Though the initial mountain of clothes, towels, chargers, bags, and trinkets piled on top of my travel bag may seem like mayhem, I promise, there’s a method to my madness. When packing for an event, I try to be as thorough as possible. Will I need layers? What would I need for that activity? Am I actually going to need this? Questions like these guide the creation of a personalized packing list; some end up more elaborate than others. 

Perhaps one of my most extensive lists to date was my packing list for CLTC (Chapter Leadership Training Conference 2, 2024) last summer, and for good reason. 19 days without a washing machine is the longest I’ve ever packed for, so there was no room for uncertainty. A month before my departure, I collected packing lists from BBYO, The Shofar posts, and my CLTC alumni friends to put together a comprehensive packing list. I ended up with a four-page, 260-word document detailing every single item I put in my luggage. I didn’t just write “pajamas,” I wrote the specific tops and bottoms to pack. A pro to this intensely itemized list was that when I was packing up to leave, I could ensure nothing was left behind or lost. 

With this being said, sure, I could try my hardest to anticipate exactly what I would need for my time on CLTC, but things work differently in practice. I wish I could magically know which items were unnecessary, so, I hope I can be your counselor and provide insight for you.

What I wish I had left at home:

1. A speaker

This one may be a shocker, it definitely was for me. In fact, in my packing list, it had two exclamation marks after it!! While, of course, everyone wants to jam out to music whenever they can, everyone wants to. I found that many others brought speakers, so mine was ultimately unnecessary. But, for peace of mind, if you fear that everyone will follow this advice and therefore no one will have a speaker, feel free to bring yours. 

‍2. A hair straightener/heated hair tools

This is another one that seems outrageous. If you told pre-CLTC me to not pack this, she’d be appalled; she loves a straightened-hair moment on Shabbat. However, and this may have been just my experience, I didn’t use it all that often. Now, I straightened my hair for both Shabbatot, but it also rained both those days, so my hair poofed back to a curly mess not even a day later. So, my suggestion is to embrace your natural hair during your time at CLTC, or the humidity might force you to!

What I wish I had brought:

‍1. More towels

I brought two towels to CLTC and designated one as a shower towel and one as a lake towel. While I do think the differentiation was beneficial, I think the ratio was off. I felt I needed to bring an additional shower towel, as once I contaminated my second towel with lake water it was game over for it. So, for the sake of extra cleanliness (and my sanity), I will bring plenty of towels to ILTC this summer. 

‍2. A mirror

Living with a bunk full of teenage girls was a blast, don’t get me wrong. From getting ready dance parties to quiet bonding moments at night, it’s one of the defining parts of a summer program experience. However, all thirteen of us sharing a bathroom with a limited mirror was a struggle. So, if you prefer to have your own little space, as I do, I suggest bringing a personal mirror. Now, it doesn’t have to be floor length and extravagant, but just one big enough for doing your makeup may save you from some overwhelming moments. 

‍3. More activewear

This one may be obvious to camp-frequenters, but as a rookie, I didn’t realize that I should have packed more active clothing. Instead, I packed a pair of jeans. While I do love my jeans, they’re more convenient in drier Arizona than in humid Pennsylvania. I wish I had packed more active shorts or skirts, as they’re the most comfortable and convenient to wear all day for programming. 

With this being said, I plan on adapting my CLTC list when packing for ILTC this summer with the necessary alterations. Inevitably, I will probably unknowingly pack items I won’t need, but hey, maybe I’ll be back in a few months to tell you what not to bring to ILTC!