs
• Agawam has a strict policy forbidding the use or possession of such products. These items may not be brought to Camp nor may they be acquired during a boy’s stay at Agawam.

Items that are not permitted at Camp will be confiscated and mailed home. The fee for mailing will be charged to your son’s personal account.

In general, please avoid over-packing. The guidelines outlined in this Parent Handbook and on the Camper Packing List are meant to help you and your son in preparing and packing for Camp.

Labeling Clothing, Equipment and Personal Items

Please label all of your son’s gear. Our experience suggests that it is best to sew nametapes into articles of clothing. Please use a permanent marker to label equipment and other items. Laundry bags should be labeled in the center of the bag so that they can be easily spotted when laundry is returned. Please write your son’s first and last name. Remember to label cases for items such as contact lenses, glasses, retainers, cameras, tennis rackets, etc. Helpful hint-remember to label items like tennis rackets, lacrosse sticks, baseball gloves, fishing poles, beach towels, swim trunks, raincoats, books, sneakers and socks.

Luggage
If you are planning to have your son travel to camp by any means other than private car, please arrange to send his trunk and other large luggage ahead. There is no room for trunks and duffel bags, or bulky baggage, on the chartered bus.

All baggage should be sent at least 10-days before your son arrives. Properly marked items are sorted and waiting in your son's cabin when he arrives. Please be sure to include both first and last names on tags.

Baggage should be sent via United Parcel Service (UPS), if it meets the following requirements:

1. Maximum weight per package, 150 lbs.
2. Maximum size per package, 130 inches in length and girth (combined).

When using UPS, ensure:

1. Item is locked - send extra keys and combinations to Agawam office.
2. Label must be taped down with clear tape.

Shipping Label:

Camper's Name

Camp Agawam
54 Agawam Road
Raymond, ME 04071

Agawam has had success using The UPS Store for shipping trunks at the end of the season. Put two tags on each piece of baggage. In the case of brothers, please put each boy's name on the proper trunk and duffel bag so that the baggage can be sorted correctly upon arrival at camp.